JP3506176B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method, license management system, and program - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a license management system, and a program, and particularly in software license management, to limit the number of licenses by following changes in the workload. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, a license management system, and a program that can supply and manage a license at low cost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when one type of software is used in a plurality of terminal devices (for example, personal computers) in a company or a school, a user purchases a required number of licenses as a software package.

A license is a right to use the purchased software (license). Normally, the use of one piece of software is permitted only for one personal computer, but for example, when a large amount of specific software is installed in a company or the like, a "license pack" in which licenses of multiple users are permitted If you purchase or a "site license", you will receive a separate license (that is, purchase the required number of licenses that can only be used on one personal computer), It will be cheaper. Generally, as the number of licenses to be collectively introduced increases, the unit price per license becomes lower. Users who purchase a software package with multiple licenses are permitted to use the software within the number of licenses specified in the license agreement.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional network system for performing license management based on the number of licenses when a software package is purchased.

Personal computers 1-1 to 1-
The license management server 2 and the license management server 2 are connected to each other via the intranet 3.

Personal computers 1-1 to 1-n
Is a general-purpose personal computer, and may be a desktop type or a notebook type.

Personal computers 1-1 to 1-n
The licensed software program is installed in the computer in advance, but the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n cannot execute the program independently. Personal computer 1-1
Through 1-n, when using the corresponding software,
After sending the license request to the license management server 2 and issuing the license from the license management server 2,
Software can be executed.

Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n, they are simply referred to as the personal computer 1.

In the license management server 2, the number of programs used at one time in the plurality of personal computers 1 connected to the intranet 3 does not exceed the contracted license number based on the license agreement of the purchased software. To manage. The license management server 2 monitors information such as the number of programs activated on the network and the device ID of the personal computer 1 serving as a client, so that more programs than the number permitted by the license agreement may be activated. Then, it detects it and refuses to use it.

For example, the license management server 2 of FIG.
The case of managing the license of the software A having the license number of 3 will be described. License management server 2
When the license request is received from the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3 through the intranet 3 in a state where the software A is not used at all, the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses 3. A license is issued to each of the computers 1-1 to 1-3 via the intranet 3.

The license management server 2 exceeds the number of licenses 3 when a new license request is received from the personal computer 1-4 while the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3 are using the software A. The personal computer 1-4 is not permitted to use the software A because the number of uses becomes large.

Personal computers 1-1 to 1-3
In any of the above, when the use of the software A is terminated and the license is returned to the license management server 2, the license management server 2 issues the license to the personal computer 1 that next transmitted the license request.

In this way, the license management server 2
Executes license management in the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n so that the number of software A used at the same time becomes 3 or less.

[0014]

As described above,
If you need to get multiple licenses at once,
Buying a package can save you more money than buying multiple pieces of software. However, the number of required pieces of software used often changes depending on the amount of work at that time.

For example, if software that is always used by three operators is used only when business is busy,
There may be a case where a total of 5 operators want to use it. In such a case, if the number of licenses to be purchased is less than the temporary maximum work amount, it becomes impossible to efficiently perform the work when the maximum work amount occurs. However, if the number of licenses to be purchased is determined in accordance with the temporary maximum work volume, the number of licenses will be surplus during other periods, which is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, so that it is possible to supply and manage licenses at low cost by following changes in the amount of work and without limiting the number of licenses. To do.

[0017]

A first information processing apparatus according to the present invention holds a number of licenses of a first license of an application that can be used by a terminal device.
Means, setting means for setting the number of licenses held by the holding means, monitoring means for monitoring the number of uses in which the terminal device is currently using the application, and comparing means for comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses When it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses based on the comparison result by the means, the first request is issued to the terminal device that requested the license.
License is issued, and when it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, a license issuing unit that issues a second license to the terminal device that requested the license, and a first license to the terminal device by the license issuing unit. Oh
And a recording means for recording the issuance history of the second license , and a license issued to the terminal device by the license issuing means.
Comparing means provided with changing means for changing the type of license
From the terminal device using the application.
Number of licenses and usage if you receive a sense return
And the changing means is based on the comparison result by the comparing means.
And prioritize the issuance of the first license.
The feature is that the type of license issued is changed .

It is possible to further include a billing process execution unit for performing a billing process for use of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit.

The first license has a sales fee of
The first of the applications that the terminal can use
It is determined based on the number of licenses for one license.
And the second license is
The usage fee is determined by the usage time.
There may be a second license fee
Gold uses the application under the first license
Same time as you can, second license
The usage fee when using the application is
From the selling price per license of the first license
Can also be set to be expensive
It

The application held by the holding means
The number of licenses for the first license
It is preferable to further include a calculation unit that calculates the number of licenses of the first license that has the lowest license fee of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit. You can

Based on the issuance history recorded by the recording means, the license use situation when the first number of licenses is changed is simulated, and a calculation means for calculating the usage fee is further provided. You can

[0022]

A first information processing method of the present invention is an information processing method.
The management device holds a license number of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device.
Read out the number of licenses from the license number holding means
A setting step of setting Te, a comparison step information processing apparatus, a monitoring step of monitoring a number of use of the terminal device is currently using the application, the information processing apparatus, to compare the number of licenses and the number of use, comparison step When it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses based on the comparison result of the processing of step 1, the information processing device issues the first license to the terminal device that requested the license, and the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses. If it is determined that, information processing
Management device, and Licensing issuing a second license to the requesting terminal apparatus a license, the information processing
Device, and a recording control step of controlling recording of the first license and a second license issue history to the terminal apparatus by the processing of the license issuing step, license onset
Licensee issued to the terminal device by the process of line step
Including changing means for changing the type of
In processing, is the terminal device using the application?
If the license is returned from the
Compare the numbers used and process the change step to compare
First license based on the comparison result
Licenses currently issued so that issuance of
It is characterized by changing the type of .

