JP2013134659A - License management method, license management system and license management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a license management system capable of preventing a situation where no functions can be used or no users can use the functions from happening all at once, when expiration of license information occurs.SOLUTION: The license management system includes two registers being an effective period register 2 and an indefinite period register 1, for registering two license information, license information with an effective period, having the effective period, and indefinite license information without a time limit, as license information, respectively. When the effective period of the license information with the effective period, indicated by date or the number of days registered in a period management area 22 of the effective period register 2 has passed, the number of licenses registered in a license number storage area 21 of the effective period register 2 as the license information with the effective period is cleared and made to be invalid, and the number of licenses registered in a license number storage area 11 of the indefinite period register 1 as the indefinite license information continues to be valid, and can be used as it is.

Description

  The present invention relates to a license management method, a license management system, and a license management program, and in particular, expiration of license information with an expiration date that is given to a device that connects a plurality of terminals, a device that has a plurality of functions, an application, or the like occurs. The present invention relates to a license management method, a license management system, and a license management program related to the processing in the case of the above.

  The functions installed in information processing equipment such as telephone devices and PCs (Personal Computers) require a lot of effort to develop them. For this reason, when another user intends to use the function of the information processing device, a mechanism is generally introduced that requires acquisition of license information. That is, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-15410 “License Issuance Management System, Method, and Program” of Patent Document 1, each function is based on license information in order to prevent unauthorized use. A mechanism has been introduced that cannot be used unless license information is entered and usage is restricted.

JP 2010-15410 A (pages 7-12)

  However, in the current license management, even if the information processing device has a plurality of functions or the functions of the information processing device are used by a plurality of users, the license information is stored in one license. If the license information expires, all the functions corresponding to the license information become invalid, or all the users who are granted license information for the function The function cannot be used.

  For example, in the case of anti-virus software, which is one of the functions installed in information processing devices such as PCs, license information with an expiration date that specifies the time limit that can be used is usually issued at the time of use contract, It is possible to use each function of the anti-virus software only during the specified period.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the license information of the antivirus software is license information with an expiration date, and if the license information is within the expiration date of the license information, the use of all functions of the antivirus software is permitted, When the expiration date expires, use of all functions of the anti-virus software is restricted. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the current license management status of anti-virus software installed in an information processing device such as a PC.

  That is, in FIG. 5, for example, when license information with an expiration date of January 15, 2012 is input, as shown in FIG. 5A, all of the virus detection functions provided in the anti-virus software are provided. However, until January 15, 2012, the use restriction is lifted, and the virus can be detected. On the other hand, when the expiry date of January 15, 2012 has passed and midnight on January 16, 2012 has been reached, as shown in FIG. All virus detection functions of the anti-virus software stop working.

(Object of the present invention)
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the license information expires when a plurality of functions are provided as an information processing device or when a plurality of users use the functions of the information processing device. The purpose is to provide a license management method, a license management system, and a license management program that can prevent the occurrence of a situation where all functions and all users cannot use all at once. Yes.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the license management method, the license management system, and the license management program according to the present invention mainly adopt the following characteristic configuration.

  (1) A license management method according to the present invention is a license management method for managing license information for canceling a function use restriction, and the license information includes a license information with an expiration date having an expiration date and an indefinite lifetime. 2 license information and license information, and when the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date has passed, the number of licenses registered as the license information with the expiration date is cleared and invalidated, The number of licenses registered as indefinite license information is continuously valid and usable.

  (2) A license management system according to the present invention is a license management system for managing license information for canceling a function use restriction, and the license information includes a license information with an expiration date having an expiration date and an indefinite lifetime. Two registers, an expiration date register for registering two pieces of license information, and an indefinite register, are provided in the expiration date register when the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date has passed. The number of licenses registered as attached license information is cleared and invalidated, while the number of licenses registered in the indefinite register as the indefinite license information is continuously valid and usable. It is characterized by.

  (3) The license management program according to the present invention is characterized in that at least the license management method described in (1) is implemented as a program executable by a computer.

