JP3556606B2 - License management system and license management program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a license management system and a license management program, and more particularly to a license management system that manages a license by using a plurality of clients connected to the server to grasp the use status of digital information stored in the server. It relates to a license management program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a company or an educational institution, there are cases where a plurality of computers are installed and the installed computers are used for the same purpose of use, for example, for educational purposes such as program development or classes. For example, in an educational institution such as an elementary school, a computer for teachers and students is installed, and classes using educational software may be conducted. In such a case, each computer is connected to a network system such as a LAN that can easily share one piece of data, and a client server system environment composed of a server for managing the network and a plurality of clients is constructed. Sometimes.
[0003]
When a network system is configured, when executing a program such as software on a client, the client installs the software on each client or reads and starts software stored in a server. At this time, so-called "illegal copying" of installing one piece of software on multiple clients is prohibited by law.For example, when using educational software at an educational institution such as an elementary school, You need to buy the same number of software. Also, in a so-called "stand-alone" state in which a computer is used alone without being connected to a network, software is purchased for each computer.
[0004]
For this reason, software companies that sell software sometimes sell packs of software in which the number of permitted licenses is determined in advance to companies and educational institutions that install a plurality of clients and computers.
[0005]
Recently, with the spread of the Internet and the like, browsing of information called "content" on a homepage screen using a browser program or the like has been performed. In some cases, license management is performed so that the content can be viewed only from a specific computer.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is difficult to perform strict license management in the above-described software package sales in which the number of licenses permitted in advance is determined. In other words, preventing software from being illegally copied to computers with more than the permitted number of licenses relied heavily on the decency and morality of computer users, and was not completely satisfactory. Because of the enormous costs involved in software development, these unauthorized copies have devastated software developers. Therefore, various measures have been attempted to prevent unauthorized copying. For example, there is a computer that issues a password or ID for each computer that uses software, and requests input of a password each time the software is used or at the time of installation. However, authentication by inputting these passwords or the like imposes troublesome operations and processes of the computer user.
[0007]
Some of these software programs are stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and supplied. For example, when trying to use such software in a class at an elementary school or the like, a cumbersome task of distributing the number of computers to the students for each class by the teacher and collecting it again after the class is required is required. Furthermore, in elementary schools, students may be unfamiliar with the handling of CD-ROMs, and the CD-ROMs may be dropped or damaged, damaged, and unusable. As a result, the number of pieces of software that had been provided by the number of computers at the time of purchase gradually decreased, which sometimes hindered the lesson.
[0008]
On the other hand, when in a network environment, software is stored in a server, and software is activated and used from each client. In this case, in order to prevent the software from being started indefinitely in response to a request from each client, it was necessary to limit the number of software started on the server and to install a dedicated management program for license management. . However, since these management programs need to be resident in the server and always be activated, they sometimes put a burden on the processing of the server and the communication processing of the network.
[0009]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a license management system and a license management program capable of easily managing a license of digital information from a client without imposing a load on processing of a server.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a license management system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of clients connected to a server via a communication network, wherein the software or the content is stored in the server and the number of allowable licenses is set. A license management system that grasps the usage status of digital information including and manages licenses, wherein the client is configured by a plurality of management records stored in the server and managing the usage status of the digital information. Reading means for reading the management file from the server via the communication network; status display means for displaying the use status of the digital information based on the management file read by the reading means; and the number of allowable licenses And the digital information based on the management file Determining whether use is possible, determining means for permitting, when the use of the digital information is permitted by the determining means, the management record including identification information for identifying the client, the management record via the communication network, Management record adding means for adding to the management file stored in the server; execution means for executing the use of the digital information when the use of the digital information is permitted by the determination means; and When the processing is completed, the apparatus further comprises management record erasing means for erasing the management record corresponding to the client that has finished using the digital information from the management file via the communication network.
