US 6,587,881 B1 · Software server usage governor

Abstract

A system and method for controlling usage of a particular software program in a computer network environment is disclosed. The invention operates by controlling the throughput of the software as it executes on a server computer. In particular, the invention monitors the number of active requests to the software. If the number of active requests exceeds a predefined number, the software throughput on the server (e.g., requests completed per minute) is artificially restricted. As such, the present invention continues to allow further connections to the software but intentionally restricts further use by inhibiting the throughput for all connections to the software. Preferably, the present invention continues to allow the predefined number of active requests to be exceeded, but as more requests are made, the overall performance of software progressively degrades.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for controlling authorized use of software by governing computer system throughput, comprising the steps of:

a) accepting a request for a system resource from one of a plurality of users;
b) measuring the system throughput demand by inference from counting the number of substantially simultaneous user requests;
c) comparing the throughput demand to a preset level by comparing the number of substantially simultaneous user requests to a preset number of authorized simultaneous user requests;
and
d) if system throughput demand exceeds the preset level, identifying a time delay derived from the number of substantially simultaneous user requests exceeding the preset number of authorized simultaneous user requests, and processing the request after when the time delay has expired.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Software server usage governor

Life of this patent

Software server usage governor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19