Software license reporting and control system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network, comprising:
- collecting information relating to at least one application program from a plurality of computers utilizing a network; and
reporting the information to a user, wherein the information is used to manage licenses associated with the application program;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is uninstalled on the computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is installed on other computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network. Initially, information is collected relating to at least one application program from a plurality of computers utilizing a network. Next, the information is reported to a user. Such information is then used to manage licenses associated with the application program.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network, comprising:
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collecting information relating to at least one application program from a plurality of computers utilizing a network; and
reporting the information to a user, wherein the information is used to manage licenses associated with the application program;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is uninstalled on the computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is installed on other computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24)
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18. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network, comprising:
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computer code for collecting information relating to at least one application program from a plurality of computers utilizing a network; and
computer code for reporting the information to a user;
wherein the information is used to manage licenses associated with the application program;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the commuters;
wherein the application program is uninstalled on the computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is installed on other computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program.
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19. A system for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network, comprising:
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a desktop manager coupled to a plurality of computers via a network for collecting information relating to at least one application program from the computers, and reporting the information to a user;
wherein the information is used to manage licenses associated with the application program;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is uninstalled on the computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is installed on other computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program.
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20. A system for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network, comprising:
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means for collecting information relating to at least one application program from a plurality of computers utilizing a network; and
means for reporting the information to a user;
wherein the information is used to manage licenses associated with the application program;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed but at least in pan unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is uninstalled on the computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the application program is installed on other computers if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
wherein the information is used to identify whether the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program.
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21. A method for managing licenses associated with an application program utilizing a network, comprising:
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receiving collection instructions from a user utilizing a desktop manager interface;
collecting information relating to at least one application program from a plurality of computers utilizing a network in accordance with the collection instructions, wherein the information includes a list of computers from which the information was collected, an indication as to whether the application program is installed on the computers, an indication as to whether the application program was used on the computers, an indication as to who used the application program on the computers, and an indication as to a duration of use of the application program on the computers;
storing the information;
generating a report template;
reporting the information to the user by populating the report template with the information;
based on the reporting, determining whether the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
if it is determined that the application program is installed but at least in part unused on the computers;
uninstalling the application program from the computers, and installing the application program on other computers;
based on the reporting, determining whether the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program; and
if it is determined that the application program is installed on a first number of the computers that exceeds a second number of licenses for the application program;
at least one of uninstalling the application program from the computers and purchasing additional licenses.
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Specification