Spare Processor Licensing via Backup Flag and Timer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing licensing approaches fail to prevent spare computational components from being permanently used as main processors, compromising the reliability and availability of redundant systems and depriving software suppliers of revenue.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a backup flag and license timer to selectively enable backup computational components only when the primary component is malfunctioning or disconnected, with the backup component reverting to standby mode after a predetermined time or upon reconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If spare processors are sold at a discount with licensing protection, then revenue protection is improved, but system reliability and availability deteriorate because spare processors cannot be activated when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The licensing system is segmented into multiple independent license files, each containing a unique identifier that corresponds to a specific processor role (spare or main). This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between spare and main processor licensing, enabling spare processors to be licensed and activated without compromising revenue protection or system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The licensing system dynamically adapts based on the operational state of processors. When a main processor fails, the system dynamically activates a licensed spare processor, transitioning the licensing state from standby to active. This dynamic behavior ensures both revenue protection (through licensing control) and system reliability (through failover capability).
2Ease of operation
If spare processors are licensed for permanent use, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates because the licensing system cannot distinguish between spare and main processor usage
Solution Approach 1:
Each license file is assigned local quality characteristics through a unique identifier that encodes specific attributes about the licensed processor, including its role (spare or main). This local quality differentiation enables the licensing system to accurately distinguish between spare and main processor usage, maintaining licensing precision while allowing ease of operation for licensed processors.
Solution Approach 2:
A license file acts as an intermediary between the processor hardware and the software licensing system. The license file contains a unique identifier that mediates the verification process, allowing the system to accurately determine whether a processor is being used as a spare or main processor. This intermediary mechanism maintains licensing accuracy while simplifying the activation process for licensed processors.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for controlling a right to use a computational component, comprising (a) a backup computational component 102 associated with a primary computational component 150, wherein when the primary computational component is in an operational mode the backup computational component is in a standby mode; (b) an activation agent 154 operable to determine when the primary computational component is no longer in the operational mode; (c) a timer 126 associated with the backup computational component; and (d) a mode setting agent 124 operable to permit the backup computational component to change to the operational mode when the value of the license error timer is not zero and to not permit the backup computational component to change to the operational mode when the value of the license error timer is zero.