Method for Managing Soft IP Licenses on a Partially Reconfigurable Hardware System

A method for managing licenses for soft intellectual properties (IP) on a partially reconfigurable hardware system, the method comprising:

• providing a license manager in the non-configurable part of the partially reconfigurable hardware system, said license manager alternatively being accessible only for the non-configurable part of the partially reconfigurable hardware system, and said license manager having exclusive access to a non-volatile memory in which license data comprising a time restriction of a useful life of at least one soft IP is stored;
• checking, by the license manager, whether the useful life has expired before activating a particular soft IP;
• releasing, by the license manager, use of the soft IP only if the useful life has not yet expired;
• changing the license data utilizing a key stored in a non-volatile memory for the license data;
• and
• storing a new key when the license data is changed and deleting a preceding key.

A partially reconfigurable hardware system, comprising:

• a license manager arranged in the non-configurable part of the partially reconfigurable hardware system, said license manager alternatively being accessible only for the non-configurable part of the partially reconfigurable hardware system, and said license manager having exclusive access to a non-volatile memory in which license data comprising a time restriction of a useful life of at least one soft intellectual property (IP) is stored;
• and
• wherein the license manager is configured to check whether the useful life has expired before activating a particular soft IP and only release use of the soft IP if the useful life has not yet expired;
• and
• wherein the license manager is further configured to check a change in license data utilizing a key and, after a successful check, store new license data and replace the key with a new key.