A first program of the present invention is a license number holding means for holding the number of licenses of a first license of an application that can be used by a terminal device.
, The setting step of reading and setting the number of licenses, the monitoring step of monitoring the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application, the comparing step of comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, and the comparison by the processing of the comparing step Based on the result, if it is determined that the number of usage does not exceed the number of licenses, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and if it is determined that the number of usage exceeds the number of licenses, the license is requested. A license issuance step for issuing a second license to the generated terminal device, and a recording control step and a license issuance step for controlling recording of the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device by the processing of the license issuance step
Of the license issued to the terminal device by the processing of the step
A process including a changing means for changing the type,
At the end of the process you are using the application
If the license is returned from the end device, the license
The number of uses and the number of uses,
Based on the comparison result by the processing of the comparison step,
In order to prioritize issuance of licenses,
A process characterized by changing the type of license is
Let the computer do it.

A second information processing apparatus of the present invention is a holding means for holding the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device, and a holding hand.
Setting means for setting the number of licenses held by the stage, monitoring means for monitoring the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application, comparing means for comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, and comparison by the comparing means If the result shows that the number of usage exceeds the number of licenses,
A transmission / reception means for generating a signal for requesting issuance of the second license, transmitting the signal to another information processing apparatus, and receiving the second license from the other information processing apparatus, and a comparison result by the comparison means, When it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and when it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, transmission and reception to the terminal device that requested the license Second received by another means from another information processing device
License issuing means for issuing the license of the first license and the first license to the terminal device by the license issuing means and
And recording means for recording the issuance history of the second license ,
The license issued to the terminal device by the license issuing means
And a comparing means for changing the type of
From the terminal device using the application to the license
The number of licenses and usage
The comparison means is based on the comparison result by the comparison means.
Is currently issued so that the first license issuance has priority.
It is characterized by changing the type of license being performed .

The first license has a sales fee of
The first of the applications that the terminal can use
It is determined based on the number of licenses for one license.
And the second license is
The usage fee is determined by the usage time.
There may be a second license fee
Gold uses the application under the first license
Same time as you can, second license
The usage fee when using the application is
From the selling price per license of the first license
Can also be set to be expensive
It

The application held by the holding means
The number of licenses for the first license
It is preferable to further include a calculation unit that calculates the number of licenses of the first license that has the lowest license fee of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit. You can

Based on the issuance history recorded by the recording means, the license use situation when the first number of licenses is changed is simulated, and a calculating means for calculating the usage fee is further provided. You can

[0029]

A second information processing method of the present invention is an information processing method.
The management device holds a license number of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device.
From license number storage, a setting step of setting <br/> constant by reading the number of licenses, the information processing apparatus, a monitoring step of monitoring a number of use of the terminal device is currently using the application, the information processing apparatus The information processing apparatus requests the issuance of the second license when it is determined that the used number exceeds the license number based on the comparison step of comparing the license number and the used number and the comparison result of the processing of the comparison step. The number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses due to the transmission / reception step of generating the signal of No. 1 to be transmitted to another information processing apparatus and receiving the second license from the other information processing apparatus and the comparison result by the processing of the comparison step. If it is determined that the information processing apparatus issues a first license to the requesting terminal apparatus a license number used exceeds the number of licenses If it is determined that the information processing apparatus, and license issuance step of the process of transmitting and receiving step to the requesting terminal apparatus a license to issue a second license received from another information processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus
However, if the process of the license issuing step
A recording control step of controlling recording of the first license and a second license issue history, the license issuance scan
Of the license issued to the terminal device by the processing of the step
Including comparison means to change the type, processing of the comparison step
Then, from the terminal device that is using the application,
Number of licenses and usage if license is returned
Compare the numbers and process the change step
The first license is issued based on the comparison result of the processing.
The kind of license currently issued so that the row has priority.
It is characterized by changing the type .

The second program of the present invention is a license number holding means for holding the license number of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device.
, The setting step of reading and setting the number of licenses, the monitoring step of monitoring the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application, the comparing step of comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, and the comparison by the processing of the comparing step When it is determined from the result that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, a signal for requesting issuance of the second license is generated and transmitted to another information processing device, and the second information processing device transmits the second signal. By the transmission and reception step of receiving the license of the
When it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses When the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses,
A license issuing step of issuing a second license received from another information processing apparatus to the terminal device that has requested the license by the processing of the transmitting / receiving step, and a first license to the terminal apparatus by the processing of the license issuing step.
And a recording control step for controlling recording of the issuance history of the second license , and processing of the license issuance step.
Change the type of license issued to the terminal device.
The processing including the updating means, and in the processing of the comparison step
From the terminal device using the application.
Number of licenses and usage if you receive a sense return
In the process of the change step,
Issuance of the first license based on the comparison result
Type of license currently issued so that
Computer to perform a process characterized by changing
Let

[0032]

[0033]

It is possible to further include a billing process executing unit for executing a billing process for use of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit.

[0035]

[0036]

The first license management system of the present invention is a terminal device that executes a predetermined application, and information that is connected to the terminal device via a network and manages a license when the terminal device uses the predetermined application. And a processing device, and the information processing device holds the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device.
Setting means for setting the number of licenses held by the holding means, monitoring means for monitoring the number of uses in which the terminal device is currently using the application, comparing means for comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, and comparing means. If it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and if it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, License issuing means for issuing a second license to the terminal device requesting the request, and the first license to the terminal device by the license issuing means, and
Recording means for recording the issuance history of the second license , and the comparing means is a terminal using the application.
Number of licenses when the license is returned from the device
And the number of uses, the change means is the ratio by the comparison means.
Issuance of the first license takes precedence based on the comparison result
As described above, the type of license currently issued is changed .

