Offline Floating License Management via Removable Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in enabling the use of floating licenses in electronic devices that do not directly communicate with the server providing the license, limiting convenience and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to enable the use of floating licenses in electronic devices that do not directly communicate with the server, using a removable medium to exchange data, where the device generates a unique key and encrypts it with the server's public key, allowing secure license acquisition, installation, and return without direct server communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a floating license is provided by a server, then the function can be used by electronic devices exceeding the number of licenses, but electronic devices that do not directly communicate with the server cannot use the floating license
Solution Approach 1:
The license management process is segmented into three distinct phases: license issuance (server to intermediary), license installation (intermediary to electronic device), and license return (electronic device to intermediary). This segmentation allows the electronic device to obtain and use licenses without requiring direct communication with the server, resolving the contradiction between license versatility and communication complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary device (such as a portable terminal or removable medium) is introduced as a mediator between the server and the electronic device. The intermediary receives the license from the server, stores it, and transfers it to the electronic device. This intermediary mechanism enables offline devices to use floating licenses without direct server communication, achieving both license adaptability and reduced communication requirements.
2Ease of operation
If direct communication between electronic device and server is required for license management, then license security is maintained, but convenience and accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The license is preliminarily obtained and stored in an intermediary device before being transferred to the electronic device. The intermediary device securely holds the license data (including installation key, device unique ID, and encrypted device unique key) in advance, allowing the electronic device to install the license offline. This preliminary action maintains security through cryptographic verification while improving convenience by eliminating the need for real-time server communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary device acts as a secure mediator that maintains license security through cryptographic mechanisms (public key encryption, hash verification) while enabling convenient offline license distribution. The intermediary verifies license authenticity and transfers it securely to the electronic device without requiring the device to communicate directly with the server, thus maintaining both security and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a removable medium is used to exchange license data, then direct server communication is eliminated, but data exchange complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The license data (installation key, device unique ID, encrypted device unique key) is extracted from the server communication process and stored in the removable medium. The electronic device reads this extracted license data from the removable medium and performs verification using its pre-stored public key, eliminating the need for complex real-time server communication while maintaining security and enabling offline license usage.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology relates to an electronic device, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system capable of improving convenience in a case where a floating license is used in an electronic device that does not directly communicate with an information processing apparatus providing the floating license. The information processing apparatus includes: a storage control unit that controls a storage unit to store a combination of a device unique key and an installation key, the device unique key being a key unique to an electronic device, and the installation key being a key for installing a license to the electronic device; and a license management unit that updates information regarding a status of the license in a case where a combination of the device unique key corresponding to license return information and the installation key corresponding to installation key information in the license return information coincides with a combination stored in the storage unit, the license return information being information including the installation key information corresponding to the installation key and generated by the electronic device. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a server.