Patent ID: 8856951
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A license management system that is connected to a management target apparatus targeted for management and that manages a function available in the management target apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the license management system to: hold device configuration data indicating one or more devices connected to the management target apparatus; determine a function that has become newly available with a device configuration of the management target apparatus and a function that has become newly unavailable with the device configuration of the management target apparatus, by comparing device configuration data received from the management target apparatus with the device configuration data held in the device configuration data holding unit; in a case where a function has become newly available, issue a license for the newly available function to the management target apparatus and activate the license; and in a case where a function has become newly unavailable, deactivate a license for the newly unavailable function or issue a notification indicating a required device configuration to the management target apparatus, wherein issuing the license further comprises: in a case where a device that is newly attached to the management target apparatus is a same device that was previously attached to a second management target apparatus, transmitting, by the license management system, a license transfer request to a license server for transferring a license associated with the newly attached device from the second management target apparatus to the management target apparatus, and transmitting an application activation instruction including a license number of the license associated with the newly attached device to the management target apparatus to activate the newly available function, the newly attached device being required for the newly available function; and in a case where the device that is newly attached to the management target apparatus is not a device that was previously attached to the second management target apparatus, transmitting, by the license management system, the application activation instruction including a license number of a new license to the management target apparatus, wherein the management target apparatus obtains the issued license from the license server based on the application activation instruction to activate the newly available function.