Software Entitlement Control via BIOS and DMI Segmentation

The patent segments the software entitlement control into multiple independent criteria dimensions: machine type authorization, market tier classification, hardware/software configuration requirements, and geographical location restrictions. Each criterion can be independently configured and evaluated, allowing flexible combination of protection and adaptability. The entitlement decision is divided into multiple assessment stages rather than a single binary go/no-go decision.

The patent implements dynamic entitlement control by allowing software providers to configure different entitlement criteria and weights for different software titles and market segments. The system can adaptively adjust which criteria are applied and their relative importance based on the specific software product, target audience, and regulatory requirements, transforming the static BIOS locking approach into a dynamic multi-factor assessment system.

The patent creates a universal entitlement management framework that can handle multiple types of control criteria through a single integrated system. The same infrastructure supports machine type verification, market tier determination, hardware/software configuration validation, and geographical location checking. This multi-functional approach avoids the need for separate complex systems for each criterion type.

The patent implements preliminary configuration of entitlement criteria and criteria weights before software installation. All entitlement rules, machine type authorizations, market tier definitions, and geographical restrictions are pre-configured in the system. During installation, the system simply retrieves and applies the pre-defined criteria rather than performing complex real-time decisions, reducing operational complexity while maintaining flexibility.