License management device, application development system, license management method, and program

Abstract

To promote to use an application constructed in a platform.SOLUTION: A release unit (11) releases application software constructed in a platform in a market place, a calculation unit (12) calculates the number of users having used the released application software, and a setting unit (13) sets a license fee for each user relating to the use of the application software to lower cost as the number of users having used the application software increases.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a license management device, an application development system, a license management method, and a program, and in particular to a license management device, an application development system, a license management method, and a program for distributing applications developed by platform users to other users and promoting the use of high-quality applications. [Background technology]

[0002] Related technologies such as integrated development environments (IDEs) and low-code development tools are provided with the aim of enabling users to easily build (including design, development, deployment, and customization) software such as applications (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses an interactive web application for computer-assisted construction of spreadsheet-based software applications, and proposes a local spreadsheet application, a web-based, and / or cloud-based spreadsheet solution.

[0004] In the related technology described in Patent Document 2, a user designs and develops an application, for example, via one or more online web pages or via a mobile application. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-111268 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-504889 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The related technology described in Patent Document 2 does not provide a mechanism for deploying and providing application software developed by a user of an interactive web application to other users, and therefore is unable to promote the use of high-quality application software built on the platform.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to promote the use of high-quality applications built on a platform. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A license management device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a publishing means for publishing application software built on a platform on a marketplace, a calculation means for calculating the number of users who have used the published application software, and a setting means for setting a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users of the application software increases.

[0009] A license management method according to one aspect of the present invention publishes the application software built on a platform on a marketplace, calculates the number of users who have used the published application software, and sets a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users of the application software increases.

[0010] A program according to one embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to publish the application software built on a platform on a marketplace, calculate the number of users who have used the published application software, and set a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users of the application software increases. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to promote the use of applications built on a platform. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a license management device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an application development system including a license management device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a license management device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an application development system including a license management device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a license management device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a license management device according to any one of first to third embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Some embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a user means an individual user, a corporate user, or both.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0015] (License management device 10) An example of the configuration of a license management device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the license management device 10.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the license management device 10 includes a publishing unit 11, a calculation unit 12, and a setting unit 13.

[0017] The publishing unit 11 publishes the application software built on the platform to the marketplace. The publishing unit 11 is an example of a publishing means.

[0018] In one example, the publishing unit 11 obtains information indicating the application built on the platform from the user who built the application. Alternatively, if the license management device 10 is part of the platform, the publishing unit 11 can obtain information indicating the application built on the platform from the platform itself.

[0019] The publishing unit 11 publishes the application built on the platform to the marketplace, and then outputs information indicating the published application to the calculation unit 12.

[0020] The calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software. The calculation unit 12 is an example of a calculation means. The use here includes acquisition, download, installation, and other uses.

[0021] In one example, the calculation unit 12 receives information indicating a published application from the publication unit 11. The calculation unit 12 receives information indicating a user who has used the published application from the marketplace.

[0022] Then, the calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software. For example, the calculation unit 12 counts each user who has acquired the published application from the marketplace as one user for each pre-registered user account.

[0023] The calculation unit 12 outputs to the setting unit 13 information indicating the number of users who have used the published application software.

[0024] The setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for using the application software as the number of users who use the application software increases. The setting unit 13 is an example of a setting means.

[0025] In one example, the setting unit 13 receives information indicating the number of users who have used the published application software from the calculation unit 12. The setting unit 13 determines the license fee per user for using the application software based on the number of users who have used the published application software.

[0026] For example, suppose the number of users who have used the published application software is N. The setting unit 13 sets the license fee charged per user to X×(1-α(N-1) / N) (α is a number ranging from 0 to 1). Here, X is the standard license fee. If the number of users who have used the published software application is 1, the license fee will be X. On the other hand, the license fee will decrease as the number of users who have used the published software application increases. However, the method for calculating the discount on the license fee is not particularly limited.

[0027] The setting unit 13 may notify a user who uses the set application software of the license fee per user required for using the set application software. For example, the setting unit 13 identifies the user's contact information using pre-registered user information (not shown). Then, the setting unit 13 transmits information indicating the license fee per user required for using the set application software to the user's contact information.

[0028] (Operation of license management device 10) The operation of the license management device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by each unit of the license management device 10.

