JP2000010777A - Network license management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network license management system where license software means started on plural machines connected through a network are used within the range of use conditions (for example, the number of means which can be simultaneously started) set in the unit of license software means and license issue conditions can be set in the unit of groups. SOLUTION: A license repeating server 12 which sets the right of use in the unit of groups of client machines 11 is set to be able to set the conditions of program use permission in the unit of groups of client machines 11, thereby distributing the license management work. Thus, management of high safety is possible even if the number of licenses managed by a license server machine 10 is increased to increase the number of client machines, which permit the use of the machine 10, in the case of enlargement of the license management scale. Decision conditions for program use permission with individual client machines in a group, which the license repeating server 12 itself preliminarily manages, as the object is stored in a group information storage device 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network license management system, and more particularly, to a method in which a license program started on a plurality of license management computers connected via a network falls within a usage condition set for each license program. The present invention relates to a network license management method for managing the usage of a license.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an environment where computers are commonly connected to a network and resources are shared, a license management computer (hereinafter, also referred to as a license server machine) on the network uses a license (hereinafter, referred to as a license). ), And manages a computer (hereinafter, referred to as a client machine) on a network that starts a program (hereinafter, referred to as a license software means) that operates.
There is a need for a network license management system that limits usage conditions such as the number of simultaneous activations.

Conventionally, as a network license management system responding to this request, a software license management system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-14321 or a system for managing each client machine by assigning the use priority of the license software means to each client machine. Kaihei 5-34685
A software license management device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1 has been proposed.

First, a conventional network license management system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-14321 is disclosed in FIG.
1 and a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. In FIG. 11, the system includes a license server machine 10 and a client machine 1
The license server machine 10 is equipped with a license collation unit 4 and is connected to a license storage device 5. The license software means 2 is implemented on the client machine 11. The license request unit 3 requests the use of the license software unit 2.

[0005] The license checking means 4 on the license server machine 10 controls the use of the license software means 2 of the client machine 11 in accordance with the use conditions registered in the license storage device 5.
The contents stored in the license storage device 5 include the number of licenses that can be used simultaneously by the license software means 2,
It consists of information such as license usage restrictions for specific users or machines.

Next, the operation of the conventional system will be described with reference to FIG.
1 and FIG. First, the user 1 makes an execution request for the license software means 2. Then, the license software means 2 activates the license request means 3 and makes a license request to the license matching means 4 (step 201 in FIG. 12). At this time, the information transmitted from the client machine 11 to the license server 10 includes the information of the user 1 who made the execution request and the client machine 11.

[0007] License checking means 4 receiving the information
Performs a search of the license storage device 5. Then, the availability information of the available license of the license software means 2 and the execution permission of the user 1 who has made the execution request and the client machine 11 are checked (step 202 in FIG. 12). Thus, if there is an available free license and the execution by the user and the machine is not prohibited, the license checking means 4 sends the license request means 3 to the license request means 3 in the license software means 2 which has requested the use of the program. It is transmitted (step 203 in FIG. 12). Thereby, the license requesting means 3 receives the license from the license server machine 10 and acquires the license based on the program use permission,
Activate the license software means 2. At this time, the user 1 who has obtained the license is stored in the license storage device 5.
And the information of the client machine 11 is stored, and the number of available licenses is reduced by the number of uses.

When all licenses are in use, or when the user 1 who has made the execution request and the use of the client machine 11 are not permitted, the license checking means 4 determines that the use of the program has been completed. The license request means 3 in the license software means 2 which has requested permission is notified (FIG. 12).
Step 204). As a result, the license requesting means 3 in the license software means 2 which has made the license request cannot acquire the license, so that the license software means 2 is not activated.

Next, a conventional network license management system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-346851 will be described with reference to a schematic configuration diagram of the system shown in FIG. 13 and a flowchart for explaining the operation shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, in this system, a license server machine 15 and a client machine 11 are connected, and the license server machine 15 is provided with a license matching unit 4 and a priority adjusting unit 8, and a license storage unit 5 and a priority storage unit 9 are provided. It is connected. The license software means 2 is implemented on the client machine 11. The license request unit 3 requests the use of the license software unit 2.

