Network information system with license registration and method of operation thereof

• US 9,798,866 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClevX LLC
• Original Assignee: ClevX LLC
• Inventors: Lemelev, Alex, Bolotin, Lev M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chai, Longbit
• Application Number:
  US15/377,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20170091430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 726 30
• 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 21/107 License processing; Key processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/128 involving web programs, i.e. using technology especially used in internet, generally interacting with a web browser, e.g. hypertext markup language [HTML], applets, java
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A network information system, and a method of operation thereof, includes: an extraction module for extracting a unique device identification for sending to an e-commerce server, wherein the unique device identification is extracted from a network-connected device with a software application installed and not activated on the network-connected device; a settlement process module, coupled to the extraction module, for generating a notification based on the unique device identification for sending to a license server; and a key generation module, coupled to the settlement process module, for generating a product key for the unique device identification based on the notification for activating the software application to run on a computing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, at a network device having a hardware processor, an activation request for activating an application installed in the network device;

accessing a unique device identification stored in the network device, the unique device identification being unique to the network device to distinguish the network device from other network devices;

sending, from the network device, a request to a license server for a product key to activate the installed network device application, the request including the unique device identification stored in the network device; and

in response to receiving the product key generated by the license server based on the unique device identification included in the request, activating the installed network device application.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request is sent from the network device via a network connection of the network device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request is sent via a network connection of a computing device when the network device is connected to the computing device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation request is detected when an input is received at the network device, the input being a physical input entered in the network device or the input being received via a user interface on the network device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation request is detected when the network device is initialized.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the network device is connected to a computing device; and

enabling a user interface to be presented on the computing device, wherein the computing device reads program instructions in the network device for presenting the user interface, wherein the user interface provides communication capabilities with an e-commerce server for purchasing a license with a time limit for the network device or purchasing a license without a time limit.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein sending the request further comprises:

encrypting the unique device identification; and

sending the encrypted unique device identification to the license server.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the unique device identification is stored in the network device before the network device is used for a first time.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the license server generates the product key based on a product identification, a vendor identification, a revision identifier of the network device, or any combination of thereof.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message from the license server redirecting a user to an e-commerce server for purchasing a license for the application.

11. A network device comprising:

a memory comprising;

instructions;

an application; and

a unique device identification that is unique to the network device to distinguish the network device from other network devices; and

one or more computer processor devices, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computer processor devices, cause the one or more computer processor devices to perform operations comprising;

detecting, at the network device, an activation request for activating the application installed in the network device;

accessing the unique device identification from the memory of the network device;

sending, from the network device, a request to a license server for a product key to activate the installed network device application, the request including the unique device identification stored in the network device; and

in response to receiving the product key generated by the license server based on the unique device identification included in the request, activating the installed network device application.

12. The network device as recited in claim 11, wherein the request is sent from the network device via a network connection of the network device.

13. The network device as recited in claim 11, wherein the request is sent via a network connection of a computing device when the network device is connected to the computing device.

14. The network device as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:

detecting that the network device is connected to a computing device; and

enabling a user interface to be presented on the computing device, wherein the computing device reads program instructions in the network device for presenting the user interface, wherein the user interface provides communication capabilities with an e-commerce server for purchasing a license with a time limit for the network device or purchasing a license without a time limit.

15. The network device as recited in claim 11, wherein the unique device identification is stored in the network device before the network device is used for a first time.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

detecting, at a network device having a hardware processor, an activation request for activating an application installed in the network device;

accessing a unique device identification stored in the network device, the unique device identification being unique to the network device to distinguish the network device from other network devices;

sending, from the network device, a request to a license server for a product key to activate the installed network device application, the request including the unique device identification stored in the network device; and

in response to receiving the product key generated by the license server based on the unique device identification included in the request, activating the installed network device application.

17. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the request is sent from the network device via a network connection of the network device.

18. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the request is sent via a network connection of a computing device when the network device is connected to the computing device.

19. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the machine further performs operations comprising:

detecting that the network device is connected to a computing device; and

enabling a user interface to be presented on the computing device, wherein the computing device reads program instructions in the network device for presenting the user interface, wherein the user interface provides communication capabilities with an e-commerce server for purchasing a license with a time limit for the network device or purchasing a license without a time limit.

20. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein sending the request further comprises:

encrypting the unique device identification; and

sending the encrypted unique device identification to the license server.