JP2003186559A - License management system, license management device and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of decrease in license program utilization ratio, caused by inability to cancel a license which has been acquired once by a user with high priority in license program utilization but not utilizing a license program at all, after license acquisition. <P>SOLUTION: A license management system has a utilization monitoring means for monitoring license program utilization by a licensed user and generating utilization information, and a license management device for cancelling the license granted to a user not utilizing the program based on the utilization information, and granting program use to a user newly requesting the license, when program use license requests exceeding the maximum grantable number of license are made for the license program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a license management system, a license management device and method, and a program for managing execution of a license program (software program) used on an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows, for example, JP-A-5-346851.
It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional license management system disclosed by the publication. In the figure, 50 is a user, 51 is a license program, 52 is a license request device, and 5
3 is a license collation device, 54 is a license storage device,
Reference numeral 55 is a priority investigation device, and 56 is a priority storage device. The license request device 52 is provided with a library function for making a license request in response to a request from the license program 51.
The license request device 52 and the license program 51 are integrated.

The license verification device 53 operates on a predetermined computer on a network, for example. A license storage device 54 is connected to the license matching device 53. In this license storage device 54, the registered user name (information for identifying the user) of the license related to the license program is stored as the use qualification. When there is a usage request from the user 50, the priority investigation device 55 determines the priority of license use for the license program, as will be described later. Then, the priority storage device 56 holds the name of the user who is currently using the license program and its priority.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management system in FIG. 7, and the license management operation will be described with reference to this figure. First, when the user 50 makes a start request (execution request) to the license program 51, the license program 51 starts the license request device 52. As a result, the license request device 52 makes a license request to the license matching device 53 (step ST
60). In response to the license request, the license collation device 53 refers to the license storage device 54 and determines whether or not the user 50 is entitled to use (whether or not the user node can be used: step ST61). If the license is not qualified, the license collation device 53 disallows the use of the license program 51 (step ST6).
2).

On the other hand, when the user 50 is entitled to use, the license collation device 53 determines that the available number of empty licenses is available according to the difference between the maximum number of concurrently executing users and the number of currently executing users. It is investigated whether or not there is (step ST63). In this investigation, if there is no free license, that is, if no license is obtained, the priority investigation device 55 investigates the priority of the user 50 and sets it as the execution request priority P1 (step ST64).

Next, the priority investigation device 55
The priority storage device 56 is searched, and the one having the lowest priority among the other users who are executing the license program 51 is selected and set as the execution priority P2 (step ST65). Then, the priority investigation device 55
Compares the execution request priority P1 with the execution priority P2 (step ST66). If the execution request priority P1 is higher than the execution priority P2, the execution request priority P1 for the other users is indicated. Release the license (step ST6
7) Give a license to the user 50. That is, the user 50 acquires the license (step ST68).
As a result, the user 50 is permitted to use the license program 51 (step ST69) and executes the license program 51.

When the execution request priority P1 is equal to or lower than the execution priority P2 in step ST66, use of the license program 51 is not permitted in step ST62. If there is an empty license in step ST63, step ST68 will be executed.

[0008]

Since the conventional license management system is configured as described above, even if a user having a high priority of using the license program does not use the license program at all after acquiring the license, The license cannot be released, and as a result,
There was a problem that the usage efficiency of the license program was reduced.

Further, in the conventional license management system, since the license is released without prior notice to the user as described above, there is a problem that the release cause is unknown.

As described above, the conventional license management system has a problem that acquisition / release of the license cannot be controlled according to the usage status of the license program.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a license management system, a license management device and a method capable of controlling acquisition and cancellation of a license in consideration of the usage status of a license program. And to obtain the program.

[0012]

A license management system according to the present invention includes a usage monitoring means for monitoring usage status of a license program by a user who has acquired a license and generating usage status information, and a license which can be licensed for the license program. When there is a license request for using the program exceeding the upper limit of the number, the license granted to the user who does not use the program is released based on the usage status information, and the user who newly requests the license is allowed to use the program. And a license management device that operates.

The license management device according to the present invention includes a use determining means for determining whether or not each user uses the license program based on the use status information of the license program by the user who has acquired the license, and the license management device. When the license request for using the program exceeds the upper limit of the number of licenses that can be granted for the program, the license granted to the user who does not use the program is canceled based on the determination result of the use determining means,
A license control means for permitting a user who has newly requested a license to use the program is provided.

In the license management device according to the present invention, when the license control means releases the license given to the user who does not use the license program, the license control device notifies the user of the fact and, in response to the notification, sends the license to the user. It is to be released.