[0011]
Here, a communication network is a network in which a server and a plurality of clients are connected via a communication line such as a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet. The server includes software and various digital information such as contents forming a homepage. And the client can use and browse the digital information.
[0012]
Here, the digital information includes, for example, executable application programs such as software, contents published on a homepage on the Internet, and the like. The number of allowable licenses is the number of executable software and the number of viewable content determined in advance by contract with a software development company, a content production company, a company entrusted with sales, and the like.
[0013]
Further, the management file for managing the usage status of digital information is composed of a plurality of management records that are added when the use of digital information is permitted, and is stored in a server in an accessible state from a plurality of clients. Is what it is.
[0014]
Further, the status display means for displaying the usage status of digital information indicates the number of digital information in use (the number of management records in the management file) and the number of allowable licenses. For example, there is a display that displays (5/25: numerator = the number of uses / denominator = the number of allowable licenses), and a display that displays such information schematically by turning on / off a lamp on the screen.
[0015]
Therefore, according to the license management system of the first aspect of the present invention, the client reads the management file composed of the management records stored in the server and displays the usage status of the digital information. Then, the use of digital information is determined based on the management file and the allowable number of licenses. Here, when the number of used digital information in use (the number of management records) is smaller than the allowable license number, the use of the digital information is permitted. Then, a management record including identification information for identifying the permitted client is created, and the management record is added to a management file stored in the server. The digital information is then used at the client. Then, when the use of the digital information is completed, the management record corresponding to the client that has finished using the digital information is deleted from the management file. As a result, it is possible for the client to grasp the usage status of the digital information and to add and delete the management record of the management file for managing the usage status. Accordingly, license management of digital information can be performed from a plurality of clients.
[0016]
The license management system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the license management system according to the first aspect, wherein the server connected to the communication network stores the digital information and the management file in a storage medium, Publishing means for publishing the digital information and the management file stored by the storage means to the client via the communication network.
[0017]
Therefore, according to the license management system of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the license management system of the first aspect of the present invention, the digital information and the management file stored in the server are made public via the communication network. As a result, each operation of reading the management file, adding and deleting the management record from the client becomes possible. At this time, the server stores only digital information and a management file, and each operation is executed by a client process. That is, the server has a function as a file server for storing the management file, and does not impose a load on the processing capacity of the server in the operation of the system.
[0018]
A license management system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the license management system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the management record is time information determined according to a use time of the digital information in the client. Further, the client, the update time detecting means for detecting a predetermined update time during the use of the digital information, for each update time detected by the update time detection means, the client via the communication network Comparing the time information updating means for updating the time information of the management record, the management file in which the time information is updated by the time information updating means, and the old management file held at the time of updating the previous time information; An unupdated management record whose time information has not been updated is detected, and the detected unupdated management record is It is intended to and a deleting means for deleting the record from the management file.
[0019]
Here, the time information is determined according to the use time of the digital information in the client. For example, the time when the use of the digital information is started is set to 0, and the time information is determined at every predetermined update time. The value is updated by counting up one by one. Further, an unupdated management record is a record in which the client has some kind of failure (for example, a power failure or abnormal stop of the system) and the time information of the management record has not been updated.
[0020]
Therefore, according to the license management system of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the license management system of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the time information updating means updates the time information of the management record every predetermined update time. Be updated. This process is performed when the client is using the digital information. By updating the time information, it is possible to notify another client that the use of the digital information is continued. Further, the updated management file is compared with the old management file held at the time of the previous update, and an unupdated management record is detected. Then, the detected unupdated management record is deleted from the management file. As a result, an error occurs in the client, and a client that unduly occupies one of the allowable license numbers is detected by the management record although the digital information is not used. Then, the state of the unauthorized occupation is released by another client.
[0021]
In the license management system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the license management system according to the third aspect, when the client has deleted the management record in the time information updating unit, the client has the management record of the client. Is added to the management file to restore the file.
