License Update Confirmation Manager for Software Authenticity
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an efficient and definitive method to confirm version, configuration, and license updates, including upgrades and downgrades, for licensed computer data products, ensuring that updates are accurately installed and validated to prevent tampering and unauthorized use.
Innovation Solution
A system and method providing digital confirmation of updates, including snapshots of the data product's configuration before and after the update, validation of the host computer and data product, timestamps, and machine-readable data indicating the pre- and post-update states, utilizing a client and server license update manager to generate and authenticate the confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital confirmation with authentication is implemented to prevent tampering and unauthorized use, then reliability and security are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for client and server license update confirmation managers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license update confirmation manager as an intermediary component that generates authenticated confirmations of update installations. This mediator captures update information, creates digital confirmations with authentication data, and enables verification without requiring complex direct verification mechanisms between all system components. The intermediary handles the complexity of authentication internally while presenting a simpler interface to users and vendors.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive update confirmation data including snapshots and machine-readable data is collected, then measurement precision and verification accuracy are improved, but loss of time increases due to data collection and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The license update confirmation manager captures and stores configuration snapshots and update information in advance during the update installation process itself, rather than collecting this data afterward. By preliminarily recording the pre-update state, the update information, and the post-update state during the installation process, the system enables rapid verification without requiring time-consuming data collection after the fact. This preliminary capture of evidence allows fast generation of accurate confirmations.
3Reliability
If authentication mechanisms are implemented to validate update confirmations, then reliability is improved by preventing unauthorized use, but ease of operation deteriorates due to validation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service authentication where the license update confirmation manager automatically generates, signs, and attaches authentication data to update confirmations without requiring manual intervention. The confirmation includes built-in authentication that can be automatically verified by vendors or users, eliminating the need for complex manual validation procedures. The authenticated confirmation serves itself as proof of legitimate update installation, making verification simple while maintaining strong security through automated cryptographic authentication.
Data Source
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AI summary
An authenticated digital confirmation of an installation or an update of a licensed computer data product,, for providing the licensor with a validation that the installation / update was carried out as intended, and conveying relevant details of the installation / update. The installation / updating facility (internal software, external hardware device, or combination thereof) examines and documents the pre- instailation / update state of the target computer system, performs the installation / update, examines and documents the post-installation / update state,, and generates lhe confirmation, which is a summary or digest of the process and the status thereof. The confirmation is securely authenticated and. sent to the licensor for validation, to be used for order fulfillment, billing and accounting, and other purposes.