A second license management system of the present invention is a terminal device that executes a predetermined application, and a first license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application and is connected to the terminal device via a network. A first information processing device that manages a second license and a second information processing device that issues a second license to the first information processing device, wherein the first information processing device is First that terminal device can use
Holding means for holding the number of licenses of
Setting means for setting the number of licenses held by the holding means, monitoring means for monitoring the number of uses in which the terminal device is currently using the application, comparing means for comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, and comparison by the comparing means If the result shows that the number of usage exceeds the number of licenses,
A transmission / reception means for generating a signal for requesting issuance of the second license, transmitting the signal to the second information processing apparatus, and receiving the second license from the second information processing apparatus, and a comparison result by the comparing means. If it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and if it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the terminal device that requests the license the first line of the license issue means for issuing a second license received from the second information processing apparatus by transmitting and receiving means, to the terminal device by the license issuing means
A first recording means for recording the issuance history of the sense and the second license , and the comparing means is an application.
I received a license return from a terminal device that is using
If so, compare the number of licenses and the number of
Is based on the comparison result by the comparison means.
License issuance is prioritized.
The second information processing apparatus , the second information processing apparatus includes an input unit that receives a signal indicating a request for issuing the second license from the first information processing apparatus, and the first information processing apparatus.
It is characterized by comprising a transmitting means for transmitting the second license and a second recording means for recording a history of issuance of the second license by the transmitting means to the first information processing apparatus.

First information processing apparatus and first information processing apparatus of the present invention
In the information processing method of, and the first program,
The number of licenses of the first license of the application that the terminal device can use is retained,
The number of licenses used is set, the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application is monitored, the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared, and it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses based on the comparison result. In this case, if the first license is issued to the terminal device that has requested the license and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses,
The second license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device is recorded, and the terminal device is issued by the issuing means.
The type of license issued to the
The license from the terminal device using the license
If you receive a license, the number of licenses and
Based on the comparison result, the first license issuance is
As mentioned above, the type of license currently issued
Is changed.

Second information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus of the present invention
In the information processing method of and the second program,
The number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device is retained and retained.
Number of licenses is set, the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application is monitored, the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared, and if the result of the comparison determines that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, A signal for requesting issuance of the second license is generated and transmitted to another information processing apparatus, the second license is received from the other information processing apparatus, and it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses. In this case, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and if it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the second license received from the other information processing device to the terminal device that requested the license. License is issued, and the first license and the second license to the terminal device are issued.
The history of license issuance is recorded and issued to the terminal device.
License type has been changed and the application
If the license is returned from the terminal device you are using,
If the number of licenses and usage is
Based on this, the issuance of the first license has priority,
The type of license currently issued is changed .

[0041]

In the first license management system of the present invention, the information processing apparatus holds the license number of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device, and sets the held license number. , The number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application is monitored, the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared, and when it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, the first request is made to the terminal device that requested the license When a license is issued and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the second license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and the first license and the second license to the terminal device are issued. Issuance history is recorded and sent to the terminal device.
The type of license issued has changed and the application
License from the terminal device that is using the
The number of licenses and the number of
Based on the result, issue of the first license has priority
, The type of license currently issued is changed .

In the second license management system of the present invention, the first information processing device holds the number of licenses of the first license that can be used by the terminal device.
Then, the number of licenses held is set, the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application is monitored, the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared, and if it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, A signal for requesting issuance of the second license is generated, transmitted to the second information processing device, the second license is received from the second information processing device, and the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses. If it is determined that the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and if it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the terminal device that requested the license receives from the second information processing device. Generated second license is issued, the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device is recorded, and is issued to the terminal device.
The type of license issued has changed and the application
License from the terminal device that is using the
The number of licenses and the number of
Based on the result, issue of the first license has priority
, The type of license currently issued is changed, and a signal indicating a request for issuing a second license is input from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus. The second license is transmitted to, and the issuance history of the second license to the first information processing device is recorded.

[0044]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a network configuration diagram in the first embodiment of the license management system to which the present invention is applied. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to the conventional case, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted (hereinafter, referred to as
As well). That is, the license management system of FIG. 2 has the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. 1, except that the license manager 11 is connected to the intranet 3 instead of the license management server 2 of FIG. is doing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer 1.

CPU (central processing unit) 21
Is various application programs and basic OS
(Operating system) is actually executed. ROM (read
-only memory) 22 generally stores basically fixed data of a program used by the CPU 21 and parameters for calculation. RAM (random-access memo
The ry) 23 stores programs executed by the CPU 21 and parameters that change appropriately during the execution. CP
U21, ROM22, and RAM23 are internal bus 2
4 are connected to each other.

The internal bus 24 is also connected to the input / output interface 25. The input unit 26 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and is operated by a user when inputting various commands to the CPU 21. The output unit 27 is
For example, it is composed of a CRT, a speaker and the like, and displays various information as text, image or voice. HDD (ha
The rd disk drive 28 drives the hard disks, and causes them to record or reproduce programs or information executed by the CPU 21. In the HDD 28, the software B whose license number is managed by the license manager 11 is recorded.

A magnetic disk 31, an optical disk 32, a magneto-optical disk 33, and a semiconductor memory 34 are mounted on the drive 29 as necessary to exchange data.
The network interface 30 is connected to the intranet 3.

The input section 26 to the network interface 30 are connected to the CPU 21 via the input / output interface 25 and the internal bus 24.

When the license manager 11 activates the software B that manages the number of licenses, the CPU 21 generates a signal indicating a license request to the license manager 11, and the internal bus 24,
It is transmitted to the license manager 11 via the input / output interface 25, the network interface 30, and the intranet 3. When the license is issued from the license manager 11, the CPU 21 can activate the software B.

The license manager 11 manages two licenses, a fixed license and an occasional license. Each time the license is a license issued from the license manager 11 when the number of fixed licenses is exceeded. The fixed license is similar to the conventional license, and the price is set so that the unit price per license becomes lower as the number of contracts increases. For each license, for example, the usage fee is calculated according to the usage time, and the unit price is set higher than when the fixed license was purchased.

