Software Identification Standardization via Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software license management systems face challenges in accurately identifying and managing software versions across a network due to inconsistent and incorrect naming conventions, leading to increased costs and administrative complexities.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that maps purported software identification data to standardized identifiers using a catalogue of established software data, ensuring consistent identification and management of software, licenses, and usage data, thereby simplifying administration and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If software is identified using conventional naming patterns (publisher, product name, version identifier), then software identification should be straightforward, but in practice software names do not conform to patterns and contain inconsistencies making identification unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized software identification system that acts as an intermediary between the diverse, inconsistent actual software names and the license management requirements. This system maps various software naming conventions to a unified identification standard, enabling reliable software identification without requiring changes to the underlying software naming practices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the software identification parameters from their original inconsistent forms (various naming conventions, typos, format variations) into a standardized parameter set. By changing the parameters through mapping and normalization processes, the system achieves consistent identification while preserving the ability to recognize the original software identities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions and naming conventions of the same software are allowed, then software diversity and user choice are maintained, but the number of licenses and maintenance agreements increases leading to higher costs
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized identification system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it preserves the ability to distinguish different software versions and products, enables accurate license tracking, and reduces the total number of licenses needed by correctly identifying when different names refer to the same software. This universal system handles both software diversity and license management efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If software names are allowed to vary freely without standardization, then software developers have flexibility in naming, but identification and management of software becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the software identification problem into two independent parts: the original software naming (which remains flexible and unchanged) and the standardized identification (which provides consistency). This segmentation allows developers to maintain naming freedom while the system handles standardization separately through mapping processes, thus reducing management complexity without constraining software development flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Software installed on a computer network is often inconsistently, or even incorrectly, identified. The same software may be identified in different ways. A catalogue of standardized identifiers is provided. The actual identifiers of software installed on the network are accessed and they are mapped to the standardized identifiers of the catalogue. The standardized identifiers are used to manage the installed software, monitor license compliance and/or, monitor maintenance agreements amongst other uses. Data relating to the use of the software may also be obtained and associated with the identification data. The usage data together with the standardized identifiers allows managers to more reliably manage software on the network. For example un-used software may be un-installed and licenses cancelled or reallocated.