System for Managing a License Associated with a Molding Structure

• US 20090192835A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited
• Inventors: BAUMANN, Martin H., Gow, Geoffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/018,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

Disclosed, amongst other things, is a method executable in an asset management entity associated with a proprietor of the molding structure, a method executable in a supervisory entity associated with the molding structure, the asset management entity, and the supervisory entity, amongst other things. The asset management entity includes a computing apparatus. A license management module is associated with the computing apparatus. The supervisory entity includes a computing device. The computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a receiving operation, over a communication network, to receive an indication of a parameter of a license associated with the molding structure from the supervisory entity. The license management module is configured to execute, in use, a generating operation, to generate a command signal in accordance with the indication. The command signal is for causing the supervisory entity to execute an operation in accordance with the license.

Claims

1. A method executable in an asset management entity that includes a license management module, the asset management entity being associated with a proprietor of a molding structure, the molding structure for use by a molding material converter, the method comprising:

a receiving operation, including receiving, over a communication network, an indication of a parameter of a license associated with the molding structure from a supervisory entity associated with the molding structure;

a generating operation, including generating a command signal in accordance with the indication, the command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute an operation in accordance with the license;

a transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, the command signal to the supervisory entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the operation in accordance with the license is one of a locking operation or an unlocking operation of the molding structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving of the indication of the parameter of the license comprises receiving an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing;

the generating the command signal in accordance with the indication comprises generating an unlock command signal in accordance with the account indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing in association with the molding material converter having paid the proprietor for a number of cycles that the molding structure was operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving of the indication of the parameter of the license comprises receiving an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears;

the generating the command signal in accordance with the indication comprises generating a lock command signal in accordance with the account indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears in association with the molding material converter having not paid the proprietor for a total number of cycles that the molding structure was operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the molding structure is at least a portion of one of;

an injection molding machine, a hot runner, a mold, a post-mold device, an auxiliary molding device, a controller, and a computer-readable product including controller executable instructions for performing a molding operation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset management entity further includes a configurating module, and wherein, prior to the receiving operation 402, the method further comprises:

a demand receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a demand indication from the molding material converter, the demand indication is indicative of a demand for the molding structure in accordance with a molding structure specification;

a build generating operation, including generating a build command signal in response to the demand indication, the build command signal for causing a manufacturing entity associated with the proprietor to configure the molding structure in accordance with the molding structure specification;

a build transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, the build command signal to the manufacturing entity;

a completion receiving operation, including receiving over the communication network, a completion indication from the manufacturing entity that the molding structure is ready for deploying to the molding material converter;

a deploy generating operation, including generating a deploy command signal in response to the completion indication for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to deploy the molding structure to the molding material converter;

a deploy transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, the deploy command signal to the service entity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the receiving of the indication of the parameter of the license comprises receiving an acceptance indication of an acceptance parameter of the license, the acceptance indication is indicative of the molding structure, and the license associated therewith, having been accepted by the molding material converter;

the generating the command signal in accordance with the indication comprises generating an unlock command signal in accordance with the acceptance indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

an initialize generating operation in accordance with the acceptance indication, including generating a register-initialize command signal for causing an initializing of;

a client register of the supervisory entity, the client register for storing a count of a number of cycles that the molding structure has been operated by the molding material converter over a period of time;

a master register of the license management module, the master register for storing the count and the period of time receivable from the supervisory entity;

an initialize transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, the register-initialize command signal to the supervisory entity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

a period-report receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a period-report indication of a report parameter of the license from the supervisory entity, the period-report indication is indicative of the count from the client register over the period of time;

a store generating operation, including generating a store command signal in response to the period-report indication, the store command signal for causing storing of the count and the period of time in the master register.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the period-report indication is generatable in the supervisory entity in response to at least one of the count and the period of time reaching predefined values of a reporting count threshold and a reporting time threshold, respectively.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the asset management entity further includes a proprietor billing module, the method further comprising:

a period-bill generating operation, including generating a period-bill command signal in response to the store command signal, the period-bill command signal for causing a calculating of a period amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor, the calculating based on at least one of the count and the period of time stored in the master register and a compensation parameter of the license;

