License management server, license management method, and program

Abstract

This license management server comprises: a reception unit that receives an application use request from a device; a use authorization determination unit that, when a plurality of licenses authorizing use of the application are issued to the device, selects a specific license on the basis of a preset priority for the plurality of licenses; and a transmission unit that transmits, to the device, setting information for the application corresponding to the specific license and key information.

Description

License management server, license management method and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a license management server, a license management method, and a program.

[0002] License management servers that manage licenses for applications that run on devices via a network such as the Internet have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an application sales management server system that distributes applications together with their licenses and appropriately manages the licenses.

[0003] JP 2019-21090 A

[0004] However, if multiple licenses (e.g., licenses with different billing methods) are issued to a device, the server must switch licenses at the appropriate time. In this case, the server system of Patent Document 1 may not be able to easily switch licenses. For example, the server system must restart an application in response to a license switch. In this case, the server system must connect to the device and restart the application each time the license is switched.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a license management server, a license management method, and a program that enable easy license switching.

[0006] The license management server according to the present disclosure includes a receiving unit that receives a request to use an application from a device, a use authorization determination unit that, when multiple licenses authorizing the use of the application have been issued to the device, selects a specific license based on a predetermined priority for the multiple licenses, and a transmitting unit that transmits setting information and key information for the application corresponding to the specific license to the device.

[0007] The license management method of the present disclosure includes receiving a request to use an application from a device; if multiple licenses authorizing use of the application have been issued to the device, selecting a specific license based on a predetermined priority for the multiple licenses; and transmitting configuration information and key information for the application corresponding to the specific license to the device.

[0008] The program disclosed herein causes a computer to receive a request to use an application from a device; if multiple licenses authorizing use of the application have been issued to the device, select a specific license based on a predetermined priority for the multiple licenses; and transmit to the device configuration information and key information for the application corresponding to the specific license.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, licenses can be easily switched.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a license management server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the license management server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing license information stored in a license information storage unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing license information stored in a license information storage unit in the second embodiment.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] First Embodiment An overview of the present disclosure will be described. For example, when switching the license of an application running on a device, it is difficult for the device administrator to change the application settings in response to the license switch. In particular, in a device that does not have a screen or an input unit, it is difficult for the administrator to check or update the license. Therefore, in the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1 , when multiple licenses are issued to a device 2, for example, an application provider U or an administrator of the device 2 may set priorities for the multiple licenses. Furthermore, the license management server 1 may pre-register application setting information corresponding to each license. Here, the device 2 transmits an application use request to the license management server 1 to use the application. Upon receiving the application use request from the device 2, the license management server 1 selects a specific license from the multiple licenses based on the pre-set priority. The license management server 1 then transmits application setting information and key information corresponding to the selected specific license to the device 2. As a result, the device 2 launches the application based on the key information and changes the application setting information based on the application setting information.

[0013] Next, the configuration of the license management server 1 according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 2, the license management server 1 includes a receiving unit 3, a use authorization determining unit 4, a key managing unit 5, a transmitting unit 6, a license information storing unit 7, a device information storing unit 8, and a key information storing unit 9.

[0014] Here, the receiving unit 3, the use authorization determination unit 4, the key management unit 5, and the transmitting unit 6 are connected in this order. Furthermore, the license information storage unit 7 and the device information storage unit 8 are connected to the use authorization determination unit 4. The key information storage unit 9 is connected to the key management unit 5. Furthermore, the receiving unit 3 and the transmitting unit 6 are connected to the device 2 at the installation site 10 via a network such as the Internet. In this manner, the device 2 may be configured as an IoT (Internet of Things) device. Furthermore, the license information storage unit 7 is connected to the sales information storage unit 12 of the sales management server 11 via the network. Furthermore, the terminal 13 is connected to the sales management server 11, the license information storage unit 7, and the key information storage unit 9 via the network.

[0015] The receiving unit 3 receives a request to use a specific application from a device 2, such as devices 2a, 2b, and 2c, installed at the installation site 10. Here, the request to use may include, for example, identification information of the device 2 and identification information of the application. The device 2 may also be configured, for example, as a camera that monitors the installation site 10. For example, the device 2 may operate continuously, such as by constantly monitoring the installation site 10. The application requested to be used may also be configured, for example, as an application that controls the capture of video or still images by a camera. For example, the application may operate continuously in the device 2. It is assumed that the application is pre-installed in the device 2.