[0010] The license server machine 15 controls the use of the license software means 2 on the client machine 11 in accordance with the use conditions registered in the license storage device 5. This license storage device 5
Is stored in the license software means 2 from information such as the number of licenses that can be used simultaneously and the license use restriction of a specific user or machine.
This is the same as the example of JP-A-14321. Further, the priority storage device 9 stores the license software means use priority of each user.

Next, the operation of the conventional system will be described with reference to FIG.
3 and FIG. First, the user 1 makes an execution request for the license software means 2. The license software means 2 activates the license request means 3,
License collation means 4 in license server machine 15
(Step 30 in FIG. 14).
1). At this time, the transmitted information includes the information of the user 1 who made the execution request and the client machine 11 thereof.

[0012] License collating means 4 receiving the information
Performs a search of the license storage device 5. Then, the availability information of the available license of the license software means 2 and the presence or absence of the execution permission by the user 1 who made the execution request and the client machine 11 are checked (step 302 in FIG. 14). If the execution by the user 1 who made the execution request and the client machine 11 is not prohibited, it is checked whether there is an available free license (step 303 in FIG. 14).

When there is no available free license,
The client server machine 15 searches the priority storage device 9 via the priority adjusting means 8, obtains the priority information of the user who acquires the license, and records and retains all the users currently in use and their priorities. If the use of the user or the machine is permitted but all the licenses are in use, the priority adjusting device 8
Adjusts the priority P of the requesting user 1 according to FIG.
Step 304). The priority is set at the time of user registration for the system.

Next, the priority adjustment device 8 searches the priority storage device 9 to check the priority of the user group of the running license software means 2 and selects the one with the lowest priority (step 305 in FIG. 14). This is compared with the priority P of the requesting user 1 (step 306 in FIG. 14). If the priority P of the user 1 who has made the execution request is higher than the lowest priority p in the group of users being executed, the license of the low-priority user of the running license software means 2 is released ( In step 307 in FIG. 14, the requesting user 1 newly acquires a license (step 308 in FIG. 14).

Thus, the client server machine 1
No. 5 notifies the license software means 2 which has made the execution request of the execution permission (step 309 in FIG. 14). When the license request unit 3 receives the execution permission from the license server machine 15 and acquires the license, the license request unit 3 activates the license software unit 2. At this time, the license storage device 5 stores the user and the machine that have obtained the license, and reduces the number of available licenses by the number of uses. The user 1 can use the license software means 2 and releases the license after the use is completed (FIG. 1).
4 step 310).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 303 that there is a free license, the client server machine 15 immediately notifies the license software unit 2 that has made the execution request of the execution permission without checking and comparing the priorities ( Step 309 in FIG. 14). Step 30
If the priority of the user 1 who made the request in step 6 is lower than the lowest priority p in the group of active users, or if it is determined in step 302 that the use of the user 1 is not permitted, Then, the client server machine 15 notifies the license software unit 2 which has made the execution request of the execution non-permission, and terminates the use of the program (step 311 in FIG. 14). Thus, the client machine 11 cannot obtain a license, and the license software means 2
Is not executed.

In the two conventional network license management systems described above, as shown in FIG. 15, the license server machine 10 or 15 individually manages a plurality of client machines 11-1 to 11-n. It is.

[0018]

However, since the above-described conventional network license management system is configured as shown in FIG. 15, the use permission of the license software means 2 is equally given to all users (all client machines). If the license management scale becomes large, the number of licenses managed by the license server machines 10 and 15 increases, and the number of licenses to be used by the user ( For example, the settings of the client machine, the user, the terminal, and the maximum number of licenses permitted to be issued) increase, making it difficult to perform centralized management.

Further, in the conventional network license management system, it is not possible to perform a distributed operation by management in units of groups (for example, departments or projects) using tools.