[0022]
Here, the deletion of the self-management record refers to, for example, a case where the computer enters a sleep state or the like while using digital information due to the setting of the operating system that operates the client. In this case, it is impossible to update the time information even if no abnormality has occurred in the client, so if the sleep state is extended for a long time, the own client's management record is read from the management file by another client. It will be deleted. Therefore, restoration is performed using the old management file read at the time of updating the time information, thereby enabling the client to resume using the digital information.
[0023]
Therefore, the license management system according to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the operation of the license management system according to the third aspect of the present invention, detects that its own management record has been deleted from the management file when updating the time information. Then, the management file is restored using the management record of the old management file held at the time of the previous update, and the use of the digital information is resumed.
[0024]
A license management system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the license management system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the identification information is determined according to an operating time of the client. It is.
[0025]
Therefore, according to the license management system of the invention of claim 5, in addition to the operation of the license management system of any one of claims 1 to 4, the identification information is determined based on the operating time of the client. . Here, the operating time is the operating time from the time when the client is started, and is, for example, counted by the operating system that operates the client in hundredths of a second. Thus, it is not necessary to issue a unique identification number or ID to each client in advance, and each client can be identified by using the operating time at the time when the management record is created as the identification information.
[0026]
7. A license management program according to claim 6, wherein said license management program reads a management file, which is stored in a server and is composed of a plurality of management records for managing the use status of digital information, from said server via said communication network. , Status display means for displaying the usage status of the digital information based on the management file read by the reading means, determine whether the digital information can be used based on the number of allowable licenses and the management file, Determining means for permitting, when the use of the digital information is permitted by the determining means, adding the management record including identification information for identifying a client to the management file stored in the server via the communication network Means for adding a management record, Execution means for executing the use of the digital information when the use of the digital information is permitted, and when the use of the digital information is ended, the execution means corresponding to the client which has ended the use of the digital information from the management file via the communication network. The client functions as management record erasing means for erasing the management record.
[0027]
Therefore, according to the license management program of the present invention, when the license management program is executed, the client stores the management file, which is stored in the server and is composed of a plurality of management records for managing the usage status of the digital information, in the client. And reading the digital information via the communication network and displaying the usage status of the digital information based on the read management file. Then, based on the number of allowable licenses and the management file, it is determined whether the digital information can be used, and the digital information is permitted. Thereafter, when the use of the digital information is permitted, a management record including identification information for identifying the client is added to the management file stored in the server via the communication network, and the use of the digital information is performed. Then, when the use of the digital information is completed, the management record corresponding to the client whose use of the digital information is completed is deleted from the management file via the communication network.
[0028]
Here, the license management program may be installed in the client in advance and started, or may temporarily read a program stored in the server into a storage medium such as a memory when using digital information, and It may be started from.
[0029]
A license management program according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the license management program according to the sixth aspect, wherein the update time detection means detects a predetermined update time during use of the digital information, and is detected by the update time detection means. A time information updating unit that updates the time information of the management record via the communication network for each update time, the management file in which the time information is updated by the time information updating unit, and a previous time information Comparing the old management file held at the time of update, detecting an unupdated management record in which the time information has not been updated, and deleting the detected unupdated management record from the management file; It will make it work more.
[0030]
Therefore, according to the license management program of the invention of claim 7, in addition to the operation of the license management program of the invention of claim 6, when the license management program is executed, the client can update the predetermined update time while using the digital information. And updates the time information of the management record via the communication network for each detected update time. Further, the management file in which the time information is updated is compared with the old management file held when the previous time information is updated, and an unupdated management record in which the time information is not updated is detected. Delete records from the management file.
[0031]
The license management program according to claim 8, wherein, in the license management program according to claim 7, when the time information updating unit deletes the management record of the self, the management record of the self is added to the management file. The client further functions as restoration means for restoring.
[0032]
Therefore, according to the license management program of the invention of claim 8, in addition to the operation of the license management program of the invention of claim 7, when the license management program is executed, the client is notified that the management record of the client is deleted. , Add own management record to management file and restore.