a period-bill transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, a period-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the period-bill request signal is indicative of the period amount of the currency due and terms of payment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the compensation parameter of the license is a specified amount of the currency for each cycle of the molding structure taken by the molding material converter.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a cycle-credit receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a cycle-credit indication of the report parameter of the license from the supervisory entity, the cycle-credit indication is indicative of a cycle-credit count for which the molding material converter is not responsible;

a adjusted-bill generating operation, including generating the period-bill command signal includes the calculating further based on subtracting the cycle-credit count from the count.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the compensation parameter of the license is a specified amount of the currency for a unit of time that the molding structure is with the molding material converter.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a period-payment receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a period-payment indication of the compensation parameter of the license from a proprietor financial entity, the period-payment indication is indicative that the period amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

a renew generating operation, including generating a renew command signal in accordance with the period-payment indication for causing an indexing of the master register for an indexed storing of the count and the period of time subsequently receivable from the supervisory entity.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a decommission receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a decommission indication from the molding material converter, the decommission indication is indicative of the molding structure being decommissioned by the molding material converter;

a recovery generating operation, including generating a recovery command signal in response to the decommission indication for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to recover the molding structure from the molding material converter.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

a recovery receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a recovery indication from the service entity, the recovery indication is indicative of a recovery of the molding structure by the proprietor;

an inspect generating operation, including generating an inspect command signal in response to the recovery indication, the inspect command signal for causing a manufacturing entity to inspect the molding structure for reusability;

an inspect transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, the inspect command signal to the manufacturing entity;

an inspect receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, an inspection indication from the manufacturing entity, the inspection indication is indicative of a refurbishment requirement of the molding structure.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

a refurbishment generating operation, including generating a refurbishment command signal in response to the inspection indication, the refurbishment command signal for causing the manufacturing entity to refurbish the molding structure, at least in part, in accordance with the refurbishment requirement;

a refurbishment receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a refurbishment indication from the manufacturing entity, the refurbishment indication is indicative of the molding structure, at least in part, having been refurbished in accordance with the refurbishment requirement.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a non-payment receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a non-payment indication of the compensation parameter of the license from a proprietor financial entity, the non-payment indication is indicative that the period amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has not been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

a lock generating operation, including generating a lock command signal in accordance with the non-payment indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with a penalty parameter of the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable and thereby suspending the license;

a penalty-bill generating operation, including generating a penalty-bill command signal in response to the non-payment indication, the penalty-bill command signal for causing a calculation of a penalty amount of the currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor in accordance with the terms of the license;

a penalty-bill transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, a penalty-bill request signal to the molding material converter financial entity, the penalty-bill request signal is indicative of the penalty amount of the currency due and the terms of payment.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

a penalty-payment receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a penalty-payment indication from the proprietor financial entity, the penalty-payment indication is indicative that the penalty amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

a renew generating operation, including generating a renew command signal in accordance with the penalty-payment indication for causing an indexing of the master register for storing the count and the period of time subsequently receivable from the supervisory entity;

a unlock generating operation, including generating the unlock command signal in accordance with the penalty-payment indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is the unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

23. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a summary generating operation, including generating a summary command signal in response to the store command signal, the summary command signal for causing a calculating of;

a total cycle count based on a sum of the count indexed in the master register since the master register was initialized;

a total service time based on a further sum of the period of time entries indexed in the master register since the master register was initialized;

a lock generating operation, including generating a lock command signal in accordance with at least one of;

the total cycle count reaching a maximum service count parameter associated with the license; and

the total service time reaching a maximum service time parameter associated with the license;

the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable thereby canceling the license.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the asset management entity further includes a proprietor billing module, the method further comprising:

a sale generating operation, including generating a sale command signal, the sale command signal for causing a calculating of a residual amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor in order to purchase the molding structure in accordance with a residual-value parameter of the license;

a residual-bill transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, a residual-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the residual-bill request signal is indicative of the residual amount of the currency.

