Software License Assignment via Device Specification Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software license management systems face challenges in efficiently assigning licenses to a large number of management target devices, as they often fail to account for device specification conditions and the compatibility of software products with these devices.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that stores software licenses in association with device specification conditions, receives information about operating software products and device specifications, and determines and assigns licenses based on compatibility and availability, ensuring efficient allocation across multiple management target devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software licenses are assigned without considering device specification conditions, then the assignment process is simple and fast, but license compatibility and applicability to management target devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing device specification conditions and software license information in advance in the storage unit. When license assignment is needed, the determination module retrieves pre-stored information and automatically determines compatible licenses based on pre-configured criteria, eliminating the need for real-time manual verification and improving both speed and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the determination module continuously checks device specification conditions against software license requirements. The assignment notification unit provides feedback by notifying both the management target device and administrator of the assignment status, enabling continuous monitoring and adjustment of license assignments to ensure compatibility and efficiency
2Device complexity
If manual license assignment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and license allocation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing management target devices to automatically transmit their device specification information to the information processing device. The determination module then autonomously processes this information, matches it with available software licenses based on pre-stored criteria, and automatically assigns compatible licenses without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving productivity while keeping the user interface simple
Solution Approach 2:
The information processing device acts as an intermediary between management target devices and software license databases. It receives device specification information, processes it against stored license criteria, and facilitates automatic assignment. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complex matching logic in a dedicated processing unit rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer negotiations between devices and license databases
3Loss of time
If licenses are assigned without checking device specifications, then the assignment process is fast, but the number of incompatible license assignments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by storing device specification conditions and software license compatibility criteria in advance in the storage unit. When assignment is required, the determination module retrieves pre-validated information and instantly determines compatible licenses based on pre-configured rules, eliminating time-consuming real-time verification while preventing incompatible assignments before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the determination module validates each license assignment decision against stored device specification conditions. The assignment notification unit provides immediate feedback by notifying both the management target device and administrator of the assignment status and compatibility verification, enabling rapid detection and correction of any potential mismatches before they cause problems
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a storage for storing a plurality types of software licenses in association with a number of possessed licenses, a product type of a software product, and a device specification condition, a receiver for receiving information of a software product operating in a management target device and information of a device specification of the management target device, a determining module for determining a software license to be assigned to the management target device based on the number of possessed licenses, a number of the product types, or the device specification condition, when there is a plurality of software licenses, in which the software product is included in the product type and the device specification meets the device specification condition, among the plurality types of software licenses, and an assigning module for assigning a software license determined by the determining module to the management target device.