Group Licensing Validation for Device Feature Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feature licensing systems are inadequate for managing device groups, as they fail to ensure strong binding between feature licenses and device groups, enforce license constraints across multiple devices, handle membership changes, and prevent license duplication leading to unauthorized capacity increases.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for licensing features at the group level, involving a central licensing system that generates and validates group licenses, binds them to a globally unique group ID and device IDs, and enforces license compliance across devices within a group, preventing unauthorized changes or splits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If feature licensing is implemented at the individual device level, then each device can have precise control over its own functions and capacity, but the system cannot effectively manage or enforce license constraints across multiple devices working together as a group
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the licensing system into two distinct components: individual device licenses that control device-specific functions, and group licenses that control collective device group functions. This segmentation allows each license type to operate independently with its own validation rules, resolving the contradiction by enabling group-level licensing flexibility while maintaining manageable complexity through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a licensing server as an intermediary that mediates between individual device licenses and group licenses. The server validates both device-level and group-level license constraints, coordinating them to ensure that neither individual device functions nor group collective functions violate their respective license terms. This intermediary approach enables comprehensive multi-device license management without requiring complex peer-to-peer validation logic at each device
2Ease of operation
If group licenses are implemented without strong binding to device groups, then license distribution becomes easier, but unauthorized capacity increases and license duplication can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested license structure where the group license contains and validates individual device licenses, and each device license is nested within the group license context. The group license includes a group identifier and list of member device identifiers that must be present in individual device licenses. This nesting ensures that licenses remain tightly bound to authorized device groups while allowing straightforward distribution, as the nested validation logic automatically prevents unauthorized duplication and capacity increases
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the licensing server validates license requests by checking both group license constraints and individual device license constraints. When a device requests a function, the system provides feedback by verifying whether the device's license and its group's license both permit the requested operation. This feedback loop ensures reliable authorization security while maintaining ease of operation, as the automated validation process transparently enforces license binding without requiring complex user intervention
3Manufacturing precision
If individual device licenses are used for group-level capacity control, then device-level function control is maintained, but the system cannot enforce aggregate capacity limits across the device group
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual device licenses with a group license into a unified licensing framework. Each device maintains its individual license for precise device-level function control, while simultaneously being a member of a group license that enforces aggregate capacity limits. The licensing server combines validation of both license types, ensuring that individual device functions are controlled precisely while group-level productivity and capacity utilization are optimized through coordinated license enforcement
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for group licensing of homogeneous and heterogeneous devices features are disclosed. Licensing servers manage the generation and distribution of licenses to devices, and enforce validation rules that prevent granting devices licenses that do not comply with group licensing limits.