IP Library Granted Patent US 8,620,817
Granted Patent B2
US 8,620,817 · App. 11/531,962 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Method and system for creating license management in software applications

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,620,817
App. No.
11/531,962
Granted
Dec 31, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for creating license management in software applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an installer package associated with a software application to be run on a computer, the installer package not including license administration functionality. One or more executable files are extracted from the installer package. One or more license-enabled executable files are generated with the one or more executable files and a license wrapper. A new installer package is created with the one or more license-enabled executable files, the new installer package supporting the license administration functionality.

Claims (36)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a vendor, an installer package associated with a software application to be installed on a client computer, the installer package not including license administration functionality, wherein the license administration functionality includes tracking usage of the software application, and enforcing license limits of the software application;

extracting one or more executable files from the installer package and creating a new installer package wherein creating a new installer package comprises:

generating one or more license-enabled executable files with the one or more extracted executable files and a license wrapper;

adding license server location for each license-enabled executable file to the new installer package; and

packaging the one or more license enabled executable files into the new installer package, the new installer package supporting the license administration functionality; and

executing the new installer package on the client computer to install the software application on the client computer and permit managing of software licensing rights of said software application by obtaining the location of the license server from the new installer package, contacting the license server, and obtaining a license for the software application.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising linking the one or more license-enabled executable files to entries in a server location file.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising generating a license file associated with the new installer package for use on a license server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the license administration functionality further including enabling overdraft licenses, enabling application usage when the license server is unavailable, and setting a license expiration date.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the installer package is a Microsoft installer file.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: renaming the one or more executable files; and encrypting the one or more executable files.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the software package on a client using the new installer package.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising retrieving a license file from a license server, wherein the license file is used for license administration functionality.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

receiving, from a vendor, an installer package associated with a software application to be installed on a client computer, the installer package not including license administration functionality, wherein the license administration functionality includes tracking usage of the software application and enforcing license limits of the software application;

extracting one or more executable files from the installer package and creating a new installer package wherein creating a new installer package comprises:

generating one or more license-enabled executable files with the one or more extracted executable files and a license wrapper;

adding license server location for each license-enabled executable file to the new installer package; and

packaging the one or more license-enabled executable files into the new installer package, the new installer package supporting the license administration functionality; and

executing the new installer package on the client computer to install the software application on the client computer and permit managing of software licensing rights of said software application by obtaining the location of the license server from the new installer package, contacting the license server, and obtaining a license for the software application.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform linking the one or more license-enabled executable files to entries in a server location file.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform generating a license file associated with the new installer package for use on a license server.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the license administration functionality further includes enabling overdraft licenses, enabling application usage when the license server is unavailable, and setting a license expiration date.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the installer package is a Microsoft installer file.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform: renaming the one or more executable files; and encrypting the one or more executable files.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform installing the software package on a client using the new installer package.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform retrieving a license file from a license server, wherein the license file is used for the license administration functionality.

17. A system, comprising:

a license server in communication with a network; and

a client computer in communication with the network, the client computer configured to receive an installer package from a vendor, said installer package associated with a software application to be installed on the client computer, the installer package not including license administration functionality, wherein the license administration functionality includes tracking usage of the software application, and enforcing license limits of the software application;

extracting one or more executable files from the installer package and creating a new installer package, wherein creating a new installer package comprises:

generating one or more license-enabled executable files with the one or more extracted executable files and a license wrapper;

adding license server location for each license-enabled executable file to the new installer package; and

packaging the one or more license-enabled executable files into the new installer package, the new installer package supporting the license administration functionality; and

executing the new installer package on the client computer to install the software application on the client computer and permit managing of software licensing rights of said software application by obtaining the location of the license server from the new installer package, contacting the license server, and obtaining a license for the software application.

Assignments (25)
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - REEL/FRAME 045441/ 0499 Recorded Aug 25, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC; PALAMIDA, INC.; BDNA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072552/0558 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2025
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
To: KKR LOAN ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL GENT
Reel/Frame 072460/0828 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 18, 2024
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: BDNA CORPORATION; FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC; PALAMIDA, INC.; RIGHTSCALE, INC.; RISC NETWORKS, LLC; REVULYTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067636/0534 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: BDNA CORPORATION; FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC; PALAMIDA, INC.; RIGHTSCALE, INC.; RISC NETWORKS, LLC; REVULYTICS, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 055487/0354 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2020
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC; PALAMIDA, INC.; BDNA CORPORATION; RIGHTSCALE, INC.; RISC NETWORKS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052049/0560 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2018
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC; PALAMIDA, INC.; BDNA CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045451/0499 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC; PALAMIDA, INC.; BDNA CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045441/0499 →
TERMINATION OF 2ND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 032590/0805 Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 045447/0842 →
TERMINATION OF 1ST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 032590/0617 Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 045447/0894 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2014
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 032590/0617 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2014
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 032581/0652 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2014
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 032590/0805 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2013
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 030111/0362 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 027022/0202 Recorded Mar 25, 2013
From: BNAK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 030081/0156 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 5, 2011
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027021/0054 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 5, 2011
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027022/0202 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Oct 3, 2011
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 027004/0601 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Sep 29, 2011
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE, INC.
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 026994/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 21, 2011
From: FLEXERA SOFTWARE, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 025675/0840 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2011
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE, INC. (F/K/A ACRESSO SOFTWARE INC.)
Reel/Frame 025668/0070 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 25, 2009
From: ACRESSO SOFTWARE INC.
To: FLEXERA SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 023565/0861 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2008
From: MACROVISION CORPORATION
To: ACRESSO SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 020817/0960 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2008
From: ACRESSO SOFTWARE INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 020741/0288 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2006
From: TABET, MARWAN
To: MACROVISION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018286/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2006
From: TABET, MARWAN
To: MACROVISION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018253/0577 →