License management device, license management system, license management method, and program
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorsShingo Kinoshita, Koji Kawada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A license management device causes a wireless device to enter a state in which all functions are restricted by overwriting key information of the wireless device with a default key specific to the wireless device. A key generating device generates an upgrade key specific to the wireless device, and transmits the update key to the license management device. The license management device can release a restriction of a function in the wireless device by applying the upgrade key to the key information of the wireless device overwritten with the default key.
Claims9
A license management device configured to manage permission of execution of a predetermined function in a licensee device configured to perform a function according to key information specifying an operation, comprising:
- a request receiving unit configured to receive a license change request used to request the licensee device to unlock or restrict a function;
- a default applying unit configured to overwrite a default key restricting a function of the licensee device that is key information specific to the licensee device represented by the license change request on key information of the licensee device when the request receiving unit receives the license change request;
- an upgrade key requesting unit configured to transmit an upgrade key generation request including identification information of the licensee device and a function to be unlocked that are represented by the license change request received by the request receiving unit to a key generating device that generates an upgrade key that is difference data between the key information unlocking the function restricted by the default key of the licensee device and the default key based on the identification information of the licensee device, and a function applied to the licensee device;
- an upgrade key acquiring unit configured to acquire the upgrade key generated based on the upgrade key generation request transmitted by the upgrade key requesting unit from the key generating device;
- and
- an upgrade applying unit configured to apply the upgrade key acquired by the upgrade key acquiring unit to the key information of the licensee device after the default applying unit overwrites the key information.
A license management system including a plurality of licensee devices performing a function according to key information specifying an operation, a license management device configured to manage a grant of a license for a predetermined function to the licensee device, and a key generating device configured to generate difference data of the key information in the licensee device, comprising:
- the licensee device including
- a key information storage unit configured to store the key information, and
- a function performing unit configured to perform the function according to a restriction represented by the key information stored in the key information storage unit;
- the license management device including
- a request receiving unit configured to receive a license change request used to request the licensee device to unlock or restrict a function,
- a default applying unit configured to overwrite a default key restricting a function of the licensee device that is key information specific to the licensee device represented by the request on key information of the licensee device when the request receiving unit receives the license change request,
- an upgrade key requesting unit configured to transmit an upgrade key generation request including identification information of the licensee device and a function to be unlocked that are represented by the license change request received by the request receiving unit to the key generating device,
- an upgrade key acquiring unit configured to acquire the upgrade key generated based on the upgrade key generation request transmitted by the upgrade key requesting unit from the key generating device, and
- an upgrade applying unit configured to apply the upgrade key acquired by the upgrade key acquiring unit to the key information of the licensee device after the default applying unit overwrites the key information;
- and
- the key generating device including
- an upgrade key generating unit configured to receive the upgrade key generation request from the license management device, and generate an upgrade key that is difference data between the key information in the licensee device and the default key based on the identification information of the licensee device and a function applied to the licensee device that are represented by the upgrade key generation request, and
- a key transmitting unit configured to transmit the upgrade key generated by the upgrade key generating unit to the license management device.
A license management method using a license management device configured to manage a grant of a license for a predetermined function to a licensee device that performs a function according to key information specifying an operation, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a request receiving unit, a license change request used to request the licensee device to unlock or restrict a function;
- overwriting, by a default applying unit, a default key restricting a function of the licensee device that is key information specific to the licensee device represented by the request on key information of the licensee device when the request receiving unit receives the license change request;
- transmitting, by an upgrade key requesting unit, an upgrade key generation request including identification information of the licensee device and a function to be unlocked that are represented by the license change request received by the request receiving unit to a key generating device that generates an upgrade key that is difference data between the key information unlocking the function restricted by the default key of the licensee device and the default key based on the identification information of the licensee device and a function applied to the licensee device;
- acquiring, by an upgrade key acquiring unit, the upgrade key generated based on the upgrade key generation request transmitted by the upgrade key requesting unit from the key generating device;
- and
- applying, by an upgrade applying unit, the upgrade key acquired by the upgrade key acquiring unit to the key information of the licensee device after the default applying unit overwrites the key information.
A program causing a license management device configured to manage a grant of a license for a predetermined function to a licensee device configured to perform a function according to key information specifying an operation to function as:
- a request receiving unit configured to receive a license change request used to request the licensee device to unlock or restrict a function;
- a default applying unit configured to overwrite a default key restricting a function of the licensee device that is key information specific to the licensee device represented by the request on key information of the licensee device when the request receiving unit receives the license change request;
- an upgrade key requesting unit configured to transmit an upgrade key generation request including identification information of the licensee device and a function to be unlocked that are represented by the license change request received by the request receiving unit to a key generating device that generates an upgrade key that is difference data between the key information unlocking the function restricted by the default key of the licensee device and the default key based on the identification information of the licensee device and a function applied to the licensee device;
- an upgrade key acquiring unit configured to acquire the upgrade key generated based on the upgrade key generation request transmitted by the upgrade key requesting unit from the key generating device;
- and
- an upgrade applying unit configured to apply the upgrade key acquired by the upgrade key acquiring unit to the key information of the licensee device after the default applying unit overwrites the key information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.