Software licensing management system
First Claim
1. A license management system for managing usage of a licensed software program comprising:
- A. licensing storage means for storing a licensing unit value identifying a number of licensing units associated with the licensed software program;
B. usage allocation value storage means for storing a usage allocation value identifying a number of licensing units associated with a use of the licensed software program; and
C. licensing verification means responsive to a usage request to use said licensed software program for determining, based on the contents of said licensing storage means and said usage allocation value storage means, whether usage of said licensed software program is permitted and, if usage is permitted, for adjusting the contents of said licensing storage means by a value related to the contents of said usage allocation value storage means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A license management system which includes a license management facility that determines whether usage of a licensed program is within the scope of the license. The license management system maintains a license unit value for each licensed program and a pointer to a table identifying an allocation unit value associated with each use of the licensed program. In response to a request to use a licensed program, the license management system respond with an indication as to whether the license unit value exceeds the allocation unit value associated with the use. Upon receiving the response, the operation of the licensed program depends upon policies established by the licensor.
628 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A license management system for managing usage of a licensed software program comprising:
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A. licensing storage means for storing a licensing unit value identifying a number of licensing units associated with the licensed software program; B. usage allocation value storage means for storing a usage allocation value identifying a number of licensing units associated with a use of the licensed software program; and C. licensing verification means responsive to a usage request to use said licensed software program for determining, based on the contents of said licensing storage means and said usage allocation value storage means, whether usage of said licensed software program is permitted and, if usage is permitted, for adjusting the contents of said licensing storage means by a value related to the contents of said usage allocation value storage means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A license management system for use in a digital data processing system including a system date generating means for generating a system date value, said license management system comprising:
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A. licensing storage means including a plurality of entries each associated with a licensed software program, each entry containing a licensing units field for storing a licensing unit value identifying a number of licensing units associated with the licensed software program, a usage allocation table identification field for identifying a usage allocation table, and a termination date; B. usage allocation table storage means for storing a plurality of usage allocation tables, each usage allocation table having a plurality of usage allocation entries each usage allocation entry being associated with a licensing usage allocation value selection criterion and storing a usage allocation value identifying a number of licensing units; and C. licensing verification means including; i. usage grant means including; a. usage request message receiving means for receiving a usage request message from a licensed software program, said usage request message identifying said licensed software program and usage grant criteria; b. entry retrieval means responsive to the receipt of a usage request message for retrieving from said licensing storage means the licensing table entry associated with said licensed software program; c. usage allocation table retrieval means for retrieving from said usage allocation table storage means a usage allocation entry identified by said retrieved licensing table entry and the licensing usage allocation value selection criterion identified by the received usage request message; d. licensing request processing means including; (I) usage determination means including licensing unit comparing means for comparing the contents of said licensing units field and said usage allocation units field and date comparison means for comparing the system date value with the contents of said termination date field to determine whether usage of said licensed software program is permitted (II) response generation means for generating a message in response to the determination by said usage determination means; and (III) licensing unit adjusting means for adjusting the contents of said licensing units field in response to a positive determination by said usage determination means; ii. usage release means including; a. usage release message receiving means for receiving a usage request message from a licensed software program, said usage request message identifying said licensed software program and usage grant criteria; b. entry retrieval means responsive to the receipt of a usage request message for retrieving from said licensing storage means the licensing table entry associated with said licensed software program; c. usage allocation table retrieval means for retrieving from said usage allocation table storage means a usage allocation entry identified by said retrieved licensing table entry and the licensing usage allocation value selection criterion identified by the received usage request message; d. licensing release processing means for adjusting the contents of said licensing units field in relation to the value of said usage allocation entry.
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Specification