License Agent Autonomous Enforcement and Server Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current licensing models for content and services on communication devices face complexities in managing licenses, particularly with changes such as download, installation, recall, upgrade, update, transfer, and usage monitoring, which lead to difficulties in enforcing licensing policies efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A client-side license agent is implemented to enforce licensing policies by determining whether it can act autonomously or needs to communicate with a server, optimizing communication by multiplexing with other data to reduce network traffic and managing various licensing aspects like run-ability, upgrade-ability, update-ability, and recall-ability of licensed items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a license agent operates autonomously to enforce licensing policies, then response time and user experience are improved, but the ability to synchronize with server and update policies may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The license agent performs preliminary actions by caching licensing policies and device information locally before network connectivity is needed. This allows the agent to operate autonomously and respond immediately to licensing events without waiting for server synchronization, thus improving response time while maintaining the ability to update policies when connectivity is available.
2Reliability
If the license agent communicates with the server for every licensing decision, then policy accuracy is maintained, but network traffic increases and response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The license agent performs preliminary actions by caching licensing policies and device information locally before network connectivity is needed. This allows the agent to operate autonomously and respond immediately to licensing events without waiting for server synchronization, thus improving response time while maintaining the ability to update policies when connectivity is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The license agent performs self-service by making licensing decisions autonomously based on cached policies and device information. This eliminates the need for constant server communication for every licensing decision, significantly reducing network traffic and response time while maintaining policy accuracy through periodic synchronization.
3Reliability
If the license agent communicates with the server for every licensing decision, then policy updates are ensured, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The license agent performs preliminary actions by caching licensing policies and device information locally before network connectivity is needed. This allows the agent to operate autonomously and respond immediately to licensing events without waiting for server synchronization, thus improving response time while maintaining the ability to update policies when connectivity is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The license agent performs self-service by making licensing decisions autonomously based on cached policies and device information. This eliminates the need for constant server communication for every licensing decision, significantly reducing network traffic and response time while maintaining policy accuracy through periodic synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method of managing a licensable item includes accessing a licensing policy related to managing a licensable item, and a license agent making a determination to act to enforce the licensing policy or to first communicate with a server before acting to enforce the licensing policy. Further, the apparatus and method include enforcing the licensing policy in accordance with the determination to act to enforce the licensing policy or to first communicate with a server before acting.