Application Usage Score for Dynamic Software Licensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software and hardware resource management systems lack transparency and granularity in assessing usage, leading to inefficient licensing and high costs for businesses, as they often pay for unused resources without clear understanding of the business value conferred.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that calculates an Application Usage Score (AUS) based on actual business value, which considers various characteristics and weights across different tiers of a computer system, allowing for more accurate billing and resource optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If Per CPU License or Per User License models are used, then software vendors can generate regular revenue, but enterprises pay for unused resources without clear understanding of actual business value
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous monitoring and feedback loops that track application usage metrics, resource consumption, and business value indicators. This feedback mechanism provides enterprises with real-time visibility into actual software utilization, enabling data-driven licensing decisions and eliminating payments for unused resources while maintaining vendor revenue streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary assessment system that acts as a mediator between software vendors and enterprises. This intermediary layer objectively measures and quantifies application usage and business value, translating complex technical metrics into understandable business indicators that both parties can use for transparent licensing negotiations.
2Reliability
If enterprises maintain costly hardware and software licenses, then application availability is ensured, but actual usage and business value remain difficult or impossible to quantify
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces subjective, qualitative assessments of application value with objective, quantitative measurement mechanisms. By substituting mechanical monitoring tools and automated data collection systems for human judgment, the patent achieves precise measurement of usage metrics and business value with high reliability and consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms abstract concepts like 'business value' and 'application usage' into measurable parameters and indicators. By defining specific metrics, thresholds, and measurement protocols, the system enables precise quantification of previously intangible attributes while maintaining application availability through continuous monitoring.
3Ease of operation
If enterprises purchase software licenses based on CPU count or user count, then licensing is simplified, but resource optimization and cost reduction opportunities are missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static licensing models (fixed CPU or user counts) to dynamic licensing that automatically adjusts based on real-time usage patterns and business value metrics. This dynamic approach maintains operational simplicity through automated decision-making while significantly improving resource optimization efficiency by allocating licenses based on actual needs rather than fixed allocations.
Data Source
AI summary
Various of the disclosed embodiments disclose systems and methods for assessing usage of a resource, such as hardware, software, or firmware, in a computer system. For example, some embodiments contemplate a model in which an enterprise application derives its license cost based upon the actual business value provided by the licensed resource to the enterprise. If an enterprise has purchased software that it uses very heavily, then the license cost may increase. Conversely, if the enterprise uses the software rarely, then the license cost may decrease. This usage granularity may allow an enterprise executive to purchase a software license without fear that the software will be inefficiently utilized. A licensor may similarly use the system to charge more accurate fees.