Method and licensing system for automatically licensing service features during the upgrade of a communication system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically licensing service features during the upgrade of a first communication system (11) into a second communication system (12), said method having the following steps: (a) extracting the service features to be licensed from a database, (b) transmitting the service features to be licensed to a License Server (CLS), (c) generating a license file (LF) in the License server (CLS), (d) transmitting the license file (LF) to the second communication system (12), and (e) installing the license file (LF) in the second communication system (12). This invention also relates to a corresponding computer program and corresponding licensing system.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for licensing features, comprising:
 creating a license file based on a feature to be licensed;   receiving a license authorization code specifying the feature;   determining that a communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying a media access control (MAC) address of the communication system; and   in response to determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature, transferring the license file to the communication system for installation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to upgrade. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to acquire an additional license. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining the feature to be licensed by determining feature data from the communication system; and   storing the feature data in a database.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from an inventory file. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inventory file is cryptographically signed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving an inventory file comprising the MAC address; and   wherein determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from the inventory file.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause:
 creating a license file based on a feature to be licensed;   receiving a license authorization code specifying the feature;   determining that a communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying a media access control (MAC) address of the communication system; and   in response to determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature, transferring the license file to the communication system for installation.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to upgrade. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to acquire an additional license. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining the feature to be licensed by determining feature data from the communication system; and   storing the feature data in a database.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from an inventory file. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the inventory file is cryptographically signed. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 receiving an inventory file comprising the MAC address; and   wherein determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from the inventory file.   
     
     
         25 . A system for licensing features, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory operatively connected to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:   creating a license file based on a feature to be licensed;   receiving a license authorization code specifying the feature;   determining that a communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying a media access control (MAC) address of the communication system; and   in response to determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature, transferring the license file to the communication system for installation.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to upgrade. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to acquire an additional license. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining the feature to be licensed by determining feature data from the communication system; and   storing the feature data in a database.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from an inventory file. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 receiving an inventory file comprising the MAC address; and   wherein determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from the inventory file.