FIG. 4 shows the license manager 11 of FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

The basic functions of the CPU 41 to the network interface 50 of the license manager 11 are basically the same as the CPU 21 to the network interface 30 of the personal computer 1 described with reference to FIG. To do.

Programs for managing fixed licenses and licenses each time are recorded in the HDD 48, and various functions of the license manager 11 are realized by the CPU 41 loading them into the RAM 43 and executing them. Further, in the HDD 48, addresses of the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n, which are clients, device IDs, license management history, and the like are recorded.

The RAM 43 is the personal computer 1
-1 to 1-n, the fixed license number register for setting the fixed license number a, and any one of the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n, The number-of-used-licenses register indicates the number of used licenses, which is the number of used licenses.

The CPU 41 is the personal computer 1
Any one of -1 to 1-n monitors the value of the license-in-use register indicating the license-in-use b, which is the number of software B currently used, and confirms that the value of the license-in-use register is , Personal computer 1
If the value of the fixed license number register indicating the fixed license number a given to -1 to 1-n is exceeded, a license is issued each time.

For example, the fixed license number a is 3, and the personal computers 1-1 to 1-3 are software B
When a license request is newly transmitted from the personal computer 1-4 while using the
1 issues a license to the personal computer 1-4 each time. Then, the personal computers 1-1 to 1 that use the software B with a fixed license
When any one of -3 has finished using the software B, the license is changed to a fixed license each time the personal computer 1-4 is using it.

That is, when the number of licenses in use b, which is the number of software B currently used by the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n, is less than or equal to the fixed number of licenses a, the CPU 41 is given when the license is requested. All licenses are recognized as fixed licenses regardless of whether they are fixed licenses or licenses each time.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the license manager 11 determines that the personal computer 1-1
The license management process 1 for managing the license issuance to 1 to 1-n will be described.

In step S1, the CPU 41 of the license manager 11 sets the fixed license number a of the personal computers 1-1 to 1-n, which is its own client, before starting the license management process, and the license number b in use. To reset.

In step S2, the CPU 41 causes the intranet 3, the network interface 50,
It is determined whether a license request is received from the personal computer 1 via the input / output interface 45 and the internal bus 44.

When it is determined in step S2 that the license request is input, the CPU 41 sets the value of the license number in use register of the RAM 43 to the license number in use b = the license number in use b + 1 in step S3. .

In step S4, the CPU 41 causes R
Referring to the values of the fixed license number register and the used license number register of AM43, the fixed license number a <
It is determined whether the number of licenses in use is b.

When it is determined in step S4 that the fixed license number a is smaller than the in-use license number b, the CPU 41 executes the license issuing process each time in step S5.

If it is determined in step S4 that the fixed license number a is not less than the in-use license number b,
In step S6, the CPU 41 executes fixed license issuing processing.

When it is determined in step S2 that the license request is not input, the CPU 41 determines in step S7 whether the license return input is received from the personal computer 1.

When it is determined in step S7 that the license return input has been received from the personal computer 1, the CPU 41 determines in step S8 that the RAM
The value of the in-use license number register 43 is set to in-use license number b = in-use license number b−1. When it is determined in step S7 that the license return input has not been received from the personal computer 1, the process returns to step S2, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

In step S9, the CPU 41 causes R
By referring to the values of the fixed license number register and the used license number register of AM43, the fixed license number a ≦
It is determined whether the number of licenses in use is b.

When it is determined in step S9 that the number of fixed licenses a is equal to or less than the number of licenses in use b, in step S10, the CPU 41 executes a license return process each time.

If it is determined in step S9 that the number of fixed licenses a is not equal to or less than the number of licenses in use b,
In step S11, the CPU 41 executes fixed license return processing.

Step S5, Step S6, Step S
10 or after the processing of step S11 ends, in step S12, the CPU 41 records the license management history in the HDD 48, and the processing returns to step S2.
The subsequent processing is repeated.

The license manager 11 is, for example, 1
Based on the license management history recorded in the HDD 48, the charge calculation process of the license usage fee generated each time the license is used is performed based on the license management history recorded in the HDD 48 every predetermined period such as weekly or monthly. The charge amount is calculated, for example, by obtaining the total usage time of the license each time based on the license management history and multiplying the total usage time of the license by a predetermined unit price each time. Also, the license manager 11
The license use fee may be notified to the personal computer 1 of the user who has used the license each time the use of the license is terminated.

The CPU of the license manager 11
Reference numeral 41 indicates the frequency of license issuance, the number of fixed licenses issued at one time and the number of licenses issued at one time, or the number of fixed licenses and individual licenses for a predetermined period such as one month or six months, based on the license management history recorded in the HDD 48. Calculate the minimum usage time, average usage time, etc., and calculate the optimal number of fixed licenses based on those results, or for a predetermined period (for example, one month, one year)
Based on the license usage status of, it is possible to perform a simulation of the usage fee when the number of fixed licenses is changed.

For example, consider a case where the fixed license acquisition amount for three years is 900,000 yen (25,000 yen per month), and the license use fee is 300 yen per hour each time. If the total license issuance time is 83.3 hours or more per month, it may be better to obtain a new fixed license depending on the usage situation.

For example, three operators are always using the software B having a fixed number of licenses of three, and during the period when the amount of work is large, another operator receives a license each time and receives software. When B is used, the license is issued each time to one personal computer 1, and a plurality of licenses are not issued at one time. In such cases, the total license issuance time is 8 times per month.
If it is 3.3 hours or more, it is better to purchase a new fixed license and set the number of fixed licenses to four.

However, in the case where a plurality of operators participate in the work at a time when the amount of work is large, the issuance of a license is required for a plurality of personal computers 1 at a time.
Is often done to. In such a case, even if the total license issuance time is 90 hours, for example, if two licenses are issued at the same time for 45 hours each, even if the number of fixed licenses is increased by one, the usage cost is increased. Will not be reduced.