[0029] 2, the publishing unit 11 publishes application software built on the platform to the marketplace (S1). The publishing unit 11 outputs information about the published application software to the calculation unit 12.

[0030] The calculation unit 12 receives information about the published application software from the publication unit 11. The calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software (S2).

[0031] The calculation unit 12 outputs the number of users who have used the published application software to the setting unit 13.

[0032] The setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for using the application software as the number of users who use the application software increases (S3).

[0033] Thereafter, the setting unit 13 may notify the user who uses the application software of the license fee per user required for using the set application software.

[0034] This completes the operation of the license management device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0035] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, a publishing unit 11 publishes application software built on a platform to a marketplace. A calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software. A setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users who use the application software increases.

[0036] By publishing application software built on the platform on the marketplace, users can make the application software they have developed available to other users. Furthermore, the more users who use the application software, the cheaper the application software will be available to other users. This will promote the use of applications built on the platform.

[0037] [Embodiment 2] A second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. In the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which a set license fee is charged to a user who uses application software.

[0038] (Application Development System 1) First, an example of the configuration of an application development system 1 including a license management device 20 (FIG. 4) according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an application development system 1 including a license management device 20 (FIG. 4) according to the second embodiment.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the application development system 1 includes a license management device 20, a platform 100, a marketplace 200, and a user end device 300.

[0041] The license management device 20 manages user registration and licenses regarding the use of the platform 100. Specifically, when a user end device 300 applies to use the platform 100, the license management device 20 registers the user in a database (not shown) and stores the user information. The user information includes the user's name, corporate name or organization name, user's address and contact information, and a billing address for license fees.

[0042] Furthermore, the license management device 20 publishes application software created by a user who uses the platform 100 on the marketplace 200 after obtaining consent from the user. The license management device 20 charges a license fee to a user who acquires the application software published on the marketplace 200.

[0043] The configuration of the license management device 20 will be described later.

[0044] Platform 100 provides a development environment used to create application software through a graphical user interface (GUI) and configuration. For example, platform 100 is a low-code development platform (LCP) that provides various tools for designing, producing, testing, and operating application software.

[0045] The application software built on the platform 100 is published in the marketplace 200 by the license management device 20. The application software includes mobile applications, business software applications, software components, and web pages.

[0046] The marketplace 200 is an electronic marketplace where users can trade software applications online. In the marketplace 200, application software created by a user is made available to other users. Other users can acquire the published software applications from the marketplace 200.

[0047] The user end device 300 is used by a user to build application software on the platform 100. For example, the user end device 300 may include a mobile device, a desktop computer, a laptop, a computer workstation, a computing device, a mainframe machine, a server such as a cloud server, and a group of servers.

[0048] (License management device 20) The configuration of the license management device 20 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the license management device 20.

[0049] 4, the license management device 20 includes a publishing unit 11, a calculation unit 12, and a setting unit 13. The license management device 20 further includes a request unit .

[0050] The billing unit 24 bills the user who uses the application software for the set license fee. The billing unit 24 is an example of billing means.

[0051] In one example, the billing unit 24 is notified of the license fee set for the application software by the setting unit 13. The billing unit 24 bills the notified license fee to the user who used the application software. At this time, the billing unit 24 may send a notification for billing the license fee to the user's contact information included in pre-registered user information.

[0052] (Operation of license management device 20) The operation of the license management device 20 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by each unit of the license management device 20.

[0053] 5, the publishing unit 11 publishes application software built on the platform to the marketplace (S201). The publishing unit 11 outputs information about the published application software to the calculation unit 12.

[0054] The calculation unit 12 receives information about the published application software from the publication unit 11. The calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software (S202).

[0055] The calculation unit 12 outputs to the setting unit 13 information indicating the number of users who have used the published application software.

[0056] The setting unit 13 receives information indicating the number of users who have used the published application software from the calculation unit 12. The setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users who have used the application software increases (S203).

[0057] Thereafter, the setting unit 13 notifies the billing unit 24 of the license fee for each user required to use the application software.

[0058] The billing unit 24 receives notification of the license fee for each user required to use the application software from the setting unit 13. The billing unit 24 bills the notified license fee to the user who used the application software (S204).

