Licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers

Abstract

A licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers is disclosed. A firewall gateway for separating a protected computer on a private network from a public network is provided. The protected computer has a client software application residing thereon that is licensed. A client module is provided that is associated with the client software application. A proxy agent is provided that is maintained by the firewall gateway. The proxy agent is configured to validate a license for the client software application.

1 . A licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers comprising: 
 a firewall gateway separating a protected computer on a private network from a public network;    the protected computer having a client software application residing thereon and a client module associated with the client software application; and    a proxy agent maintained by the firewall gateway for validating a license for said client software application on said protected computer.    
   
   
       2 . The licensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said proxy agent receives a license inquiry request from said protected computer, and forwards the request to a license server over an IP-compliant network.  
   
   
       3 . The licensing system of  claim 2 , wherein said proxy agent receives a license inquiry response message from the license server, and forwards the response message to said protected computer.  
   
   
       4 . The licensing system of  claim 3 , wherein said proxy agent periodically performs an audit of license information regarding said client application and stores said information in a cache.  
   
   
       5 . The licensing system of  claim 3 , wherein said proxy agent is the only IP address visible outside of said firewall.  
   
   
       6 . A licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers comprising: 
 firewall gateway means separating a protected computer on a private network from a public network;    the protected computer having a client software application residing thereon and client module means associated with the client software application; and    the firewall gateway means further comprising proxy agent means for validating a license for said client software application on said protected computer.    
   
   
       7 . The licensing system of  claim 6 , wherein said proxy agent means further comprises means for receiving a license inquiry request from said protected computer, and forwarding the request to a license server over an IP-compliant network.  
   
   
       8 . The licensing system of  claim 7 , wherein said proxy agent means further comprises means for receiving a license inquiry response message from the license server, and forwarding the response message to said protected computer.  
   
   
       9 . The licensing system of  claim 8 , wherein said proxy agent means further comprises means for periodically performing an audit of license information regarding said client application and storing said information in a cache.  
   
   
       10 . The licensing system of  claim 8 , wherein said proxy agent means is the only IP address visible outside of said firewall.  
   
   
       11 . A licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers comprising: 
 a firewall gateway separating a protected computer on a private network from traffic on a public IP-compliant network;    the protected computer having a client software application residing thereon and a client module associated with the client software application; and    a proxy agent maintained by the firewall gateway for validating a license for said client software application on said protected computer.    
   
   
       12 . The licensing system of  claim 11 , wherein said proxy agent receives a license inquiry request from said protected computer, and forwards the request to a license server over an IP-compliant network.  
   
   
       13 . The licensing system of  claim 12 , wherein said proxy agent receives a license inquiry response message from the license server, and forwards the response message to said protected computer.  
   
   
       14 . The licensing system of  claim 13 , wherein said proxy agent periodically performs an audit of license information regarding said client application and stores said information in a cache.  
   
   
       15 . The licensing system of  claim 13 , wherein said proxy agent is the only IP address visible outside of said firewall.