Fingerprinting for software license inventory management
US8321352B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/12
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Various techniques for software license inventory and asset management are disclosed. A fingerprint may be generated and associated with various copies of software applications installed on a software licensee's computer systems. Upon generation, each fingerprint may be stored in a license information database system along with relevant license information for that copy of the software application. A software inventory tool may then be used to collect fingerprints on installed copies of software applications and provide these fingerprints to the license information database system to obtain the corresponding license information. The output of the software inventory tool may be used by a licensee to comply with software license agreements and/or efficiently allocate information technology resources. Methods and systems that provide and process secured, dynamic and persistent tagging of software deployments and usage are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.