Blockchain-based license management framework

1. A system for license management, the system comprising:

a computing device comprising a storage device and a processor that runs computer program instructions to implement

a smart contract configured to record a licensing agreement between a first party and a second party to license a usage of a network function in the smart contract, wherein the smart contract is persisted in a trade blockchain;

an e-licensing manager agent communicatively coupled to the trade blockchain and the network function, the e-licensing manager agent comprising:

an agreement Application Program Interface (API), wherein said agreement API triggers interaction of the smart contract such that the e-licensing manager agent uses the agreement API to retrieve the licensing agreement reflected in the smart contract associated with the network function from the trade blockchain;

wherein said smart contract enables a deployment of the network function from the trade blockchain through one or more orchestrators based on terms and conditions of the licensing agreement;

wherein said smart contract facilitates, verifies, and enforces negotiation of the licensing agreement comprising the terms and conditions, such that in response to generation of the smart contract, the second party is enabled to use the network function;

wherein said agreement API comprises a software intermediary that enables the e-licensing manager agent and the trade blockchain to exchange information;

a database comprising a repository that includes

a licensing registry to store information including licensing information associated with the network function, management of the network function, and the terms and conditions associated with usage of the network function; and

information required to configure the e-licensing manager agent, the first party and the second party;

a watcher;

a translator;

wherein said e-licensing manager agent is configured to provide the licensing agreement that is retrieved to said translator,

wherein said translator analyzes said licensing agreement and outlines the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement to said watcher;

wherein said watcher comprises code or logic and is configured to

 monitor the usage of the network function by the second party in real-time based on the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement to verify compliance of the smart contract, by monitoring actions of the usage of the network function by the second party,

 wherein said actions comprise one or more of

 usage of the network function within the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement,

 usage of the network function outside a scope of licensing agreement,

 violation of the terms and conditions, and such other actions;

detect whether there are violations in the usage of the network function,

detect said actions of the usage of the network function by the second party; and

record said actions of the usage of the network function by the second party;

a control API configured to create a transaction record in an operation blockchain, based on the actions that are recorded; and

an interface configured to provide context of the usage of the network function to an e-licensing manager communicatively coupled to said e-licensing manager agent.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the e-licensing manager agent further comprises a watcher Lifecycle Manager configured to:

manage a lifecycle and configuration of the watcher;

receive the actions that are recorded by the watcher; and

communicate the actions that are recorded to the control API to create the transaction record.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the e-licensing manager agent is configured to control the usage of the network function by the second party.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the watcher is further configured to perform a real-time audit of the network function for operational decisions.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control API is configured to create a negotiation record in the trade blockchain based upon negotiations between the first party and the second party for the licensing agreement.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the e-licensing manager agent is configured to generate a private ledger stored by nodes in the trade blockchain and the operation blockchain, the private ledger being limited to the first party and the second party, the private ledger storing the transaction record of the first party and the second party.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the e-licensing manager agent further comprises a watcher generator configured to generate the watcher before a deployment of the network function.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising said e-licensing manager configured to monitor the e-licensing manager agent to maintain said context of usage of the network function.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the e-licensing manager further comprises a notification unit configured to notify the first party and the second party in response to at least one of an expiration of a term of the licensing agreement and a breach of the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the e-licensing manager is further configured to calculate and generate an invoice based on the usage of the network function by the second party.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said e-licensing manager is configured to calculate a fee for the usage of the network function by the second party and generate an invoice for the second party.

12. A method for license management comprising, the method being implemented in a computer system having a storage device and one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the computer system to perform the method, the method comprising:

recording a licensing agreement via a smart contract between a first party and a second party to license a usage of a network function in the smart contract;

persisting the smart contract in a trade blockchain;

retrieving the licensing agreement via an agreement Application Program Interface (API) of a licensing manager agent,

wherein the licensing manager agent is communicatively coupled to the trade blockchain and the network function,

wherein said agreement API triggers interaction of the smart contract,

wherein the licensing manager agent uses the agreement API to retrieve the licensing agreement reflected in the smart contract associated with the network function from the trade blockchain,

wherein said smart contract enables a deployment of the network function from the trade blockchain through one or more orchestrators based on terms and conditions of the licensing agreement,

wherein said smart contract facilitates, verifies, and enforces negotiation of the licensing agreement comprising the terms and conditions, such that in response to generation of the smart contract, the second party is enabled to use the network function,

wherein said agreement API comprises a software intermediary that enables the licensing manager agent and the trade blockchain to exchange information,

wherein the licensing manager agent includes a database, a watcher, a translator, a control API and an interface,

wherein said watcher comprises code or logic,

wherein the database comprises a repository that includes

a licensing registry to store information including licensing information associated with the network function, management of the network function, and terms and conditions associated with usage of the network function, and

information required to configure the licensing manager agent, the first party and the second party;

providing, via the licensing manager agent, the licensing agreement that is retrieved to the translator;

analyzing the licensing agreement and outlining the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement to the watcher;

monitoring the usage of the network function by the second party, via said watcher, in a real-time based on the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement to verify compliance of the smart contract, by monitoring actions of the usage of the network function by the second party,

wherein said actions comprise one or more of

usage of the network function within the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement,

usage of the network function outside a scope of licensing agreement,

violation of the terms and conditions, and such other actions;

detecting whether there are violations in the usage of the network function;

detecting said actions of the usage of the network function by the second party;

recording said actions of the usage of the network function by the second party;

creating a transaction record in an operation blockchain based on the actions that are recorded; and

providing context of the usage of the network function to a licensing manager communicatively coupled to said licensing manager agent.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising notifying the first party and the second party in response to at least one of expiration of a term of the licensing agreement and a breach of the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising creating a negotiation record in the trade blockchain based upon negotiations between the first party and the second party for the licensing agreement.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said licensing manager calculates a fee for the usage of the network function by the second party and generate an invoice for the second party.