[0033]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a license management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a license management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a functional configuration of a server 3, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a client A in the license management system 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing in the client A of the license management system 1, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen for displaying the use status of the application AP, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing addition, deletion, deletion, and restoration of a management record CR constituting a management file CF.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 1, the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a LAN environment including a server 3 and a plurality of clients 2 connected to the server 3 via a communication line L. Here, the server 3 is a storage unit 4 for storing an application AP that is activated by the client 2 and has a preset number of licenses C, and a management file CF for managing the license of the application AP. And publishing means 5 for publishing the CF to the client 2.
[0035]
On the other hand, the client 2 can start and execute the application AP stored in the server 3 and, based on the allowable number of licenses C determined by the application AP and the read management file CF, execute the application AP. It performs license management. In the license management system 1 of the present embodiment, one of the plurality of clients 2 connected to the server 3 is referred to as a client A, and the following description will be mainly given of the processing flow in the client A. Client 2 other than client A is referred to as client X (X1, X2, X3...). Here, the application AP corresponds to digital information in the present invention.
[0036]
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the client A has, as a functional configuration, a management file CF stored in the server 3 and configured from a plurality of management records CR for managing the usage status of the application AP. Means 11 for reading through the communication line L, status display means 12 for displaying the usage status of the application AP based on the read management file CF, and re-reading the management file CF at predetermined time intervals, Updating means 13 for updating the usage status of the application AP, and determining whether the application AP can be started based on the allowable number of licenses C and the management file CF when the application AP is requested to be started, and determining means 14 for permitting the application AP. And the identification information ID for identifying the client A and the usage time of the application AP Management record adding means 15 for adding a management record CR composed of time information T determined by the above to the management file CF stored in the server 3, execution means 16 for executing the application AP, and termination of the application AP. When detected, management record erasing means 17 for erasing the management record CR corresponding to the client A from the management file CF of the server 3. Further, time detecting means 18 for detecting a predetermined update time RT and a predetermined time for rereading the management file CF during the execution of the application AP, and a management record CR corresponding to the client A for each detected predetermined update time RT. The time information updating means 19 for updating the time information T, and the management file CF in which the time information T has been updated is compared with the old management file held when the previous time information T was updated, and the time information T is updated. A deletion unit 20 for detecting an unupdated management record NCR that has not been deleted and deleting the detected unupdated management record NCR from the management file CF of the server 3 and a management record CR corresponding to the client A are deleted from the management file CF. The management record is stored in the management file CF of the server 3 using the management file CF held in the storage unit 22. Add the CR, and a restoring means 21 for restoring. Here, the time detecting means 18 corresponds to the update time detecting means in the present invention.
[0037]
Further, the client A stores the storage unit 22 for storing various data and programs such as the application AP and the management file CF, and executes various processes such as addition and deletion of the management record CR on the server 3. Based on the access means 23 for accessing the server 3 via the communication line L, the operating means 24 for operating the client A, and the status display means 12, various information such as the usage status of the application AP is signal-controlled and displayed. And a display control means 25 and a display means 26. Note that the license management program LPG for implementing the license management system 1 of the present embodiment is stored in the storage unit 22 of the client A.
[0038]
Here, a personal computer connectable to the server 3 via the communication line L is used as the client A, a storage medium such as a memory and a hard disk as the storage means 22, a LAN board as the access means 23, and a keyboard as the operation means 24. A monitor display is used as the mouse and the display means 26.
[0039]
Next, the flow of processing of the client A in the license management system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Here, the processes in steps S1 to S20 shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to the license management program LPG of the present invention.
[0040]
First, the management file CF stored in the server 3 is read from the client A (step S1). Here, the management file CF indicates the use status of the application AP to be used, and is composed of a plurality of management records CR transmitted from another client X.