25. The method of claim 9, wherein the asset management entity further includes a proprietor billing module, the method further comprising:

an install-bill generating operation, including generating an install-bill command signal in response to the acceptance indication, the install-bill command signal for causing a calculating of an installation amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor for an installation of the molding structure at the molding material converter by the proprietor;

a install-bill transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, an install-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the install-bill request signal is indicative of the installation amount of the currency due and terms of payment.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a maintenance receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a maintenance indication from the supervisory entity, the maintenance indication is indicative of a maintenance requirement of the molding structure;

a maintenance generating operation, including generating a maintenance command signal in response to the maintenance indication, the maintenance command signal for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to service the molding structure in accordance with the maintenance requirement;

a maintenance transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, the maintenance command signal to the service entity.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

a lock generating operation, including generating a lock command signal in accordance with the maintenance indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable and thereby preventing damage to the molding structure;

a serviced receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a serviced indication from the service entity, the serviced indication is indicative of the maintenance requirement of the molding structure having been addressed;

a unlock generating operation, including generating an unlock command signal in accordance with the serviced indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the asset management entity further includes a proprietor billing module, the method further comprising:

a maintenance-bill generating operation, including generating a maintenance-bill command signal in response to the serviced indication, the maintenance-bill command signal for causing a calculating of a maintenance amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor for addressing the maintenance requirement of the molding structure in accordance with a maintenance parameter of the license;

a maintenance-bill transmitting operation, including transmitting, over the communication network, a maintenance-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the maintenance-bill request signal is indicative of the maintenance amount of the currency due and terms of payment.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

a maintenance-payment receiving operation, including receiving, over the communication network, a maintenance-payment indication of the parameter of the license from a proprietor financial entity, the maintenance-payment indication is indicative that the maintenance amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has not been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

a further lock generating operation, including generating the lock command signal in accordance with the maintenance-payment indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is the locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with a penalty parameter of the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable.

30. A method executable in a supervisory entity associated with a molding structure for use by a molding material converter, the method comprising:

a sending operation, including sending, over a communication network, an indication of a parameter of a license associated with the molding structure to an asset management entity that includes a license management module, the asset management entity being associated with a proprietor of the molding structure;

an accepting operation, including accepting, over the communication network, a command signal from the asset management entity, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication;

a producing operation, including producing an operation signal in accordance with the command signal for causing the molding structure to execute an operation in accordance with the license.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the operation in accordance with the license is one of a locking operation or an unlocking operation of the molding structure.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the sending of the indication of the parameter of the license comprises sending an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing;

the accepting the command signal from the asset management entity comprises accepting an unlock command signal in accordance with the account indication, and wherein, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication comprises the unlock command signal being generatable in accordance with the account indication;

the producing the operation signal in accordance with the command signal comprises producing an unlocking operation signal in accordance with the unlock command signal, the unlocking operation signal for causing the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein:

the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing in association with the molding material converter having paid the proprietor for a number of cycles that the molding structure was operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the sending of the indication of the parameter of the license comprises sending an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears;

the accepting the command signal from the asset management entity comprises accepting a lock command signal in accordance with the account indication, and wherein, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication comprises the lock command signal being generatable in accordance with the account indication;

the producing the operation signal in accordance with the command signal comprises producing a locking operation signal in accordance with the lock command signal, the locking operation signal for causing the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein:

the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears in association with the molding material converter having not paid the proprietor for a total number of cycles that the molding structure was operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the molding structure is at least a portion of one of;

an injection molding machine, a hot runner, a mold, a post-mold device, an auxiliary molding device, a controller, and a computer-readable product including controller executable instructions for performing a molding operation.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the sending of the indication of the parameter of the license comprises sending an acceptance indication of an acceptance parameter of the license, the acceptance indication is indicative of the molding structure, and the license associated therewith, having been accepted by the molding material converter;

the accepting the command signal from the asset management entity comprises accepting an unlock command signal in accordance with the acceptance indication, and wherein, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication comprises the unlock command signal being generatable in accordance with the acceptance indication;

the producing the operation signal in accordance with the command signal comprises producing an unlocking operation signal in accordance with the unlock command signal, the unlocking operation signal for causing the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

an initialize accepting operation, including accepting, over the communication network, a register-initialize command signal from the asset management entity;

an initialize producing operation, including producing a client register-initialize operation signal for causing an initializing of a client register of the supervisory entity, the client register for storing a count of a number of cycles that the molding structure has been operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

a period-report producing operation, including producing a period-report indication of a report parameter of the license, the period-report indication is indicative of the count from the client register over the period of time;

a period-report sending operation, including sending, over the communication network, the period-report indication to the asset management entity for causing a store command signal to be generated in the asset management entity in response to the period-report indication, the store command signal for causing storing of the count and the period of time in a master register of the license management module.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the producing the period-report indication is in response to at least one of the count and the period of time reaching predefined values of a reporting count threshold and a reporting time threshold, respectively.

41. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

a decommission producing operation, including producing a decommission indication, the decommission indication is indicative of the molding structure being decommissioned by the molding material converter;

a decommission sending operation, including sending, over the communication network, the decommission indication to the asset management entity for causing a recovery command signal to be generated in the asset management entity in response to the decommission indication for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to recover the molding structure from the molding material converter.

42. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

a monitor accepting operation, including accepting a monitor signal from a sensor associated with the molding structure, the monitor signal is indicative of a maintenance requirement of the molding structure;

a maintenance producing operation, including producing a maintenance indication in response to the monitor signal, the maintenance indication is indicative of the maintenance requirement of the molding structure;

a maintenance sending operation, including sending, over the communication network, the maintenance indication to the asset management entity for causing a maintenance command signal to be generated in the asset management entity in response to the maintenance indication, the maintenance command signal for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to service the molding structure in accordance with the maintenance requirement.

43. An asset management entity being associated with a proprietor of a molding structure, the molding structure for use by a molding material converter, the asset management entity comprising:

a computing apparatus;

a computing apparatus interface associated with the computing apparatus, the computing apparatus interface is configured to operatively couple, in use, the computing apparatus to a communication network for communications with a supervisory entity associated with the molding structure;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a receiving operation, over the communication network, to receive an indication of a parameter of a license associated with the molding structure from the supervisory entity;

a license management module associated with the computing apparatus, the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a generating operation, to generate a command signal in accordance with the indication, the command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute an operation in accordance with the license;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a transmitting operation, to transmit, over the communication network, the command signal to the supervisory entity.

44. The asset management entity of claim 43, wherein:

the command signal in accordance with the indication for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation in accordance with the license that is a locking operation or an unlocking operation of the molding structure.

45. The asset management entity of claim 43, wherein:

the indication of the parameter of the license comprises an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing;

the command signal in accordance with the indication comprises an unlock command signal in accordance with the account indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

46. The asset management entity of claim 45, wherein:

the license management module generates, in use, the unlock command signal when the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing in association with the molding material converter having paid the proprietor for a total number of cycles that the molding structure was operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

47. The asset management entity of claim 43, wherein:

the indication of the parameter of the license comprises an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears;

the command signal in accordance with the indication comprises a lock command signal in accordance with the account indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable.

48. The asset management entity of claim 47, wherein:

the license management module generates, in use, the lock command signal when the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears in association with the molding material converter having not paid the proprietor for a total number of cycles that the molding structure was operated by the molding material converter over a period of time.

49. The asset management entity of claim 43, wherein:

the molding structure is at least a portion of one of;

an injection molding machine, a hot runner, a mold, a post-mold device, an auxiliary molding device, a controller, and a computer-readable product including controller executable instructions for performing a molding operation.

50. The asset management entity of claim 49, wherein:

the molding structure is configured in accordance with a flexible design.

51. The asset management entity of claim 43, further comprising:

a configurating module; and

wherein

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a demand receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a demand indication from the molding material converter, the demand indication is indicative of a demand for the molding structure in accordance with a molding structure specification;

the configurating module is configured to execute, in use, a build generating operation to generate a build command signal in response to the demand indication, the build command signal for causing a manufacturing entity associated with the proprietor to configure the molding structure in accordance with the molding structure specification;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a build transmitting operation to transmit over the communication network, the build command signal to the manufacturing entity;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a completion receiving operation to receive over the communication network, a completion indication from the manufacturing entity that the molding structure is ready for deploying to the molding material converter;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a deploy generating operation to generate a deploy command signal in response to the completion indication for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to deploy the molding structure to the molding material converter;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a deploy transmitting operation to transmit, in use, over the communication network, the deploy command signal to the service entity.