Thus, the optimum number of fixed licenses is
The CPU 41 determines whether the license issuance time is different each time or not depending on the usage status.
It is possible to determine the optimum number of fixed licenses based on various factors recorded in the license management history of.

In addition, in the charge calculation process of the license usage fee that occurs with each use of the license, the total usage time of the fixed license and the license is calculated based on the license management history, and the fixed usage is fixed from the total usage time. It is also possible to subtract the license usage amount corresponding to the number of licenses over the entire time, and use the remaining license usage time as the license usage time each time to be charged.

As described above, when the accounting process is calculated based on the total usage time of both licenses, the optimum number of fixed licenses is determined only by the total usage time. Therefore, when the CPU 41 obtains the optimum number of fixed licenses, the accounting process calculation method is also taken into consideration.

A user who uses the license management system to which the present invention is applied sets all fixed licenses to 0 when purchasing a predetermined software license,
It is possible to prevent wasteful initial investment because you can use the specified software with a license each time, observe the usage status of the software for a certain period, and purchase a fixed license based on the result. Is.

2 to 5, the case where the license manager 11 and the personal computer 1 are connected to each other by the intranet 3 has been described. For example, the installation locations of the license manager 11 and the personal computer 1 are as follows. If they are separated, license manager 11 and personal computer 1
May be connected to each other via a wide area network such as the Internet. FIG. 6 is a network configuration diagram in the second embodiment of the license management system to which the present invention is applied, which is applied when the installation locations of the license manager 11 and the personal computer 1 are distant from each other.

The personal computer 1 is connected to the router 61 via the intranet 3. The router 61 is a network device that interconnects different networks, connects the intranet 3 and the Internet 62, and enables the license manager 11 and the personal computer 1 to exchange information via the Internet 62. To do.

The process of the license manager 11 has been described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, except that the license manager 11 and the personal computer 1 exchange information via the Internet 62, the router 61, and the intranet 3. The processing is basically the same.

In FIG. 6, the license manager 1
1 via the Internet 62 and the router 61,
Although illustrated as being connected to one intranet 3, the license manager 11 may be connected to a plurality of intranets 3 via the Internet 62 and a plurality of routers 61, and each of the intranets may be connected. It may be possible to manage the issuance of a fixed license and the license each time to the personal computer 1 connected to the personal computer 3.

In the above, the license manager 11
The case of managing both fixed licenses and occasional licenses and issuing them has been described, but the management of fixed licenses and occasional licenses may be executed by different servers. FIG. 7 is a network configuration diagram in a third embodiment of the license management system to which the present invention is applied, which is applied in that case.

The personal computer 1 is connected to the license manager 71 via the intranet 3. The license manager 71 uses the intranet 3, the router 61, and the Internet 62 to
It is connected to the license management server 72 each time.

The license manager 71 has the same structure as the license manager 11 described with reference to FIG. 4, and therefore its description is omitted (in FIG. 4, not only the license manager 11 but also the license manager 7 is described.
1 is referred to as a block diagram showing the configuration of No. 1). The license manager 71 manages fixed licenses and executes a process of requesting the license management server 72 to issue a license each time via the router 61 and the Internet 62 when the number of license requests exceeds the number of fixed licenses. .

The license management server 72 receives a license issuance request from the license manager 71 each time, issues a license each time, and executes a billing process for each license issuance. Although only one license manager 71 is shown in FIG. 7, the license management server 72 is connected to a plurality of license managers 71 each time, and each license manager 7 is connected to the license manager 71.
It is also possible to manage the license each time it is issued to one and perform the charging process.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the license management server 72 each time.

CPU 8 of the license management server 72 each time
1 to the basic function of the network interface 90 is the personal computer 1 described with reference to FIG.
Since it is basically the same as the CPU 21 to the network interface 30, the description of its function is omitted.

A program for managing licenses is recorded in the HDD 88 each time, and the CPU 81 loads the programs into the RAM 83 and executes them to implement various functions of the license management server 72 each time. Further, the HDD 88 records the address of the license manager 71, which is a client for the license management server 72, the device ID, the license management history each time, and the like.

The RAM 83 has a license manager 71.
It has a license issuance count register that indicates the number of licenses issued each time. When the license management server 72 issues a license to a plurality of license managers 71 each time, a license issuance number register is prepared for each license manager 71.

The CPU 81 uses the license manager 71
When the license request is received from the license manager, the license is issued each time, and when the license return notice is received from the license manager 71, the license return process is executed each time, and these processes are recorded in the license management history of the HDD 88. .

The license management process 2 of the license manager 71 in the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In steps S21 to S24, the CPU 41 of the license manager 71 executes the same processing as the processing executed by the CPU 41 of the license manager 11 in steps S1 to S4 of FIG.

If it is determined in step S24 that the fixed license number a is less than the in-use license number b,
In step S25, the CPU 41 causes the license management server 72 to update the intranet 3, the router 61, and the
And requesting the issuance of a license each time via the Internet 62, and in step S26, receiving the issuance of a license from the license management server 72 each time,
A license is issued to the corresponding personal computer 1 each time.

When it is determined in step S24 that the fixed license number a is not smaller than the in-use license number b, the CPU 41 executes fixed license issuing processing in step S27.

If it is determined in step S22 that the license request has not been input, step S2
In 8 to step S30, the CPU 41 executes the same processing as the processing executed in steps S7 to S9 of FIG.

If it is determined in step S30 that the number of fixed licenses a ≦ the number of licenses in use b,
In step S31, the CPU 41 notifies the license management server 72 of the return of the license each time,
In step S32, the license management server 7 each time
From 2 receives a notification of the end of the license return process each time.

If it is determined in step S30 that the number of fixed licenses is not equal to or less than the number of licenses in use b, the CPU 41 executes the process of returning the fixed license in step S33.