[0041]
Then, the use status of the application AP is displayed based on the read management file CF (step S2). More specifically, the number of management records CR constituting the management file CF (that is, the number of management records O) and the allowable number of licenses C of the application AP are displayed so as to be easily grasped visually. For example, the same number of lamps in the lighting state as the number of allowable licenses C are displayed on the screen, and the number of the management records O is displayed in the off state, the number of lamps in the off state, or the number of fractions (O / C) (FIG. 5 ( a) and (b)).
[0042]
Thereafter, an instruction to continue or terminate the license management system 1 is detected. If the license management system 1 is to be continued (YES in step S3), a request to start the application AP is detected (step S4). On the other hand, when there is an instruction to end the license management system 1 (NO in step S3), the process proceeds to step S13.
[0043]
If the activation request for the application AP is detected (YES in step S4), the number of management records O of the read management file CF is compared with the allowable license number C set by the application AP (step S5). Here, when O <C is satisfied (YES in step S5), that is, when the activation number of the application AP is less than the allowable license number C, the activation of the application AP is permitted and the management record CR is created (step S6). At the same time, the management record CR is added to the management file CF of the server 3 (step S7). Then, the application AP is activated from the client A (step S8). Here, the management record CR is added to the management file CF according to the order in which the applications A of the clients A and X are used (see FIG. 6A). At this time, the value of the management record number O increases by one, and the information of the management file CF is updated. Note that the client A to which the management record CR has been added holds the updated management file CF in the storage unit 22 of the client A.
[0044]
Here, the management record CR includes, as shown in FIG. 6, an identification information ID for identifying each of the clients A and X, and time information T determined corresponding to the use time of the application AP. ing. Note that the identification information ID is determined based on the operating times of the clients A and X counted by the operating systems running on the clients A and X. Here, the operation time can be recognized in units of 1/100 second. Therefore, it is not necessary to issue a unique identification number or the like to each of the clients A and X in advance. Further, when the system is terminated once and the license management system according to the present embodiment is to be executed again, a new identification information ID is given and added to the management file CF as another client A. The time information T is determined according to the use time of the application AP. Here, T = 0 is given as an initial value at the start of use.
[0045]
On the other hand, when the application activation request is not detected (NO in step S4), the management file CF is read from the server 3 every predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) (step S9), and thereafter, the process returns to step S2. The usage status of the application AP is displayed again (see FIG. 5B). Further, the number of management records O is compared with the number of allowable licenses C, and if O <C is not satisfied (NO in step S5), it is determined that the application AP cannot be started, and a display indicating that the application AP cannot be started is displayed (step S10). At the same time, the process returns to step S3 (see FIG. 5C).
[0046]
When the application AP is started and the application is being executed by the client A, the process waits for detection of an instruction to end the application AP (step S11). If there is an instruction to end the application AP (YES in step S11), a management record CR corresponding to the client A is detected from the management file CF of the server 3, and the management record CR is deleted from the management file CF (step S12). . At this time, when the management record CR is deleted from the management file CF, the value of the management record number O is reduced by one. Then, the management file CF is reconfigured (see FIG. 6C). That is, the gap of the portion occupied by the deleted management record CR is filled. Then, the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment ends with the end of the application AP (step S13).
[0047]
On the other hand, when there is no instruction to end the application AP (NO in step S11), the elapse of a predetermined update time RT (for example, 6 minutes) for updating the time information T included in the management record CR is detected (step S14). ). If the update time RT has elapsed (YES in step S14), the management file CF stored in the server 3 is read, and it is determined whether or not the own management record CR corresponding to the client A exists in the management file CF. It is detected (step S15). If the management record CR exists (YES in step S16), the value of the time information T of the own management record CR is counted up by one (step S17). On the other hand, if the corresponding management record CR does not exist in the management file CF of the server 3 (NO in step S16), the management file CR is stored in the management file CF using the management record CR held in the storage unit 22 of the client A. Is added and restored (step S18). After that, the process returns to step S17. If the predetermined update time RT has not elapsed (NO in step S14), the process returns to step S11. Note that a detailed description of the case where the management record CR does not exist in step S16 will be described later, and will not be repeated here.
