Firewall for licensing protected software on a computer

Abstract

A licensing module for licensing protected software is disclosed. The licensing module may be operatively disposed on a gateway device that is operating between a computer and an IP-compliant network. In disclosed embodiments, the licensing module may be configured to detect the use of a protected software application residing on the computer and send a license validity inquiry request to a license server over the IP-compliant network. The licensing module may then operate the protected software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.

1 . A firewall for licensing protected software on a computer comprising: 
 a firewall operatively disposed between a computer and an IP-compliant network;    the firewall including a licensing module configured to: 
 detect the use of a protected software application residing on the computer;  
 send a license validity inquiry request to a license server over the IP-compliant network regarding said protected software application; and  
 operate said protected software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.  
   
   
   
       2 . The firewall of  claim 1 , the licensing module further configured to update a cache component with information regarding the use of said protected software application.  
   
   
       3 . The firewall of  claim 2 , wherein the contents of said cache are provided to said license server.  
   
   
       4 . The firewall of  claim 2 , wherein information contained in said cache component is converted into a billing statement by said license server.  
   
   
       5 . The firewall of  claim 3 , wherein said billing occurs on a per-use basis.  
   
   
       6 . The firewall of  claim 1 , wherein said firewall appears as the only IP address visible outside of the firewall.  
   
   
       7 . The firewall of  claim 1 , wherein said licensing module manages a plurality of protected software applications operating on a protected network.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for securely licensing protected software on a computer comprising: 
 firewall means for securely managing communications between a computer and an IP-compliant network;    the firewall means further comprising: 
 means for detecting the use of a protected software application residing on the computer;  
 means for sending a license validity inquiry request to a license server over the IP-compliant network regarding said protected software application; and  
 means for operating said protected software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.  
   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising means for updating a cache component means with information regarding the use of said protected software application.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising means for providing the contents of said cache component means to a license server means.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising means for converting the contents of said cache component into a billing statement.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising means for billing on a per-use basis.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said proxy agent appears as the only IP address visible outside of the firewall.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising means for managing a plurality of protected software applications operating on a protected network.  
   
   
       15 . A licensing module for licensing protected software on a computer comprising: 
 a licensing module operatively disposed on a gateway device, the gateway device being disposed between a computer and an IP-compliant network;    the licensing module being configured to: 
 detect the use of a protected software application residing on the computer;  
 send a license validity inquiry request to a license server over the IP-compliant network regarding said protected software application; and  
 operate said protected software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.  
   
   
   
       16 . The module of  claim 15 , the licensing module further configured to update a cache component with information regarding the use of said protected software application.  
   
   
       17 . The module of  claim 16 , wherein the contents of said cache are provided to said license server.  
   
   
       18 . The module of  claim 16 , wherein information contained in said cache component is converted into a billing statement by said license server.  
   
   
       19 . The module of  claim 18 , wherein said billing occurs on a per-use basis.  
   
   
       20 . The module of  claim 15 , wherein said is disposed in a gateway device, the gateway device appearing as the only IP address visible outside of the firewall.  
   
   
       21 . The module of  claim 15 , wherein said licensing module manages a plurality of protected software applications operating on a protected network.