Patent ID: 6502124
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A software management apparatus for managing a license use of a licensed software installed from a server to a client through a network, wherein:said server comprises a history management table for storing information representing an install history of said software, a license number management table for storing information representing a license number of said software, a software management portion for saving said software to be installed to said client in a software storage portion, a table management portion for registering said information representing the install history of said software and saved in said software storage portion and said information representing the given license number to said history management table and to said license number management portion, respectively, and a software transmission portion for transmitting said software saved in said software storage portion to said client; said client comprises a software management portion for deciding whether or not said software saved in said server is to be installed, a software reception portion for receiving said software transmitted from said server and storing it into said software storage portion, and a table management portion for registering said information identifying said software saved in said software storage portion to said management table; and wherein said client includes an uninstall reporting portion for supervising uninstall of said software and reporting this uninstall to said server, and said server includes an uninstall processing portion responsive to reception of information from said client indicating that said software is uninstalled, for generating information notifying that a license of the software is available to another client and providing the notifying information.