[0048]
Further, after updating the time information T in step S16, the unupdated management record NCR is detected (step S19). Here, the unupdated management record NCR is a comparison of the value of the time information T in the management record CR constituting the management file CF with the old management file CF held at the update time RT of the previous time information T. , The management record CR that has not changed. That is, since the update of the time information T is performed individually and at a constant update time interval for each of the clients A and X, there is a difference between the latest management file CF and the previous old management file CF. Either the updating of the time information T or the deletion of the management record CR due to the termination of the application AP must be performed, and some change must have occurred. Therefore, when the time information T is not updated and the management record CR remains in the management file CF, it indicates that some abnormality has occurred in the clients A and X. Therefore, the clients A and X do not erase the management record CR of the management file CF normally even though the application AP is not executed, and unduly occupy one of the allowable license numbers C of the application AP. (See FIG. 6 (b) → (d)). Then, the updated management file CF is compared with the old management file CF, and an unupdated management record NCR with no change in the time information T is detected (step S19). Then, when the non-update management record NCR is detected (YES in step S19), the non-update management record NCR is deleted from the management file CF (step S20, see FIG. 6E). After that, the process returns to step S11. As a result, it is possible to eliminate a situation where one of the allowable license numbers C is unduly occupied by the clients A and X. On the other hand, if the unupdated management record NCR is not detected (NO in step S19), this process is canceled.
[0049]
Here, a case where the management record CR corresponding to the client X to be updated is deleted when the time information updating unit 19 attempts to update the time information T in step S17 will be described. That is, the reason why the management record CR is deleted by the other clients A and X is that the own client's management record CR is determined as the unupdated management record NCR and deleted by the other client X as described above. Is assumed. For example, in the client X3 shown in FIG. 6, even if no abnormality has occurred, the so-called "sleep state" may be entered as an energy saving measure by setting an operating system when no input operation or the like has been performed for a certain period of time. is there. In this case, since the client X3 cannot update the time information T, when a predetermined update time RT has elapsed, the management record CR corresponding to the client X3 of the management file CF is deleted by another client X ( Fig. 6 (e). Thus, when the client X3 returns from the sleep state, even if an attempt is made to continue the execution of the application AP, the execution of the application AP cannot be performed because the management record CR has been deleted. Therefore, by using its own management record CR corresponding to the client X3 of the old management file CF held at the update time RT before sleep, its own management record CR is added to the management file CF and restored. From that point, the execution of the application AP can be resumed and continued (FIG. 6 (f)).
[0050]
As described above, the license management system 1 of the present embodiment can manage the license of the application AP stored in the server 3 from a plurality of clients 2 connected to the server 3 via the communication line L. Here, in the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the server 3 only has a function as a file server that stores the application AP and the management file CF and discloses the application AP and the management file CF to the client 2. Therefore, there is no need to make a program for license management resident in the server 3 as in the related art, and no load is imposed on the processing of the server 3 and the communication processing of the network.
[0051]
Further, by updating the time information T of the management record CR constituting the management file CF at every predetermined update time RT, all the clients 2 connected to the server 3 can grasp the use status of the application AP in real time. Can be. Further, by detecting the unupdated management record NCR in which the time information T is not updated, the unupdated management record NCR corresponding to the client 2 occupying one of the allowable license numbers of the application AP is illegally stored. The other client 2 can delete the file from the management file CF of the server 3. As a result, the application AP can be effectively used within the range of the allowable license number C.
[0052]
In addition, even if the client 2 enters the sleep state due to the setting of the operating system and the time information T is not updated, the deleted management record CR is restored using the old management file CF before the sleep, The use of the application AP can be resumed.
[0053]
As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention as described below. And design changes are possible.