After the processing of step S26, step S27, step S32, or step S33 is completed, in step S34, the CPU 41 records the license management history in the HDD 48, and the processing returns to step S22, and the subsequent processing is performed. Repeated.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 10, the license management process of the license management server 72, which is executed in parallel with the license management process 2 of FIG. 9, will be described.

In step S41, the CPU 81 of the license management server 72 uses the license manager 71 via the intranet 3, the router 61, the Internet 62, the network interface 90, the input / output interface 85, and the internal bus 84 each time.
It is determined whether or not a license issuance request is received.

When it is determined in step S41 that the license manager 71 has received a license issuance request each time, in step S42, the CPU 81 of the license management server 72 sends the license request to the license manager 71 each time. The license is issued and transmitted via the internal bus 84, the input / output interface 85, the network interface 90, the Internet 62, the router 61, and the intranet 3.

If it is determined in step S41 that the license manager 71 has not received a license issuance request, the CPU 81 of the license management server 72 returns the license from the license manager 71 in step S43. It is determined whether or not the notification has been received.

If it is determined in step S43 that the license manager 71 has received a license return notification, the CPU 81 of the license management server 72 executes the license return processing each time in step S44. After the end, the license manager 71 is notified of the end of the license return processing each time. In step S43, the license manager 7
When it is determined that the license return notification has not been received from 1 each time, the process returns to step S41, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

After the processing of step S42 or the processing of step S44 is completed, the CPU 81 of the license management server 72 is executed each time in step S45.
Records the license management history in the HDD 88 each time, the process returns to step S41, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

In the license management system described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, since the license management time is managed by the license management server 72 each time, the license usage fee generated as the license is used each time. The billing process is executed in the license management server each time. For example, the software supplier may operate the license management server each time and collect the license usage fee from the user each time.

Further, since the license manager 71 also retains a history regarding the use of fixed licenses and the use of licenses each time, it is possible to calculate the optimum number of licenses and to simulate the usage fee when the number of licenses is changed. .

In the third embodiment, since the fixed license and the license issuance process are performed by different devices each time, the load on one device can be reduced, and a plurality of license managers 71 are provided. Even if the license is issued, the issue of the license can be centrally managed each time.

Software for executing the series of processes described above executes various functions by installing a computer in which a program forming the software is incorporated in dedicated hardware or by installing various programs. It is installed from a recording medium into a general-purpose personal computer or the like capable of performing the above.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 or FIG. 8, this recording medium is distributed separately from the computer to provide the user with the program, and the magnetic disks 31, 51 on which the program is recorded. , Or 91 (including floppy (registered trademark) disk), optical disk 3
2, 52, or 92 (CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read
Only Memory), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disk), magneto-optical disk 33, 53, or 93 (MD
(Including Mini-Disk)) or semiconductor memory 34, 5
It is composed of a package medium such as 4 or 94.

In the present specification, the steps for writing the program recorded on the recording medium are not limited to the processing performed in time series according to the order described, but are not necessarily performed in time series. It also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

In this specification, the system means
It represents the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of devices.

[0116]

The first information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus of the present invention
According to the above information processing method and the first program, the first application of the terminal device can be used.
Holds the number of licenses of the
Set the number of licenses to be used, monitor the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application, compare the number of licenses and the number of uses, and based on the comparison result, it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses. In this case, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and if it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the second license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license and the first license to the terminal device is issued. Type of license issued to the terminal device by recording the issuance history of the first license and the second license
The terminal device that is using the application
If the license is returned from the
The number of uses is compared, and the first
Prior to the current issuance, so that the issuance of the priority is prioritized
Since the type of license is changed, it is possible to manage the issuance of licenses according to the workload for applications used by a plurality of terminal devices.

Second information processing apparatus and second information processing apparatus of the present invention
According to the second information processing method and the second program, the first application of the application that can be used by the terminal device is provided.
Holds the number of licenses of the
The number of licenses to be used is set, the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application is monitored, the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared, and if the result of the comparison determines that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, It is determined that a signal for requesting issuance of the second license is generated and transmitted to another information processing apparatus, the second license is received from the other information processing apparatus, and the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses. In this case, the first license is issued to the terminal device that has requested the license, and when it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the second device received from another information processing device is requested to the terminal device that requested the license. Issue the license, record the issue history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device, and check the type of license issued to the terminal device.
From the terminal device that is changing and using the application
If you receive a license return, the number of licenses and the previous
It compares the number of notes used, and based on the comparison result, the first license
In order to give priority to the issuance of sense,
Since the type of license is changed , the issuance processing of the first license and the second license is shared to reduce the load on one device and the issuance of the second license to another information processing device. Can be centrally managed.

[0118]

According to the first license management system of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus, the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device is held, and the number of held licenses is calculated. Set, monitor the number of uses that the terminal is currently using the application, compare the number of licenses and the number of uses, and if it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, give If you issue 1 license and it is judged that the number of usage exceeds the number of licenses,
The second license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device is recorded, and the license issued to the terminal device is recorded.
Changing the sense type and using the application
If the license is returned from the terminal device
Based on the comparison result.
Is currently issued so that the first license issuance has priority.
Since the type of the license being executed is changed , it is possible to manage the issuance of the license according to the workload for the applications used by the plurality of terminal devices.

According to the second license management system of the present invention, the first information processing device holds the number of licenses of the first license that can be used by the terminal device.
Set the number of licenses held , monitor the number of times the terminal device is currently using the application,
If the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, a signal for requesting issuance of the second license is generated and transmitted to the second information processing device, When the second license is received from the second information processing device and it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, the first license is issued to the terminal device that requested the license, and the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses. If it is determined that the second license received from the second information processing device is issued to the terminal device that has requested the license,
License issued to the terminal device by recording the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device
Terminals that use different types of applications
Number of licenses when the license is returned from the device
And the above-mentioned number of uses, and based on the comparison result,
Issuing now so that the issuance of 1 license has priority
The type of the license is changed , the second information processing device receives a signal indicating a request for issuing the second license from the first information processing device, and the second information processing device receives the second information processing device. Since the license is transmitted and the issuance history of the second license to the first information processing device is recorded, the issuance process of the first license and the second license is shared and the load on one device is shared. And the second
It is possible to centrally manage the issuance of licenses.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of a conventional license management system for performing license management based on the number of licenses purchased in a package.

