Method and system for licensing program management within a distributed data processing system

• US 5,752,041 A
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fosdick, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US08/572,816
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/25, 395/187.01, 395/208, 395/712, 395/200.55
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress

Abstract

A method and system for managing utilization of licensed program within a distributed data processing system having a number of local systems which minimizes the amount of network communication traffic required for such management. Each permitted use of a licensed program by a distributed data processing system is indicated by a use token which may be transferred to selected systems throughout the distributed data processing system. These use tokens are then periodically redistributed throughout the distributed data processing system in response to a requested usage by a particular system within the distributed data processing system. A use token transferred to a particular system is then maintained at that system upon completion of the usage until such time as a request for usage of the licensed program requires transfer of the use token to another system. In this manner the use tokens are effectively distributed throughout the distributed data processing system such that those systems most likely to request usage of the licensed program will maintain possession of the use tokens, minimizing network communication traffic.

Claims

1. A method for licensed program management within a distributed data processing network having a plurality of local systems which requires minimal network communication traffic, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

initially distributing a plurality of use tokens within said distributed data processing system, each of said plurality of use tokens indicative of a permitted use of a licensed program;

maintaining a local use count at each local system within said distributed data processing system, each local use count specifying the current number of permitted uses of said licensed program at an associated local system within said distributed data processing system;

periodically redistributing at least one of said plurality of use tokens to a particular system within said distributed data processing system in response to a requested usage of said licensed program at said particular system by;

requesting a use token redistribution to said particular local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to a local use count for said particular local system being greater than or equal to the sum of a usage limit and a use token count for said particular local system;

permitting a use token redistribution from a selected local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to said local use count for said selected local system being less than the sum of said usage limit and said use token count for said selected local system; and

maintaining said at least one of said plurality of use tokens at said particular system within said distributed data processing system upon completion of said usage of said licensed program at said particular system wherein network communication traffic in response to requests to utilize said licensed program is minimized.

2. The method for licensed program management according to claim 1, further including the step of initially establishing a usage limit specifying the maximum number of permitted uses of a licensed program at each of said plurality of local systems within said distributed data processing system.

3. The method for licensed program management according to claim 2, further including the step of establishing an initial use token count at each local system within said distributed data processing system.

4. The method for licensed program management according to claim 3, further including the step of incrementing said initial use token count at a particular local system within said distributed data processing system in response to an automatic redistribution of a use token to said particular local system within said distributed data processing system.

5. The method for licensed program management according to claim 3, further including the step of decrementing said initial use token count at a particular local system within said distributed data processing system in response to an automatic redistribution of a use token from said particular local system within said distributed data processing system.

6. A system for licensed program management, said system comprising:

a distributed data processing network having a plurality of local systems;

a bus coupling said plurality of local systems;

a license distribution program that initially distributes a plurality of use tokens within said distributed data processing system, each of said plurality of use tokens indicative of a permitted use of a licensed program;

a use count program that maintains a local use count at each local system within said distributed data processing system, each local use count specifying the current number of permitted uses of said licensed program at an associated local system within said distributed data processing system;

a redistribution program that periodically redistributes at least one of said plurality of use tokens to a particular system within said distributed data processing system in response to a requested usage of said licensed program at said particular system comprising;

a use request program that requests a use token redistribution to said particular local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to a local use count for said particular local system being greater than or equal to the sum of a usage limit and a use token count for said particular local system;

a use transfer program that permits a use token redistribution from a selected local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to said local use count for said selected local system being less than the sum of said usage limit and said use token count for said selected local system; and

a use token maintenance program that maintains said at least one of said plurality of use tokens at said particular system within said distributed data processing system upon completion of said usage of said licensed program at said particular system wherein network communication traffic in response to requests to utilize said licensed program is minimized.

7. The system for licensed program management according to claim 6, further including a usage limit program that initially establishes a usage limit specifying the maximum number of permitted uses of a licensed program at each of said plurality of local systems within said distributed data processing system.

8. The system for licensed program management according to claim 7, further including a token count program that establishes an initial use token count at each local system within said distributed data processing system.

9. The system for licensed program management according to claim 8, further including an incrementing program that increments said initial use token count at a particular local system within said distributed data processing system in response to an automatic redistribution of a use token to said particular local system within said distributed data processing system.

10. The system for licensed program management according to claim 8, further including a decrementing program that decrements said initial use token count at a particular local system within said distributed data processing system in response to an automatic redistribution of a use token from said particular local system within said distributed data processing system.

11. A computer program product for licensed program management within a distributed data processing network having a plurality of local systems, said computer program product adapted to be utilized within said distributed data processing system, said computer product comprising:

a license distribution program within said distributed data processing system that initially distributes a plurality of use tokens within said distributed data processing system, each of said plurality of use tokens indicative of a permitted use of a licensed program;

a use count program that maintains a local use count at each local system within said distributed data processing system, each local use count specifying the current number of permitted uses of said licensed Program at an associated local system within said distributed data processing system;

a redistribution program within said distributed data processing system that periodically redistributes at least one of said plurality of use tokens to a particular system within said distributed data processing system in response to a requested usage of said licensed program at said particular system comprising;

a use request program that requests a use token redistribution to said particular local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to a local use count for said particular local system being greater than or equal to the sum of a usage limit and a use token count for said particular local system;

a use transfer program that permits a use token redistribution from a selected local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to said local use count for said selected local system being less than the sum of said usage limit and said use token count for said selected local system; and

a use token maintenance program within said distributed data processing system that maintains said at least one of said plurality of use tokens at said particular system within said distributed data processing system upon completion of said usage of said licensed program at said particular system wherein network communication traffic in response to requests to utilize said licensed program is minimized.

12. A method of transmitting a program product from a first computer system to a distributed data processing network, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between said first computer system and said distributed data processing network; and

transmitting said program product from said first computer system to said distributed data processing network, said program product comprising;

a license distribution program within said distributed data processing system that initially distributes a plurality of use tokens within said distributed data processing system, each of said plurality of use tokens indicative of a permitted use of a licensed program;

a use count program that maintains a local use count at each local system within said distributed data processing system, each local use count specifying the current number of permitted uses of said licensed program at an associated local system within said distributed data processing system;

a redistribution program within said distributed data processing system that periodically redistributes at least one of said plurality of use tokens to a particular system within said distributed data processing system in response to a requested usage of said licensed program at said particular system comprising;

a use request program that requests a use token redistribution to said particular local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to a local use count for said particular local system being greater than or equal to the sum of a usage limit and a use token count for said Particular local system;

a use transfer program that permits a use token redistribution from a selected local system within said distributed data processing system solely in response to said local use count for said selected local system being less than the sum of said usage limit and said use token count for said selected local system; and

a use token maintenance program within said distributed data processing system that maintains said at least one of said plurality of use tokens at said particular system within said distributed data processing system upon completion of said usage of said licensed program at said particular system wherein network communication traffic in response to requests to utilize said licensed program is minimized.