Bela M Kirchberger

US Patent:

60497890, Apr 11, 2000

Filed:

Jun 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/104459

Inventors:

Michael R. Frison - Tualatin OR
Bela L. Kirchberger - McMinnville OR

Assignee:

Mentor Graphics Corporation - Wilsonville OR

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

705 59

Abstract:

A software pay-per-use (PPU) licensing system is disclosed. The PPU licensing system includes one or more licensor license management system (LMS) and one or more licensee LMS. Each licensee LMS includes one or more components that operate to grant pay-per-use licenses for software applications, including data collection on amount of usage licenses granted, and to monitor operational states of the pay-per-use license granting and data collection operations, including periodic reporting of state and usage license granted data to a licensor LMS. Each licensor LMS includes components that operate to receive, store and process state and usage license granted data for the software applications from the licensee systems, including verification of timely periodic reporting from the licensee LMS.