Because the license software means 2
Server machines 10 and 1 that manage the usage rights of
In No. 5, since all the client machines 11 using the license software means 2 are equally managed, the server machines managing the licenses are concentrated on one machine, and the processing for issuing and using the tool use license (condition setting) is concentrated. That's why. Conventionally, a plurality of client machines 1
This is because, since there is no means for recognizing and distinguishing 1-1 to 11-n as one group, it is not possible to dispersely set conditions serving as criteria for license issuance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
License software means activated on a plurality of machines connected via a network are used within a range of use conditions (for example, the number of simultaneous activations) set for each license software means, and license issuance conditions are set for each group. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network license management method which can enable setting.

[0022]

According to the present invention, in order to attain the above object, a license management computer on a network manages a client machine on the network which activates a program which obtains a use permission and operates. This is a network license management method that limits the number of programs that can be started at the same time. Client machines are grouped in units of departments that use each program, a license relay server is installed for each group, and the license relay server itself manages it in advance. A group information storage device that stores the program use permission determination conditions for each client machine in the group is installed, and a license storage that stores the program use permission determination conditions is located above the license relay server. License management calculation connected to the device The provided, which is constituted so as to disperse the determination process management issues of the program use permission to the client machine requesting program use permission in the license relay server units.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of client machines 11-1 to 11-m are each assigned to a client group in units of departments (for example, departments or projects) using programs (tools). G1 to Gn, each client group G1 to G
n, a total of n license relay servers 12-1 to 12-n are installed, and one of the license relay servers 12-1 to 12-n is provided above the license relay servers 12-1 to 12-n. This is a management system of a network system in which a license management computer (license server machine) 10 is installed, and it is possible to set conditions for permitting use of a program (license issuance) for each group.

Conventionally, with regard to software license management on a network, there has been known a distributed system in which clients are grouped and the number of permitted uses is controlled (JP-A-9-251425). In this conventional technique, the group and the second server do not have a correlation, and the management of the affiliation of the client machine to the group is centrally managed in the entire system, and the second server certifies the affiliation to the group. This is a mechanism only for access control on the premise that client machines belong to a plurality of groups, and is divided into groups but is not managed in a distributed manner.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the relay server makes all of the issuance permission determinations of the licenses, which are the program use permissions, and the group, which is a set of client machines to which licenses are granted, is controlled by one relay server. Enter all. The license management computer (license server machine) on the network controls (distributes) license resources on a relay server basis, and management (use judgment) is based on distributed management of each relay server. Further, in the present invention, client machines belonging to a certain group are not mixed with other groups.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a license management computer on a network can manage a client machine on a network that activates a program that obtains a usage permission and operates, and can simultaneously start the client machine. This is a network license management method that limits the number of client machines, in which client machines are grouped in units of departments that use each program, and a license relay server is installed for each group. A group information storage device that stores the program use permission determination conditions for each client machine and a priority storage device that stores priority information for each client machine in using the program And on the top of the license relay server A license management computer connected to a license storage device storing the program use permission determination condition is provided, and the process of determining the issuance of a program use permission to a client machine requesting the program use permission is managed for each license relay server. It is intended to be dispersed.

According to the present invention, when the license management computer (license server machine) on the network rejects the program use request, the license relay server sets the priority based on the priority storage device.
Depending on the priority of the client machine requesting the program use permission, the program use permission to the client machine can be issued.

[0028]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a network license management system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
And a license software unit 2, a license requesting unit 3, a license checking unit 4, a license storage device 5, a group authentication unit 6, and a group information storage device 7.

However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of client machines 11-1 to 11-1 are used in total.
11-m into client groups G1 to Gn, one for each of the client groups G1 to Gn, for a total of n license relay servers 12
-1 to 12-n are installed, and one license server machine 10 that gives a license to the whole is installed above the license relay servers 12-1 to 12-n. 1 shows a license server 10, one license relay server 12, and one client machine 11, together with the license storage device 5 and the group information storage device 7.

In FIG. 1, the license request means 3
The means for requesting the use permission of the license software means 2 is incorporated in the license software means 2 and exists as one software means. The license checking unit 4 operates on a specific computer existing as the license server machine 10 on the network. The license storage device 5 is a device that stores license software means 2 use permission information managed by the license collation means 4.