52. The asset management entity of claim 51, wherein:

the indication of the parameter of the license comprises an acceptance indication of an acceptance parameter of the license, the acceptance indication is indicative of the molding structure, and the license associated therewith, having been accepted by the molding material converter;

the command signal in accordance with the indication comprises an unlock command signal in accordance with the acceptance indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

53. The asset management entity of claim 52, further comprising:

a master register associated with the license management module, the master register is configured to store a count and a period of time receivable from a client register associated with the supervisory entity; and

wherein

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, an initialize generating operation in accordance with the acceptance indication to generate a register-initialize command signal for causing an initializing of;

the client register of the supervisory entity, the client register for storing the count of a number of cycles that the molding structure has been operated by the molding material converter over the period of time;

the master register;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, an initialize transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, the register-initialize command signal to the supervisory entity.

54. The asset management entity of claim 53, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a period-report receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a period-report indication of a report parameter of the license from the supervisory entity, the period-report indication is indicative of the count from the client register over the period of time;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a store generating operation to generate a store command signal in response to the period-report indication, the store command signal for causing storing of the count and the period of time in the master register.

55. The asset management entity of claim 54, further comprising:

a proprietor billing module; and

wherein

the proprietor billing module is configured to execute, in use, a period-bill generating operation to generate a period-bill command signal in response to the store command signal, the period-bill command signal for causing a calculation of a period amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor, the calculating based on at least one of the count and the period of time stored in the master register and a compensation parameter of the license;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a period-bill transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, a period-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the period-bill request signal is indicative of the period amount of the currency due and terms of payment.

56. The asset management entity of claim 55, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a cycle-credit receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a cycle-credit indication of the report parameter of the license from the supervisory entity, the cycle-credit indication is indicative of a cycle-credit count for which the molding material converter is not responsible;

the proprietor billing module is configured to execute, in use, adjusted-bill generating operation to generate the period-bill command signal wherein the calculation further based on subtracting the cycle-credit count from the count.

57. The asset management entity of claim 55, wherein:

the compensation parameter of the license is a specified amount of the currency for a unit of time that the molding structure is with the molding material converter.

58. The asset management entity of claim 55, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a period-payment receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a period-payment indication of the compensation parameter of the license from a proprietor financial entity, the period-payment indication is indicative that the period amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, an renew generating operation to generate a renew command signal in accordance with the period-payment indication for causing an indexing of the master register for an indexed storing of the count and the period of time subsequently receivable from the supervisory entity.

59. The asset management entity of claim 58, wherein

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a decommission receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a decommission indication from the molding material converter, the decommission indication is indicative of the molding structure being decommissioned by the molding material converter;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a recovery generating operation to generate a recovery command signal in response to the decommission indication for causing the service entity associated with the proprietor to recover the molding structure from the molding material converter.

60. The asset management entity of claim 59, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a recovery receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a recovery indication from the service entity, the recovery indication is indicative of a recovery of the molding structure by the proprietor;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, inspect generating operation to generate an inspect command signal in response to the recovery indication, the inspect command signal for causing the manufacturing entity to inspect the molding structure for reusability;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, an inspect transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, the inspect command signal to the manufacturing entity;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a inspection receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, an inspection indication from the manufacturing entity, the inspection indication is indicative of a refurbishment requirement of the molding structure.

61. The asset management entity of claim 60, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a refurbishment generating operation to generate a refurbishment command signal in response to the inspection indication, the refurbishment command signal for causing the manufacturing entity to refurbish the molding structure, at least in part, in accordance with the refurbishment requirement;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a refurbishment receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a refurbishment indication from the manufacturing entity, the refurbishment indication is indicative of the molding structure, at least in part, having been refurbished in accordance with the refurbishment requirement.

62. The asset management entity of claim 55, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a non-payment receiving indication to receive, over the communication network, a non-payment indication of the compensation parameter of the license from a proprietor financial entity, the non-payment indication is indicative that the period amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has not been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a lock generating operation to generate a lock command signal in accordance with the non-payment indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with a penalty parameter of the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable and thereby suspending the license;

the proprietor billing module is configured to execute, in use, penalty-bill generating operation to generate a penalty-bill command signal in response to the non-payment indication, the penalty-bill command signal for causing the calculation of a penalty amount of the currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor in accordance with the terms of the license;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a penalty-bill transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, a penalty-bill request signal to the molding material converter financial entity, the penalty-bill request signal is indicative of the penalty amount of the currency due and the terms of payment.

