Patent ID: 8646091

Claim:
A manufacturer information handling system (IHS), comprising: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; and a set of instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to: issue an order to a software license provider IHS over a network for a plurality of software licenses, the order including a manufacturer public key; receive from the software license provider IHS over the network a wrapped license file, the wrapped license file including a plurality of license keys, signed using a software license provider private key, and encrypted using the manufacturer public key; decrypt the wrapped license file using a manufacturer private key; verify authenticity of the wrapped license file using a software license provider public key and, in response, inject one of the plurality of license keys into a manufactured IHS, wherein the license key injected into the manufactured IHS is operable to allow the use of software located on the manufactured IHS; generate a return license file that includes at least one of the plurality of licenses that includes a revoked license, a returned license, an unused license, and combinations thereof; sign the return license file using the manufacturer private key; combine the signed returned license file with a manufacturer credit number and a confirmation code; encrypt the combined signed returned license file, manufacturer credit number, and confirmation code; send the encrypted and combined signed returned license file, manufacturer credit number, and confirmation code over the network to the software license provider IHS; and receive a return confirmation.