Cloud Licensing Manager for Software Version Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current software frameworks for energy management and other applications lack efficient mechanisms for version control and authorization of software projects, leading to potential unauthorized access and resource misallocation in cloud computing systems.

Innovation Solution

A cloud computing system with an integrated licensing manager and application marketplace that uses helm charts and docker images to manage software application projects, enabling granular authorization and resource allocation based on licensing data, allowing only authorized accounts to instantiate specific versions of software projects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a software framework is used to enable a software marketplace for energy management software applications, then multiple parties can develop and deploy applications without modifying the underlying framework, but version control and authorization mechanisms become complex and difficult to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility of multiple parties to develop and deploy applicationsVSAvoidComplexity of version control and authorization mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a licensing manager as an intermediary component that handles version control and authorization. The licensing manager receives licensing information from the application marketplace and manages the complexity of authorization, allowing multiple parties to deploy applications without directly managing the complex version control mechanisms. This intermediary absorbs the complexity while enabling versatile application deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the software marketplace into distinct functional components: the application marketplace for receiving and distributing applications, the licensing manager for handling version control and authorization, and the energy management framework for providing common functionality. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of the problem independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If licensing data is stored and managed to authorize particular accounts to access subsets of software application projects, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the system requires complex licensing management infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePrevention of unauthorized accessVSAvoidLicensing management infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The licensing manager operates as a self-service system that automatically receives licensing information from the application marketplace and manages authorization without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously handles the complexity of licensing data storage and management, providing reliable unauthorized access prevention while minimizing the operational complexity for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The licensing manager serves as an intermediary between the application marketplace and the software application projects, handling all licensing-related operations. This intermediary absorbs the complexity of licensing infrastructure while providing simple, reliable authorization services that prevent unauthorized access without requiring end users to manage complex licensing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the application marketplace receives and distributes compiled software application projects with licensing information, then software distribution is streamlined, but tracking and verifying licensing compliance becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSoftware distribution efficiencyVSAvoidLicensing compliance verification

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The licensing manager implements a feedback mechanism where licensing information flows from the application marketplace to the licensing manager, which then verifies and manages the licensing compliance. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically track and verify licensing compliance while maintaining streamlined software distribution, as the licensing manager continuously monitors and enforces licensing rules based on the distributed applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20240248705A1Energy management platform

Publication Date: 2024.07.25 INVENTUS HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A non-transitory machine-readable medium includes machine-readable instructions for a cloud computing system. The system comprises a licensing manager that stores licensing data for a plurality of software application projects, authorizing particular accounts to access a subset of the projects. An application marketplace receives a compiled version of a given software application project and licensing information for the project, including a helm chart, a docker image and a version number. The licensing information identifies particular accounts authorized to instantiate the given software application project, and the licensing manager updates the licensing data. An application controller spawns an instance of the given software application project in the cloud computing system in response to a request from a computing platform and verification that the request is associated with an authorized account.