63. The asset management entity of claim 62, wherein:

the proprietor billing module is configured to execute, in use, a penalty-payment receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a penalty-payment indication from the proprietor financial entity, the penalty-payment indication is indicative that the penalty amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a renew generating operation to generate a renew command signal in accordance with the penalty-payment indication for causing an indexing of the master register for storing the count and the period of time subsequently receivable from the supervisory entity;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a unlock generating operation to generate the unlock command signal in accordance with the penalty-payment indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is the unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

64. The asset management entity of claim 54, wherein:

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a summary generating operation to generate a summary command signal in response to the store command signal, the summary command signal for causing a calculating of;

a total cycle count based on a sum of the count indexed in the master register since the master register was initialized;

a total service time based on a further sum of the period of time entries indexed in the master register since the master register was initialized;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a lock generating operation to generate a lock command signal in accordance with at least one of;

the total cycle count reaching a maximum service count parameter associated with the license; and

the total service time reaching a maximum service time parameter associated with the license;

the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable thereby canceling the license.

65. The asset management entity of claim 64, further comprising:

a proprietor billing module; and

wherein

the proprietor billing module is configured to execute, in use, a sale generating operation to generate a sale command signal, the sale command signal for causing a calculating of a residual amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor in order to purchase the molding structure in accordance with a residual-value parameter of the license;

the computing apparatus is configured execute, in use, a residual-bill transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, a residual-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the residual-bill request signal is indicative of the residual amount of the currency.

66. The asset management entity of claim 44, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a maintenance indication from the supervisory entity, the maintenance indication is indicative of a maintenance requirement of the molding structure;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, maintenance generating operation to generate a maintenance command signal in response to the maintenance indication, the maintenance command signal for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to service the molding structure in accordance with the maintenance requirement;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, the maintenance command signal to the service entity.

67. The asset management entity of claim 66, wherein:

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a lock generating operation to generate a lock command signal in accordance with the maintenance indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is the locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable and thereby preventing damage to the molding structure;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a serviced receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a serviced indication from the service entity, the serviced indication is indicative of the maintenance requirement of the molding structure having been addressed;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a unlock generating operation to generate an unlock command signal in accordance with the serviced indication, the unlock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is the unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

68. The asset management entity of claim 67, further comprising:

a proprietor billing module; and

wherein

the proprietor billing module is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance-bill generating operation to generate a maintenance-bill command signal in response to the serviced indication, the maintenance-bill command signal for causing a calculating of a maintenance amount of a currency that the molding material converter will need to transmit to the proprietor for addressing the maintenance requirement of the molding structure in accordance with a maintenance parameter of the license;

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance-bill transmitting operation to transmit, over the communication network, a maintenance-bill request signal to a molding material converter financial entity, the maintenance-bill request signal is indicative of the maintenance amount of the currency due and terms of payment.

69. The asset management entity of claim 68, wherein:

the computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance-payment receiving operation to receive, over the communication network, a maintenance-payment indication of the parameter of the license from a proprietor financial entity, the maintenance-payment indication is indicative that the maintenance amount of the currency from the molding material converter financial entity has not been received in accordance with the terms of payment;

the license management module is configured to execute, in use, a further lock generating operation to generate the lock command signal in accordance with the maintenance-payment indication, the lock command signal for causing the supervisory entity to execute the operation that is the locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with a penalty parameter of the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable.

70. A supervisory entity being associated with a molding structure, the molding structure for use by a molding material converter, the supervisory entity, comprising:

a computing device;

a computing device interface associated with the computing device, the computing device interface is configured to operatively couple, in use, the computing device to a communication network for communications with an asset management entity associated with a proprietor of the molding structure;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a sending operation to send, over the communication network, an indication of a parameter of a license associated with the molding structure to the asset management entity that includes a license management module;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a accepting operation to accept, over the communication network, a command signal from the asset management entity, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a producing operation to produce an operation signal in accordance with the command signal for causing the molding structure to execute an operation in accordance with the license.

