Application License Manager for Isolated Container Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing application activation systems face challenges in securely and efficiently activating isolated counterpart applications due to communication barriers imposed by containerization, leading to redundant activation prompts and excessive computational resources usage.

Innovation Solution

A system that enables an application license manager to update license data for both containerized and native applications, allowing automatic activation of counterpart applications without direct communication, by transmitting activation requests and receiving product activation data to store licenses in isolated storage areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If containerization is used to isolate applications, then application security and reliability are improved, but communication between containerized and native applications is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication securityVSAvoidcommunication between applications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the containerized application stores license data in a location accessible to the native application, and the native application queries this intermediary storage to obtain activation status information without direct communication between the applications. This resolves the contradiction by enabling secure isolation while facilitating necessary information exchange through a shared storage intermediary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If direct communication between applications is prevented, then application isolation and security are improved, but redundant activation prompts are triggered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication isolationVSAvoidactivation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the containerized application store activation status and license data in a shared location before the native application needs to check activation status. This preliminary storage of activation information allows the native application to determine activation status without real-time communication, preventing redundant activation prompts while maintaining isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by having the containerized application create a copy of the activation status and license information in a location accessible to the native application. This copied information allows the native application to independently determine activation status without direct communication, eliminating redundant prompts while preserving application isolation and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If redundant activation prompts are displayed, then complete activation verification is ensured, but computational resources and networking traffic increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation verificationVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the native application query the shared storage location for activation status information that was previously written by the containerized application. This feedback mechanism allows the native application to verify activation status efficiently without redundant prompts, reducing computational resources while maintaining verification reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3762842B1Activation of an application based on prior activation of an isolated counterpart application
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3762842B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3762842B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3762842B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system activates an application on a computing device based on a prior activation of an isolated counterpart application on the computing device. An application that is restricted from sharing a license with a counterpart application locally on the computing device is enabled to instead communicate with an application license manager to manage license data corresponding to the counterpart application. For example, when a license is obtained at the computing device for a container application, the application license manager may update license data in association with a native application so that a counterpart license can be obtained automatically by the native application, and vice versa. Thus, once a user has responded to an activation prompt for either one of the container application or the native application, whichever application the user has not manually activated will be automatically activated at the computing device based on communications with the application license manager.