SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINGERPRINTING IN A CLOUD-COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method of uniquely fingerprinting an execution environment instance in a cloud-computing environment in which an application is assigned to the execution environment instance, and license keys are required for the application to access desired licensed features, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining by the application, a fingerprint certificate from a cloud infrastructure management unit; and
utilizing the fingerprint certificate by the application to obtain from a licensing system, a license key for a desired licensed feature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for uniquely fingerprinting an execution environment instance in a cloud-computing environment in which an application is assigned to the execution environment instance, and a license key is required for the application to access a desired licensed feature. The application requests a fingerprint certificate from a cloud infrastructure management unit via the application'"'"'s execution environment instance. The management unit identifies the fingerprint assigned to the execution environment instance, digitally signs a fingerprint certificate, and assigns an expiration timestamp. An application programming interface (API) sends the signed certificate and timestamp back to the application. The application verifies the digital signature and the timestamp and utilizes the fingerprint certificate to request a license key from a licensing system. The licensing system verifies the fingerprint certificate before generating the license key, and the application verifies that the license key matches the fingerprint before accessing the licensed feature.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of uniquely fingerprinting an execution environment instance in a cloud-computing environment in which an application is assigned to the execution environment instance, and license keys are required for the application to access desired licensed features, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining by the application, a fingerprint certificate from a cloud infrastructure management unit; and utilizing the fingerprint certificate by the application to obtain from a licensing system, a license key for a desired licensed feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A cloud infrastructure management unit in a cloud-computing environment, comprising:
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a database for storing fingerprint certificates for a plurality of execution environment instances; and an application programming interface (API) for receiving requests for fingerprint certificates from applications and for sending fingerprint certificates to the applications in response. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A cloud-computing system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory for storing computer program instructions for execution by the processor; a cloud infrastructure management unit; a plurality of execution environment instances in communication with the cloud infrastructure management unit; an application assigned to a given execution environment instance; and a licensing system in communication with the application; wherein when the processor executes the computer program instructions, the processor causes the following steps to be performed; the application requesting a fingerprint certificate from the given execution environment instance when the application desires to utilize a particular feature; the given execution environment instance requesting the fingerprint certificate from the cloud infrastructure management unit; the cloud infrastructure management unit identifying the requested fingerprint certificate, applying a digital signature of the cloud-computing system to the requested fingerprint certificate, and utilizing an application programming interface (API) to send the digitally signed requested fingerprint certificate to the application via the given execution environment instance; the application verifying the digital signature of the cloud-computing system; and upon positive verification of the digital signature, the application utilizing the fingerprint certificate to obtain from the licensing system, a license key associated with the particular feature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification