App License Verification via Local Hash Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for image forming apparatuses do not allow installed applications to check their own license information without inquiring a license management server, leading to inefficiencies and increased processing loads.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and system that includes a correspondence-information storage unit to store usage authorization information associated with application identification, a specifying unit to identify usage authorization information based on received requests, and a notifying unit to inform applications of their usage authorization status, enabling them to check license information independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If applications inquire license information from a license management server, then usage authorization can be verified, but processing load increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the license management server generate and provide hash values of license information to the information processing apparatus in advance. This pre-computation allows applications to verify license status locally without real-time server inquiries, resolving the contradiction by preparing verification data beforehand to enable both accurate verification and efficient local checking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hash value as an intermediary element between the license management server and applications. The hash value serves as a mediator that carries essential license verification information in a compact, computationally efficient form. Applications can verify license status by comparing hash values locally without direct server communication, thus maintaining verification reliability while improving processing efficiency.
2Loss of information
If applications continuously check license information with the server, then usage authorization status is always current, but communication overhead and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing applications to autonomously verify license status using locally stored hash values. Applications can perform self-verification without continuous server communication, maintaining current license status information while eliminating repeated communication overhead. The local hash comparison mechanism enables applications to serve themselves for license verification purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and storing a local copy of the license verification data (hash value) in the information processing apparatus. This copied hash value allows applications to perform verification operations locally without repeatedly accessing the original server, thus maintaining information currency while reducing communication energy consumption through efficient local replication.
3Speed
If license information is stored locally in the information processing apparatus, then verification speed improves, but storage requirements and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by storing only the essential hash value locally in the information processing apparatus rather than complete license information. This selective local storage provides verification speed improvement while minimizing storage requirements and security risks. The hash value contains just enough information for verification purposes without the overhead of storing full license data, thus resolving the contradiction between verification speed and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a memory and at least one processor. The memory stores correspondence information associating application identification information, identifying installed applications, with usage authorization information, related to usage authorization of the applications. The processor, upon a request being received from an application requesting the usage authorization information, can specify usage authorization information associated with the application identification information included in the request. The processor can then notify the application of the requesting source, requesting the usage authorization information.