User-Centric License Migration via Identity Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software licenses are device-centric, limiting flexibility and management of software usage across multiple devices and locations, and often disclaim liability for software-related issues, which can lead to inefficiencies and inadequate user access control.
Innovation Solution
A user-centric or identity-centric resource licensing system that manages access to both cloud-based and on-premise resources, using tokens or biometric data to authenticate and authorize users, allowing licenses to migrate with users and regulate access based on identity, enabling seamless access across devices without performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional device-centric licenses are used, then software installation control is simplified, but flexibility and management of software usage across multiple devices and locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license server as an intermediary component that mediates between software applications and the licensing system. The license server receives license requests from applications, validates them against stored license information, and returns authorization decisions. This intermediary approach enables flexible user-centric licensing while maintaining manageable system complexity by centralizing license management operations.
2Ease of operation
If device-centric licensing is used, then license enforcement is straightforward, but user access control across multiple locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic license validation where license eligibility is determined at runtime based on current user identity and system state rather than static device binding. The license server dynamically evaluates license requests by identifying the user, checking their entitlements, and validating the request against current licensing terms. This dynamic approach maintains reliable license compliance while enabling flexible user access across multiple locations and devices.
3Productivity
If software licenses are tied to specific devices, then installation tracking is easier, but seamless access across devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the licensing system into distinct functional components: license information storage, user identification, license validation logic, and communication interfaces. This segmentation allows the licensing system to be implemented as a modular service that can operate independently of specific devices. License information is stored separately from device identifiers, enabling seamless access across devices while maintaining efficient deployment through standardized integration points.
Data Source
AI summary
A user-centric or identity-centric resource licensing system that manages access to ‘cloud-based’ resources (e.g., applications and services) is provided. A ‘cloud’ refers to a collection of resources (e.g., hardware and/or software) provided and maintained by an off-site or off-premise party (e.g., third party), wherein the collection of resources can be accessed by an identified user via a network. In accordance with the user-centric licensing model, the resource license (and subscription) rights can migrate with a user without regard to physical location, device used, or other contextual factors (e.g., activity engaged). Effectively, the rights are mapped (and tracked) as a function of a user identity, which can be a core identity or an identity based upon activity engaged, role, capacity, etc.