[0054]
That is, in the license management system 1 of the present embodiment, the processing flow of the client A is shown based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, although the updating of the time information T and the detection and deletion of the unupdated management record NCR are performed as one flow, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be performed at different times. That is, if the update of the time information T is performed twice, a process of detecting the unupdated management record NCR once may be performed. This makes it possible to reduce the number of times the management record CR is restored when the client 2 is in the sleep state and recovers from the sleep state, thereby reducing the processing load on the client 2.
[0055]
Further, in the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the license management for one application AP is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of application APs may be managed simultaneously. More specifically, a plurality of application APs can be activated from the screen for accepting the application AP activation request shown in FIG. 5, and each application AP can be activated from the screen. As a result, it is possible to collectively manage the application APs that perform license management. Further, the display screen indicating the usage status shown in FIG. 5 is not limited to this. For example, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the display (for example, 30 seconds), a process of reducing the display screen is performed. Is also good. As a result, the load on the client 2 for processing the program can be reduced. In the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the usage status of the application AP is displayed as “lamp off = in use / lamp on = available” as shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display may be reversed, that is, the meaning of “lamp extinguishment = usable / lamp lighting = in use”. Further, the fraction display is exemplified by the one in which the numerator is represented by the number of management records O, but may be displayed by, for example, the number of remaining licenses (that is, the number of allowable licenses C-the number of management records O).
[0056]
Furthermore, in the license management system 1 of the present embodiment, the license management of the execution of the application AP such as a program is shown as an example of digital information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes, for example, a homepage screen. License management of content browsing may be performed. In this case, it is necessary to provide the client 2 or the server 3 with a browser program for browsing the content. Also, the license management program LPG is stored in the storage unit 22 of the client 2 in advance, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the license management program LPG is stored in the storage unit 4 of the server 3. Then, the license management program LPG may be activated after the temporary reading into the memory or the like of the client 2 only when the system is used, and the license management may be performed. Thereby, the trouble of installing the license management program LPG in each of the plurality of clients 2 can be omitted. Further, digital information such as the application AP may be stored in the client 2 in advance, and only the management file CF may be stored in the server 3.
[0057]
Furthermore, in the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the server 3 and each client 2 are in a LAN network system environment. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a communication network such as a WAN or the Internet may be used. May be used.
[0058]
In the license management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the management file CF is always stored in the storage unit 4 of the server 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when the application AP is not executed by any client 2, that is, when the number of management records O = 0, the management file CF does not need to exist. In this case, when the management record CR is added from the earliest client 2, a new management file CF may be created. Similarly, when the execution of the application AP is completed in all the clients 2 and the management record CR is deleted, the management file CF can also be deleted from the storage unit 4.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the license management system according to the first aspect of the present invention uses the digital information stored in the server to set the allowable number of licenses from a plurality of clients connected to the server via the communication network. License management. As a result, the license management can be performed only by the processing of the client without imposing a load on the processing capacity of the server.
[0060]
In the license management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the license management system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the client can open the digital information and the management file stored in the server. Therefore, a plurality of clients can perform processing for adding and deleting a management file. Therefore, the server only has the function of a file server for storing data such as a management file, and does not impose a load on the processing capability of the server or the communication processing of the network.
[0061]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect, the license management system includes time information in the management record, and detects an unupdated management record based on the time information. And can be deleted. As a result, it is possible to delete the management record of the client that unduly occupies one of the allowable license numbers, and to effectively use the digital information within the allowable license number range.
[0062]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the third aspect of the present invention, when the management record corresponding to the client is detected to be deleted from the management file, the license management system holds the management file. The management record can be added and restored by using the contents of (1). Thus, for example, even when the client enters the sleep state and returns from the sleep state, the use of the digital information can be resumed.
[0063]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the identification information included in the management record is determined based on the operating time of the client. Therefore, it is not necessary to issue an authentication means such as an ID for identifying each client in advance, and the client can be identified.
