Application licensing for a centralized system of medical devices

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a first medical device, an indication to start a selected application at the first medical device, wherein the selected application requires a license to operate and, at the time the indication is received, the selected application has a first license, and wherein the first medical device is network enabled;
• determining, at the first medical device, that an applicable license to operate at least one feature of the selected application is available from at least a portion of a second license for another application at a second medical device, wherein the second license allows the other application to operate, and wherein the at least the portion of the second license is stored at the second medical device;
• retrieving, by the first medical device from the second medical device, the at least the portion of the second license to form an inherited license;
• enabling, at the first medical device, the at least one feature of the selected application according to the inherited license;
• and
• starting, at the first medical device, the selected application with the at least one feature.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a computer in a medical environment for monitoring and operating a plurality of network enabled medical devices, an indication to start an application at the computer, wherein the application requires a decrypted license to operate;
• decrypting, at the computer, a license to produce the decrypted license;
• determining, at the computer, from the decrypted license that communication with a license server is required;
• polling, by the computer, the license server with data characterizing the decrypted license to receive at least a portion of another license for another application at the computer, wherein the at least the portion of the other license enables at least one feature of the application, and wherein the at least the portion of the other license is stored at the computer;
• and
• updating, at the computer, the decrypted license based on the at least the portion of the other license.