License Management Unit for Software Suite Concurrency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing license management systems are inefficient for suite products where multiple applications cooperate, as they individually manage licenses, leading to issues with simultaneous usage, increased traffic between client and server, and adverse performance impacts due to interprocess communication and license management complexities.
Innovation Solution
A license management system where a single license management unit operates independently of application processes, acquiring and returning licenses to enable multiple related applications to share a single license, simplifying configuration and reducing traffic and performance issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each application individually manages licenses based on different application IDs, then license management can be performed for each application, but the traffic between client and server increases and the configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the license management function into a single dedicated license management unit that handles licensing for multiple applications centrally. Instead of each application having its own license management process, one license management unit manages all applications using a single license, thereby reducing configuration complexity and server traffic while maintaining reliable license control
2Adaptability or versatility
If each application acquires and returns licenses independently, then each application can be managed separately, but interprocess communication occurs which adversely affects performance and complicates license transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the license management function from individual application processes and places it in a separate, dedicated license management unit. This extraction eliminates the need for interprocess communication between applications for license acquisition and return, thereby improving system performance while the license management unit maintains independent control over the license lifecycle
3Device complexity
If a single license management unit operates independently to manage multiple applications with a single license, then configuration is simplified and traffic is reduced, but the license management unit must coordinate with multiple application processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the license management unit as a universal component that can serve multiple applications through a single license. The unit implements a standardized interface that accepts start requests from any application and returns licenses accordingly, making it easy to operate with multiple applications without requiring application-specific configuration or complex coordination logic
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a case where a first start request is received, an application determines whether a license management unit has already acquired a license, and in a case where the application determines that the license management unit has not yet acquired the license, the application acquires a license from a license server and switches the application to a state where a user can use the application. Then, in a case where the license management unit has not yet been started, the application makes a second start request to start license management unit.