Unified Application Licensing Service for Multi-Device Credential Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing licensing services for client computing devices are costly and inflexible, requiring separate services for each type of device, which hinders bundling offers and integration with marketplace services, and complicates proof of license ownership.
Innovation Solution
A unified licensing service that provides a license with credentials to multiple devices, periodically checks the subscription state, and adjusts conditions based on subscription status, allowing for consistent licensing across devices and services, including offline synchronization and fraud detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate licensing services are used for each type of client computing device, then device-specific licensing control is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple device-specific licensing services into a single unified licensing service that can manage licenses across diverse computing devices. The licensing service receives requests from any device type, determines the appropriate license based on device characteristics and subscription information, and provides consistent licensing control without requiring separate services for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified licensing service is designed to be universal, handling licensing requests from multiple types of computing devices (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops) through a single service. The service determines device type from request information and applies appropriate licensing rules, making one service perform the functions previously requiring multiple separate services.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate licensing services are used for each device type, then device-specific license management is possible, but integration with marketplace services becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the licensing service with marketplace service integration in a unified architecture. The licensing service receives requests that may originate from marketplace transactions, determines subscription status, and provides license information in a standardized format that can be consumed by marketplace services, eliminating the need for separate integration efforts for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified licensing service acts as an intermediary between diverse computing devices and marketplace services. It standardizes the licensing interface, receiving requests from any device type and providing consistent license information that marketplace services can utilize, thereby facilitating integration without requiring marketplace services to adapt to each device type's specific licensing mechanism.
3Reliability
If device-specific licensing services are implemented, then precise device control is achieved, but proof of license ownership becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The unified licensing service provides a universal mechanism for proving license ownership across all device types. It determines subscription information from centralized subscription data, verifies license eligibility based on unified criteria, and provides consistent proof of ownership regardless of device type, eliminating the inconsistencies that arise from multiple separate licensing services using different verification methods.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate licensing services are maintained, then device-type specific licensing is possible, but costs for building and sustaining services increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple device-type specific licensing services into a single unified licensing service, reducing the overall cost of building and sustaining licensing infrastructure. The unified service maintains adaptability to different device types through device type determination and appropriate license selection, while eliminating the redundant costs of maintaining separate services for each device type.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer-readable storage media for licensing an application for a device are provided herein. The method includes providing a license for an application from a licensing service to a number of computing devices associated with a user, wherein the license includes credentials. The method also includes associating the credentials with each computing device and periodically determining a state of a subscription corresponding to the license on each computing device. Each computing device is configured to call the licensing service at configurable time periods in order to determine the state of the subscription.