Software Provisioning Contracts With Dynamic Usage Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Software vendors face challenges in accurately managing software provisioning due to discrepancies between actual usage conditions and contractual terms, particularly in cloud-based services, leading to inefficient billing and potential unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for monitoring software usage across a network of computing devices, identifying contractual conditions, detecting discrepancies, and adjusting usage parameters to align with contractual terms, including generating new conditions based on historic usage patterns to ensure compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If software provisioning is managed manually by the financial department, then billing accuracy can be maintained, but the complexity of tracking usage across multiple customers increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling accuracyVSAvoidtracking complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring software usage and generating billing information without requiring manual intervention from the financial department. The usage monitoring component continuously tracks software item usage across the network, and the billing generation component automatically creates invoices based on this monitored data, eliminating the need for manual tracking while maintaining billing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of tracking usage and generating bills is replaced with an automated electronic system. The usage monitoring component captures usage data electronically, and the billing generation component processes this data through automated calculations and invoice generation, substituting the manual mechanical tracking process with an efficient electronic automation system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If usage conditions are strictly enforced without adjustment, then contractual compliance is maintained, but legitimate usage discrepancies prevent service continuity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontractual complianceVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The usage conditions are made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors actual usage patterns and automatically adjusts usage conditions to reflect legitimate changes in usage needs. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to maintain compliance with contractual terms while adapting to actual usage scenarios, preventing service interruptions caused by rigid enforcement of outdated conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where usage monitoring continuously provides information about actual software usage patterns. This feedback is processed by the usage condition adjustment component, which modifies usage conditions based on the monitored data. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that usage conditions remain aligned with actual usage, maintaining both compliance and service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual updates to billing numbers are required for each provisioning change, then billing accuracy can be maintained, but the time required for updates increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling accuracyVSAvoidupdate time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous monitoring of software usage and continuous generation of billing information. Rather than requiring periodic manual updates, the usage monitoring component operates continuously to track usage changes, and the billing generation component continuously processes this data to maintain accurate billing information, eliminating the time loss associated with manual update cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual process of updating billing numbers is completely replaced with automated electronic billing generation. The system electronically captures usage data, processes it through automated billing calculations, and generates updated billing information without requiring any manual intervention, thereby eliminating the time loss inherent in manual update processes while maintaining billing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12505177B2Systems and methods for managing software provisioning based on adjusted usage conditions of software items

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 ACRONIS INT

AI summary

Disclosed herein are systems and method for managing software item access. A method may include: monitoring usage of a plurality of software items distributed over a network of computing devices; identifying a contract for the network governing the usage of the plurality of software items, wherein the contract includes a plurality of usage conditions that the network has to comply with to access the plurality of software items; determining whether a discrepancy between an adjustable usage condition of the plurality of usage conditions and the usage of the plurality of software items by the network exists; in response to determining that the discrepancy exists, generating a new usage condition based on historic usage condition parameters and the usage of the plurality of software items; updating the contract with the new usage condition; and managing access to the plurality of software items by the network based on the updated contract.