Pay-per-use system and pay-per-use method for testing function license

Abstract

A pay-per-use system and a pay-per-use method for a testing function license. The system comprises a user end and a management end. The method comprising: the user end logs into the management end by means of a license management interface of the management end so as to register the user end and establish a communication connection with the management end; the user end requests, by means of the communication connection and the license management interface, the management end to provide a testing function license; the user end periodically provides use information of the testing function license to the management end by means of the communication connection with the license management interface; and the user end periodically pays a use fee of the testing function license on the basis of the use information of the testing function license on the management end. In this way, the user end can obtain the license of the testing function immediately, and the management end can obtain the use fee of the testing function for a long time.

Description

Test function license pay-per-use system and pay-per-use method

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024110573925, filed on August 2, 2024. This application incorporates the entirety of the aforementioned Chinese Patent Application. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to a license pay-per-use technology, and in particular, to a test function license pay-per-use system and pay-per-use method. BACKGROUND

[0003] Currently, semiconductor chip testing factories use test equipment provided by automated test equipment vendors to test semiconductor chips, and test function licenses are required to use these test equipment. The common practice in the market today is to buy out or subscribe to test equipment, test function licenses, and test personnel. However, these semiconductor chip testing factories usually purchase a small number of test function licenses, but the testing needs frequently change with the arrival of new test equipment, or these semiconductor chip testing factories need to purchase more test function licenses at the moment, but the procurement process is lengthy and cumbersome, and the automated test equipment vendors can only obtain a one-time test function license usage fee. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a test function license pay-per-use method to enable a semiconductor chip testing factory (usage end) using test equipment and test functions to immediately obtain test function licenses, and to enable an automated test equipment vendor (management end) providing test equipment and test functions to collect pay-per-use usage fees.

[0005] The test function license pay-per-use method provided by the present application includes: the usage end logs into the management end through a license management interface of the management end to register the usage end and establish a communication link between the usage end and the management end; the usage end requests the management end to provide test function licenses through the communication link and the license management interface; the usage end periodically provides test function license usage information to the management end through the communication link and the license management interface; the usage end periodically pays test function license usage fees based on test function license usage information on the management end; wherein the usage end includes a license server, and the management end includes a license management server.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present application, the communication link is a message queue telemetry transport protocol.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, the usage end logs into the management end through the license management interface of the management end to register the usage end and establish a communication link between the usage end and the management end includes: the usage end receives a certificate from the management end and installs it on the usage end; the management end verifies the identity of the usage end through the certificate; and the usage end communicates with the management end through the certificate to establish the communication link.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present application, the usage end requests the management end to provide the test function license through the license management interface of the communication link, comprising: the usage end logs in the management end through the license management interface of the management end to define the license range of the test function license; the usage end receives the modification information of the test function license from the management end; and the usage end performs the modification of the test function license according to the modification information of the test function license.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, the usage end regularly provides the usage information of the test function license to the management end through the license management interface of the communication link, comprising: the usage end checks the updated usage information of the test function license from the management end.

[0010] The test function license pay-per-use system provided by the present application comprises: a usage end comprising a license server; a management end comprising a license management server; wherein the test license pay-per-use system performs the test function license pay-per-use method comprising the following steps: the usage end logs in the management end through the license management interface of the management end to register the usage end and establish the communication link between the usage end and the management end; the usage end requests the management end to provide the test function license through the license management interface of the communication link; the usage end regularly provides the usage information of the test function license to the management end through the license management interface of the communication link; and the usage end regularly pays the usage fee of the test function license based on the usage information of the test function license on the management end.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present application, the communication link is a message queue telemetry transport protocol.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present application, the usage end logs in the management end through the license management interface of the management end to register the usage end and establish the communication link between the usage end and the management end, comprising: the usage end receives the certificate from the management end and installs on the usage end; the management end verifies the identity of the usage end through the certificate; and the usage end communicates with the management end through the certificate.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, the usage end requests the management end to provide the test function license through the license management interface of the communication link, comprising: the usage end logs in the management end to define the license range of the test function license; the usage end receives the modification information of the test function license from the management end; and the usage end performs the modification of the test function license according to the modification information of the test function license.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present application, the usage end regularly provides the usage information of the test function license to the management end through the license management interface of the communication link, comprising: the usage end checks the updated usage information of the test function license from the management end.

[0015] The test function license pay-per-use system provided by the application ensures the communication connection between the use end and the management end by using the message queue telemetry transport protocol, and the test device and the use end of the test function can obtain the test function license immediately and match different test devices by using the test function license pay-per-use method provided by the application, and the management end of the test device and the test function can collect the use fee of the pay-per-use continuously.

[0016] The above description is only a summary of the technical scheme of the application, in order to make the technical means of the application more clearly understood and implemented according to the content of the specification, and in order to make the above and other purposes, characteristics and advantages of the application more obvious and easy to understand, the following preferred embodiments are described in detail below, and the accompanying drawings are described as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a test function license pay-per-use system provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0018] Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a test function license pay-per-use method provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0019] Fig. 3 is a flow chart of registration and establishment of communication connection provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0020] Fig. 4 is a flow chart of request for test function license provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0021] Fig. 5 is a flow chart of providing use information of the test function license provided by an embodiment of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present application is described in particular with reference to the following examples, which are intended to be purely exemplary in nature. Changes in form and detail can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes one or more of the referenced component or elements. Furthermore, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used throughout the specification and claims, the words "include" and "comprise" are to be construed as meaning "including, but not limited to". Certain words used herein have special meanings as discussed below or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner in describing the present application. Examples of any word(s) discussed herein, including examples of certain words used to describe the present application, are used merely to illustrate and, of course, do not limit the scope and meaning of the present application or any example word(s). Likewise, the present application is not limited to the various embodiments set forth in this specification.

[0023] Furthermore, the words "coupled" and "connected", along with their derivatives, can be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, "connected" can be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct electrical contact with each other. "Coupled" can mean that two or more elements are in either direct or indirect (with other intervening

[0024] It is to be understood that the words "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," "involving," and similar expressions are to be construed in an open-ended way, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Additionally, any steps or operations recited in any of the aspects or claims herein can be carried out in any order unless otherwise expressly stated. Also, the use of "adapted to" or "configured to" herein is meant to open up the possibility that the item in question is not necessarily "adapted to" or "configured to" do the job in question, but that it can do the job in question in some way, even if not the best or most efficient way. Furthermore, the summary and abstract sections are only intended to facilitate search and retrieval of the disclosure. They are not intended to limit the scope or content of the disclosure in any way.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a test function license pay-per-use system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The test function license pay-per-use system 1 according to the embodiment includes a user side 2 and a management side 3, wherein the user side 2 includes a license server 21, the management side 3 includes a license management server 31 and a license management interface 32, and the user side 2 is coupled to the management side 3. In the embodiment, the user side 2 represents a semiconductor chip testing factory, and the management side 3 represents an automated test equipment supplier. In addition, the test function license pay-per-use system 1 according to the embodiment can satisfy the testing requirements of the user side 2 for different test function licenses in time by performing a test function license pay-per-use method, and can also enable the management side 3 to continuously collect the use fees of the pay-per-use according to different test function licenses.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, a flowchart of a test function license pay-per-use method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The test function license pay-per-use method according to the embodiment includes the following steps. Step S1: The user side 2 logs in to the management side 3 through the license management interface 32 of the management side 3 to register the user side 2 and establish a communication link 4 between the user side 2 and the management side 3, wherein the communication link 4 is a message queue telemetry transmission (MQTT) protocol. Step S3: The user side 2 requests the management side 3 to provide test function licenses through the communication link 4 and the license management interface 32. Step S5: The user side 2 regularly provides the use information of the test function licenses to the management side 3 through the communication link 4 and the license management interface 32. Step S7: The user side 2 regularly pays the use fees of the test function licenses based on the use information of the test function licenses on the management side 3. It is to be noted that both the user side 2 and the management side 3 have a publish / subscribe interface of the message queue telemetry transmission protocol. In addition, the cloud or server of the management side 3 has an agent of the message queue telemetry transmission protocol for scheduling the information of the message queue telemetry transmission protocol between the user side 2 and the management side 3.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a registration and a communication connection provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown. In step S1, the user connects to the license management interface 32 of the management terminal 3 through the user terminal 2 to log in to the license management server 31, and then registers the user terminal 2 through the license management interface 32, so that the following steps can be performed. In step S11, the user terminal 2 receives (downloads) the certificate from the management terminal 3 and installs it on the user terminal 2, such as on the license server 21. In step S13, the management terminal 3 verifies (also referred to as authenticates or authenticates) the identity of the user terminal 2 through the certificate. In step S15, the user terminal 2 communicates with the management terminal 3 through the certificate to establish the communication connection 4. That is, the user verifies his / her identity through the certificate to communicate with the management terminal 3 to establish the communication connection 4.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart of a request for a test function license provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown. In step S3, the following steps can be performed. In step S31, the user logs in to the management terminal 3 through the user terminal 2 to define the license scope of the test function license. In step S33, the user terminal 2 receives the modification information of the test function license from the management terminal 3. In step S35, the user terminal 2 performs the modification of the test function license according to the modification information of the test function license. That is, the user connects to the license management interface 32 of the management terminal 3 through the user terminal 2 to log in to the license management server 31, and then enables, disables, or changes the license scope of the test function license on the license management interface 32, and then the license management server 31 publishes the modification information of the test function license. After the license server 21 of the user terminal 2 subscribes to the topic to receive the modification information of the test function license, the user can modify the test function license in the license server 21 according to the modification information of the test function license.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, a flowchart of providing the use information of the test function license provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown. In step S5, the user monitors the use information of the test function license on the license server 21, such as the number of times, the time, etc., and publishes the use information of the test function license, so that the license management server 31 of the management terminal 3 subscribes to the topic to receive the use information of the test function license to update the use information of the test function license, so that the following steps can be performed. In step S51, the user terminal 2 checks the updated use information of the test function license from the management terminal 3.