The license management device according to the present invention, when releasing the license given to the user who does not use the license program, either notifies the user of that fact and follows the response obtained, or compulsorily without notification. The license control means releases the license given to the unused user according to the setting contents of the release procedure storage means.

The license management device according to the present invention comprises a use history storage means for holding a history of use of the license program for each user who has acquired a license.

The license management method according to the present invention includes a usage monitoring step of monitoring usage status of a license program by a user who has acquired a license and generating usage status information, and exceeding the upper limit of the number of licenses permitted for the license program. When there is a license request to use the program, a program determination step is performed for each user based on the usage status information to determine whether or not the license program is used, and a program failure is determined based on the determination result in the usage determination step. And a license control step of releasing the license given to the user who is using the program and permitting the user who newly requested the license to use the program.

The program according to the present invention is a use determination means for determining whether or not each user is using the license program based on the use status information of the license program by the user who has obtained the license, and the license program is permitted. When there is a license request for using the program exceeding the upper limit of the number of licenses that can be used, the license granted to the user who does not use the program is released based on the determination result of the use determining means, and the user who newly requests the license is notified. The computer functions as a license control unit that permits the use of the program.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1a to 1c are users, 2a to 2c are computers,
3a to 3c are license programs, 4a to 4c are program use monitoring devices (use monitoring means), 5 is a license server (license management device), 6 is a license control device (license control device), and 7 is a license use determination device ( It is a means for determining usage. Users 1a-1c use computers 2a-2c, respectively. The license programs 3a to 3c make program activation requests in response to activation requests from the users 1a to 1c, respectively.
The program usage monitoring devices 4a to 4c monitor the program usage status of the users 1a to 1c, respectively. Also, the license server 5 causes a computer device to execute a program having the functions of the license control device 6 and the license use determination device 7, for example.

The license control device 6 controls the granting / releasing of the usage right related to the license. Further, when there is a usage request for the license programs 3a to 3c that exceeds the upper limit of the number of users that can be simultaneously executed, the license usage determination device 7 suspends the usage right of the program according to the usage status of the program, as described later. Determine whether or not. At this time, when suspending the right to use the program, it is determined who is the user to suspend. The license programs 3a to 3c are, for example, the same program, and in the following description, the users 1a to 1b.
Is entitled to use the licensed program.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management system in FIG. 1, and the license operation of the license program will be described with reference to this figure. First, when the user 1a makes a start request, the license program 3a operating on the computer 2a sends a license request (step ST2).
0). In response to the license request, the license control device 6 investigates whether or not the current total number of licenses permitted exceeds the maximum number of licenses that can simultaneously execute the license program (step ST21). That is, the license control device 6 investigates whether or not there are available empty licenses according to the number of empty licenses obtained by the difference between the maximum number of users who can simultaneously execute the license program and the number of users currently executing. It will be.

If the total number of licenses permitted is less than the maximum number of licenses, the license control device 6 permits the user 1a to use the license program 3a (step ST22). On the other hand, if the total number of licenses permitted is equal to the maximum number of licenses, the license control device 6 indicates to the license use determination device 7 whether or not the user who has the right to use the license program is actually using the license program. Inquire about license usage. In response to this inquiry, the license use determining device 7 causes the program use monitoring devices 4b and 4c to operate.
To obtain the usage status information indicating the usage statuses of the license programs 3b and 3c, respectively (acquisition of usage status information: step ST23, usage monitoring step).

By the way, the program use monitoring devices 4a ...
4c monitors the usage status of each of the license programs 3a to 3c. For example, the program usage monitoring devices 4a to 4c determine whether or not the users 1a to 1c are executing commands and / or performing input operations from an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse (hereinafter, simply referred to as program operation). The time during which no program operation is performed, etc. is monitored, and the time during which no program operation is performed (called a non-use time) is generated as usage status information. Further, in the license use determination device 7, an allowable nonuse time is set as a set nonuse time.
Thereby, the license use determination device 7 determines whether the non-use time indicated by the use status information exceeds the set non-use time (step ST24, use decision step), and the non-use time is set the non-use time. If it exceeds, it is determined that the license program is not used. Then, the non-use user information indicating the non-use user is given to the license control device 6.

At this time, when there are a plurality of unused users, the license use determination device 7 identifies the unused user having the longest unused time of the license program as the unused user, and determines the unused user. The license control device 6 is provided with information indicating an unused user having the longest time.

Upon receiving the non-use user information, the license control device 6 disables the use of the license program to the user who does not use the license program (that is, to the computer) according to the non-use user information. (Step ST25, license control step).
Then, in step ST22, the license control device 6 permits the user 1a to use the license program.

