Blockchain-Based Software License Metering for Industrial Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems operating on private networks pose challenges for software and service providers in tracking usage and enforcing licenses due to limited communication with external devices, making it difficult to manage software asset usage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computing device within the industrial automation system collects telemetry data, references a local blockchain (a private extension of a global decentralized blockchain) to determine entitlements, updates both blockchains based on usage, and meters software asset usage, allowing for autonomous license management and cryptographic token transactions to ensure compliance with remaining entitlements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If industrial automation systems operate on private networks with limited external communication, then system security and operational independence are improved, but software license tracking and management become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A telemetry collection device acts as an intermediary between the isolated industrial automation system and the remote server. This device collects telemetry data locally and communicates usage information to the remote server through the private network, enabling license tracking without requiring direct external communication from the automation system itself, thus maintaining security while enabling monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional centralized license management mechanisms with a blockchain-based distributed ledger system. The blockchain stores usage records immutably, eliminating the need for continuous external communication to verify licenses. This substitution allows the system to maintain operational independence while enabling comprehensive usage tracking through the distributed ledger
2Ease of operation
If traditional centralized license management is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service license management where the blockchain automatically records usage transactions and enforces license terms without requiring manual intervention from administrators. The smart contracts automatically handle license validation, renewal, and compliance checking, reducing operational complexity while maintaining ease of use through automated processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the license management function into distributed components across multiple blockchains (global and private). Each blockchain independently manages usage records for its respective network, allowing parallel processing of license operations and reducing the complexity burden on any single system component while maintaining overall system manageability
3Reliability
If frequent license renewals are required, then compliance is maintained, but loss of time and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring automatic renewal parameters in the blockchain smart contracts before license expiration. Usage data is continuously recorded and analyzed in advance, allowing the system to automatically extend licenses based on predefined criteria without requiring last-minute manual renewal processes, thus maintaining compliance while minimizing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where the blockchain monitors usage patterns in real-time and provides automatic updates on license status. This ongoing feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when renewals are needed and execute them automatically based on usage data, eliminating compliance gaps while reducing the time and disruption associated with manual renewal processes
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive telemetry data representing usage of one or more software assets by one or more industrial automation devices within an industrial automation system operated by an enterprise, reference a local blockchain that is a private extension of a global decentralized blockchain to determine one or more licenses associated with the one or more software assets, determine one or more usage parameters for the one or more software assets based on the telemetry data and the one or more licenses, update the local blockchain and the global decentralized blockchain based on the and the usage parameters, and enable usage of the one or more software assets by the one or more industrial automation devices based on the one or more usage parameters and one or more thresholds defined by the one or more licenses.