[0016] The license information storage unit 7 stores application license information in association with device identification information. The license information may include, for example, a billing method, an expiration date, or application setting information. For example, the billing method may indicate a billing method based on the number of devices 2 using the application. The expiration date may indicate the license expiration date, i.e., the period during which the application can be used. The application setting information may indicate information for changing application settings according to the license. For example, the application setting information may include information for setting the number of times the application can be used per unit time, information for setting the operating performance (e.g., information processing performance) of the device 2 to a specific value, and the like.

[0017] The license information may be acquired from the sales management server 11. For example, the sales management server 11 may acquire license sales information from the terminal 13 of a provider U who provides an application. Here, the sales information includes information about the license sold by the provider U to the administrator of the device 2, and may include, for example, identification information of the device 2, identification information of the application, license information, etc. After storing the sales information acquired from the terminal 13 in the sales information storage unit 12, the sales management server 11 may transmit the sales information to the license information storage unit 7.

[0018] Furthermore, when multiple licenses have been issued for the device 2, the license information storage unit 7 may acquire the priority of the licenses from the terminal 13 of the provider U. The license information storage unit 7 may also acquire the priority of the licenses from the administrator of the device 2. That is, the priority may be set by the provider U or the administrator of the device 2. The license information storage unit 7 may then store the license information, the identification information of the device 2, and the priority in association with each other.

[0019] The device information storage unit 8 also stores device information including identification information of the device 2. For example, the device information may be registered by an administrator of the device 2. Alternatively, the device information may be registered based on sales information acquired from the sales management server 11.

[0020] The use authorization determination unit 4 determines whether to authorize the use of a specific application for the device 2 for which use has been requested, based on the license information and device information. For example, the use authorization determination unit 4 may acquire identification information for the device 2 registered in the device information storage unit 8, based on the use request. Then, the use authorization determination unit 4 may acquire a license issued to the device 2 from the license information storage unit 7, based on the identification information of the device 2. The use authorization determination unit 4 may authorize the use of the application if a license has been issued for the device 2. Here, if multiple licenses have been issued for the device 2, the use authorization determination unit 4 selects a specific license based on a preset priority.

[0021] The key information storage unit 9 stores key information for running an application on a device. At this time, the key information storage unit 9 may store the key information in association with identification information of the application. The key information storage unit 9 may acquire the key information from, for example, the terminal 13 of the provider U.

[0022] When the use authorization decision unit 4 authorizes the use of an application, the key management unit 5 acquires key information required for the operation of the application from the key information storage unit 9 .

[0023] The transmission unit 6 transmits the key information of the application obtained by the key management unit 5 to the device 2. At this time, the transmission unit 6 transmits the setting information of the application corresponding to the specific license selected by the usage authorization determination unit 4 together with the key information.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of the license management server 1.

[0025] The license management server 1 includes a storage device 15, a processor 16, a user interface (UI) device 17, and a communication device 18, which are interconnected via a bus B.

[0026] The programs or instructions for realizing the various functions and processes of the license management server 1 may be downloaded from an external device via a network, etc. Also, the programs or instructions for realizing the various functions and processes of the license management server 1 may be provided from a removable storage medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) or flash memory.

[0027] Storage device 15 may be implemented by one or more non-transitory storage media, such as random access memory, flash memory, or a hard disk drive, and may store installed programs or instructions as well as files or data used in the execution of the programs or instructions.

[0028] The processor 16 may be realized by one or more central processing units (CPUs), which may be configured with one or more processor cores, graphics processing units (GPUs), processing circuitry, etc. The processor 16 executes various functions and processes of the license management server 1 in accordance with data such as programs, instructions, programs, or parameters (e.g., parameters required to execute instructions) stored in the storage device 15.

[0029] The UI device 17 may be composed of input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, camera, or microphone, output devices such as a display, speaker, headset, or printer, and input / output devices such as a smartphone, tablet, or touch panel.

[0030] It should be noted that the above-described hardware configuration is merely an example, and the license management server 1 according to the present disclosure may be realized by any other appropriate hardware configuration.

[0031] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0032] First, as shown in FIG. 2 , the license management server 1 receives a use request for a specific application from the device 2 at the installation site 10 (S1). Here, the device 2 runs the specific application on an AI (Artificial Intelligence) container. To decrypt an encrypted AI algorithm, the AI ​​container may request a license management agent installed on the device 2 to obtain a decryption key. The license management agent may then request the license management server 1 to transmit a hash value of the AI ​​container as a use request to the license management server 1, thereby requesting the license management server 1 to transmit the decryption key. The device 2 may periodically transmit a use request for the application. For example, the device 2 may be configured as a camera that operates continuously at the installation site 10. The use request transmitted from the device 2 is received by the receiving unit 3 of the license management server 1. The receiving unit 3 outputs the received use request to the use authorization determination unit 4.

[0033] Upon receiving the use request, the use authorization determination unit 4 determines, based on the use request, whether a license permitting use of a specific application has been issued to the device 2 (S2). For example, the use authorization determination unit 4 may compare the device information stored in the device information storage unit 8 with the license information stored in the license information storage unit 7 based on the use request. Specifically, the use authorization determination unit 4 may refer to the license information storage unit 7 based on the identification information of the device 2 registered in the device information storage unit 8. The use authorization determination unit 4 may then determine whether a license for the application requested for use has been issued to the device 2. If the use authorization determination unit 4 determines that a license has not been issued, it terminates the process. As a result, the license management server 1 does not transmit the key information of the application to the device 2, and the application will not run on the device 2.

[0034] On the other hand, if the use authorization determination unit 4 determines that a license has been issued to the device 2, it determines whether multiple licenses authorizing use of the application have been issued to the device 2 (S3). For example, multiple licenses may be issued when the administrator of the device 2 changes the billing mode of the application (e.g., purchases a second license with a different billing mode from the current first license). Here, the billing mode may be set based on the usage conditions of the device 2. For example, the billing mode may include pay-per-use or flat-rate billing. Pay-per-use billing may refer to a billing mode in which a fee is set according to the number of devices 2 using the application. Flat-rate billing may refer to a billing mode in which the number of devices 2 using the application is limited to a predetermined number and a fixed fee is set for that number. In this case, flat-rate billing may include a first flat-rate billing mode in which the device 2 using the application does not need to be specified, and a second flat-rate billing mode in which the device 2 using the application is specified in advance.

[0035] For example, consider a case where the administrator of device 2 changes the billing method from a first license with a first flat-rate charge to a second license with a pay-as-you-go charge. When selling each of the first and second licenses, application provider U operates terminal 13 to register sales information in sales management server 11. Then, each time sales information is registered, sales management server 11 registers license information based on the sales information in license information storage unit 7. As a result, multiple licenses, including the first and second licenses, are issued to device 2. At this time, application setting information may be registered in license information storage unit 7 in association with the multiple licenses. For example, license management server 1 may automatically store application setting information previously registered for multiple licenses in license information storage unit 7 in response to the registration of the license information.

[0036] When multiple licenses are issued, the terminal 13 accepts input of priorities for the multiple licenses. When the priorities are input by the application provider U or the administrator of the device 2, the terminal 13 registers the priorities in the license information storage unit 7. This sets priorities for the multiple licenses.

[0037] In this case, the priority may be set based on the billing mode registered for the multiple licenses. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the license information 19 for the device 2 may set priorities 20 for the first license and the second license. The priority 20 may be set so that the second license registered in the pay-per-use billing mode 21 is higher than the first license registered in the first flat-rate billing mode 21. For example, the priority 20 may be set so that the smaller the limit on the device 2 (e.g., the number of devices) is, the higher the priority 20. Here, the smaller the numerical value, the higher the priority 20. The license management server 1 may automatically set the priority 20 based on the billing mode 21.

[0038] If the usage authorization determination unit 4 determines in step S3 that multiple licenses have been issued, it selects a specific license from the multiple licenses based on a preset priority 20 (S4). For example, the usage authorization determination unit 4 may search the multiple licenses issued to the application in descending order of priority 20 and select the second license with the highest priority 20 that is usable. In this case, the usage authorization determination unit 4 may determine that the second license is usable if the expiration date 22 of the second license has not expired and the device 2 satisfies the conditions of the accounting mode 21 of the second license (e.g., the device designation or number of devices). For example, the usage authorization determination unit 4 may manage the number of second licenses issued to the device 2. The usage authorization determination unit 4 may then determine that the device 2 satisfies the conditions of the accounting mode 21 of the second license if the total number of devices 2 increasing in response to new usage requests (the total number of devices 2 using the application) is equal to or less than the number set in the accounting mode 21 of the second license.

[0039] When use requests are sent from multiple devices 2, the use authorization decision unit 4 may issue licenses with higher priority 20 in the order in which the use requests are received. For example, when the total number of devices 2 using the application reaches the number set in the billing mode 21 of the second license, the use authorization decision unit 4 may issue another license with a priority 20 one level lower than the second license to the device 2 that has sent a new use request.

[0040] Furthermore, the license of the device 2 may expire before a use request is sent. For example, while the device 2 is using the first license, the administrator of the device 2 may cancel the use of the first license, or the expiration date 22 of the first license may expire. In this case, the use authorization determination unit 4 may temporarily maintain the use of the first license in the device 2 after the expiration date 22 of the first license. Then, the use authorization determination unit 4 may select a usable second license based on the priority 20 when the first use request is received from the device 2 after the expiration date 22.

