Information processing device with an automatic return unit for returning a license

An information processing method for use in an information processing device, the information processing method comprising:

• downloading, by an installation unit of the information processing device, installation data of an application program corresponding to a function from an external device to install the application program in the information processing device;
• acquiring, by a license acquisition unit of the information processing device, a license file from an external device in order to activate the function in the information processing device;
• managing, by a license managing unit of the information processing device, presence of a license of the function in the information processing device independently of presence of the license file;
• transferring, by a license transfer managing unit of the information processing device, the license from a source device to a destination device to update the presence of the license of the function;
• and
• returning, by an automatic return unit of the information processing device, the transferred license to the source device automatically according to automatic return conditions stored in the information processing device,
• wherein the automatic return conditions comprise device information containing identification information of each of a plurality of devices to which a set of priority levels are assigned, and
• wherein the automatic return unit is arranged so that, when the source device is in a power OFF state or the license is already returned to the source device, the license is returned to one of the plurality of devices which is deteimined according to the set of priority levels.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform an information processing method for use in an information processing device, the information processing method comprising:

• downloading, by an installation unit of the information processing device, installation data of an application program corresponding to a function from an external device to install the application program in the information processing device;
• acquiring, by a license acquisition unit of the information processing device, a license file from an external device in order to activate the function in the information processing device;
• managing, by a license managing unit of the information processing device, presence of a license of the function in the information processing device independently of presence of the license file;
• transferring, by a license transfer managing unit of the information processing device, the license from a source device to a destination device to update the presence of the license of the function;
• and
• returning, by an automatic return unit of the information processing device, the transferred license to the source device automatically according to automatic return conditions stored in the information processing device,
• wherein the automatic return conditions comprise device information containing identification information of each of a plurality of devices to which a set of priority levels are assigned, and
• wherein the automatic return unit is arranged so that, when the source device is in a power OFF state or the license is already returned to the source device, the license is returned to one of the plurality of devices which is determined according to the set of priority levels.