  According to the license management method, license management system, and license management program of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  The first effect is that the license information for canceling the function usage restriction is managed separately for the indefinite license information and the license information with an expiration date, so the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date has expired. Even in this case, the function corresponding to the indefinite license information can be kept valid and used continuously.

  The second effect is that the license information for canceling the use restriction of the function is managed separately for the indefinite license information and the license information with the expiration date. Therefore, when testing a newly developed function, the existing function By setting the license information with an expiration date that is valid only for a certain period without affecting the usage of the new function only to the new function to be tested, you can try and use the new function temporarily. And the validity of the new function can be confirmed.

  The third effect is that the license information related to each of a plurality of users who use the function is managed separately from the indefinite license information and the license information with an expiration date, so that the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date expires. Even in such a case, the user corresponding to the indefinite license information remains in a valid state and can continue to use the function.

It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the mechanism of the license management at the time of mounting the license management system of this invention in information processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of the mechanism of the license management of this invention in a telephone apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of the mechanism of the license management of this invention in the anti-virus software mounted in the information processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the example different from FIG. 3 of the mechanism of the license management of this invention in the anti-virus software mounted in the information processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the license management condition of the present antivirus software mounted in information processing apparatus, such as PC.

  Preferred embodiments of a license management method, a license management system, and a license management program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a license management method and a license management system according to the present invention will be described. However, the license management method may be implemented as a license management program that can be executed by a computer, or license management. Needless to say, the program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

(Features of the present invention)
Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the features of the present invention will be described first. The present invention relates to license information with an expiration date and license information with no expiration date as license information that is input in order to release a restriction on the use of a function installed in an information processing device such as a telephone device or a PC (Personal Computer). The main feature is to realize a license management method, a license management system, and a license management program that can be used together with any of the two types of license information. .

  In other words, as license information for functions installed in information processing devices such as telephone devices and PCs, license information with an expiration date and license information with an indefinite period are separately managed and stored. When the expiration date of the information expires, only the function corresponding to the license information with the expiration date is restricted, and the function corresponding to the indefinite license information is maintained and used. It is characterized by continuing the possible state.

  In addition, when information processing equipment such as a telephone device or a PC has a plurality of functions, the plurality of functions are divided into two groups, that is, license information with an expiration date and license information with an indefinite period. In addition, when there are a plurality of users who use functions installed in information processing equipment such as a telephone device and a PC, the plurality of users are regarded as license information with an expiration date. You may make it divide | segment and associate with two groups with the license information of a term. Alternatively, when a plurality of users use a plurality of functions, the combination of the plurality of functions and the plurality of users may be separated into either license information with an expiration date or license information with no expiration date. .

(Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention)
Next, a configuration example of an information processing device equipped with the license management system of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the mechanism of license management when the license management system of the present invention is installed in an information processing device. Here, the information processing device may be a communication device such as a telephone device or an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a license management system 10 that is an example of the present invention. In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 makes an inquiry about the license information to the license management system 10 when the information processing apparatus 100 corresponds to the function that needs to check the license information prior to the operation of the function to be executed. A license inquiry unit 5 is provided.

  Further, the license management system 10 is configured such that two types of license information, that is, indefinite license information and license information with an expiration date can coexist as license information, and stores the number of input licenses of indefinite license information. There are two types of registers: an indefinite register 1 that stores the number of licenses for which license information with an expiration date is stored, and an expiration register 2 that stores the number of licenses entered.

  The indefinite register 1 is only the license number storage area 11 for storing the number of entered licenses, but the expiration date register 2 is for the license information expiration period in addition to the license number storage area 21 for storing the number of entered licenses. A time limit management area 22 for storing date information or a day number counter is also provided.

  Here, the license management system 10 updates the number of licenses in the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1 every time the indefinite license information is newly entered or added. . On the other hand, each time license information with an expiration date is newly entered or added, the number of licenses in the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2 is updated and the expiration date management area 22 is updated. The date information or the day counter is updated.

  When the license information with an expiration date reaches the expiration date indicated by the date information in the expiration management area 22 or the date counter, the number of licenses in the license storage area 21 is cleared and the license information with an expiration date is invalid. Switch to state.

  Further, in response to a license acquisition request from the license inquiry unit 5, the license management system 10 stores the number of input licenses of the indefinite license information stored in the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1 and the expiration date register 2. A license number acquisition function unit 3 is provided that adds the number of input licenses of license information with an expiration date stored in the license number storage area 21 and returns it to the requesting license inquiry unit 5 as the total number of licenses. .

  Here, when the license information with an expiration date reaches the date or the number of days specified in the expiration date stored in the expiration date management area 22, the license information with the expiration date stored in the license number storage area 21. Since the number of input licenses is cleared, the license number acquisition function unit 3 sends only the number of input licenses in the indefinite license information stored in the license number storage area 11 to the requesting license inquiry unit 5 as the total number of licenses. Will be returned.

  In the information processing apparatus 100 equipped with the license management system 10 as described above, in response to the license acquisition request, the license inquiry unit 5 that has received the total number of licenses from the license management system 10 receives the total number of licenses received. Check if the function to be executed is larger than the number of licenses being used. If the function is larger than the number of licenses being used, start the operation of the corresponding function. On the other hand, if the number of licenses is less than or equal to the number of licenses being used, an instruction is given to inhibit the operation of the corresponding function.

  As described above, the license management system 10 manages two types of license information, that is, indefinite license information and license information with an expiration date, as license information. Even if the expiration date of the license expires and the number of input licenses in the license information with the expiration date stored in the license number storage area 21 is cleared, the function corresponding to the indefinite license information is It remains in a state where it can be used as it is, and in the past, when an expiration date occurs, the use of all functions is inhibited (restricted). Absent.

  In addition, for example, license information related to each of multiple functions is managed separately from indefinite license information and license information with an expiration date, so when testing a newly developed function, the use of existing functions is affected. By setting the license information with an expiration date that is valid only for a certain period to only the new function to be tested, the new function can be temporarily tried and used. Whether the function is effective can be confirmed.

(First embodiment)
Next, as a first embodiment, a license management mechanism in a telephone apparatus when a telephone apparatus that connects a plurality of telephone terminals is used in the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. To do. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a license management mechanism of the present invention in a telephone device.

  In the normal state, the telephone device 200 shown in FIG. 2 connects N telephone terminals 61 (N: positive integer) of the telephone terminal 61, the telephone terminal 62,. A connection / disconnection process related to a telephone call of a telephone terminal is executed. For this reason, the license management system 10 installed in the telephone device 200 uses “N” corresponding to the number of telephone terminals in the normal time as the number of licenses of the indefinite license information, and the license number storage area of the indefinite register 1. 11. On the other hand, “0” is normally stored in the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2 as the license number of the license information with expiration date that is temporarily used.

  In FIG. 2, when the number of telephone terminals connected to the telephone device 200 is N in a normal state, the telephone device 200 is selected from any one of the telephone terminal 61, the telephone terminal 62,. When a signal related to a call, a selection signal, a disconnection, or the like is transmitted to the license management system 10, the license inquiry unit 5 obtains license information before the call processing 6 of the telephone device 200 is executed. A request is sent.

  From the license management system 10 that has received the license information acquisition request, the number of input licenses 'N' stored in the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1 from the license number acquisition function unit 3 is the total number of licenses. Therefore, the license inquiry unit 5 of the telephone device 200 confirms that the license inquiry unit 5 of the telephone device 200 is within the range of the number of usable licenses in any case of the license inquiry. , It is returned to the call processing 6. Accordingly, the call processing 6 of the telephone device 200 accepts requests from any of the telephone terminal 61, the telephone terminal 62,..., And the telephone terminal 6N as long as N telephone terminals are in a normal state. Thus, the requested process is executed.

  Next, with respect to the telephone device 200 to which N telephone terminals of the normal telephone terminal 61, the telephone terminal 62,..., The telephone terminal 6N are connected, there is a time limit, and further, the telephone terminals 71,. The case where M telephone terminals of 7M (M: positive integer) are temporarily added will be described.

  When connecting the M telephone terminals 71,..., And the telephone terminal 7M, which are temporarily added, first, in the license management system 10, as the number of licenses in the license information with the expiration date, a temporary extension license with a limited term is added. The number “M” is set in the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2, and the expiration date or the number of days for termination of connection is set in the expiration date management area 22.

  Therefore, within the temporary extension period until the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date is reached, the license management system 10 sets the number of input licenses 'N' stored in the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1. The total number “N + M” of the number of input licenses “M” stored in the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2 is returned as the total number of licenses.

  Thus, not only from the N telephone terminals of the telephone terminal 61, the telephone terminal 62,..., The telephone terminal 6N, but also from any of the M telephone terminals of the telephone terminal 71,. Even when a call, selection signal, disconnection signal or the like is transmitted to the telephone device 200, the call processing 6 of the telephone device 200 is a temporary extension in which (N + M) telephone terminals are connected. As long as it is within the validity period of the telephone terminal 61, the telephone terminal 62,..., The telephone terminal 6N, the telephone terminal 71,. become.

  However, when the date or number of days set in the expiration date management area 22 is reached and the expiration date of the license information with the expiration date has expired in the state where the temporary expansion has been performed, the license number storage area of the expiration date register 2 The number of input licenses stored in 21 is cleared to “0”, and from the license management system 10, only the number of input licenses “N” stored in the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1 is the total license. It will be returned as a number.

  Therefore, the connection of the M telephone terminals of the telephone terminals 71,..., The telephone terminal 7M that was temporarily added becomes invalid, and the request from the telephone terminals 71,. Thus, only a request from any of the normal telephone terminal 61, telephone terminal 62,..., Telephone terminal 6N is accepted and the requested processing is executed.

  Further, the use of license information with an expiration date in the telephone device 200 is not limited to the case where a telephone terminal is temporarily added with a time limit as described above. For example, when it is desired to add a new function as call processing and to confirm the effect of the new function on a trial basis, the license information with an expiration date can be used. That is, in such a case, for the new function, the number of test licenses 'M' with a time limit is set in the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2 and the time limit for the end of connection in the time limit management area 22 is set. A date or the number of days may be set.

  By setting the number of test licenses “M” with a time limit in the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2, an existing function is registered within the test period until the expiration date of the license information with the expiration date is reached. Until the number of licenses used reaches 'M' without affecting the use of the function, multiple calls can be used simultaneously on a trial basis, and the validity of the new function can be confirmed. it can.

  In the case of the license management function in the prior art, two types of license information, that is, license information with an expiration date and license information with no expiration date do not coexist, but only license information with an expiration date. Therefore, when the expiration date expires, the call processing function of all (N + M) telephone terminals becomes invalid and cannot be used.

(Second embodiment)
Next, as a second embodiment, an information processing device such as a PC is used as the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, and anti-virus software having a plurality of functions is installed as one of the software installed in the information processing device. The mechanism of license management in anti-virus software when installed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the license management mechanism of the present invention in the anti-virus software installed in the information processing apparatus. In this example, the anti-virus software is described as an example. However, it is needless to say that any application software having a plurality of functions can be handled in the same manner even if it is other application software other than the anti-virus software. .

  Anti-virus software generally has multiple functions such as scanning hard disk, memory, and mail software. However, in the current license management, as described above, depending on the settings of hard disk, memory, and mail software, All of the scans and the like are managed by license information with one expiration date. When the expiration date expires, all functions are invalidated, and an operation for performing virus detection is not executed.

  On the other hand, in the case of the anti-virus software in the second embodiment, the license information is separated for each of a plurality of functions, and indefinite license information and license information with an expiration date are individually assigned to each. Is possible. In FIG. 3, the three scan operations of the hard disk, the memory, and the mail software are divided into infinite license information, license information with an expiration date of January 02, 2012, and an expiration date of January 10, 2012, respectively. The case where license information with an expiration date is given separately is illustrated.

  The license information as shown in FIG. 3A is obtained by inputting the license information, the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1 in the license management system 10 in the information processing apparatus in which the anti-virus software is installed, The license number storage area 21 and the expiration management area 22 of the expiration register 2 are set.

  The license information is set in each of the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1, the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2, and the period management area 22 in the license management system 10 in the information processing apparatus, whereby FIG. As shown in A), the use restrictions on the three scan operations of the anti-virus software hard disk, memory, and mail software are released, and the virus can be detected.

  When the expiration date January 02, 2012, which has been granted for the memory scan, has reached 0:00 on January 03, 2012, as shown in FIG. The virus detection function of the memory becomes invalid on the assumption that the use restriction release of the memory scan that has been given license information with an expiration date of January 2, 2012 has expired. However, the scan of the hard disk and the mail software to which license information is assigned separately from the license information for memory scan continues the scan operation and continues to perform the virus detection operation without any problem.

  Thereafter, when the January 10, 2012 expiration date assigned for the mail software scan elapses and reaches midnight on January 11, 2012, the anti-virus software scan is performed as shown in FIG. Among the functions, the virus detection function of the mail software becomes invalid as the use restriction release of the mail software scan that has been granted license information with an expiration date of January 10, 2012 has expired. However, the scan of the hard disk to which the indefinite license information is given separately from the license information of the email software scan continues the scan operation and continues to perform the virus detection operation without any problem.

  In this way, even if the license information expires by assigning license information separately to each of the multiple functions possessed by the anti-virus software, the current license management method is used. Not all functions can be used, but only functions corresponding to the expiration date of the license information cannot be used, and other functions can be used as they are.

  Note that even if the license information has already been input, it is possible to update the license information by adding new license information regardless of whether or not the expiration date has been reached. It is also possible to introduce new license information related to these functions. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example different from FIG. 3 of the license management mechanism of the present invention in the anti-virus software installed in the information processing apparatus, and describes the management situation when license information is added doing. Here, in the case of FIG. 4 as well, in the case of FIG. 3, description will be made by taking anti-virus software as an example. However, application software having a plurality of functions is application software other than anti-virus software. It goes without saying that can be handled in exactly the same way.

  In FIG. 4 (A), unlike the case of FIG. 3 (A), the two-time scan operation of the hard disk and the memory includes the indefinite license information and the license with an expiration date of January 02, 2012, respectively. The case where information is given separately is illustrated.

  The license information as shown in FIG. 4A is obtained by inputting the license information, the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1 in the license management system 10 in the information processing apparatus in which the anti-virus software is installed, valid The license number storage area 21 and the expiration management area 22 of the expiration date register 2 are set respectively, and as shown in FIG. 4A, the use restrictions on the two scan operations of the anti-virus software hard disk and memory are released. Thus, the virus can be detected.

  At an appropriate timing after that, it is also possible to add license information related to a function different from that of the hard disk and memory to which license information has already been input. For example, as shown in FIG. As the license information related to the two scanning operations of the software and the browser, it is possible to input indefinite license information and license information with an expiration date of February 10, 2012, respectively.

  As a result, the respective license information is set in the license number storage area 11 of the indefinite register 1, the license number storage area 21 of the expiration date register 2, and the expiration management area 22 in the license management system 10 in the information processing apparatus, respectively. In addition to the anti-virus software hard disk and memory scan operations, two additional scan operations for mail software and browser have been added, and the usage restrictions on a total of four scan operations have been lifted so that viruses can be detected. Become.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to update the license information related to the already-introduced function. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the expiration date of the license information with the expiration date regarding the memory scan operation is set to 2012. By updating from January 02, 2012 to March 02, 2012, and registering in the expiration date management area 22 of the expiration date register 2, it is possible to extend the usable time limit of the memory scan operation. Until the extended March 02, 2012, the virus detection of the memory can be performed.

