License Allocation by Constraint and Value
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for allocating products to licenses in computing devices are inefficient, often leading to false out-of-compliance determinations and underutilization of licenses, as they lack a systematic approach to prioritize license usage based on value and constraint, resulting in under-licensed products and under-used licenses.
Innovation Solution
A computing device system that sorts licenses by value and products by constraint, iteratively allocating the most constrained product to the least valuable license, ensuring proper license utilization and compliance by dynamically adjusting allocations based on available seats and product instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If products are allocated to licenses without systematic prioritization, then allocation process is simple, but license utilization is inefficient and compliance determinations are inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sorting of licenses by value and products by constraint degree before allocation begins. This preliminary organization enables efficient iterative allocation without complex real-time decision-making, resolving the contradiction between allocation efficiency and process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The allocation process is segmented into iterative cycles where each cycle allocates one product-license pair based on current rankings. This segmentation transforms a complex overall allocation problem into simple repeated decisions, improving efficiency without requiring complex simultaneous optimization.
2Productivity
If licenses are allocated without value-based prioritization, then allocation is faster, but valuable licenses remain underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
Licenses are pre-sorted by value in ascending order before allocation begins. This preliminary action ensures that during iterative allocation, the system automatically consumes lower-value licenses first and preserves higher-value licenses for later use, optimizing license utilization without requiring complex real-time value assessments.
3Measurement precision
If manual license allocation is used, then system complexity is low, but compliance accuracy is poor with false out-of-compliance results
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs compliance calculations based on the allocated product-license pairs without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach eliminates human error in compliance determination while keeping system complexity manageable through automated rule-based logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system iteratively recalculates constraint degrees and re-ranks products based on current license availability. This feedback mechanism ensures that compliance determinations remain accurate as allocations change, preventing false out-of-compliance results while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic recalculation.
4Productivity
If licenses are not sorted by value, then allocation process is simpler, but license value optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sorting of licenses by value and products by constraint degree before the allocation process begins. This preliminary organization enables efficient iterative allocation where each cycle simply matches the highest-constraint product with the lowest-value applicable license, achieving value optimization without complex real-time decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device configured for allocating products to licenses is described. The computing device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The computing device obtains license data that identifies a plurality of licenses. The computing device also obtains product data that identifies a plurality of products. The computing device determines a degree of constraint for each of the plurality of products. The computing device also allocates at least one of the plurality of products to at least one of the plurality of licenses based on the degree of constraint. The computing device further performs an operation based on the allocation.