Method and system for managing software licenses and reducing unauthorized use of software
US7752139B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/06
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for software license management that allows a user to easily move a software license from one computer to another and the software vendor to control unlicensed use. A server maintains user account information including computers licensed to run the software and computers no longer licensed to run the software. A computer is enabled to run the software in an initialization process, and re-enabled by the server from time to time in an automatic re-enable process. If a non-enabled computer attempts to run the software, the user is given a choice to acquire a new license for the computer, move the license from an existing licensed computer to the current computer, or exit. If a new license is bought or an existing license moved, the server updates the information of enabled and no-longer-enabled computers accordingly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.