System and method for flexible packaging of software application licenses

A software license server suitable for use in conjunction with a computer system and operative to provide licenses to said computer system to allow said computer system to use licensed software programs, the license server comprising:

• a database for storing a plurality of feature licenses and package licenses;
• means for receiving a request for a feature license for a feature included in a package, said request being received from a client computer system that wishes to use said feature, said request optionally including checkout data, said checkout data including at least one desired feature attribute;
• means for filtering said request based on whether said license requires the checkout of a parent license;
• means for granting a package license to said client computer system when said client computer system is allowed to receive said package license according to a license policy, said package license being associated with said package that includes said requested feature, said package license allowing said client computer system to use said requested feature product;
• and
• means for denying said package license to said client computer system when said client computer system is not allowed to receive said package license according to said license policy,
• wherein said means for filtering further comprises:
• means for modifying said checkout data when said license requires the checkout of a parent license;
• means for locating said license within a license database;
• and
• means for verifying said license.

A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method to provide licenses to client computer systems to allow said client computer systems to use licensed software products, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for a feature license for a feature included in a package, said request being received from a client computer system that wishes to use said feature, said request optionally including checkout data, said checkout data including at least one desired feature attribute;
• filtering said request based on whether said license requires the checkout of a parent license;
• granting a package license to said client computer system when said client computer system is allowed to receive said package license according to a license policy, said package license being associated with said package that includes said requested feature, said package license allowing said client computer system to use said requested feature product;
• and
• denying said package license to said client computer system when said client computer system is not allowed to receive said package license according to said license policy,
• wherein said filtering further comprises:
• modifying said checkout data when said license requires the checkout of a parent license;
• locating said license within a license database;
• and
• verifying said license.