[0041] In this way, when the use authorization decision unit 4 selects the second license, it authorizes the device 2 to use the application under the second license (S5). At this time, by selecting the second license that is different from the current first license, the use authorization decision unit 4 switches the billing mode 21 for use of the application. In this way, the use authorization decision unit 4 can easily switch licenses based on the priority 20.

[0042] Furthermore, the use authorization determination unit 4 may obtain setting information 23 of the application corresponding to the selected specific license from the license information storage unit 7. For example, the setting information 23 may include control information that limits the number of times the application can be used. For example, when the use authorization determination unit 4 selects a second license, it obtains second setting information of the application corresponding to the billing mode 21 of the second license from the license information storage unit 7.

[0043] When the use authorization determination unit 4 authorizes use of the application under the second license, it outputs the authorization information and the second setting information of the application to the key management unit 5. Here, the authorization information may include, for example, identification information of the application corresponding to the license. Note that, if the use authorization determination unit 4 determines in step S3 that multiple licenses have not been issued to the device 2 (determines that one license has been issued), it authorizes use of the application under that license.

[0044] When the key management unit 5 receives the authorization information and the second setting information from the use authorization determination unit 4, it references the key information storage unit 9 based on the authorization information and acquires key information, such as a decryption key, for the application corresponding to the second license. The key management unit 5 outputs the acquired key information and the second setting information of the application to the transmission unit 6. At this time, the key management unit 5 may embed the second setting information of the application in a decryption key and output the decryption key to the transmission unit 6. The transmission unit 6 then transmits the second setting information and key information of the application corresponding to the second license to the device 2 (S6). For example, the transmission unit 6 may transmit the decryption key in which the second setting information of the application is embedded to the device 2.

[0045] Upon receiving the key information and the second setting information, the device 2 operates the application based on the key information and the second setting information. For example, the device 2 may output a composite key in which the second setting information is embedded to the license management agent. Upon receiving the composite key, the license management agent outputs the composite key to the AI ​​container. The AI ​​container may then be started by decrypting the AI ​​algorithm based on the composite key. Furthermore, the AI ​​container sets the application setting information 23 as the second setting information. For example, the AI ​​container may change the setting information 23 of the first license from the first setting information to the second setting information.

[0046] Generally, when an application license is switched, the device 2 is temporarily stopped (e.g., restarted) to change the application settings to correspond to the new license. In other words, the device 2 needs to be temporarily stopped when switching the license. In the present disclosure, the transmission unit 6 transmits the setting information 23 of the application corresponding to a specific license together with key information to the device 2, so that the application license can be easily switched without stopping the device 2.

[0047] For example, consider a case where an administrator of a device 2 provides the device 2 to an end user who manages the installation site 10. That is, an application administrator U provides an application to the administrator of the device 2, and the administrator of the device 2 then provides the device 2 with the application installed to the end user. In this case, the device 2 or the license is operated by the administrator of the device 2, not the end user. Therefore, the administrator of the device 2 is required to manage the device 2 so that the device 2 provided to the end user operates continuously without interruption. For example, the administrator of the device 2 may switch the license of an application at the request of the end user. In this case, the administrator of the device 2 is required to switch the license without interrupting the device 2 used by the end user. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the use authorization determination unit 4 selects a license with a high priority 20 each time it periodically receives an application use request. Then, the transmission unit 6 transmits the setting information 23 and key information of the application corresponding to the selected license to the device 2. As a result, the device 2 changes the setting information 23 simultaneously with launching the application in accordance with the license switch. Therefore, the device 2 can easily switch licenses without rebooting.

[0048] In the present disclosure, the priority 20 is set based on the billing modes registered for multiple licenses. The transmitter 6 then transmits application setting information 23 corresponding to the billing mode of a specific license. This allows the device 2 to easily change the application to the billing mode set for the specific license in response to switching to that license.

[0049] In this embodiment, the key management unit 5 may set, in the key information, a usage authorization expiration date that is a predetermined period longer than the interval between use requests periodically transmitted from the device 2. For example, the key management unit 5 may set, in the key information, a usage authorization expiration date that is longer than the interval between use requests and shorter than the license expiration date 22. For example, the key management unit 5 may set, in the key information, a usage authorization expiration date that is several days to one week longer than the interval between use requests. This allows the device 2 to continue operating the application based on the usage authorization expiration date set in the key information, even if a license usage request transmitted to the license management server 1 fails while the application is being used based on that key information.

