Method for determining by a license server whether a client software application is licensed

Abstract

A license server is disclosed that may operate oven an IP-compliant network. The license server includes a database for storing and retrieving license records associated with a client software application. The license server may be configured to receive a license validity inquiry request from a client module over the IP-compliant connection that includes information regarding a client software application associated with the client module. The server may then query the database to determine whether a valid license exists for the client software application. Responsive to the query, the license server may form a response message containing the results of the query and send a response message to the client module over the IP-compliant network.

1 . A method for determining by a license server whether a client software application is licensed comprising: 
 receiving a license validity inquiry request from a client module over an IP-compliant connection, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;    querying a database to determine whether a valid license exists for the client software application;    forming a response message containing the results of the query responsive to said query; and    sending said response message to said client module over said IP-compliant network.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of directing a user of said client software application to a Web site if it is determined that no valid license exists.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the act of accepting payment for enablement for use of said client software application.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the act of adjusting the price of said client software application according to the features desired to be enabled.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the act of updating said database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the act of updating said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the act of utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for determining whether a client software application is licensed comprising: 
 means for receiving a license validity inquiry request from a client module over an IP-compliant connection, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;    means for querying a database to determine whether a valid license exists for the client software application;    means for forming a response message containing the results of the query responsive to said query; and    means for sending said response message to said client module over said IP-compliant network.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising means for directing a user of said client software application to a Web site if it is determined that no valid license exists.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising means for accepting payment for enablement for use of said client software application.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising means for adjusting the price of said client software application according to the features desired to be enabled.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising means for updating said database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising the act of updating said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising the act of utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.  
   
   
       15 . A license server comprising: 
 a license server coupled to an IP-compliant network, the license server including a database operatively disposed therein for storing and retrieving license records associated with a client software application;    said license server being configured to: 
 receive a license validity inquiry request from a client module over the IP-compliant connection, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;  
 query the database to determine whether a valid license exists for the client software application;  
 form a response message containing the results of the query; and  
 send said response message to said client module over said IP-compliant network.  
   
   
   
       16 . The license server of  claim 15 , wherein said license server is further configured to direct a user of said client software application to a Web site if it is determined that no valid license exists.  
   
   
       17 . The license server of  claim 16 , wherein said license server is further configured to accept payment for enablement for use of said client software application.  
   
   
       18 . The license server of  claim 17 , wherein said license server is further configured to adjust the price of said client software application according to the features desired to be enabled.  
   
   
       19 . The license server of  claim 17 , wherein said license server is further configured to update said database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.  
   
   
       20 . The license server of  claim 19 , wherein said license server is further configured to update said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the act of utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.  
   
   
       22 . A computer-readable device containing a set of instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for determining whether a client software application is licensed, the method comprising: 
 receiving a license validity inquiry request from a client module over an IP-compliant connection, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;    querying a database to determine whether a valid license exists for the client software application;    forming a response message containing the results of the query responsive to said query; and    sending said response message to said client module over said IP-compliant network.    
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising the act of directing a user of said client software application to a Web site if it is determined that no valid license exists.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising the act of accepting payment for enablement for use of said client software application.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising the act of adjusting the price of said client software application according to the features desired to be enabled.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising the act of updating said database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , further comprising the act of updating said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 27 , further comprising the act of utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.