Information processing apparatus, service providing system, and method to modify a license based on usage

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to;

store in one or more memories, information on execution of an application, which is available for use under a license contract;

identify the application having a usage count not exceeding a certain number based on the usage count of the application obtained from the information on the execution of the application; and

output a suggestion to change from the license contract to another license contract that does not cover the application having the usage count not exceeding the certain number, including a difference between the license contract and the another license contract based on a usage count of the application obtained from the information on the execution of the application.

2 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

generate a suggestion to delete the application that has been executed equal to or less than a preset number of times; and

control a display to display the suggestion for changing the license contract.

3 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the license contract allows a plurality of users to use the application, and

the circuitry is further configured to:

store in one or more memories, information on one or more users who executed the application; and

generate the suggestion for changing number of the plurality of users allowed to use the application based on the usage count of the application by each user, obtained from the information on the application and the information on the one or more users.

4 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the circuitry is further configured to:

store in one or more memories, information indicating presence or absence of an application which is compatible with the application; and

when suggesting a deletion of the application allowed for use by the license contract, and when a compatible application exists for the application to suggest deletion, indicate presence of a compatible application as a reason for the deletion of the application, based on the usage count obtained from the information on the compatible application.

5 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the circuitry is further configured to:

store in one or more memories, information indicating a type of the application; and

when suggesting a deletion of the application included in the license contract,

indicate as a reason for the deletion of the application, that a particular type of the application is not being used based on the usage count obtained from the information on the application.

6 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the circuitry is further configured to:

store in one or more memories, information indicating a role of each user who executes the application; and

when suggesting a reduction of users, indicate as a reason for the reduction of the users, that the user belonging to a particular role is not using the application based on the usage count of the application by each user.

7 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

store in one or more memories, information indicating whether each user who executed the application is a guest user; and

indicate as a reason for changing the license contract, that the application is used only by the guest user or not used by the guest user based on the usage count of the application by each user.

8 . The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the circuitry is further configured to receive a selection of whether to change the license contract according to the suggestion.

9 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the difference is a difference in subscription fee between the license contract and the another license contract.

10 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

specify the another license contract based on the usage count of the application;

calculate a subscription fee of the another license contract; and

calculate a difference in subscription fee between the another license contract and the license contract.

11 . A service providing system comprising:

circuitry configured to:

store in one or more memories, information on execution of an application, which is available for use under a license contract;

identify the application having a usage count not exceeding a certain number based on the usage count of the application obtained from the information on the execution of the application; and

output a suggestion to change the license contract that does not cover the application having the usage count not exceeding the certain number,

including a difference based on a usage count of the application obtained from the information on the execution of the application.

12 . A method for outputting suggestion to change a license contract, the method comprising:

storing in one or more memories, information on execution of an application, which is available for use under a license contract;

identify the application having a usage count not exceeding a certain number based on the usage count of the application obtained from the information on the execution of the application; and

outputting a suggestion to change the license contract that does not cover the application having the usage count not exceeding the certain number including a difference based on a usage count of the application obtained from the information on the execution of the application.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

generating a suggestion to delete the application that has been executed equal to or less than a preset number of times; and

controlling a visible screen to display the suggestion to delete the application that has been executed equal to or less than a preset number of times.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the license contract allows a plurality of users to use the application, and

the method further comprises:

storing in one or more memories, information on one or more users who executed the application; and

generating the suggestion for changing number of the plurality of users allowed to use the application based on the usage count of the application by each user, obtained from the information on the application and the information on the one or more users.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing in one or more memories, information indicating presence or absence of an application compatible with the application; and

when suggesting a deletion of the application allowed for use by the license contract, and when a compatible application exists for the application to suggest deletion, indicating presence of the compatible application as a reason for the deletion of the application, based on the usage count obtained from the information on the compatible application.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing in one or more memories, information indicating a type of the application; and

indicating, when suggesting a deletion of the application included in the license contract, as a reason for the deletion of the application, that a particular type of the application is not being used based on the usage count obtained from the information on the application.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing in one or more memories, information indicating a role of each user who executes the application; and

indicating, when suggesting a reduction of users, as a reason for the reduction of the users, that the user belonging to a particular role is not using the application based on the usage count of the application.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing in one or more memories, information indicating whether each user who executed the application is a guest user; and

indicating as the reason for changing the license contract, that the application is used only by the guest user or not used by the guest user based on the usage count of the application by each user.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of whether to change the license contract according to the suggestion.

20 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein:

the difference is a difference in subscription fee between the license contract and the another license contract.

21 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

specifying the another license contract based on the usage count of the application;

calculating a subscription fee of the another license contract; and

calculating a difference in subscription fee between the another license contract and the license contract.