[0030] In summary, the test function license pay-per-use system provided by the present application uses the message queue telemetry transport protocol to ensure the communication connection between the use end and the management end, and uses the test function license pay-per-use method provided by the present application, so that the test equipment and the use end of the test function can immediately obtain the test function license and match different test equipment, and the management end of the test equipment and the test function can continuously collect the use fee of the pay-per-use.

[0031] The above merely describes the preferred embodiments of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application in any form. Although the present application has been disclosed above with the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes or modifications to the above disclosed methods and technical contents to obtain equivalent embodiments with equivalent changes, as long as the changes or modifications do not deviate from the technical solution of the present application. Any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present application still belongs to the scope of the technical solution of the present application.

Claims

1. A pay-per-use method of testing a function license, characterized by, include: The user terminal logs into the management terminal through the management terminal's license management interface to register the user terminal and establish a communication connection with the management terminal; The user terminal requests a test function license from the management terminal through the communication connection and the license management interface. The user terminal periodically provides the management terminal with the usage information of the test function license through the communication connection and the license management interface; The user terminal periodically pays the usage fee for the testing function license based on the usage information of the testing function license on the management terminal; The user end includes a license server, and the management end includes a license management server.

2. The test function license pay-per-use method of claim 1, wherein, The communication connection mentioned above is a message queue telemetry transmission protocol.

3. The test function license pay-per-use method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The user terminal logs into the management terminal through the license management interface to register the user terminal and establish a communication connection with the management terminal, including: The user terminal receives the certificate from the management terminal and installs it on the user terminal; The management terminal verifies the identity of the user terminal using the certificate; The user terminal establishes a communication connection with the management terminal through the certificate.

4. The pay-per-use method of testing the license of a function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The user terminal requests the management terminal to provide the test function license through the license management interface via the communication connection, including: The user logs into the management terminal to define the scope of the test function license; The user terminal receives modification information regarding the test function license from the management terminal; The user terminal executes the modification of the test function license according to the modification information of the test function license.

5. The pay-per-use method of testing the license of a function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The user terminal periodically provides usage information of the test function license to the management terminal via the communication connection and the license management interface, including: The user terminal verifies the usage information of the test function license updated from the management terminal.

6. A pay-per-use system for testing a license of a function, characterized by, include: The user end includes the license server; The management side includes the license management server; The pay-as-you-go system for the test function license implements the pay-as-you-go method for the test function license, which includes the following steps: The user terminal logs into the management terminal through the management terminal's license management interface to register the user terminal and establish a communication connection with the management terminal; The user terminal requests a test function license from the management terminal via the communication connection and the license management interface. The user terminal periodically provides the management terminal with the usage information of the test function license through the communication connection and the license management interface; The user terminal periodically pays the usage fee for the testing function license based on the usage information of the testing function license on the management terminal.

7. The pay-per-use system of testing the license of a function according to claim 6, characterized in that, The communication connection mentioned above is a message queue telemetry transmission protocol.

8. A test function license pay-per-use system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The user terminal logs into the management terminal through the license management interface to register the user terminal and establish a communication connection with the management terminal, including: The user terminal receives the certificate from the management terminal and installs it on the user terminal; The management terminal verifies the identity of the user terminal using the certificate; The user terminal establishes a communication connection with the management terminal through the certificate.

9. The pay-per-use system for testing functionality licensing as described in any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, The user terminal requests the management terminal to provide the test function license through the license management interface via the communication connection, including: The user logs into the management terminal to define the scope of the test function license; The user terminal receives modification information regarding the test function license from the management terminal; The user terminal executes the modification of the test function license according to the modification information of the test function license.

10. The pay-per-use system for testing functionality licensing as described in any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that, The user terminal periodically provides usage information of the test function license to the management terminal via the communication connection and the license management interface, including: The user terminal verifies the usage information of the test function license updated from the management terminal.

Images