Universal License File Format for Mobile App Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software application licensing technologies for wireless mobile devices require server maintenance and device-dependent license agents, making it cumbersome to enforce usage restrictions and manage licenses across different platforms.
Innovation Solution
An application store server system that includes a database of software applications, an application selection system, an application payment system, and a download system, which allows users to purchase licenses with restrictions, and an application store client on the device to manage and authenticate licenses, ensuring compliance with user identity and usage permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If server maintenance and device-dependent license agents are used to enforce software licenses, then license enforcement capability is improved, but system complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the license verification logic from device-specific agents and consolidates it into a standardized license file format with digital signatures. The license file itself contains all necessary verification information (user identity, application identity, restrictions, expiration) and cryptographic signatures, eliminating the need for complex device-dependent verification agents while maintaining reliable license enforcement through portable, self-contained license files
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal license file format that can be used across different wireless mobile communication device platforms without requiring platform-specific adaptations. The standardized format with digital signatures provides a multi-platform solution that simplifies the system by eliminating the need for separate license agents for each device type, while maintaining comprehensive license enforcement capabilities
2Adaptability or versatility
If device-dependent license agents are implemented for each wireless mobile communication device platform, then platform-specific license management is improved, but adaptability across different platforms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal license file format with digital signatures that works across all wireless mobile communication device platforms. The standardized structure includes user identity, application identity, usage restrictions, expiration information, and cryptographic signatures that can be verified by any platform, eliminating the need for platform-specific license agents and significantly improving cross-platform compatibility while reducing implementation effort
Data Source
AI summary
An application store server may download a license to use a selected software application, after purchase of the license, along with the selected software application. The downloaded software application and license may be stored in the wireless mobile communication device. A user of the wireless mobile communication device may run the downloaded software application. In response, the downloaded software application may send a request for permission to run to an application store client in the wireless mobile communication device. The application store client may not return this permission, unless running is determined to be permitted by the downloaded license. The downloaded software application may in addition or instead seek to determine whether running is permitted by the downloaded license. An application store server may download a license to use a selected software application, after purchase of the license, along with the selected software application. The downloaded software application and license may be stored in the wireless mobile communication device. A user of the wireless mobile communication device may run the downloaded software application. In response, the downloaded software application may send a request for permission to run to an application store client in the wireless mobile communication device. The application store client may not return this permission, unless running is determined to be permitted by the downloaded license. The downloaded software application may in addition or instead seek to determine whether running is permitted by the downloaded license.