Cloud License Management for FA Sublicensing Across Connected Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining the details of a use contract for cloud services in factory automation (FA) sites is difficult, increasing the workload and potentially obstructing the use of cloud services.
Innovation Solution
A license management system that manages licenses for application software features across multiple layers of objects, allowing for sublicensing based on existing license ranges, facilitating efficient use of cloud services by reducing workload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If each user directly concludes a use contract with the provider of application software, then the provider can manage licenses centrally, but the workload for determining contract details increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license management system as an intermediary between the application software provider and multiple users. This system automatically generates license information based on usage data, eliminating the need for manual contract negotiations while maintaining centralized control. The intermediary handles the complex determination of contract details automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The license management system enables self-service by automatically generating license information based on collected usage data. Users receive licenses without manual intervention, and the system autonomously determines appropriate contract terms based on actual usage patterns, reducing the workload for both providers and users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If license details are determined manually for each user connection, then contract terms can be customized, but the workload increases and obstructs cloud service adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines customized license terms based on collected usage data without manual intervention. The license management system analyzes usage patterns and generates appropriate license information autonomously, providing adaptability to different users while maintaining ease of operation through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system collects usage data in advance and pre-generates license information before users need to access the service. By performing the complex contract determination work beforehand based on usage patterns, the system enables quick service adoption without manual contract negotiation at the point of use.
3Reliability
If multiple layers of objects share information about troubles, then downtime can be reduced, but determining license ranges across connections becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The license management system provides a universal solution that handles license determination across multiple layers of connections. It collects usage information from various sources (end users, line builders, device manufacturers) and generates unified license information that works across all connection types, simplifying the complex multi-layer license determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary that collects usage data from multiple layers of the production chain and generates standardized license information. This intermediary layer simplifies the complex relationships between end users, line builders, and device manufacturers by providing a unified license management approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A license management system includes an acquirer that acquires an application, an executor that executes the application, a providing section that provides, through a network, a feature implemented by execution of the application to a license acquiring object that has acquired a license, and a manager that manages, in a manner associated with application software being a target for the license, a new license acquiring object generated upon granting of the license from the license acquiring object with a range equivalent to a license range of the feature for which the license acquiring object has acquired the license or within the license range.