IP Library Granted Patent US 11,934,493
Granted Patent B2
US 11,934,493 · App. 17/350,295 · Granted Mar 19, 2024

Anti-piracy protection service-based software license management system to prevent usage of unlicensed software after the trial period

Inventors: Parminder Singh Sethi (Punjab, IN); Madhuri Dwarakanath (Bangalore, IN); Bing Liu (Tianjin, CN)
Assignee: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
G06F21/121G06F21/10G06F21/1078
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,934,493
App. No.
17/350,295
Granted
Mar 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

One example method, includes checking, by an intelligent time detector service running on a computing system, a trial period duration of software on the computing system, starting, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter for the software, and the counter is operable to generate a counter value based on a clock of the computing system, storing, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter value of the counter, and decommissioning, by the intelligent time detector service, the software after the trial period has expired.

Claims (26)

1. A method, comprising operations of:

checking, by an intelligent time detector service running on a computing system, a trial period duration of software on the computing system;

starting, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter for the software, and the counter is configured to generate a counter value based on a clock of the computing system;

storing, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter value of the counter, wherein an accuracy of the counter value is maintained notwithstanding a change to the system clock; and

when the counter value reaches the trial period duration, decommissioning, by the intelligent time detector service, the software after the trial period has expired,

wherein the intelligent time detector service prevents tampering with the counter and counter value.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the counter value is encrypted by a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) module prior to being stored.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the intelligent time detector service calculates a time interval between a power-down and power-up of the computing system, and the intelligent time detector service updates the counter using the time interval.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the counter is triggered to start by downloading of the software to the computing system has been completed, or is triggered by installation of the software on the computing system.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a user of the computing system and/or a vendor of the software are notified when the trial period has expired.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , the intelligent time detector service prevents reinstallation of the software after the trial period has expired.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the intelligent time detector service increments the counter based on the system clock.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the intelligent time detector system encrypts software expiration information and software uninstallation information.

9. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that are executable by one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising:

checking, by an intelligent time detector service running on a computing system, a trial period duration of software on the computing system;

starting, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter for the software, and the counter is configured to generate a counter value based on a clock of the computing system;

storing, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter value of the counter, wherein an accuracy of the counter value is maintained notwithstanding a change to the system clock; and

when the counter value reaches the trial period duration, decommissioning, by the intelligent time detector service, the software after the trial period has expired,

wherein the intelligent time detector service prevents tampering with the counter and counter value.

10. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein the counter value is encrypted by a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) module prior to being stored.

11. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein the intelligent time detector service calculates a time interval between a power-down and power-up of the computing system, and the intelligent time detector service updates the counter using the time interval.

12. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein the counter is triggered to start by downloading of the software to the computing system has been completed, or is triggered by installation of the software on the computing system.

13. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein a user of the computing system and/or a vendor of the software are notified when the trial period has expired.

14. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , the intelligent time detector service prevents reinstallation of the software after the trial period has expired.

15. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein the intelligent time detector service increments the counter based on the system clock.

16. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein the intelligent time detector system encrypts software expiration information and software uninstallation information.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2022
From: SETHI, PARMINDER SINGH; DWARAKANATH, MADHURI; LIU, BING
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060830/0015 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (058014/0560) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0473 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057758/0286) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 061654/0064 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057931/0392) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058014/0560 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057758/0286 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057931/0392 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057682/0830 →
Continuity (1)
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