FIG. 2 shows a license management system to which the present invention is applied.
It is a network block diagram in 1st Embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a license manager in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a license management process 1.

FIG. 6 shows a license management system to which the present invention is applied.
It is a network block diagram in 2nd Embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a license management system to which the present invention is applied.
It is a network block diagram in 3rd Embodiment.

8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a license management server each time in FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a license management process 2.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a license management process each time.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer 3 Intranet 11 License manager 41 CPU 48 HDD 61 router 62 Internet 71 License Manager 72 Each time license management server 81 CPU 88 HDD

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 2000-305775 (JP, A) Okumura, 3 authors, “Operation status of in-house networks centered on personal computers”, IPSJ research report, Japan, Information Processing Society of Japan, September 20, 1996, Volume 96, No. 92 (96-DSM-3), p. 51-56 (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1/00 G06F 17/60

Claims (15)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus, which is connected to a terminal device via a network and manages a license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application, wherein the first application of the application that can be used by the terminal device. Holding means for holding the number of licenses of the license, setting means for setting the number of licenses held by the holding means, monitoring means for monitoring the number of times the terminal device is currently using the application, When it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses based on the comparison result by the comparing unit that compares the number of licenses and the number of use, the terminal device that has requested the license Issued the first license and determined that the number of usage exceeds the number of licenses In this case, a license issuing unit that issues a second license to the terminal device that has requested the license, and an issue history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device by the license issuing unit are recorded. The recording means and the changing means for changing the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the license issuing means, the comparing means returns the license from the terminal device using the application. If you receive
The number of licenses is compared with the number of used licenses, and the changing unit changes the type of the currently issued license so that the first license issuance has priority based on the comparison result by the comparing unit. An information processing device characterized by: 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a billing process executing unit that executes a billing process for use of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit. . 3. The sales price of the first license is determined based on the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device, and the second license In the license, the usage fee is determined by the usage time, and the usage fee of the second license is the same time as the time when the application can be used by the first license. 2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein a usage fee when the application is used with a second license is determined to be higher than a sales fee per license of the first license. apparatus. 4. The number of licenses not related to the number of licenses of the first license of the application held by the holding unit, and the number of licenses of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates the number of licenses of the first license such that the usage fee is the lowest. 5. A calculation means for simulating a license usage situation when the first number of licenses is changed based on the issuance history recorded by the recording means, and calculating a usage fee thereof. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that. 6. An information processing method of an information processing device, which is connected to a terminal device via a network and manages a license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application, wherein the information processing device is A setting step of reading and setting the license number from a license number holding unit that holds the license number of the first license of the application that can be used; the information processing apparatus, A monitoring step of monitoring the number of uses in use, the information processing apparatus, a comparison step of comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, based on the comparison result by the process of the comparison step, the number of uses is the If it is determined that the number of licenses is not exceeded, the information processing device If the first license is issued to the terminal device that has requested the license, and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the information processing device sends a second license to the terminal device that has requested the license. A license issuing step for issuing a license, and a recording control for controlling the processing for the information processing apparatus to record the issuing history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device by the processing of the license issuing step. And a change unit for changing the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the process of the license issuing step, wherein the process of the comparing step uses the license from the terminal device using the application. If you receive a return of, compare the number of licenses and the number of uses, In the processing of the changing step, based on the comparison result of the processing of the comparing step, the type of the license currently issued is changed so that the issuance of the first license has priority. Processing method. 7. A computer which is connected to a terminal device via a network and which controls an information processing device for managing a license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application, the terminal device being able to use the computer. A setting step of reading and setting the license number from a license number holding means for holding the license number of the first license of the application; and a monitoring step of monitoring the number of times the terminal device is currently using the application. A comparing step of comparing the number of licenses and the number of use, and the terminal requesting the license when it is determined that the number of use does not exceed the number of licenses based on the comparison result by the process of the comparing step. The first to the device
License is issued, and when it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, a license issuing step of issuing a second license to the terminal device that has requested the license; A recording control step for controlling recording of the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device; and a change for changing the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the processing of the license issuing step. In the process of the comparing step, when the license is returned from the terminal device that is using the application, the number of licenses and the number of use are compared, and the changing step In the processing of, based on the comparison result by the processing of the comparison step, A program for executing a process, characterized in that the type of the license currently issued is changed so that the issuance of the first license has priority. 8. An information processing device, which is connected to a terminal device and another information processing device via a network and manages a license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application, the information processing device being usable by the terminal device. Holding means for holding the number of licenses of the first license of the application, setting means for setting the number of licenses held by the holding means, and the number of uses currently used by the terminal device for the application. The monitoring unit for monitoring, the comparing unit for comparing the license number and the use number, and the issuance of the second license when the use number is determined to exceed the license number based on the comparison result by the comparing unit. A signal for requesting the other information to be transmitted to the other information processing device, When it is determined by the transmission / reception unit that receives the second license from the processing device and the comparison result by the comparison unit that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, 1 license is issued, and when it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the second license received from the other information processing device by the transmitting and receiving means is sent to the terminal device that requested the license. License issuing means for issuing, recording means for recording the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device by the license issuing means, and the license issuing means issued to the terminal device Changing means for changing the type of the license, the comparing means, the application When receiving the return of the license from has the terminal apparatus using,
The number of licenses is compared with the number of used licenses, and the changing unit determines the type of the license currently issued so that the first license issuance is prioritized based on the comparison result by the comparing unit. An information processing device characterized by being changed. 9. The first license has a sales charge determined on the basis of the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device. In the license, the usage fee is determined by the usage time, and the usage fee of the second license is the same time as the time when the application can be used by the first license. 9. The information processing according to claim 8, wherein the usage fee when the application is used by the second license is set to be higher than the sales fee per license of the first license. apparatus. 10. The number of licenses that is not related to the number of licenses of the first license of the application held by the holding unit, and the number of licenses of the application based on the issuance history recorded by the recording unit. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising calculation means for calculating the number of licenses of the first license such that the usage fee is the lowest. 11. A calculation means for simulating a license usage situation when the first number of licenses is changed based on the issuance history recorded by the recording means, and calculating a usage fee. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein 12. An information processing method of an information processing device, which is connected to a terminal device and another information processing device via a network, and manages a license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application. A setting step of reading and setting the number of licenses from a license number holding unit that holds the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device; A monitoring step for monitoring the number of uses that the device is currently using the application, a comparison step for the information processing device to compare the number of licenses and the number of uses, and a comparison result by the process of the comparison step, If it is determined that the number of licenses used exceeds the number of licenses, A transmission / reception step in which the processing device generates a signal for requesting issuance of the second license, transmits the signal to the other information processing device, and receives the second license from the other information processing device; If it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses by the comparison result of the process of the comparing step,
If the information processing device issues the first license to the terminal device that has requested the license and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the information processing device requests the license. A license issuing step of issuing a second license received from the other information processing apparatus to the terminal apparatus by the processing of the transmitting / receiving step; A recording control step for controlling a process of recording the issuance history of the first license and the second license, and a changing unit for changing the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the process of the license issuing step. In the processing of the comparison step, the application using the application is included. When the license is returned from the end device, the number of licenses and the number of uses are compared, and in the process of the changing step, the first license is issued based on the comparison result by the process of the comparing step. An information processing method, characterized in that the type of the license currently issued is changed so as to be prioritized. 13. A computer which is connected to a terminal device and another information processing device via a network and controls an information processing device for managing a license when the terminal device uses a predetermined application, A setting step of reading and setting the number of licenses from a license number holding means for holding the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used; and the number of times the terminal device is currently using the application. A monitoring step of monitoring the number of licenses, a comparing step of comparing the number of licenses and the number of use, and a comparison result of the processing of the comparing step, if it is determined that the number of use exceeds the number of licenses, Generate a signal for requesting license issuance Based on the transmission / reception step of transmitting to the information processing apparatus and receiving the second license from the other information processing apparatus, and the comparison result by the processing of the comparison step, it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses. If
If the first license is issued to the terminal device that has requested the license and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the terminal device that requested the license is processed by the process of the transmission / reception step to A license issuance step of issuing a second license received from the information processing apparatus, and recording of issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device by the processing of the license issuance step. Recording control step and changing means for changing the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the processing of the license issuing step, wherein the application is used in the processing of the comparing step. If the license is returned from the terminal device, the license The number of licenses currently being issued is compared with the number of used licenses, and in the process of the changing step, based on the comparison result of the process of the comparing step, the license currently issued is prioritized so that the first license issuance is given priority. A program for executing a process characterized by changing the type. 14. A terminal device which executes a predetermined application, and an information processing device which is connected to the terminal device via a network and manages a license when the terminal device uses the predetermined application. In the license management system, the information processing device sets a holding unit that holds the number of licenses of the first license of the application that can be used by the terminal device, and the number of licenses held by the holding unit. Setting means, monitoring means for monitoring the number of uses that the terminal device is currently using the application, comparing means for comparing the number of licenses and the number of uses, based on a comparison result by the comparing means, If it is determined that the number of usage does not exceed the number of licenses, Issuing the first license to the terminal device that has requested the license, and issuing a second license to the terminal device that requested the license when it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses Means, recording means for recording the issuance history of the first license and the second license to the terminal device by the license issuing means, and the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the license issuing means And a comparing unit that receives a license returned from the terminal device that is using the application,
The number of licenses is compared with the number of used licenses, and the changing unit changes the type of the currently issued license so that the first license issuance has priority based on the comparison result by the comparing unit. A license management system characterized by: 15. A terminal device that executes a predetermined application, and is connected to the terminal device via a network to manage a first license and a second license when the terminal device uses the predetermined application. In a license management system configured by a first information processing device and a second information processing device that issues the second license to the first information processing device, the first information processing device comprises: A holding unit that holds the number of licenses of the first license of the application that the terminal device can use, a setting unit that sets the number of licenses held by the holding unit, and the terminal device stores the application. Monitoring means for monitoring the number of uses currently used, and the number of licenses and the number of uses When it is determined by the comparison means for comparing and the comparison result by the comparison means that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, a signal for requesting issuance of the second license is generated to When it is determined that the number of uses does not exceed the number of licenses, based on a transmission / reception unit that transmits to the information processing device and receives the second license from the other information processing device, and a comparison result by the comparison unit, If the first license is issued to the terminal device that has requested the license and it is determined that the number of uses exceeds the number of licenses, the other information is sent to the terminal device that requested the license by the transmitting / receiving unit. License issuing means for issuing the second license received from the processing device, and the license issuing means for issuing the second license to the terminal device. A first recording means for recording the issuance history of the first license and the second license; and a changing means for changing the type of the license issued to the terminal device by the license issuing means, the comparing means When the license is returned from the terminal device using the application,
The number of licenses is compared with the number of used licenses, and the changing unit determines the type of the license currently issued so that the first license issuance is prioritized based on the comparison result by the comparing unit. The second information processing apparatus includes: an input unit that receives a signal indicating a request to issue the second license from the first information processing apparatus; License management, comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits a second license; and a second recording unit that records a history of issuance of the second license by the transmitting unit to the first information processing apparatus. system.