Rights Management System Data Preservation During License Violation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rights management systems struggle to prevent unauthorized software use without causing data loss, as they often shut down or restart the computer system upon detecting license violations, resulting in the loss of unsaved data.
Innovation Solution
A technique that monitors and saves information and data when unauthorized use is detected, allowing the computer program or system to be suspended until compliance is reestablished, thereby preserving vital data and enabling license renewal or transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rights management systems shut down or restart the computer system upon detecting license violations, then unauthorized software use is prevented, but data loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the computer system into protected components (software program requiring license compliance) and non-protected components (data storage and file system). When a license violation is detected, only the specific software program or its associated processes are terminated, while the operating system and user data remain intact and accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effect (data loss) is extracted from the enforcement mechanism by separating the software termination function from the system shutdown function. The rights management system extracts only the necessary software processes for termination while leaving the data environment untouched, thereby preventing collateral damage to user information.
2Reliability
If rights management systems monitor and enforce license terms strictly, then software piracy is prevented, but user convenience deteriorates due to system interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The enforcement action is localized to affect only the specific software program violating the license terms, rather than applying a blanket system-wide shutdown. This localized approach maintains user convenience by allowing other applications and the operating system to continue functioning normally while still enforcing license compliance for the targeted software.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the scope of enforcement based on the specific violation detected. Instead of a static all-or-nothing approach, the rights management system dynamically determines the minimal necessary intervention (terminating only the violating software process) to maintain license integrity while preserving user workflow in other areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A rights management system monitors and controls use of a computer program to prevent use that is not in compliance with acceptable terms. The system monitors usage of the computer program for usage and activities that are not in compliance with the license or other use terms. Upon detection of a violation of these terms, state information pertaining to the computer program is saved and operation of the computer program and/or a portion of the computer system is suspended. The system maintains the suspension for as long as the violation exists. Once compliance has been reestablished, the suspension is terminated.