Container License Module for Dynamic Cloud Licensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software licensing approaches for applications in containers are inflexible and costly, particularly in cloud environments where the number of required computers can fluctuate significantly.
Innovation Solution
A usage-based licensing procedure that includes a license module within the container, which checks for the presence of an application license and links it to a clear license plate. The billing module then calls for usage units from an external license source, providing the clear license plate for secure execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hardware-based licensing mechanisms are used to bind software to specific computers, then software licensing control is improved, but flexibility for fluctuating numbers of virtual machines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license server as an intermediary between the software applications and the cloud infrastructure. The license server dynamically manages license allocation based on actual usage, mediating between the need for licensing control and the flexibility requirements of cloud environments. This resolves the contradiction by replacing static hardware binding with dynamic server-mediated license management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic license management where the number of available licenses can change based on usage patterns, time, and resource availability. The system dynamically allocates and revokes licenses without requiring hardware changes or reconfiguration, enabling adaptability to fluctuating virtual machine numbers while maintaining licensing control.
2Productivity
If cloud computing infrastructure is used to provide computing power, then scalability and cost-effectiveness are improved, but licensing control and security deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the license server continuously monitors software usage, license consumption, and system state. Based on this feedback, the server dynamically adjusts license allocation, ensuring that licensing control is maintained even in scalable cloud environments. The feedback loop enables real-time licensing decisions that preserve security while allowing scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The license server acts as a security intermediary between the cloud infrastructure and software applications. It verifies licenses, controls access, and enforces usage policies without requiring changes to the underlying cloud infrastructure, thereby maintaining security and licensing control while preserving cloud scalability and cost-effectiveness.
3Reliability
If traditional licensing models are used in containerized environments, then software protection is improved, but adaptability to different container orchestration systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the license server with universal interfaces that can work with multiple container orchestration systems (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, OpenStack). The system provides multi-functional licensing capabilities that adapt to different orchestration environments without requiring system-specific implementations, thereby maintaining software protection while achieving broad adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the licensing functionality into independent, portable components that can be deployed in various container orchestration environments. The license server is designed as a standalone service that can be orchestrated independently from the containerized applications, allowing it to adapt to different orchestration systems while maintaining consistent software protection mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a method for the usage-based licensing of one or more applications in a container, the container comprising a license module, an application queries the presence of an application license by means of the license module and is executed only if an application license is available. In the license module, a linking of one or more application licenses to a unique identifier is stored, and the container comprises a settlement module, which retrieves a usage unit from an external license source. For the duration of an obtained usage unit, the settlement module provides the unique identifier in a secured data memory so that all applications linked to the unique identifier can be executed. The invention also relates to a computer system and to a computer program product.