Capacity Licensing System with Intermediary Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for device licensing face challenges when a customer purchases multiple devices, as they become the license manager, creating a potentially hostile domain between the end device and the license issuing authority, and there is a need for flexible license management and disaster recovery in enterprise settings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for capacity licensing that involves receiving capability requests, sending license responses, storing deduction records, and enabling periodic verification and renewal of license rights, allowing for flexible deployment and pooling of licenses, and utilizing trusted storage with redundancy for disaster recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing public-key cryptography systems are used for device licensing, then license security is maintained, but the system creates a hostile domain between end devices and license issuing authority when customers manage large numbers of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the license issuing authority and end devices. This license manager operates within the customer's domain, allowing secure license distribution without requiring direct communication between devices and the authority, thus resolving the hostile domain issue while maintaining security through the intermediary layer.
2Reliability
If licenses are tied to hardware identity for security, then license protection is improved, but flexibility to move licenses between devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the license system into multiple components: license rights, device identity, and license manager. This segmentation allows license rights to be verified and transferred flexibly without being permanently bound to specific hardware, enabling license mobility while maintaining protection through the segmented verification process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic license management where license associations with device identities can be changed through the license manager. This dynamic approach allows licenses to be moved between devices as needed, providing adaptability while maintaining security through controlled verification processes.
3Reliability
If license verification is performed continuously for security, then license integrity is maintained, but system performance and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic license verification where the license manager checks license integrity at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains license integrity while reducing the performance overhead associated with constant verification, thus improving system response time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for capacity licensing are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises receiving a capability request from a device, sending a capability response to the device, the capability response comprising a serving of license rights. A deduction record is stored, the deduction record deducting a license from a license pool. An information request is received from the device, and an information response is sent.