Systems and methods for providing computing device counts

• US 8,583,500 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hardy, Michael, DeCastra, John
• Primary Examiner(s): DIXON, THOMAS A
• Application Number:
  US11/832,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/22
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing computing device counts are disclosed. Exemplary methods include providing a count of computing devices corresponding to an organization, the count of computing devices being responsive to data corresponding to the computing devices, providing a time period for which the count is valid, and providing information on how the computing device count was determined.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing computing device counts, comprising:

auditing computing devices executing a software program under license from a software provider;

retrieving computing device records associated with an organization that are stored in memory;

filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with the software program;

counting servers associated with the organization that store the software program to provide a numerical count of computing devices executing the software program;

counting mobile devices associated with the organization that store the software program to provide the numerical count of the computing devices executing the software program;

determining replacement of one of the computing devices executing the software program;

identifying a replacement device that replaces the one of the computing devices;

identifying both the one of the computing devices and the replacement device in the computing device records;

identifying a double-count between the one of the computing devices and the replacement device in the computing device records;

adjusting the double-count in the numerical count of computing devices;

providing a time period for which the numerical count is valid;

providing information on how the numerical count was determined;

publishing the numerical count to a website; and

listing reports in the website for which the numerical count may be used.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising counting notebook computers associated with the organization that store the software program to provide the numerical count of the computing devices executing the software program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with a version of the software program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with an operating system that executes the software program.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting the time period to the website.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting a date to the website on which the numerical count was generated.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing an amount responsive to the numerical count.

8. A system for providing computing device counts, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

auditing computing devices executing a software program under license from a software provider;

retrieving computing device records associated with an organization;

filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with the software program;

counting servers associated with the organization that store the software program to provide a numerical count of computing devices executing the software program;

counting mobile devices associated with the organization that store the software program to provide the numerical count of the computing devices executing the software program;

determining replacement of one of the computing devices executing the software program;

identifying a replacement device that replaces the one of the computing devices;

identifying both the one of the computing devices and the replacement device in the computing device records;

identifying a double-count between the one of the computing devices and the replacement device in the computing device records;

adjusting the double-count in the numerical count of computing devices;

providing a time period for which the numerical count is valid;

providing information on how the numerical count was determined;

publishing the numerical count to a website; and

listing reports in the website for which the numerical count may be used.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise counting notebook computers associated with the organization that store the software program to provide the numerical count of the computing devices executing the software program.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with a version of the software program.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with an operating system that executes the software program.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise reporting the time period to the website.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise reporting a date on which the numerical count was generated.

14. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

auditing computing devices executing a software program under license from a software provider;

retrieving computing device records from memory that are associated with an organization;

filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with the software program;

counting servers described in filtered computing device records that store the software program to provide a numerical count of computing devices executing the software program;

counting mobile devices described in the filtered computing device records that store the software program to provide the numerical count of the computing devices executing the software program;

determining replacement of one of the computing devices executing the software program;

identifying a replacement device that replaces the one of the computing devices;

identifying both the one of the computing devices and the replacement device in the computing device records;

identifying a double-count between the one of the computing devices and the replacement device in the computing device records;

adjusting the double-count in the numerical count of computing devices;

providing a time period for which the numerical count is valid;

providing information on how the numerical count was determined;

publishing the numerical count to a website; and

listing reports in the website for which the numerical count may be used.

15. The memory of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise counting notebook computers described in the filtered computing device records that store the software program to provide the numerical count of the computing devices executing the software program.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise instructions for filtering the computing device records to remove records not associated with a version of the software program.

17. The memory of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise billing an amount responsive to the numerical count.