License Install Support System for Multifunction Peripherals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face significant burdens when installing licenses for multifunction peripherals across multiple devices, as different license issuing sources require distinct communication protocols and parameters, necessitating multiple client programs, which complicates the process and hampers sales promotions.
Innovation Solution
A license install support system and method that includes a device for determining the issuing source of a license, acquiring issuing source information, and processing license data across multiple management devices, allowing for unified installation procedures regardless of the issuing source, thereby reducing user workload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If licenses are issued by different sources according to applications, then the issuing source of a license can be easily changed and system flexibility is improved, but the procedure for acquiring licenses becomes complex and requires multiple client programs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license information management table as an intermediary component that stores and manages license acquisition information including issuing source identification, communication protocols, and parameters. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of multiple issuing sources, allowing the system to handle different license sources through a unified interface without requiring multiple client programs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal license acquisition mechanism that can handle multiple issuing sources through a single client program. The license information management table stores diverse issuing source configurations, and the acquisition process universally queries this table to determine the appropriate protocol and parameters, making the system multi-functional while maintaining a single unified interface.
2Reliability
If multiple client programs are required for different license issuing sources, then each client can be optimized for its specific source, but the user workload increases and installation becomes troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple specialized client programs into a single unified client program. This unified program contains a license information management table that consolidates all issuing source information, protocols, and parameters. The single client program automatically selects the appropriate issuing source based on the application, eliminating the need for users to manually choose or install multiple different client programs.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified client program implements self-service by automatically querying the license information management table to determine the appropriate issuing source, communication protocol, and parameters. The system automatically configures and executes the license acquisition process without requiring user intervention or knowledge of the underlying complexity, thereby reducing user workload while maintaining optimized acquisition processes for each issuing source.
3Ease of operation
If a unified license acquisition procedure is implemented across multiple issuing sources, then user workload is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the system must handle diverse communication protocols and parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the license acquisition system into distinct modular components: a license information management table that stores issuing source-specific information, a query mechanism that retrieves appropriate parameters, and an execution unit that implements the acquisition. This segmentation allows the unified client program to handle diverse protocols and parameters through organized, manageable segments rather than a monolithic complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The license information management table serves as an intermediary layer between the unified client interface and the diverse issuing sources. It stores and manages all protocol-specific information and parameters, translating between the unified interface and the varied requirements of different issuing sources. This intermediary structure allows the system to maintain a simple unified interface while handling the complexity of diverse communication protocols internally.
Data Source
AI summary
A license install support method includes receiving input of a first license identifier used for receiving license data, the license data being used by an electronic device for determining whether activation of a program is allowable; sending, to a license source determining device connected via a network, an acquisition request specifying the first license identifier for acquiring issuing source information including issuing source identification information of the license data; receiving the issuing source information returned from the license source determining device; and using a license install processing unit to acquire the license data corresponding to the first license identifier from a license management device relevant to the issuing source information included among plural license management devices connected via the network, and to send the license data to the electronic device.