Method and system for controlling use of software programs

A machine-readable medium having a plurality of instructions processable, by a machine embodied therein, wherein the plurality of instructions, when processed by the machine causes the machine to perform a method that comprises:

• starting a bootstrap process in a client computer;
• before the bootstrap process is completed, requesting an authorization for a program to load on the client computer, the authorization being determined by verifying that a simplified local license certificate for the program is stored on the client computer, the simplified local license certificate being only an identifier of a corresponding full license certificate that is remotely stored on a server computer;
• and
• upon a determination that the simplified local license certificate is stored on the client computer, completing execution of the bootstrap and revising the simplified local license certificate according to the full license certificate stored on the server computer, wherein the simplified local license certificate is based on an operating execution environment of the client computer, and wherein a Central Processing Unit (CPU) in the client computer is currently executing instructions at or below a pre-determined maximum instruction execution rate in order for revision of the simplified local license certificate to be authorized.

A system comprising:

• means for starting a bootstrap process in a client computer;
• means for, before the bootstrap process is completed, requesting an authorization for a program to load on the client computer, the authorization being determined by verifying that a simplified local license certificate for the program is stored on the client computer, the simplified local license certificate being only an identifier of a corresponding full license certificate that is remotely stored on a server computer;
• and
• means for, upon a determination that the simplified local license certificate is stored on the client computer, completing execution of the bootstrap and revising the simplified local license certificate according to the full license certificate stored on the server computer, wherein the simplified local license certificate is based on an operating execution environment of the client computer, and wherein a Central Processing Unit (CPU) in the client computer is currently executing instructions at or below a pre-determined maximum instruction execution rate in order for revision of the simplified local license certificate to be authorized.