License Module Tracking Software Execution for Royalty Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for royalty payments for preloaded software on information handling systems require payment for every system, regardless of actual user execution, leading to unnecessary costs.
Innovation Solution
An automated process that determines when preloaded software is executed by a user, shifting royalty payment from point of sale to point of use, ensuring payment only for activated software, using a license module that tracks and reports software execution and hardware/software presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If royalty payments are made for every information handling system with preloaded software, then software providers receive guaranteed revenue, but manufacturers incur unnecessary costs for software that is not actually used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where software execution status is monitored and reported back to the royalty tracking system. The license module detects when software is actually executed and sends this information to trigger royalty payments, creating a closed-loop system that adjusts payments based on actual usage feedback rather than assuming all preloaded software is used.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the software itself or its license module automatically reports execution status to the royalty tracking system without requiring manual intervention. The license module autonomously determines whether royalty payment is necessary by checking execution conditions, eliminating the need for manual tracking and reducing unnecessary payments.
2Ease of manufacture
If royalty payments are made at point of sale for all preloaded software, then payment processing is simple, but manufacturers pay for software that may never be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing the license module alongside the preloaded software during manufacturing. This license module is prepared in advance to automatically track and report software execution, enabling future automated royalty payments without requiring complex manual tracking processes later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of tracking software usage with an automated electronic monitoring system. The license module uses software-based execution detection and automated reporting mechanisms to substitute for manual tracking methods, enabling precise royalty payment based on actual usage while maintaining ease of operation.
3Loss of energy
If automated tracking of software execution is implemented, then royalty payments are optimized based on actual use, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The license module serves multiple functions within a single integrated component: it validates software licenses, detects software execution, monitors usage conditions, and triggers royalty payment reporting. By combining these functions into one universal module, the system achieves automated royalty optimization without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the royalty tracking functionality with the existing software licensing and execution monitoring infrastructure. Rather than adding a separate complex tracking system, the royalty determination logic is integrated into the license module that already manages software activation and execution, consolidating functions to minimize additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a manufacturer of an information handling system to pay royalties for software preloaded onto an information handling system which includes determining when software that is preloaded onto the information handling system is executed by a user and paying a royalty for the software when the software is executed by the user so as to make the royalty payment based upon a point of use of the software is disclosed.