Patent ID: 6766305
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A method for managing access to a functionality provided by a software component running on a first computer, the method comprising the steps of:(a) maintaining a store of license records, each of the license records including at least an identification of a licensee and an associated licensee functionality, the licensee functionality used to define an access policy for said licensee; (b) retrieving specific content for running on the software component, the content containing a license form containing either a licensee identity or an operational policy; (c) scanning the specific content for the license form for the licensee identity and operational policy; wherein the license form contains a licensee identity, and performing the steps of d1) retrieving the license record from the store, d2) determining an access policy for the licensee based upon at least the licensee functionality found in the license record, and d3) allowing the software component to operate on the specific content to the extent allowed by the access policy; wherein the store of license records is maintained on a plurality of license computers, and the license form further contains identification of a set of specific license computers, the step d1) of retrieving the license record further comprising: sequentially stepping through the set of specific license computers, sending a request containing an indication of the licensee identity to each member of the set of specific license computers until at least one of the set of specific license computers responds to the request; and receiving a response from the at least one of the set of specific license computers.