The group authentication means 6 authenticates the machines belonging to the group and judges the right to use the license software means 2. The group information storage device 7 stores information (machine information belonging to the group and license software means use right for each machine) necessary for authenticating the client machines 11 of the group and determining the use right of the license software means 2. I do. The license relay server 12 has a group authentication unit 6 and is connected to the group information storage device 7.

FIG. 2 shows the data structure of the license storage device 5, which includes a license program name 21, a maximum number 22 of simultaneous execution use permitted for each license software unit, a number of users 23 currently executing the license software unit,
The number of unused licenses 24 for each license software means is stored.

FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the group information storage device 7, and the client machines 31 belonging to the group,
The license program name 32, the maximum number of concurrently executing users 33 for each licensed software means permitted to each client machine, the number of active users 34 for each client machine, and the number of free licenses 35 for each client machine are stored.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

First, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, when the user 1 makes an activation request to the license software means 2 on the client machine 11, the license software means 2 activates the license request means 3 incorporated therein. The license request is made to the license relay server 12 (step 101). Upon receiving the license request, the group recognizing unit 6 of the license relay server 12 searches the group information storage device 7 and determines whether the requesting client machine 11 belongs to the group. A search (search) is performed from the data area 31 of the machine (step 102).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the requesting client machine 11 belongs to the group in the data area 31 examined above (step 103). It is checked (searched) from the recording area 32 of the license program name shown in FIG.
4), it is determined whether or not there is permission (step 10)
5).

If there is permission, the storage area 35 of the number of free licenses shown in FIG.
Investigate (search) whether there is a free license (step 106) and determine whether there is a free license (step 107). The number of free licenses is counted as the number of concurrently executing users 33 minus the number of active users 34. If it is confirmed that the number of available licenses is one or more, the license relay server 12 sends the license server machine 10 to the client machine 11
Request for the requested license (step 10)
8).

The license checking means 4 on the license server machine 10 searches the license storage device 5 having the data structure of FIG.
1 and the total number of available licenses 24 are checked (step 109), and it is determined whether or not there is a free space (step 11).
0) If there is a vacancy, the number of vacant licenses 24 is reduced by 1 and a license is issued to the license relay server 12;
A license is secured (step 111). The total number of free licenses 24 in the storage data structure of the license storage device 5 shown in FIG. 2 is counted as a value obtained by subtracting the total number of currently executing users 23 from the total number of simultaneously executing users 22 with the same license program name. .

The license relay server 12, which has received the license, adds 1 to the number of active users 34 of the group information storage device 7 through the group authentication means 6, reduces the number of free licenses 35 by 1, and sends the license to the request source. It is issued to the client machine 11. By issuing the license, the user 1 is permitted to use the license software means 2 (step 112). The client machine 11 that has received the license activates the license software means 2 and releases the license after the normal end (step 113).

The license collating means 4 and the group authentication means 6 are provided with the license storage device 5 and the group 1 shown in FIG. The number of active users 23 and the number of free licenses 24 stored in the information recording device 7 are updated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that the requesting client machine 11 does not belong to the group, or if it is determined in step 105 that the use of the requested license program is not permitted, or
If it is determined in step 107 that there is no free license, or if it is determined in step 110 that there is no free license in the license server machine 10, a use denial signal flows in the reverse of the request path, and the license software The use of the means is rejected (step 114), and the license software means 2 ends the processing.

The maximum number 33 of concurrently executing users in the group information storage device 7 of the license relay server 12 is registered and set by a group administrator when the license software means 2 is registered in the system. As described above, in this embodiment, since the license relay server 12 for setting the use right and the use priority is set for each group and the management mechanism is dispersed, the use right of the license software means 2 is grouped for each department. Can be set to the client machine group group that has been set, and the setting management work can be distributed and managed by a plurality of license server machines.

In the present embodiment, the usage right of the license software means 2 is set for each client machine in the group, but it may be considered that the usage right is set for each user.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the network license management system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
A license software unit 2, a license requesting unit 3, a license checking unit 4, a license storage unit 5, a group authentication unit 6, a group information storage unit 7, a priority adjustment unit 8, a priority storage unit 9, Consists of FIG. 5 also shows a network system management method similar to the network system shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 5, the license server 10, one license relay server 13, and one client machine 11 are used to store licenses. The device 5, the group information storage device 7, and the priority storage device 9 are shown.

The license request means 3 exists as a function for performing a license process, is incorporated in the license software means 2, and exists as one software means. The license checking means 4 operates on a specific computer existing as a server machine on the network. The license storage device 5 is a device that stores use permission information of the license software unit 2 managed by the license matching unit 4. The group authentication unit 6 is a unit that authenticates a client machine belonging to a group. The group information storage device 7 stores information (machine information belonging to a group) necessary for performing authentication of a group machine.

The priority adjusting means 8 is a device for retrieving the use priority of the client machine 11 which has made a use request of the license software means 2, and the priority storage device 9 stores the priority storage device 9 which is currently used by 13 groups of the license relay server. Keep client machines and their priorities. The license relay server 13 has a group authentication unit 6 and a priority adjustment unit 8.

FIG. 6 shows the data structure of the license storage device 5 shown in FIG.
2. The number 63 of users currently executing the license software means and the number 64 of unused licenses in units of the license software means are stored, which are the same as the data structure of FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the data structure of the group information storage device 7 shown in FIG. 5, and shows the client machine 71 belonging to the group, the license program name 72, and the maximum number of simultaneous users permitted by each client machine for each license software means. 73, the number of active users 74 per client machine, the number of free licenses 75 per client machine, and the priority 76 are stored. FIG. 8 shows the data structure of the priority storage device 9 shown in FIG. 5, in which a running license program name 81, a running client machine name 82, and their license priorities 83 are stored. FIG. 9 shows the second embodiment shown in FIG.
3 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment. Note that, in FIG. 9, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the process from the first request from the user 1 to the license software unit 2 to the step 110 of determining whether or not there is a free license in the license server machine 10 is the first.
The same operation as in the embodiment is performed.

That is, when the user 1 issues an activation request to the license software means 2 on the client machine 11, the license software means 2 activates the license request means 3 incorporated therein and relays the license request to the license. Performed for the server 13 (FIG. 9)
Step 101). Upon receiving this license request,
The group recognizing means 6 of the license relay server 13 searches the group information storage device 7 and checks whether or not the requesting client machine 11 belongs to the group from the data area 71 of the client machine belonging to the group shown in FIG. (Search) (step 102 in FIG. 9).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the requesting client machine 11 belongs to the group in the data area 71 checked (step 103 in FIG. 9). Client machine 11
Is checked (searched) from the license program name recording area 72 shown in FIG. 7 of the group information storage device 7 (step 104 in FIG. 9) to determine whether the use of the requested license program is permitted (step 104 in FIG. 9). (Fig. 9
Step 105).

If there is permission, the storage area 75 of the number of free licenses shown in FIG.
(Step 106 in FIG. 9) to determine whether there is a free license (step 107 in FIG. 9). The number of free licenses is counted as the number of concurrently executing users 73 minus the number of running users 74. When it is confirmed that the number of free licenses is one or more, the license relay server 13 requests the license requested from the client machine 11 to the license server machine 10 (Step 108 in FIG. 9).

The license checking means 4 on the license server machine 10 searches the license storage device 5 having the data structure shown in FIG.
1 and the total number of free licenses 64 are confirmed (step 109 in FIG. 9), and it is determined whether or not there is a free space (step 110 in FIG. 9). License relay server 1
3 and secure a license (step 1 in FIG. 9).
11).

The total number of free licenses 64 in the storage data structure of the license storage device 5 shown in FIG. 6 is counted as a value obtained by subtracting the total number of currently executing users 63 from the total number of concurrently executing users 62 with the same license program name. Have been.

Upon receiving the license, the license relay server 13 adds one to the number of active users 74 of the group information storage device 7 through the group authentication means 6, reduces the number of available licenses 75 by one, and sends the license to the request source. It is issued to the client machine 11. By issuing the license, the user 1 is permitted to use the license software means 2 (step 112 in FIG. 9). Upon receiving the license, the client machine 11 activates the license software means 2 and releases the license after the normal end (step 113 in FIG. 9).

On the other hand, when the license checking means 4 on the license server machine 10 determines that there is no free license as a result of searching the license storage device 5 (see FIG. 9).
Step 110), the license relay server 13 searches the priority 76 of the group information storage device 7 by the group authentication means 6, and finds the priority P that the requesting client machine 11 has for the corresponding license software means 2. Investigation is performed (step 121 in FIG. 9). Here, the priority P is a priority in using the license software means 2 and is determined in advance for each group based on the operation of the present system, and the group information is stored when the client machine 11 is registered. It is assumed that it is set in the device 7.

Next, the license relay server 13 searches the priority storage device 9 having the data structure shown in FIG. 8 by the priority adjusting means 8, and determines the priority 83 of the running client machine 82 of the running license program name 81. Investigation is performed, and a client machine with the lowest priority is selected from the results (step 122 in FIG. 9). Subsequently, the license relay server 13 determines the priority P that the requesting client machine 11 has with respect to the corresponding license software means 2 and the lowest priority among the running client machines of the running license program name. p (step 123 in FIG. 9).

As a result of this comparison, if the priority of the client machine 11 that has made the execution request is higher, the license of the running client machine having a lower priority is collected (step 124 in FIG. 9), and the execution request is made. The license is newly issued to the client machine 11 (step 111 in FIG. 9). Therefore, in this case, the client machine 11 starts executing the license software unit 2.

Conversely, if the priority of the client machine 11 that has made the execution request is lower than the license software means 2, the license relay server 13 does not issue a license to the client machine 11, 2 is not executed (step 114 in FIG. 9).

In FIG. 9, if it is determined in step 103 that the requesting client machine 11 does not belong to the group, or if it is determined in step 105 that the use of the requested license program is not permitted, If it is determined in step 107 that there is no free license, a use rejection signal flows in the reverse of the request path, and the use of the license software means 2 for the user 1 is rejected (step 114 in FIG. 9). 2 ends the processing.

The license collating unit 4 and the priority adjusting unit 8 acquire and release the execution right by the client machine 11 that newly executes the license software unit and the client machine 82 that is executing the license software unit. The number of running users 64 and the number of empty licenses 65 of each license software means stored in the storage device 5, the number of running users 74 and the number of free licenses 75 of each client machine in FIG. 7, and the running of the priority storage device 9 in FIG. Update the client machine and its priority 83.

The maximum number of concurrently executing users 73 assigned to each client machine in the group information storage device 7 of the license relay server 13 is registered and set by the group manager when the license software means 2 is registered in the system.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the license relay server 13 for setting the use right and the use priority for each group is installed and the management mechanism is distributed, the first
As in the embodiment, the license software means 2
Can be set to client machine groups that are grouped by department, setting management work can be distributed and managed by multiple license server machines, and execution requests can be made even if there are no free licenses When the priority of the client machine 11 having the priority is higher than the lowest priority of the running client machines, the use of the program is permitted, so that the license can be more easily secured. In this embodiment, the usage right of the license software means is set for each client machine, but it may be considered that the usage right is set for each user.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Regarding the use of licensed programs, a license relay server that sets usage rights for each group of client machines is installed, and the conditions for program use permission (license issuance) can be set for each group of client machines. Because the management work can be distributed, if the license management scale becomes large, the number of licenses managed by the license server machine increases, and even if the number of client machines permitted to use the license increases, security can be maintained. High management can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, since the license relay server is provided for each group of client machines, it is possible to prevent the use of illegal management settings beyond the group, to ensure security, and to ensure security. Can increase the degree of freedom in group management.