[0064]
The license management program according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects of the present invention can execute the license management program so that the client can grasp the usage status of digital information and manage the license. Specifically, based on a management file composed of management records for grasping and managing the use status of digital information, each processing such as addition, deletion, deletion, and restoration of management records becomes possible. License management of digital information based on files can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a license management system and a functional configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a client in the license management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in a client of the license management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in a client of the license management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that displays a usage status of an application.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing addition, deletion, deletion, and restoration of a management record constituting a management file.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 license management system
2, A, X, X3 Client
3 server
4 Storage means
5 means of disclosure
11 Reading means
12 Status display means
13 Update means
14 Judgment means
15 Management record adding means
16 Execution means
17 Management record erasing means
18 Time detection means
19 Time information update means
20 Deletion means
21 Restoration means
AP application
C Number of allowable licenses
CF management file
CR management record
ID identification information
LPG License Management Program
NCR unupdated management record
O Number of management records
T time information

Claims (8)

A license management system that manages licenses by using a plurality of clients connected to a server via a communication network, grasping the use status of digital information stored in the server and including software or content for which an allowable number of licenses has been set. So,
The client,
A reading unit that is stored in the server and reads a management file composed of a plurality of management records for managing the usage status of the digital information from the server via the communication network,
Status display means for displaying the use status of the digital information based on the management file read by the reading means,
Judgment means for judging whether or not the digital information can be used based on the allowable license number and the management file,
When the use of the digital information is permitted by the determination unit, a management record addition that adds the management record including identification information for identifying the client to the management file stored in the server via the communication network. Means,
When the use of the digital information is permitted by the determination unit, an execution unit that executes the use of the digital information,
Management record erasing means for erasing the management record corresponding to the client that has finished using the digital information from the management file via the communication network when the use of the digital information is completed, License management system. The server connected to the communication network,
Storage means for storing the digital information and the management file in a storage medium,
2. The license management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a publishing unit that publishes the digital information and the management file stored by the storage unit to the client via the communication network. The management record further includes time information determined according to a usage time of the digital information in the client,
The client,
Update time detecting means for detecting a predetermined update time during use of the digital information,
For each update time detected by the update time detecting means, time information updating means for updating the time information of the management record via the communication network,
The time information updating unit compares the management file whose time information has been updated, and the old management file held at the time of updating the previous time information, and detects an unupdated management record whose time information has not been updated, 3. The license management system according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit configured to delete the detected unupdated management record from the management file. The client,
4. The license according to claim 3, further comprising a restoring means for adding the self management record to the management file and restoring the self management record if the self management record is deleted by the time information updating means. Management system. The identification information is
The license management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the license management system is determined according to an operation time of the client. A management file, which is stored in the server and is composed of a plurality of management records for managing the usage status of digital information, is read from the server via the communication network by the reading unit, and the management file read by the reading unit is read by the reading unit. Status display means for displaying the use status of the digital information based on the number of licenses and the management file, and determining whether or not the digital information can be used based on the management file; Is permitted, the management record including the identification information for identifying the client is added to the management file stored in the server via the communication network. Perform use of said digital information when use of information is permitted Executing the digital information, ending the use of the digital information from the management file via the communication network, and deleting the management record corresponding to the client that has finished using the digital information via the communication network; A license management program characterized by causing a computer to function. Update time detecting means for detecting a predetermined update time during use of the digital information, and updating the time information of the management record via the communication network for each update time detected by the update time detecting means Comparing the time information updating means, the management file whose time information has been updated by the time information updating means, and the old management file held at the time of updating the previous time information, and comparing the unupdated management file whose time information has not been updated; 7. The license management program according to claim 6, further comprising causing the client to further function as a deletion unit that detects a record and deletes the detected unupdated management record from the management file. If the time information updating means deletes the own management record, the client further functions as restoring means for adding the own management record to the management file and restoring the same. 7. The license management program according to 7.

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