[0059] This completes the operation of the license management device 20 according to the second embodiment.

[0060] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, a publishing unit 11 publishes application software built on a platform to a marketplace. A calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software. A setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users who use the application software increases.

[0061] By publishing application software built on the platform on the marketplace, users can make the application software they have developed available to other users. Furthermore, the more users who use the application software, the cheaper the application software will be available to other users. This will promote the use of applications built on the platform.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the billing unit 24 bills users who use the application software for the license fee for each user required to use the set application software, thereby providing an incentive for users to distribute the application software they themselves have created to other users.

[0063] [Embodiment 3] A third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. In this third embodiment, a configuration will be described in which revenues from providing application software to users who use the application software are distributed to the developer of the application software.

[0064] (Application Development System 2) First, an example of the configuration of an application development system 2 including a license management device 30 (FIG. 7) according to the third embodiment will be described.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an application development system 2 including a license management device 30 (FIG. 7) according to the third embodiment.

[0066] The application development system 2 includes a license management device 30, a platform 100, a marketplace 200, and a user end device 300.

[0067] The license management device 30 manages user registration and licenses regarding the use of the platform 100. Specifically, when a user end device 300 applies to use the platform 100, the license management device 30 registers the user in a database (not shown) and stores the user information.

[0068] Furthermore, the license management device 30 provides application software created by a user who uses the platform 100 on the marketplace 200 with the consent of the user.

[0069] The license management device 30 collects an application fee from a user who acquires application software published on the marketplace 200. The license management device 30 may collect an amount equal to the application fee plus a sales commission from a user who acquires the application software. The sales commission is paid to the entity (corporation, organization, country, etc.) that operates the license management device 30.

[0070] There are no limitations on the method by which the license management device 30 collects the application fee. For example, the license management device 30 collects the application fee from the user by credit card payment, electronic money, or other payment methods.

[0071] The configuration of the license management device 30 will be described later.

[0072] (License management device 30) The configuration of the license management device 30 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the license management device 30.

[0073] 7, the license management device 30 includes a publishing unit 11, a calculation unit 12, and a setting unit 13. The license management device 30 further includes a request unit 24 and a distribution unit .

[0074] The billing unit 24 bills users who use the application software for a license fee for each user required to use the set application software. Furthermore, the billing unit 24 bills users who use the published application software in the marketplace on behalf of the developer of the application software for a usage fee for the application software ("app fee" in FIG. 6). The usage fee for the application software may include the set license fee.

[0075] The billing unit 24 notifies the distribution unit 35 that the user who used the application software has been billed for the usage fee of the application software.

[0076] The distribution unit 35 distributes the profits from the provision of the application software to the developer of the application software. The distribution unit 35 is an example of a distribution means. Here, provision includes transfer, distribution, subscription, and fixed-term contract.

[0077] For example, the distribution unit 35 is notified by the billing unit 24 that a usage fee for the application software has been charged to a user who used the application software. The distribution unit 35 confirms that the user who used the application software has paid the usage fee for the application. Thereafter, the distribution unit 35 distributes the revenue from the provision of the application software to the developer of the application software.

[0078] Here, revenue refers to the amount obtained by multiplying the application software usage fee (unit price) by the number of users who use the application software. Alternatively, instead of the application software usage fee, the remainder after subtracting the sales commission from the application software usage fee may be used.

[0079] (Operation of license management device 30) The operation of the license management device 20 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by each unit of the license management device 30.

[0080] 8, the publishing unit 11 publishes application software built on the platform to the marketplace (S301). The publishing unit 11 outputs information about the published application software to the calculation unit 12.

[0081] The calculation unit 12 receives information about the published application software from the publication unit 11. The calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software (S302).

[0082] The calculation unit 12 outputs the number of users who have used the published application software to the setting unit 13.

[0083] The setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for using the application software as the number of users who use the application software increases (S303).

[0084] Thereafter, the setting unit 13 notifies the billing unit 24 of the license fee for each user required to use the application software.

[0085] The billing unit 24 receives notification of the license fee for each user required to use the application software from the setting unit 13. The billing unit 24 bills the user who uses the application software for the set license fee (S304).

[0086] Furthermore, the billing unit 24 bills users who use the published application software in the marketplace on behalf of the developer of the application software for the use of the application software (S305).