According to the present invention, a license management computer (license server machine) on a network
However, if the program use request is rejected, the license relay server grants the program use permission to the client machine requesting the program use permission depending on the priority of the client machine based on the priority information of the priority storage device. Because it can be issued, the use priority can be set for each user or client machine group divided in units such as departments, and the setting management work can be distributed and managed by multiple license server machines , And can be managed with a high degree of freedom.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a license storage device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a group information storage device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a license storage device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a group information storage device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a priority storage device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection configuration between a license server machine and a client machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional license management method.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of another example of a conventional license management system.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a conventional connection configuration between a license server machine and a client machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User 2 License software means 3 License request means 4 License collation means 5 License storage device 6 Group authentication device 7, 7-1 to 7-n Group information storage device 8 Priority adjustment device 9 Priority storage device 10 License server machine 11, 11 -1 to 11-m Client machine 12, 12-1 to 12-n, 13 License relay server 21, 61 Licensed program name 22, 62 Maximum number of concurrently executing users 23, 63 Total number of active users 24, 64 Total free Number of licenses 31, 71 Client machine belonging to group 32, 72, 81 Licensed program name 33, 73 Maximum number of concurrently executing users 34, 74 Number of running users 35, 75 Number of free licenses 76, 83 Priority 82 Running clients Machine name

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A network license management system in which a license management computer on a network manages client machines on a network that activates a program that operates by acquiring a usage permission and limits the number of simultaneous activation. The client machines are grouped in units of departments that use each program, a license relay server is installed for each group, and a program use permission for each client machine in a group that the license relay server itself manages in advance. A license management computer connected to a license storage device storing the program use permission determination condition is provided above the license relay server. Provided, the program license Network license management method determination processing managing issuance of the program use permission to the client machine, characterized in that distributed in the license relay server unit requesting. 2. When the license relay server receives the program use permission request from the client machines in the group in advance, the license relay server searches the group information storage device to use the requested program. A license issuance request is issued to the license management computer when it is determined that the license management computer is available. When the use of the program is received from the license management computer, the license is issued to the license management computer. When the license management computer determines that the use is not possible or when the license management computer rejects the use permission, the license management computer issues a non-use permission to the client machine that issued the use permission request. 2. The network license management according to claim 1, further comprising a group authentication unit. method. 3. The license storage device stores information on the maximum number of permitted uses that can be issued for each program, and the license management computer issues the program use permission received from the license relay server. 2. A license checking unit, which, when receiving a request, notifies the license relay server of whether or not the use of the program is permitted based on the information on the maximum number of permitted uses in the license storage device. 2. The network license management method described in 2. 4. A network license management system in which a license management computer on a network manages client machines on a network that activates a program that obtains a usage permission and operates, and limits the number of simultaneous activation. The client machines are grouped in units of departments that use each program, a license relay server is installed for each group, and a program use permission for each client machine in a group that the license relay server itself manages in advance. A group information storage device that stores the determination conditions of the above, and a priority storage device that stores information on the priority of each client machine in using the program, and Contains the program license The license management computer connected to a license storage device storing the determination condition of the above, and the license relay server manages the determination processing of the issuance of the program use permission to the client machine requesting the program use permission A network license management method characterized by being distributed in units. 5. When the license relay server has received the program use permission request from the client machines in the group in advance, the license relay server searches the group information storage device to permit use of the requested program. A group authentication unit for determining whether or not the license management computer can determine whether or not the license management computer can use the license management computer. When the license is issued to the client machine that has issued the license request through the group authentication unit, and the license management computer rejects the license, based on the priority storage device priority information, , A client machine that is executing the program that has requested use permission Is compared with the priority of the client machine requesting the use of the program, and when the priority of the client machine requesting the use of the program is higher, the priority of use of the program is higher. Priority adjusting means for issuing permission, when the priority of the client machine which has made the program use permission request is lower, issuing a non-permission of use of the program to the client machine which has made the use permission request through the group authentication means. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein
The described network license management method. 6. The license storage device stores information on a maximum number of permitted uses that can be issued for each program, and the license management computer issues the program use permission received from the license relay server. 5. A license collating means for notifying the license relay server of whether the use of the program is permitted or not based on the information on the maximum number of permitted uses in the license storage device when receiving the request. 5. The network license management method according to 5.