Offline License Period Management Using Hardware Clock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing the expiration time of licenses provided by an information processing apparatus face issues when the IC card time is not accurate, leading to incorrect period management of licenses, where the license may become unusable prematurely or remain usable beyond its expiration time.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves generating license communication information using device information, including a reference date and time set by the hardware clock of the electronic device and a unique device key, to accurately manage the period of licenses even when the electronic device does not directly communicate with the information processing apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the IC card time is used for period management without direct communication with the server, then offline license management is enabled, but the license period management becomes inaccurate when the IC card time is not accurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline license management capabilityVSAvoidlicense period management accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The server calculates the license expiration time in advance based on the device's hardware clock time and embeds it in the license communication information before the device goes offline. This preliminary calculation ensures that the expiration time is accurate even when the device cannot communicate with the server later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device information (including hardware clock time and device unique key) acts as an intermediary that bridges the server and the electronic device. The server uses this intermediary data to calculate and provide accurate expiration times without requiring continuous communication with the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the IC card time is rewritten to the expiration time start time, then the capsule can be used at the correct start time, but the capsule may become unusable prematurely if the IC card time proceeds faster than actual time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapsule usage convenienceVSAvoidlicense period accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device's hardware clock time serves as a reliable intermediary reference that is captured and used by the server to calculate the expiration time. This intermediary reference ensures that the license period is based on an accurate time source rather than the potentially inaccurate IC card time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reliance on the IC card's mechanical timekeeping system with a software-based calculation approach. The server performs the time calculation using the hardware clock time and device unique key, substituting the need for the IC card to maintain accurate time itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the IC card time is delayed, then the capsule can be used beyond the actual expiration time, but this compromises the license period management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline operation flexibilityVSAvoidlicense expiration time precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary calculation of the license expiration time using the device's hardware clock time before the device operates offline. This advance calculation ensures that the expiration time precision is determined by the accurate hardware clock rather than the potentially delayed IC card time during offline operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the time reference parameter from IC card time to hardware clock time for the purpose of calculating license expiration. This parameter change ensures that the expiration time is based on a more accurate time source while still allowing offline operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3754523B1Information processing device, information processing method, program, electronic device, and information processing system

Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, an electronic device, and an information processing system capable of appropriately performing period management of a license provided by an information processing apparatus in a case where the license is used in an electronic device that does not directly communicate with the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a data generation unit that generates first license communication information using first device information, the first device information being information including a first reference date and time and a device unique key, the first reference date and time being a date and time set using a hardware clock of an electronic device and being a date and time used for period management of a license, the device unique key being a key unique to the electronic device, and the first license communication information being information including at least one of an effective term or an expiration time of the license and the first reference date and time and used for installing the license in the electronic device. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a server providing a license of a function to an electronic device.