Web-based system for managing software assets

A computer-implemented method for tracking software assets owned and licensed by a business entity using a computer coupled to a database, the business entity having a software management process, said method comprising:

• accessing the database containing software assets information including data relating to each software asset owned or licensed by the business entity including terms and conditions of each corresponding software license;
• searching the database regarding a specific inquiry received from a user;
• retrieving information from the database;
• causing the retrieved information to be displayed on the computer for tracking, monitoring and auditing purposes;
• and
• auditing each software asset owned or licensed by the business entity by:
• transmitting data for a selected software asset from the database to the computer to display an assessment worksheet on the computer;
• displaying in the assessment worksheet at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• inputting to the computer the response received from the user to the at least one question displayed two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• and
• determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• calculating at the computer a sigma value based at least in part on the response inputted by the user;
• providing results to the user.

A method for tracking software assets owned and licensed by a business entity using a web-based server system coupled to a database and at least one client system, the business entity having a software management process, said method comprising:

• displaying on the client system for a user a software management assessment check list that includes at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted;
• inputting a response by the user to each question included within the software management assessment check list;
• and
• determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• calculating a sigma value based at least in part on the responses inputted by the user and on guidelines pre-stored within the database, the calculations are performed using the server system;
• providing results to the user.

A computer-implemented method for tracking software assets owned and licensed by a business entity and providing a software management sigma value based on pre-stored information, the business entity having a software management process, said method comprising:

• storing in a database information relating to a software asset owned or licensed by the business entity including storing terms and conditions of a corresponding software license;
• displaying on a computer system an assessment worksheet including questions relating to the software asset;
• displaying in the assessment worksheet at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• inputting to the computer system the user's response to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• analyzing user input against a pre-determined criteria;
• and
• calculating a sigma value based at least in part on the responses inputted by the user and on guidelines pre-stored within the database;
• providing results to the user.

A web-based system for managing software assets of a business entity, the business entity having a software management process, said system comprising:

• a client system,
• a centralized database for storing information, and
• a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said centralized database, said web-based system further comprising:
• means for identifying at least one software asset satisfying a predetermined requirement of the business entity;
• means for initiating and completing an acquisition process of the at least one software asset satisfying the predetermined business requirement;
• means for prompting a user to deploy the acquired software asset including installing the acquired software asset on at least one of the server system and the client system, the deployed software asset is accessed using the client system;
• means for storing in the database information relating to the acquired software asset including storing terms and conditions of a corresponding software license;
• means for maintaining the acquired software asset including prompting the user to review the software license and installing updated software on at least one of the server and the client system as provided by the software license;
• means for prompting the user to retire a the acquired software asset when the acquired software asset is no longer required by the business entity including de-installing the acquired software asset;
• and
• means for auditing the acquired software asset by:
• transmitting data from the server to the client system to display an assessment worksheet on the at least one client system;
• displaying in the assessment worksheet at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• inputting to the server the response received from the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• and
• determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• calculating at the server a sigma value based at least in part on the response inputted by the user.

A software license management system to automate a software management process for managing software assets of a business entity, measuring compliance requirements, and tracking/reporting status as necessary to assure proficiency and adherence to implementation requirements of the software management process, said system comprising:

• a client system,
• a centralized database for storing information, and
• a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said centralized database, said management system further comprising:
• means for organizing and processing information using at least one of a software identification module, an acquisition module, a deployment module, a maintenance module and a software retirement module;
• means for displaying an assessment worksheet on the client system;
• means for displaying in the assessment worksheet at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• means for inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• means for computing a sigma value based on the user's responses to the at least two questions to measure compliance with the software management process including compliance with software licenses associated with the software asset;
• and
• means for providing feedback and suggestions based on the computed sigma value to help reduce the exposure to litigation and penalties, maximize software asset utilization through tighter inventory control, and capitalize on the software procurement process.

A system for tracking software assets owned and licensed by a business entity, the business entity having a software management process, said system comprising:

• a client system;
• a centralized database for storing information, and
• a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said centralized database, said system further comprising:
• means for accessing the centralized database containing software assets information including data relating to each software asset owned or licensed by the business entity including terms and conditions of each corresponding software license;
• means for searching the database regarding a specific inquiry received from a user;
• means for retrieving information from the database;
• means for causing the retrieved information to be displayed for tracking, monitoring and auditing purposes;
• and
• means for auditing each software asset owned or licensed by the business entity by:
• transmitting data for a selected software asset from the server to the client system to display an assessment worksheet;
• displaying in the assessment worksheet at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• inputting to the server the response received from the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• and
• determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• calculating at the server a sigma value based at least in part on the response inputted by the user.

A system for tracking software assets owned and licensed by a business entity, the business entity having a software management process, said system comprising:

• a client system,
• a centralized database for storing information, and
• a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said centralized database, said system further comprising:
• means for displaying on the client system for a user a software management assessment checklist;
• means for displaying in the assessment checklist at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• means for inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment checklist;
• and
• means for determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• computing a sigma value based on guidelines pre-stored within the database and the response inputted by the user.

A system for tracking software assets owned and licensed by a business entity, the business entity having a software management process, said system comprising:

• a client system,
• a centralized database for storing information, and
• a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said centralized database, said system further comprising:
• means for storing in the database information relating to a software asset owned or licensed by the business entity including storing terms and conditions of a corresponding software license;
• means for displaying on the client system an assessment worksheet;
• means for displaying in the assessment worksheet at least two questions including whether complete software license documentation has been maintained at the user's location, and whether a reconciliation of installed software and licenses has been conducted by the user;
• means for inputting a response by the user to the at least two questions presented in the assessment worksheet;
• means for determining compliance with the software management process including compliance with the terms and conditions of the software license corresponding to the acquired software asset by:
• analyzing user input against a pre-determined criteria;
• and
• calculating a sigma value based on the user input and the pre-determined criteria.