US 5,940,504 A · Licensing management system and method in which datagrams including an address of a licensee and indicative of use of a licensed product are sent from the licensee's site

Abstract

A license management system and method for recording the use of a licensed product, and for controlling its use in accordance with the terms of the license. A licensed product invokes a license check monitor at regular time intervals. The monitor generates request datagrams which identify the licensee and the product and sends the request datagrams over a communications facility to a license control system. The license control system maintains a record of the received datagrams, and compares the received datagrams to data stored in its licensee database. Consequently, the license control system transmits reply datagrams with either a denial or an approval message to the monitor. The monitor terminates further use of the product if it receives a denial message. The monitor generates its own denial message if its request datagrams are unanswered after a predetermined interval of time. The datagrams are counted at the control system to provide billing information.

Claims105

Dependent claims

A method for monitoring the use of a licensed product at at least one licensee's site, the method comprising the steps of:

generating datagrams at regular time intervals from at least one licensee's site with a device using said licensed product;
including in each of said datagrams an address of said licensee on a communications facility, said address being designated by said communications facility without any data being provided by said licensee;
sending said datagrams including said address from said licensee's site over said communications facility to a licensor's site at regular time intervals while said licensed product is in use;
receiving said datagrams at said licensor's site using a license control system;
storing in said license control system an indication of receipt of each of said datagrams;
and
counting said datagrams from each licensee, using said license control system, as an indication of the use by the licensee of said licensed product.

4 more elements

A method for controlling use of a licensed product at at least one licensee's site, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a request datagram from at least one licensee's site with a device using said licensed product, said request datagrams including an address of the licensee on a communications facility;
first sending said request datagram including said address of said licensee from said licensee's site over said communications facility to a licensor's site while said licensed product is in use;
first receiving said request datagram at said licensor's site using a license control system;
comparing said request datagram with rules and license data using said license control system at said licensor's site to determine if use by said licensee of said licensed product is authorized, said license control system using said address in said request datagram to identify said licensee;
second sending, via said communications facility, a reply authorizing datagram to said address specified in said request datagram using said license control system, if use of said licensed product is approved;
and
second receiving said reply authorizing datagram at said address and authorizing use of said licensed product for a predetermined period of time, and denying the use of said licensed product when no reply authorizing datagram is received.

4 more elements

A system for controlling use of a licensed product comprising:

a communications facility which delivers and receives datagrams, and to which at least one licensee having a license for operating a licensed product from a licensor is connected, said licensed product having an executable portion and a data portion;
monitoring means, connected to said communications facility at a site of each licensee, for generating a request datagram including an address of said licensee on said communications facility, for transmitting said request datagram including said address over said communications facility to a site of said licensor, and for receiving and processing a reply datagram;
controlling means, connected to said communications facility at said licensor's site, for receiving said request datagram, comparing said request datagram with rules and license data to determine if use of said licensed product is authorized, said controlling means using said address included in said request datagram to identify said licensee, and sending, via said communications facility, a reply authorizing datagram to said address if use of said licensed product is approved;
and
means for controlling use of said data portion with said executable portion;
wherein said monitoring means includes means for denying use of said licensed product when no reply authorizing datagram is received.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Licensing management system and method in which datagrams including an address of a licensee and indicative of use of a licensed product are sent from the licensee's site

Life of this patent

Licensing management system and method in which datagrams including an address of a licensee and indicative of use of a licensed product are sent from the licensee's site

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims105