Licensing controller using network directory services
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing licensing of a resource over a network, using a directory services system, the apparatus comprising:
- a network comprising interconnected computers;
a processor in the network for executing executable data structures;
a memory device operably connected to the processor for storing the executable data structures and operational data structures associated therewith, the executable and operational data structures comprising;
a directory services system for storing and managing attributes of directory services objects and relationships between the directory services objects;
a resource object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to a resource selectively available to be licensed over the network;
a licensing attribute stored in the directory services system and effective to license use of the resource.a consumer object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to an entity for using the resource in accordance with the selected licensing attribute.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A directory services system includes a resource object, such as an application object for accessing a resource associated with the resource object. Attributes of the resource object contain licensing control information. The licensing attributes may be used by executables to control access by a user to properly licensed instances of a resource corresponding to the resource object. Also, a utility may be provided to manage the licensing attributes in the resource object. A licensing function may thus control a resource, via its resource object in the directory services database. Licensing maybe easily implemented by setting a new disabling attribute in the object.
152 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for managing licensing of a resource over a network, using a directory services system, the apparatus comprising:
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a network comprising interconnected computers; a processor in the network for executing executable data structures; a memory device operably connected to the processor for storing the executable data structures and operational data structures associated therewith, the executable and operational data structures comprising; a directory services system for storing and managing attributes of directory services objects and relationships between the directory services objects; a resource object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to a resource selectively available to be licensed over the network; a licensing attribute stored in the directory services system and effective to license use of the resource. a consumer object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to an entity for using the resource in accordance with the selected licensing attribute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for managing licensing of a resource over a network, the method comprising:
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providing a directory services system for managing and relating objects having directory services attributes; providing a resource object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to a resource; providing a consumer object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to a consuming entity for using the resource; providing a licensing attribute in the directory services attributes; and providing licensing executables for using the licensing attribute to control licensing of the resource by the consuming entity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification