Prepaid licensing system and method

• US 20050165693A1
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Moritzen, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

A prepaid licensing method permits the prepaid licensing of software on a machine in a secure manner. The method includes storing information for licensing at least one prepaid use of software on a machine. The information, which can be in the form of a software option, includes unique and unchangeable information identifying the machine, and information for measuring a number of uses of the software on the machine. The method includes locally granting a license for the number of prepaid uses of the software on the machine, based upon the stored information.

Claims

1. A prepaid licensing system, comprising:

a storage medium including information for licensing at least one use of software on a machine, the information including unique and unchangeable information identifying the machine and information for measuring a number of uses of the software on the machine; and

a device, adapted to locally grant a license for the number of prepaid uses of the software on the machine based upon the information stored in the storage medium.

2. The prepaid licensing system of claim 1, wherein the device is further adapted to count a number of uses of the software on the machine.

3. The prepaid licensing system of claim 2, wherein the device is further adapted to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon the count reaching zero.

4. The prepaid licensing system of claim 1, wherein the device is further adapted to check validity of the software license during at least one of start-up, shut-down, and operation of the machine.

5. The prepaid licensing system of claim 1, wherein the device is further adapted to compare the unique and unchangeable information to stored information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

6. The prepaid licensing system of claim 5, wherein the device is adapted to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

7. The prepaid licensing system of claim 3, wherein the device is further adapted to compare the unique and unchangeable information to s stored information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

8. The prepaid licensing system of claim 7, wherein the device is adapted to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

9. The prepaid licensing system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the information stored in the storage medium is encrypted.

10. The prepaid licensing system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the information stored on the storage medium is encrypted.

11. The prepaid licensing system of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the information stored on the storage medium is encrypted.

12. The prepaid licensing system of claim 1, wherein the machine is a medical device.

13. The prepaid licensing system of claim 3, wherein the machine is a medical device.

14. The prepaid licensing system of claim 8, wherein the machine is a medical device.

15. A machine including the prepaid licensing system of claim 1.

75. The system of claim 1, wherein the information on storage medium is a software option.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the storage medium stores both the software and the software option.

16. A computer-readable medium, comprising:

a first code segment including information for licensing at least one use of software on a machine, the information including unique and unchangeable information identifying the machine, and information for measuring a number of uses of the machine; and

a second code segment, adapted to cause a computer device to locally grant a license for the number of prepaid uses of the software on the machine based upon the information stored in the storage medium.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to count a number of uses of software on the machine.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon the count reaching zero.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to check validity of the software license during at least one of start-up, shut-down, and operation of the machine.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to compare the stored unique and unchangeable information to actual information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to compare the stored unique and unchangeable information to actual information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the information stored on the storage medium is encrypted.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the information stored on the storage medium is encrypted.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the information stored on the storage medium is encrypted.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the machine is a medical device.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the machine is a medical device.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the machine is a medical device.

77. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the information is a software option.

30. A prepaid licensing method, comprising:

storing information for licensing at least one prepaid use of software on a machine, the information including unique and unchangeable information identifying the machine, and information for measuring a number of uses of the software on the machine; and

locally granting a license for the number of prepaid uses of the software on the machine, based upon the stored information.

31. The prepaid licensing method of claim 30, wherein the step of locally granting the license includes counting a number of uses of the software on the machine.

32. The prepaid licensing method of claim 31, further comprising:

prohibiting operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon the count reaching zero.

33. The prepaid licensing method of claim 30, further comprising:

checking validity of the software license during at least one of start-up, shut-down, and operation of the machine.

34. The prepaid licensing method of claim 30, wherein the step of locally granting the license includes comparing the stored unique and unchangeable information to actual information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

35. The prepaid licensing method of claim 34, further comprising:

prohibiting operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

36. The prepaid licensing method of claim 32, wherein the step of locally granting the license includes comparing the stored unique and unchangeable information to actual information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

37. The prepaid licensing method of claim 36, further comprising:

prohibiting operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

38. The prepaid licensing method of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the stored information is encrypted.

39. The prepaid licensing method of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of the stored information is encrypted.

40. The prepaid licensing method of claim 37, wherein at least a portion of the stored information is encrypted.

41. The prepaid licensing method of claim 30, wherein the machine is a medical device.

42. The prepaid licensing method of claim 32, wherein the machine is a medical device.

43. The prepaid licensing method of claim 38, wherein the machine is a medical device.

78. The method of claim 30, wherein the information is a software option.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein both the software and the software option are stored.

83. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein both the software and the software option are stored.

84. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining a number of uses of the software remaining.

85. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining a number of uses of the software remaining and indicating the number of remaining uses on the machine.

86. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining a number of uses of the software remaining and providing an indication on the machine upon determining that the number of remaining uses exceeds a threshold.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the indication includes a visual indication.

88. The method of claim 85, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

89. The method of claim 86, wherein the indication includes a visual indication.

90. The method of claim 86, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

44. A method for granting a prepaid license on a machine, comprising:

examining information for licensing prepaid use of software on a designated machine, including a number of prepaid uses and unique and unchangeable information identifying the designated machine;

comparing information identifying a machine to the unique and unchangeable information identifying the designated machine;

determining a number of uses of the software on the machine and comparing the number of uses to the number of prepaid uses; and

granting the license for use of the software on the machine for the number of prepaid uses remaining upon the information identifying the machine matching the unique and unchangeable information identifying the designated machine and upon the number of uses being determined to be less than the number of prepaid uses.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

prohibiting operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon the number of uses being determined to be at least equal to the number of prepaid uses.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

examining validity of the software license during at least one of start-up, shut-down, and operation of the machine.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

prohibiting operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the information to be examined is encrypted.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the information to be examined is stored and encrypted.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the machine is a medical device.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising determining a number of uses of the software remaining.

52. The method of claim 45, further comprising determining a number of uses of the software remaining and indicating the number of remaining uses on the machine.

53. The method of claim 45, further comprising determining a number of uses of the software remaining and providing an indication on the machine upon determining that the number of remaining uses exceeds a threshold.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the indication includes a visual indication.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the indication includes a visual indication.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

80. The method of claim 44, wherein the information is a software option.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein both the software and the software option are stored.

60. An apparatus for granting a prepaid license on a machine, comprising:

means for examining information for licensing prepaid use of software on a designated machine, including a number of prepaid uses and unique and unchangeable information identifying the designated machine;

means for comparing information identifying a machine to the unique and unchangeable information identifying the designated machine;

means for determining a number of uses of the software on the machine and comparing the number of uses to the number of prepaid uses; and

means for granting the license for use of the software on the machine for the number of prepaid uses remaining upon the information identifying the machine matching the unique and unchangeable information identifying the designated machine and upon the number of uses being determined to be less than the number of prepaid uses.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:

means for examining validity of the software license during at least one of start-up, shut-down, and operation of the machine.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:

means for prohibiting operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

63. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least a portion of the information to be examined is encrypted.

64. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least a portion of the information to be examined is stored and encrypted.

65. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the machine is a medical device.

66. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for determining is further for determining a number of uses of the software remaining.

67. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for determining is further for determining a number of uses of the software remaining, the apparatus further comprising means for indicating the number of remaining uses on the machine.

68. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for determining is further for determining a number of uses of the software remaining, the apparatus further comprising means for providing an indication on the machine, upon determining that the number of remaining uses exceeds a threshold.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the indication includes a visual indication.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the indication includes a visual indication.

71. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

72. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

73. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

74. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the indication includes an audible indication.

82. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the information is a software option.

91. A computer signal, comprising:

a first code segment including information for licensing at least one use of software on a machine, the information including unique and unchangeable information identifying the machine, and information for measuring a number of uses of the machine; and

a second code segment, adapted to cause a computer device to locally grant a license for the number of prepaid uses of the software on the machine based upon the information stored in the storage medium.

92. The computer signal of claim 91, embodied on a carrier wave.

93. The computer signal of claim 91, embodied in an email.

94. The computer signal of claim 91, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to count a number of uses of software on the machine.

95. The computer signal of claim 91, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon the count reaching zero.

96. The computer signal of claim 91, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to check validity of the software license during at least one of start-up, shut-down, and operation of the machine.

97. The computer signal of claim 91, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to compare the stored unique and unchangeable information to actual information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

98. The computer signal of claim 95, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

99. The computer signal of claim 93, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to compare the stored unique and unchangeable information to actual information identifying the machine on which the software will be used.

100. The computer signal of claim 97, wherein the second code segment is further adapted to cause the computer to prohibit operation of at least one of the software and the machine upon determining that the comparison does not match.

101. The computer signal of claim 91, wherein at least a portion of the information is encrypted.

102. The computer signal of claim 91, wherein the machine is a medical device.