  Note that even when separate license information is assigned to each function, when license information is input, it is not limited to the case where license information is input individually, and a plurality of pieces of license information are combined into one. Of course, it is also possible to input using a format such as a file.

  Further, as described in the first embodiment, the license management method of the present invention can be applied during the trial period of an application or the like even in the case of the second embodiment, and application software such as anti-virus software or the like. Even in this case, when a newly developed new function is used on a trial basis and its effect is to be confirmed, license information with an expiration date for the new function may be given.

(Explanation of effect of embodiment)
As described in detail above, in the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

  The first effect is that the license information for canceling the function usage restriction is managed separately for the indefinite license information and the license information with an expiration date, so the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date has expired. Even in this case, the function corresponding to the indefinite license information can be kept valid and used continuously.

  The second effect is that the license information for canceling the use restriction of the function is managed separately for the indefinite license information and the license information with the expiration date. Therefore, when testing a newly developed function, the existing function By setting the license information with an expiration date that is valid only for a certain period without affecting the usage of the new function only to the new function to be tested, you can try and use the new function temporarily. And the validity of the new function can be confirmed.

  The third effect is that the license information related to each of a plurality of users who use the function is managed separately from the indefinite license information and the license information with an expiration date, so that the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date expires. Even in such a case, the user corresponding to the indefinite license information remains in a valid state and can continue to use the function.

  The fourth effect is that, even if the license information has already been input, it is possible to add the license information related to the new function, and to update the license information that has already been input. It is also possible to extend or change the usable period of the function corresponding to the attached license information.

  The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, it should be noted that such embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lifetime register 2 Expiration date register 3 License number acquisition function part 5 License inquiry part 6 Call processing 10 License management system 11 License number storage area 21 License number storage area 22 Time limit management area 61 Telephone terminal 62 Telephone terminal 6N Telephone terminal 71 Telephone Terminal 7M Telephone terminal 100 Information processing device 200 Telephone device

Claims (7)

  A license management method for managing license information for canceling the function usage restriction, and having two pieces of license information, that is, license information with an expiration date having an expiration date and indefinite license information without an expiration date. When the expiration date of the license information with an expiration date has passed, the number of licenses registered as the expiration date license information is cleared and invalidated, while the number of licenses registered as the indefinite license information Is a license management method characterized in that it is continuously valid and usable.   When using a function whose use is restricted by the license information, until reaching the total number of licenses obtained by adding the number of licenses of the license information with an expiration date and the number of licenses of the indefinite license information, The license management method according to claim 1, wherein use of the function is permitted.   Even if the license information has already been entered, it is possible to add any of the license information with an expiration date and the indefinite license information regarding a new function, and the license information has already been entered. 3. The license management method according to claim 1, wherein the license information with an expiration date related to a function and the indefinite license information can be updated.   A license management system for managing license information for releasing function restrictions, and registering two pieces of license information, that is, license information with an expiration date having an expiration date and infinite license information with no expiration date as the license information The number of licenses registered as the license information with the expiration date in the expiration date register when the expiration date of the license information with the expiration date has passed. The license management system, wherein the number of licenses registered as the indefinite license information in the indefinite register is continuously valid and usable while being cleared and invalidated.   When using a function that is restricted in use by the license information, the number of licenses of the license information with the expiration date registered in the expiration date register and the indefinite license information registered in the indefinite register. 5. The license management system according to claim 4, wherein use of the function is permitted until a total number of licenses obtained by adding the number of licenses is reached.   Even if the license information has already been entered, any of the license information with an expiration date and the indefinite license information relating to a new function is additionally added and additionally registered in the expiration date register and the indefinite register. It is possible to update any of the license information with an expiration date and the license information with an expiration date registered in each of the expiration date register and the indefinite registration for the function already input. The license management system according to claim 4, wherein the license management system is a license management system.   4. A license management program, wherein the license management method according to claim 1 is implemented as a program executable by a computer.

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