If no unused user exists in step ST24, the license use determination device 7 gives the license control device 6 information indicating that there is no unused user. As a result, the license control device 6
Disallows the user 1a from using the license program 3a (step ST26, license control step).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when there is a program use request exceeding the upper limit of the number of users who can execute the license program, the license program is used in accordance with the use status of the license program by the user who acquired the license. Since the usage right of the user who is not using the license program is interrupted and the usage right is given to the user who newly requested the license, it is possible to control the acquisition and release of the license depending on the usage status of the license program. You can

Embodiment 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same steps as those in the flow chart described in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. In this example, the system shown in FIG. 1 is used.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when it is determined in step ST24 that there is an unused user, the license control device 6 ends the license program usage right suspension (end) for the computer used by the user according to the unused user information. Send information. If the user 1b is a non-use user, the end information will be sent to the computer 2b, and the computer 2b will display a message indicating the end of the license program use right on a display device such as a display in response to the end information. . When the user 1b voluntarily terminates the license program 3b based on this message (step ST30), the license control device 6 permits the user 1a to use the license program in step ST22.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, after notifying the user who is not in use of the license program that the license program usage right is suspended or terminated, the new license request user is notified. Since the user is given the use right, it is possible to eliminate an unexpected trouble caused by the interruption / termination of the use right of the license program that the user does not expect.

Embodiment 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a license management system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a license configuration information storage device (release procedure storage means) for setting license configuration information used when interrupting the license program usage right to a license program non-use user.
The same components as those of the system shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The license control device 6 shown in FIG. 4 receives the usage status information of the license programs 3a to 3c from the respective program usage monitoring devices 4a to 4c, and when the number of license programs used is less than the maximum number of licenses. When it is determined from the usage status information that the license program is in the unused state, the license configuration information indicating that the voluntary suspension and termination of the usage right described in the second embodiment can be performed for the corresponding user. The license configuration information storage device 8 is set. Then, the license control device 6 has a function of suspending / terminating the usage right of the license program for the user who does not use the license program in accordance with the license configuration information set in the license configuration information storage device 8.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the license management system in FIG. 4, and the operation will be described with reference to this figure. First, user 1a
Suppose that there is a new request to activate the license program. As described above, if the total number of licenses permitted is equal to the maximum number of licenses in step ST21, step ST23 is executed and it is determined in step ST24 whether or not there is an unused user. On the other hand, when it is determined that the unused user exists, the license control device 6 searches the license configuration information storage device 8 to determine whether or not the license configuration information is set for the unused user (step ST4
0).

When the license configuration information is set for the non-use user, the license control device 6 sends end information indicating suspension (end) of the license program usage right to the computer used by the non-use user. . If the user 1b is a non-use user, the end information will be sent to the computer 2b, and the computer 2b will display a message indicating the end of the license program use right on a display device such as a display in response to the end information. . When the user 1b voluntarily terminates the license program 3b based on this message (step ST41), the license control device 6 permits the user 1a to use the license program in step ST22.

On the other hand, in step ST40, if the license configuration information is not set for the non-use user, the license control device 6 sends the license program non-use user 1b (that is, the computer 2).
The use of the license program is forcibly prohibited (for b) (step ST42). And step ST
At 22, the license control device 6 permits the user 1a to use the license program.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the license configuration information indicating whether the user who is not using the license program voluntarily suspends the usage right or forcibly suspends the usage right. Since it is set to, the procedure for suspending / ending the right to use the license program can be appropriately selected according to the license configuration information.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the license management system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 9 is a license use log storage disk (use history storage means), which is connected to the license control device 6. Further, the license use log storage disk 9 includes permission (permission), use refusal of the license program in response to a license request, and a time period (unusable time) during which the license program cannot be used by non-users.
And a history of information about the user is stored as a license use log. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when the user 1a makes a license request, the license control device 6 permits or disallows use of the license program 3a to the user 1a, for example, as described with reference to FIG. For example, when the total number of licenses permitted is less than the maximum number of licenses, the license control device 6 permits the user 1a to use the license program 3a. At this time, the license control device 6 indicates the new user name (that is, the identification information indicating the user 1a) who is permitted to use the license program in the license use log storage disk 9 and the date and time (time) when the license request is made. Write.

On the other hand, when the total number of licenses permitted is equal to the maximum number of licenses, if there is a user who does not use the license program, the license control device 6 disables the use of the program license for the unused user, and the license use log. The unused user name and the time when the license program is disabled are written in the storage disk 9.

