Granted Patent B2

US 12,585,737 · App. 18/768,512 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Inventor: Lars Johnson (Brooklyn, NY)

Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.

G06F21/105H04L9/3236G06F21/1075H04L9/50H04L2209/56

Abstract

Claims (46)

1 . A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a first hash value stored in a hash ledger from a first equipment that maintains the hash ledger, wherein the hash ledger is associated with licensing a software;

receiving a latest block of a passed ledger provided by second equipment of a license holder of the software; and

executing the software, wherein the software is only permitted to execute when the first hash value matches a second hash value calculated from the latest block of the passed ledger.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise: calculating the second hash value for the latest block.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a new block for the passed ledger, wherein the new block indicates completion of use of licensed use of the software;

calculating a third hash value for the new block; and

sending the third hash value to the first equipment for recording in the hash ledger.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise:

appending the new block to the passed ledger; and

sending the passed ledger to the second equipment of the license holder, wherein the second equipment of the license holder calculates a fourth hash value from the new block and verifies that the fourth hash value matches the third hash value recorded in the hash ledger.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the executing of the software is contingent upon payment via a smart contract.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

completing the executing of the software; and

sending the passed ledger to the second equipment of the license holder.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the software completes execution upon expiration of a timer specified in the latest block of the passed ledger.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

periodically sending a message to the second equipment indicating that the software is executing; and

completing the executing of the software upon failing to receive a response to the message.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.

10 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a first hash value stored in a hash ledger from a first equipment that maintains the hash ledger, wherein the hash ledger is associated with licensing a software;

requesting a latest block of a passed ledger from a second equipment of a license holder of the software; and

executing the software, wherein the software is permitted to execute if the first hash value matches a second hash value calculated from the latest block of the passed ledger.

11 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a third hash value for a new block of the passed ledger, wherein the new block indicates completion of licensed use of the software;

recording the third hash value of the new block in the hash ledger; and

sending the third hash value of the new block responsive to a second query from the second equipment of the license holder, wherein the second equipment of the license holder verifies the third hash value of the new block recorded in the hash ledger.

12 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the execution of the software is contingent upon payment via a smart contract embedded in the passed ledger.

13 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the software completes execution upon expiration of a timer specified in the latest block of the passed ledger.

14 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the software completes execution upon failing to receive a response to a message periodically sent indicating permitted continued use of the software.

15 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

periodically sending a message to the second equipment indicating that the software is executing; and

completing the executing of the software upon failing to receive a response to the message.

16 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the latest block indicates licensed use of the software.

17 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.

18 . A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a first hash value stored in a hash ledger from a first equipment that maintains the hash ledger, wherein the hash ledger is associated with licensing a software; and

executing, by the processing system, the software, wherein the software is permitted to execute when the first hash value matches a second hash value calculated from a latest block of a passed ledger held by second equipment of a license holder of the software.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising: requesting the passed ledger from the second equipment, wherein sending of the passed ledger by the second equipment is contingent upon a payment.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processing system, the passed ledger;

calculating, by the processing system, the second hash value.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (195)