Patent ID: 7313512
Filing Date: 2007-12-25
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for licensing software in an emulated computing environment, the emulated computing environment comprising one or more emulated computer systems being supported by a host computer system, the method comprising: providing a limited number of software licenses to be consumed by unlicensed software in the emulated computer systems; identifying the presence of an unlicensed software program in an emulated computer system by an emulated peripheral device that communicates with a key server of the host computer; determining at the key server in the host computer system whether an unconsumed software license exists for the unlicensed software in the emulated computer system; granting a license to the unlicensed software program in the emulated computer system if it is determined that an unconsumed software license does exist; and disabling the operation of the unlicensed software program in the emulated computer system if it is determined that an unconsumed software license does not exist.