Method and apparatus for software license management

• US 5,758,068 A
• Filed: 09/19/1995
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stamschror, Kevin Patrick, Destefano, George Francis, Prokop, Teresa McConville, Mehta, Ramila Alexandra, Brandt, Marcia Lynn, Fosdick, Eric Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laufer, Pinchus M.
• Application Number:
  US08/530,048
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/25, 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01
• US Class Current: 726/27
• 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: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress

Abstract

A license key with method of implementation is disclosed. The license key is used for accessing a licensed product on an enterprise computer system. Typically, the enterprise computer system includes a plurality of computer systems, but the computer systems are not necessarily interconnected. A first identifier code from the enterprise computer system, such as the system serial number, is used for allowing the license key to identify the enterprise. A second identifier code from a computer within the enterprise system is used, which is typically a serial number from the computer to identify it to the license key as being part of the enterprise system. Lastly, a third identifier code is used, which is selected from the licensed product to be used on the enterprise system and is tied to the enterprise system number, thereby allowing the licensed program to be accessed on the enterprise system with only a single key, irrespective of the number of computers accessing the licensed program. The setup of the license key, along with calling the identifier codes from the enterprise system, each computer, and the license product, is performed by a license manager, which also provides other services based upon the license key. The license manager provides either usage control, access control, or both, based upon information generated by the license key and found within a product information packet provided with the licensed product and based upon the enterprise system.

Claims

1. A method for software license management for a licensed program within an enterprise computer system which includes a plurality of computers, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a first identifier code utilizing at least a portion of a serial number associated with said enterprise computer system;

generating a second identifier code within said enterprise computer system utilizing at least a portion of a serial number associated with a computer within said enterprise computer system and at least a portion of said first identifier code;

generating a third identifier code associated with said licensed program utilizing at least a portion of said first identifier code and at least a portion of said second identifier code; and

controlling usage of said licensed program at any point within said enterprise computer system utilizing either said first identifier code in combination with said third identifier code or said second identifier code in combination with said third identifier code such that usage of said licensed program may be controlled throughout said enterprise computer system irrespective of the number of computers within said computer system.

2. The method for software license management according to claim 1, wherein said step generating a third identifier code associated with said license program further comprises the step of utilizing at least a portion of a serial number associated with said licensed program to generate said third identifier code.

3. A method for software license management for a license program within an enterprise computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of controlling the usage of said licensed program at any point within said enterprise computer system utilizing either said first identifier code in combination with said third identifier code or said second identifier code in combination with said third identifier code further comprises the step of providing a grace period of use that, upon expiration, is extendable.

4. A computer program product for software license management for a licensed program within an enterprise computer system, said computer program product embodied within computer-readable media adapted to be utilized within a computer, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means generating a first identifier code utilizing at least a portion of a serial number associated with said enterprise computer system;

instruction means generating a second identifier code within said enterprise computer system utilizing at least a portion of a serial number associated with said computer and at least a portion of said first identifier code;

instruction means generating a third identifier code associated with said licensed program utilizing at least a portion of said first identifier code and at least a portion of said second identifier code; and

instruction means controlling usage of said licensed program at any point within said enterprise computer system utilizing either said first identifier code in combination with said third identifier code or said second identifier code in combination with said third identifier code such that usage of said licensed program may be controlled throughout said enterprise computer system irrespective of the number of computers within said computer system.

5. The computer program product according to claim 4, wherein said instruction means for generating a third identifier associated with said licensed program further comprises instruction means for utilizing at least a portion of a serial number associated with said licensed program.

6. The computer program product according to claim 4, wherein said instruction means for controlling the usage of said licensed program at any point within said enterprise computer system utilizing either said first identifier code in combination with said third identifier code or said second identifier code in combination with said third identifier code further comprises instruction means for providing a grace period of use that, upon expiration, is that, upon expiration, is extendable.