[0050] According to this embodiment, the receiving unit 3 receives a request to use an application from the device 2. If multiple licenses authorizing the use of the application have been issued to the device 2, the use authorization determining unit 4 selects a specific license based on a priority 20 preset for the multiple licenses. The transmitting unit 6 then transmits to the device 2 the setting information 23 and key information for the application corresponding to the specific license. This allows the license management server 1 to easily switch the license issued to the device 2 without stopping the device 2.

[0051] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described. Here, differences from embodiment 1 above will be mainly described, and common reference numerals will be used for common features with embodiment 1 above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the priority 20 is set based on the billing mode 21, but this is not limiting. In the second embodiment, the priority 20 may be set based on the operational performance of the device 2 controlled by the application.

[0053] For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , an application provider U or an administrator of device 2 may set a priority 20 based on the operating performance 24 of device 2 registered for multiple licenses. For example, the priority 20 may be set to be higher as the operating performance of device 2 controlled by the application is higher. Here, operating performance 24 may include, for example, the information processing performance of device 2. For example, if an application controls the number of images processed per second in device 2, information processing performance indicating the number of images that can be processed may be set as operating performance 24 in multiple licenses. For example, the first license may be set as information processing performance 24 for processing five images per second. Furthermore, the second license may be set as information processing performance 24 for processing ten images per second.

[0054] At this time, setting information 23 corresponding to the operating performance 24 of each license may be registered in the license information storage unit 7. For example, the setting information 23 may include information for setting the application so that the device 2 operates with the operating performance 24. For example, the first setting information of the first license may include information for setting the application so that the device 2 processes five images per second. Furthermore, the second setting information of the second license may include information for setting the application so that the device 2 processes ten images per second.

[0055] As a result, when the use authorization determination unit 4 selects a second license that is different from the current first license based on the priority 20, it obtains second setting information of an application corresponding to the operating performance 24 of the second license from the license information storage unit 7. Then, the transmission unit 6 transmits the second setting information and key information of the application corresponding to the second application to the device 2. As a result, the device 2 operates the application based on the key information and second setting information. At this time, the operating performance 24 of the device 2 is changed based on the second setting information of the application. In this way, the device 2 obtains the setting information 23 of the application along with the key information, and therefore can change the operating performance 24 without restarting.

[0056] According to this embodiment, the priority 20 is set based on the operating capabilities 24 of the device 2 controlled by the application, which are registered for multiple licenses. The transmitter 6 then transmits the setting information 23 of the application corresponding to the operating capabilities 24 of a specific license. This allows the device 2 to easily change to the operating capabilities 24 set in the specific license in response to switching to that license.

[0057] Although specific examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and alterations of the specific examples exemplified above.

[0058] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2023-115807) filed on July 14, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0059] The license management server according to the present disclosure can be used as a server that manages application licenses.

[0060] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 License management server 2 Device 3 Receiving unit 4 Use authorization determination unit 5 Key management unit 6 Transmitting unit 7 License information storage unit 8 Device information storage unit 9 Key information storage unit 10 Installation site 11 Sales management server 12 Sales information storage unit 13 Terminal 15 Storage device 16 Processor 17 User interface device 18 Communication device 19 License information 20 Priority 21 Charging format 22 Expiry date 23 Setting information 24 Operational performance

Claims

1. A license management server comprising: a receiving unit that receives a request to use an application from a device; a usage authorization judgment unit that, when multiple licenses authorizing the use of the application have been issued to the device, selects a specific license based on predetermined priorities for the multiple licenses; and a transmitting unit that transmits to the device setting information and key information of the application corresponding to the specific license.

2. A license management server as described in claim 1, wherein the priority is set based on the billing method registered for the multiple licenses, and the transmission unit transmits setting information of the application corresponding to the billing method of the specific license.

3. A license management server as described in claim 1, wherein the priority is set based on the operating performance of the device controlled by the application registered for the multiple licenses, and the transmission unit transmits configuration information of the application corresponding to the operating performance of the specific license.

4. The license management server according to claim 3, wherein the operating performance includes an information processing performance of the device.

5. A license management server according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmission unit transmits the key information having a usage authorization expiration date set to a predetermined period longer than the interval at which the device transmits the usage request.

6. A license management method executed by a computer, comprising: receiving a request to use an application from a device; if multiple licenses authorizing use of the application have been issued to the device, selecting a specific license based on preset priorities for the multiple licenses; and transmitting configuration information and key information for the application corresponding to the specific license to the device.

7. A program that causes a computer to execute the following steps: receive a request to use an application from a device; if multiple licenses authorizing use of the application have been issued to the device, select a specific license based on preset priorities for the multiple licenses; and transmit to the device configuration information and key information for the application corresponding to the specific license.

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