METHOD AND LICENSING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY LICENSING SERVICE FEATURES DURING THE UPGRADE OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
The invention relates to a method for automatically licensing service features during the upgrade of a first communication system ( 11 ) into a second communication system ( 12 ), said method having the following steps: (a) extracting the service features to be licensed from a database, (b) transmitting the service features to be licensed to a License Server (CLS), (c) generating a license file (LF) in the License server (CLS), (d) transmitting the license file (LF) to the second communication system ( 12 ), and (e) installing the license file (LF) in the second communication system ( 12 ). This invention also relates to a corresponding computer program and corresponding licensing system.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A computer-implemented method for licensing features, comprising:
creating a license file based on a feature to be licensed;
receiving a license authorization code specifying the feature;
determining that a communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying a media access control (MAC) address of the communication system; and
in response to determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature, transferring the license file to the communication system for installation.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to upgrade.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to acquire an additional license.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining the feature to be licensed by determining feature data from the communication system; and
storing the feature data in a database.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from an inventory file.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the inventory file is cryptographically signed.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving an inventory file comprising the MAC address; and
wherein determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from the inventory file.
18 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause:
creating a license file based on a feature to be licensed;
receiving a license authorization code specifying the feature;
determining that a communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying a media access control (MAC) address of the communication system; and
in response to determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature, transferring the license file to the communication system for installation.
19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to upgrade.
20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to acquire an additional license.
21 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
determining the feature to be licensed by determining feature data from the communication system; and
storing the feature data in a database.
22 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from an inventory file.
23 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the inventory file is cryptographically signed.
24 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
receiving an inventory file comprising the MAC address; and
wherein determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from the inventory file.
25 . A system for licensing features, comprising:
a processor;
a memory operatively connected to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
creating a license file based on a feature to be licensed;
receiving a license authorization code specifying the feature;
determining that a communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying a media access control (MAC) address of the communication system; and
in response to determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature, transferring the license file to the communication system for installation.
26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to upgrade.
27 . The system of claim 25 , wherein receiving the license authorization code comprises receiving an order to acquire an additional license.
28 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
determining the feature to be licensed by determining feature data from the communication system; and
storing the feature data in a database.
29 . The system of claim 25 , wherein identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from an inventory file.
30 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
receiving an inventory file comprising the MAC address; and
wherein determining that the communication system does not utilize the feature by identifying the MAC address comprises identifying the MAC address from the inventory file.