License Reallocation Using Mutable Serial Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing license distribution systems face challenges in allowing flexible and secure transfer of licensed digital information between hardware devices while maintaining compliance with license terms, as they often restrict portability and are prone to illicit copying and fraud.
Innovation Solution
A license reallocation system that uses a globally unique and mutable license serial number (LSN) with a constant system serial number (SSN) and changing extension serial number (ESN), generating a license expiry indication (LEI) to invalidate existing licenses and facilitate secure reallocation, ensuring new licenses are issued only upon valid expiration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a license key is tied to a particular piece of hardware using a globally unique hardware identification number, then the original proprietary owner's control is improved, but the end user's ability to transfer the license to new or upgraded devices is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the license serial number mutable rather than static. The system allows the license serial number to change when hardware changes occur, while maintaining the ability to track and control license usage. This resolves the contradiction by enabling license portability (adaptability) while preserving control mechanisms (reliability) through automated tracking of license transfers.
2Ease of operation
If manual approaches are used for license transfer or re-allocation, then individual license transfers can be handled, but the system becomes costly and does not scale up well with larger distribution bases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling automated license transfer processes that do not require manual intervention. The system automatically detects hardware changes, generates new license serial numbers, and reallocates licenses without human involvement. This resolves the contradiction by making the system scalable (improving productivity) while maintaining ease of operation through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with automated electronic systems. Instead of manual license key management and tracking, the system uses automated electronic detection of hardware changes and programmatic license reallocation. This substitution enables scaling to large distribution bases while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dongle based licensing is used with hardware attached to serial ports, then license keys can be transferred to new hardware, but the system becomes susceptible to fraud through data communication interception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a secure license management system that acts as a mediator between the hardware and the license key. Instead of direct hardware-to-license communication that can be intercepted, the system uses an intermediary layer that securely manages license serial numbers and validates transfers, preventing fraud while maintaining transferability.
4Ease of operation
If manual license support is provided for exceptional circumstances, then individual cases can be handled, but human error increases and the process is restricted to exceptional rather than routine circumstances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual human processes with automated electronic systems. The automated system detects hardware changes, validates license transfers, and reallocates licenses programmatically without human intervention. This substitution eliminates human error while making license support suitable for routine circumstances rather than just exceptional cases.
Data Source
AI summary
A present invention license reallocation system and method facilitates flexible and effective licensing distribution. The license reallocation system and method enables convenient movement of licensed information between hardware devices while ensuring appropriate compliance with license terms. An expired license indication is generated on license expiration. The expired license indication indicates that prior license keys associated with proprietary information are expired. Upon receipt of a valid expired license indication and expired license keys new license key(s) is issued presumably for a different hardware. A license serial number (LSN) that is both globally unique and mutable is utilized to generate license keys. In one embodiment, the license serial number includes system serial number (SSN) and an extension serial number (ESN). The global uniqueness of the SSN ensures that the tuple (SSN, ESN) is globally unique and the mutable but non-repeating nature of the ESN ensures that the tuple is allowed to change without repeating its value.