Local License Token Management for Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing license management systems in computing networks face latency issues and inefficiencies due to the need for centralized license servers to manage token requests, leading to underutilization and misallocation of resources in block-based license token request/grant models.
Innovation Solution
Network devices are equipped with local license managers that locally determine and manage license token requests and releases based on available tokens, reducing the need for explicit requests to a centralized server, thereby improving resource utilization and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized license server manages all license token requests, then centralized control and tracking is achieved, but latency increases and resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized license management function into two segments: a centralized license server that maintains the capacity pool and grants tokens, and local license managers at network devices that autonomously manage token allocation among applications. This segmentation allows the system to maintain centralized control for overall license compliance while enabling local autonomous decision-making to reduce latency and improve resource utilization.
2Device complexity
If block-based license token request/grant models are used, then simplified license management is achieved, but resource underutilization and misallocation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic token allocation at the local license manager, which continuously monitors application requests and available tokens, and adjusts token grants in real-time based on current system state. This dynamic approach replaces static block-based allocation, enabling flexible resource distribution that improves utilization while maintaining simplified management through automated local decision-making.
3Measurement precision
If all license token requests are processed by the centralized server, then accurate token tracking is achieved, but system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the local license manager receives information about the capacity pool from the centralized server, makes local allocation decisions, and reports back to the server. This feedback loop ensures the centralized server maintains accurate knowledge of token distribution for compliance tracking, while local autonomous decision-making improves system efficiency by reducing server processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, the techniques are described for locally and adaptively managing license token requests for a licensed capacity feature without an explicit grant of license tokens from a centralized license server. For example, a network device for a licensed customer may locally manage a license token request for a capacity feature operating in network license mode and thus shared/contended for among multicast network devices associated with the customer. The network device may locally determine a number of locally-available tokens for the licensed capacity feature, based at least in some examples, on a number of available network-wide tokens as indicated by the license server, the number of network devices contending for the tokens, and a number of tokens already requested by the network device.