[0087] The distribution unit 35 confirms that the user has completed payment for the usage fee of the application software. Thereafter, the distribution unit 35 distributes the revenue from the provision of the application software (= usage fee × number of users) to the developer of the application software (S306).

[0088] This completes the operation of the license management device 30 according to the third embodiment.

[0089] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, a publishing unit 11 publishes application software built on a platform to a marketplace. A calculation unit 12 calculates the number of users who have used the published application software. A setting unit 13 sets a lower license fee per user for use of the application software as the number of users who use the application software increases.

[0090] By publishing application software built on the platform on the marketplace, users can make the application software they have developed available to other users. Furthermore, the more users who use the application software, the cheaper the application software will be available to other users. This will promote the use of applications built on the platform.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the billing unit 24 bills users who use the published application software in the marketplace on behalf of the application software developer for the use of the application software. The distribution unit 35 distributes the profits from the license fees for the application software to the application software developer. This provides an incentive for users to distribute the application software they have built to other users.

[0092] (About hardware configuration) Each of the components of the license management devices 10, 20, and 30 described in the first to third embodiments represents a functional block. Some or all of these components are realized by an information processing device 900 as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 900.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 9, an information processing device 900 includes, for example, the following configuration.

[0094] CPU(Central Processing Unit)901 ROM (Read Only Memory) 902 RAM (Random Access Memory) 903 Program 904 loaded into RAM 903 A storage device 905 for storing a program 904 A drive device 907 that reads and writes data from and to the recording medium 906 A communication interface 908 that connects to a communication network 909 Input / output interface 910 for inputting and outputting data A bus 911 connecting each component Each of the components of the license management devices 10, 20, and 30 described in the first to third embodiments is realized by the CPU 901 reading and executing a program 904 that realizes the function of the component. The program 904 that realizes the function of each component is, for example, stored in advance in the storage device 905 or the ROM 902, and is loaded into the RAM 903 and executed by the CPU 901 as needed. The program 904 may be supplied to the CPU 901 via the communication network 909, or may be stored in advance in the recording medium 906, and the drive device 907 may read out the program and supply it to the CPU 901.

[0095] According to the above configuration, the license management devices 10, 20, and 30 described in the first to third embodiments are realized as hardware, and therefore the same effects as those described in any of the first to third embodiments can be achieved. [Industrial Applicability]

[0096] The present invention can be used, for example, to facilitate the use of applications built in integrated development environments or low-code development platforms. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1 Application Development System 2 Application Development System 10 License Management Device 11 Public Section 12 Calculation section 13 Setting section 20 License management device 24 Billing Department 30 License management device 35 Distribution section

Claims

1. A publishing means for publishing application software built on the platform to a marketplace; A calculation means for calculating the number of users who have used the published application software; a setting means for setting a license fee for each user for use of the application software to be cheaper as the number of users of the application software increases; A license management device comprising:

2. The calculation means calculates the number of users of the application software based on the number of user accounts that have acquired the published application software from the marketplace.

2. The license management device according to claim 1.

3. The system further comprises a billing means for billing the set license fee to the user who uses the application software.

3. The license management device according to claim 1, wherein the license management device is a computer.

4. The billing means sends a notice to bill the user who has used the application software for the license fee.

4. The license management device according to claim 3.

5. The billing means bills the user who uses the published application software in the marketplace on behalf of the developer of the application software for the use of the application software, including the license fee.

5. The license management device according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The system further comprises a distribution means for distributing revenues from the provision of the application software to the developer of the application software.

6. The license management device according to claim 5.

7. The application software built on the platform will be published on the marketplace. Calculating the number of users who have used the published application software; The more users of the application software there are, the cheaper the license fee per user for using the application software is set. License management method.

8. Publishing application software built on the platform to a marketplace; Calculating the number of users who have used the published application software; The license fee for each user required to use the application software is set to be lower as the number of users of the application software increases; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

9. A publishing means for publishing application software built on the platform to a marketplace; A calculation means for calculating the number of users who have used the published application software; a setting means for setting a license fee for each user for use of the application software to be cheaper as the number of users of the application software increases; Equipped with a license management device; the platform; The marketplace. Application development system.

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