Software License Misuse Detection via Session Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprises face challenges in tracking and detecting misuse of licensed software within their managed networks, especially with complex licensing models and large numbers of users and devices, which can lead to penalties and compliance issues.
Innovation Solution
A software application is developed to detect potential software license misuse by analyzing session records and network activity, identifying target computing devices involved in misuse, and flagging them for further action, using customizable criteria such as byte transmission thresholds and session counts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking methods are used to monitor software license usage, then implementation complexity is low, but detection precision and reliability of license misuse detection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary software agent deployed on endpoint devices that collects usage data and communicates it to a central license management server. This intermediary layer automates data collection and analysis, significantly improving detection precision while the system manages complexity through modular architecture where the agent handles local monitoring and the server handles centralized analysis and decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual tracking mechanisms with automated electronic monitoring systems. Software agents automatically collect usage data, log file accesses, and transmit information electronically to the license management server, eliminating the need for manual auditing and significantly improving both precision and efficiency of license misuse detection.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive monitoring of all users and devices is implemented, then detection precision improves, but loss of time for data collection and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having software agents continuously collect and pre-process usage data in the background as it occurs. Usage information is logged and organized in real-time on endpoint devices before being transmitted to the central server, so that when analysis is needed, the data is already prepared and structured, significantly reducing the time required for detection and response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuous monitoring where software agents constantly track software usage, file accesses, and user activities without interruption. This continuous data collection ensures that license misuse is detected as it happens rather than through periodic manual checks, improving both precision and reducing the overall time investment by eliminating repeated setup and data gathering cycles.
3Productivity
If automated detection systems are deployed, then productivity of license compliance monitoring improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the license monitoring system into distinct modular components: lightweight software agents deployed on individual endpoint devices that perform local data collection, a communication layer that transports data, and a centralized license management server that performs analysis and enforcement. This segmentation allows automated monitoring across the entire enterprise while each component remains relatively simple and manageable independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal license management platform that can monitor multiple software applications, serve multiple users across numerous devices, and handle various licensing models (per-user, per-device, concurrent user licenses) through a single system. The software agents and central server are designed to be application-agnostic and configuration-driven, providing high productivity through automated multi-functional monitoring without requiring separate systems for each software or device.
Data Source
AI summary
An example embodiment may be performed by a software application executable on a computing device and may involve communicating with a server to access records of sessions between the server and computing devices of a managed network. The managed network may contain the server and a database associated with licensed software executable on the server. The database may store the records, and the records may include network addresses of the computing devices. The example embodiment may also involve: using a set of license misuse criteria to identify, within the records, (i) a set of the sessions that meets the set of criteria and (ii) a network address of a target device involved in the set of sessions; based on the network address of the target device, identifying the target device; and storing in memory an indication identifying the target device as a potential source of misuse of the licensed software.