Further, the license control device 6 causes the license use log storage disk 9 to store the user name of the new user (here, user 1a) who has newly granted the license to use the license program and the time when the license to the license has been granted. Write.

If there is no unused user, the license control device 6 refuses the new user 1a from using the license program, and the license use log storage disk 9 displays the name of the user who denied the use and the time. Write.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the license use log storage disk 9 is added to the configuration of FIG. 1, but the license use log storage disk is also used in other examples (for example, the example shown in FIG. 4). 9 may be added and the history information may be written in the license use log storage disk 9 in the same manner.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the license program is permitted to be used by the user,
Since the history is saved when the use or termination of the use of the license program or the refusal of the license request is performed, the use history of the license program can be managed for each user. Further, even if the user who has acquired the license forcibly releases the license program when using the license, since the history regarding the use of the license program is retained, the release cause can be identified from the use history of the license program.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined for each user whether or not the license program is used, based on the usage status information of the license program by the user who has acquired the license, When there is a license request for using the program exceeding the upper limit of the number of licenses that can be granted for the program, the license granted to the user who does not use the program is released based on the above judgment result, and the user who newly requests the license is requested. Since the use of the program is permitted, there is an effect that acquisition and cancellation of the license program can be controlled according to the usage status of the license program.

According to the present invention, when the license given to the user who does not use the license program is released, the user is notified of that fact and the license is released according to the response to the notification, so that the user does not expect. This has the effect of eliminating unexpected problems caused by the suspension or termination of the license program usage rights.

According to the present invention, when releasing the license given to the user who does not use the license program, the user is notified of that fact and the response is obtained, or the license is forcibly released without notification. The license control means releases the license given to the unused user according to the setting contents of the release procedure storage means. Therefore, the license program is set by the release procedure storage means. There is an effect that it is possible to select a suspension / termination procedure of the usage right of.

According to the present invention, since the use history storing means for holding the history concerning the use of the license program is provided for each user who has obtained the license, the use history of the license program can be managed for each user. is there.

Further, even if the user who has acquired the license forcibly releases the license program when using the license, since the history regarding the use of the license program is retained, the cause of the release must be identified from the use history of the license program. There is also an effect that you can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management system in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the license management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management system in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional license management system.

8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the license management system in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a-1b users, 2a-2c computers, 3a
-3c license program, 4a-4c program use monitoring device (use monitoring means), 5 license server (license management device), 6 license control device (license control means), 7 license use determination device (use determination means), 8 licenses Configuration information storage device (release procedure storage means), 9 license use log storage disk (use history storage means).

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Ken Sanbe             2-3 2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Ryo Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B076 FB03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A usage monitoring means for monitoring the usage status of a license program by a user who has acquired a license and generating usage status information, and a license request for using the program exceeding the upper limit of the number of licenses permitted for the license program. License, the license provided to the user who does not use the program based on the use status information is released, and the license management device permits the user who newly requests the license to use the program. Management system. 2. A use determining means for determining whether or not the license program is used for each user based on the usage status information of the license program by the user who has obtained the license, and a license which can be granted for the license program. When there is a license request for using the program in excess of the upper limit of the number, the license granted to the user who does not use the program is canceled based on the determination result of the use determining means, and the user who newly requests the license receives the license. A license management device comprising: a license control unit that permits the use of the program. 3. The license control means, when releasing the license given to the user who does not use the license program, notifies the user of that fact and releases the license in response to the notification. The license management device according to claim 2. 4. When releasing a license granted to a user who does not use the license program, whether to follow the response obtained by notifying the user of that fact, or whether to forcibly release the license is set. 3. The license management device according to claim 2, further comprising release procedure storage means, wherein the license control means releases the license given to the unused user according to the setting contents of the release procedure storage means. 5. The license management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a usage history storage unit that holds a history of usage of the license program for each user who has acquired a license. 6. A usage monitoring step of monitoring usage status of a license program by a user who has acquired a license and generating usage status information, and a license request for using the program exceeding an upper limit of the number of licenses permitted for the license program. If there is, the use determination step of determining whether or not the license program is used for each user based on the use status information, and the user not using the program based on the determination result in the use determination step. A license management method comprising: a license control step of releasing the license given to the user and permitting the user who newly requested the license to use the program. 7. Use determination means for determining whether or not the license program is being used for each user based on the usage status information of the license program by the user who has obtained the license, and the number of licenses that can be granted for the license program. If there is a license request for using the program exceeding the upper limit of the above, the license granted to the user who does not use the program is released based on the determination result of the use determining means, and the user who newly requests the license receives the license. A program that causes a computer to function as a license control means that permits the use of the program.