71. The supervisory entity of claim 70, wherein:

the operation signal in accordance with the command signal for causing a locking structure associated with the molding structure to execute the operation in accordance with the license that is one of a locking operation or an unlocking operation of the molding structure.

72. The supervisory entity of claim 70, wherein:

the indication of the parameter of the license comprises an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in good standing;

the command signal from the asset management entity comprises an unlock command signal in accordance with the account indication, and wherein, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication comprises the unlock command signal being generatable in accordance with the account indication;

the operation signal in accordance with the command signal comprises an unlocking operation signal in accordance with the unlock command signal, the unlocking operation signal for causing a locking structure associated with the molding structure to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

73. The supervisory entity of claim 70, wherein:

the indication of the parameter of the license comprises an account indication of an account parameter of the license, the account indication being indicative of the license being in arrears;

the command signal from the asset management entity comprises a lock command signal in accordance with the account indication, and wherein, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication comprises the lock command signal being generatable in accordance with the account indication;

the operation signal in accordance with the command signal comprises a locking operation signal in accordance with the lock command signal, the locking operation signal for causing a locking structure associated with the molding structure to execute the operation that is a locking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be inoperable.

74. The supervisory entity of claim 70, wherein:

the molding structure is at least a portion of one of;

an injection molding machine, a hot runner, a mold, a post-mold device, an auxiliary molding device, a controller, and a computer-readable product including controller executable instructions for performing a molding operation.

75. The supervisory entity of claim 74, wherein:

the molding structure is configured in accordance with a flexible design.

76. The supervisory entity of claim 70, wherein:

the indication of the parameter of the license comprises an acceptance indication of an acceptance parameter of the license, the acceptance indication is indicative of the molding structure, and the license associated therewith, having been accepted by the molding material converter;

the command signal from the asset management entity comprises an unlock command signal in accordance with the acceptance indication, and wherein, the command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in accordance with the indication comprises the unlock command signal being generatable in accordance with the acceptance indication;

the operation signal in accordance with the command signal comprises an unlocking operation signal in accordance with the unlock command signal, the unlocking operation signal for causing a locking structure associated with the molding structure to execute the operation that is an unlocking operation of the molding structure in accordance with the license, thereby causing the molding structure to be operable.

77. The supervisory entity of claim 70, further comprising:

a client register for storing a count of a number of cycles that the molding structure has been operated by the molding material converter over a period of time; and

wherein

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, an initialize accepting operation to accept, over the communication network, a register-initialize command signal from the asset management entity;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, an initialize producing operation to produce a client register-initialize operation signal for causing an initializing of the client register of the supervisory entity.

78. The supervisory entity of claim 77, wherein:

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a period-report producing operation to produce a period-report indication of a report parameter of the license, the period-report indication is indicative of the count from the client register over the period of time;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a period-report sending operation to send, over the communication network, the period-report indication to the asset management entity, a store command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in response to the period-report indication, the store command signal for causing storing of the count and the period of time in a master register of the license management module.

79. The supervisory entity of claim 78, wherein:

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, the period-report producing operation, in response to at least one of the count and the period of time reaching predefined values of a reporting count threshold and a reporting time threshold, respectively.

80. The supervisory entity of claim 70, further comprising:

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a decommission producing operation to produce a decommission indication, the decommission indication is indicative of the molding structure being decommissioned by the molding material converter;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a decommission sending operation to send, over the communication network, the decommission indication to the asset management entity, a recovery command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in response to the decommission indication for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to recover the molding structure from the molding material converter.

81. The supervisory entity of claim 70, further comprising:

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a monitor accepting operation to accept, over the communication network, a monitor signal from a sensor associated with the molding structure, the monitor signal is indicative of a maintenance requirement of the molding structure;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance producing operation to produce a maintenance indication in response to the monitor signal, the maintenance indication is indicative of the maintenance requirement of the molding structure;

the computing device is configured to execute, in use, a maintenance sending operation to send, over the communication network, the maintenance indication to the asset management entity, a maintenance command signal being generatable in the asset management entity in response to the maintenance indication, the maintenance command signal for causing a service entity associated with the proprietor to service the molding structure in accordance with the maintenance requirement.