Redundant Server License Activation via Primary Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In redundant cloud server configurations, existing systems require separate activation for each server due to unique lock codes, leading to inefficiencies and potential service interruptions when one server needs to be replaced by another.

Innovation Solution

A function management system determines whether a server is a predetermined secondary server based on pre-set settings information, allowing it to use shared license information for activation, enabling both servers to operate with a single activation process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate activation is performed for each server in redundant configuration, then each server can independently verify license information, but activation complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the activation processes of multiple servers by introducing a primary server that performs activation on behalf of all servers in the redundant group. The license information is acquired once by the primary server and then distributed to secondary servers, eliminating the need for separate activation processes and reducing total activation time while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The primary server performs preliminary activation actions by acquiring license information in advance and distributing it to secondary servers before they need to operate. This preliminary action ensures that when secondary servers need to take over, they already have the necessary license information ready, eliminating delays during failover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If separate activation is performed for each server, then license information can be verified individually, but administrative burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelicense verificationVSAvoidactivation management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines license verification operations by having the primary server acquire and manage license information centrally. Secondary servers receive this pre-acquired license information and can verify it without performing separate acquisition operations, thus maintaining verification reliability while simplifying administrative management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The primary server acts as an intermediary between the license server and secondary servers. It handles the complex license information acquisition and distribution, shielding secondary servers from the complexity of direct license management while ensuring they receive valid license information for verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If lock codes are unique to each server, then server identification is precise, but activation cannot be shared across redundant servers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveserver identificationVSAvoidactivation sharing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the activation process into two parts: server identification (which maintains unique lock codes for precise identification) and license information acquisition (which is centralized on the primary server). This segmentation allows each server to be uniquely identified while enabling the primary server to acquire and distribute license information to all servers in the redundant group.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The primary server is given universal functionality to perform activation operations for all servers in the redundant group, not just itself. It can acquire license information that applies to multiple servers and distribute it accordingly, making the activation system adaptable to redundant configurations while maintaining precise server identification through unique lock codes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3660708B1Function management system, information processing method, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3660708B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3660708B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3660708B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A function management system, an information processing method, and a carrier means. The function management system determines whether a server (10, 11) in which a function is introduced is a predetermined server (11) based on settings information set for a redundant configuration including at least two servers (10, 11), acquires identification information for identifying the server (10, 11) in which the function is introduced when a first determination unit (41) determines that the server (10, 11) is the predetermined server (11), and determines whether the function can be used based on the identification information acquired by an acquisition unit (43).