Methods and devices for controlling access to a software asset

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of one or more software provider servers, the one or more programs including instructions for:

• receiving a request for authentication of the service provider server from a service provider server;
• upon successful authentication of the service provider server, providing an authentication token to the service provider server;
• after providing the authentication token, receiving a request for a feature access token and configuration data from the service provider server, the configuration data being indicative of the software program within which the software asset is to be used;
• and
• in reaction to the request, providing the feature access token to the service provider server, wherein the feature access token is signed and enables the service provider server to provide access to the software asset to one or more electronic devices which are coupled to the service provider server, the feature access token being accessible at the one or more electronic devices where it can be validated locally at the one or more electronic devices using a security key to verify whether the feature asset is issued by a software provider server in the one or more software provider servers, thereby providing access to the software asset on the one or more electronic devices by using the feature access token,
• wherein the feature access token is provided based on the configuration data such that the feature access token limits access to the software asset for use within the software program indicated by the configuration data.

A software provider server, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
• receiving a request for authentication of the service provider server from a service provider server;
• upon successful authentication of the service provider server, providing an authentication token to the service provider server;
• after providing the authentication token, receiving a request for a feature access token and configuration data from the service provider server, the configuration data being indicative of the software program within which the software asset is to be used;
• and
• in reaction to the request, providing the feature access token to the service provider server, wherein the feature access token is signed and enables the service provider server to provide access to the software asset to one or more electronic devices which are coupled to the service provider server, the feature access token being accessible at the one or more electronic devices where it can be validated locally at the one or more electronic devices using a security key to verify whether the feature asset is issued by a software provider server in the one or more software provider servers, thereby providing access to the software asset on the one or more electronic devices by using the feature access token,
• wherein the feature access token is provided based on the configuration data such that the feature access token limits access to the software asset for use within the software program indicated by the configuration data.