IP Library Granted Patent US 11,928,461
Granted Patent B2
US 11,928,461 · App. 17/573,531 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Software utilization optimization in managed networks

Inventors: Terry Courtney (Bristol, GB); David Edgar (Farnham, GB); Vida Sirmeniene (Reading, GB); Simon Oldfield (Oxford, GB)
Assignee: Ivanti, Inc.
G06F8/70G06F8/62
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,928,461
App. No.
17/573,531
Granted
Mar 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment includes a method of software utilization evaluation in a managed network. The method includes receiving a software parameter for a software implemented by a managed device in a managed network. The method includes obtaining status data of the software on the device. The status data indicating whether the software is in use at the device at a time. The method includes aggregating the status data to determine a software usage of the software at the device. Responsive to the software usage being below a usage threshold, the method includes generating software management action. The usage threshold being based on the software parameter. Responsive to a state at a management device, the method includes implementing the software management action to remotely modify at least one aspect of the managed device.

Claims (71)

1. A method of software utilization evaluation in a managed network, the method comprising:

connecting with a software vendor site that sells or develops a software implemented by a managed device in the managed network;

accessing license information for the software;

determining a software parameter for the software based on the license information, wherein the software parameter includes a license term of the software, a cost element of the software, a computing resource requirement of the software, or a managed network preference related to the software;

receiving the software parameter for the software;

obtaining status data of the software on the managed device, the status data indicating whether the software is in use at the managed device at a particular time;

aggregating the status data to determine a software usage of the software at the managed device;

responsive to the software usage being below a usage threshold, generating a software management action, wherein the usage threshold is based at least partially on the software parameter, and wherein the software management action includes an automated uninstall of the software from the managed device; and

responsive to a state existing at a management device, implementing the software management action to remotely modify at least one aspect of the managed device, wherein the existing state at the management device includes initiation of an automated software management process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the software is a first software;

the method further comprises:

associating the first software with a user of the managed device;

further associating at least one additional software with the user that is installed at the managed device; and

generating a software usage profile of the user that indicates usage of the first software and the at least one additional software; and

the software usage profile indicates a resource allocation to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising responsive to the software usage being below the usage threshold, further generating a software management notification, wherein the software management notification is indicative of a reclamation opportunity of the software.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the usage threshold includes a first usage threshold; and

the reclamation opportunity presents the software usage relative to the first usage threshold and at least one additional usage threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the status data is performed according to a defined schedule or is performed responsive to a change in software configuration of the managed device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving profile data related to one or both of the managed device or an enterprise, the profile data including a role in the enterprise implementing the managed network or a characteristic of the enterprise; and

based on the profile data and the software usage, forecasting a software implementation of an additional managed device having a similar profile data in the managed network or an additional managed network implemented by an additional enterprise,

wherein the forecasting is based on a machine learning process implemented based on one or more or a combination of the software parameter, the software usage, the profile data, a characteristic of the enterprise, and a characteristic of the managed network.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the obtaining status data includes accessing login or authentication information of a single sign-on (SSO) portal, and

the method further comprises discovering a plurality of applications operating on the managed network based on the login or authentication information of the SSO portal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, in a stock keeping unit (SKU) database, a SKU associated with the software based on a correlation between the license information and the SKU; and

associating the identified SKU with the software parameter in a parameter library to determine the software parameter.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a list of users that operate the software on the managed network; and

identifying a particular user as an employee based on an employee email address.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more programs that are configured, in response to execution by one or more processors, to cause a system to execute or control execution of one or more of operations, the operations comprising:

connecting with a software vendor site that sells or develops a software implemented by a managed device in a managed network;

accessing license information for the software;

determining a software parameter for the software based on the license information, wherein the software parameter includes a license term of the software, a cost element of the software, a computing resource requirement of the software, or a managed network preference related to the software;

receiving the software parameter for the software;

obtaining status data of the software on the managed device, the status data indicating whether the software is in use at the managed device at a particular time;

aggregating the status data to determine a software usage of the software at the managed device;

responsive to the software usage being below a usage threshold, generating a software management action, wherein the usage threshold is based at least partially on the software parameter, and wherein the software management action includes an automated uninstall of the software from the managed device; and

responsive to a state existing at a management device, implementing the software management action to remotely modify at least one aspect of the managed device, wherein the existing state at the management device includes initiation of an automated software management process.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein:

the software is a first software;

the operations further comprise:

associating the first software with a user of the managed device;

further associating at least one additional software with the user that is installed at the managed device; and

generating a software usage profile of the user that indicates usage of the first software and the at least one additional software; and

the software usage profile indicates a resource allocation to the user.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein:

the operations further comprise responsive to the software usage being below the usage threshold, further generating a software management notification; and

the software management notification is indicative of a reclamation opportunity of the software.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein:

the usage threshold includes a first usage threshold; and

the reclamation opportunity presents the software usage relative to the first usage threshold and at least one additional usage threshold.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the obtaining the status data is performed according to a defined schedule or is performed responsive to a change in software configuration of the managed device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein:

the operations further comprise:

receiving profile data related to one or both of the managed device or an enterprise, the profile data including a role in the enterprise implementing the managed network or a characteristic of the enterprise; and

based on the profile data and the software usage, forecasting a software implementation of an additional managed device having a similar profile data in the managed network or an additional managed network implemented by an additional enterprise; and

the forecasting is based on a machine learning process implemented based on one or more or a combination of the software parameter, the software usage, the profile data, a characteristic of the enterprise, and a characteristic of the managed network.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein:

the obtaining status data includes accessing login or authentication information of a single sign-on (SSO) portal, and

the operations further comprise discovering a plurality of applications operating on the managed network based on the login or authentication information of the SSO portal.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying, in a stock keeping unit (SKU) database, a SKU associated with the software based on a correlation between the license information and the SKU; and

associating the identified SKU with the software parameter in a parameter library to determine the software parameter.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining a list of users that operate the software on the managed network; and

identifying a particular user as an employee based on an employee email address.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY 14633493 WHICH WAS ENTERED INCORRECTLY AS 14633793 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 71176 FRAME 315. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN NEWCO SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 10, 2025
From: PULSE SECURE, LLC; IVANTI, INC.; IVANTI US LLC; IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073818/0515 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2025
From: IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
To: IVANTI, INC.
Reel/Frame 071958/0203 →
FIRST LIEN NEWCO SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 5, 2025
From: PULSE SECURE, LLC; IVANTI, INC.; IVANTI US LLC; IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071176/0315 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2025
From: IVANTI, INC.
To: IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 071180/0690 →
2025-1 SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 5, 2025
From: IVANTI SECURITY INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS LLC; IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071176/0498 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded May 5, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: PULSE SECURE, LLC; IVANTI, INC.; IVANTI US LLC; CHERWELL SOFTWARE, LLC
Reel/Frame 071176/0289 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2025
From: IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071165/0164 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2025
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: IVANTI SECURITY HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 071162/0130 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY FOR SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 067457/0497 Recorded Apr 29, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS RESIGNING AGENT
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 071124/0331 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded May 19, 2024
From: IVANTI, INC.; PULSE SECURE, LLC; MOBILEIRON, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067457/0472 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded May 19, 2024
From: IVANTI, INC.; PULSE SECURE, LLC; MOBILEIRON, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067457/0497 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2024
From: COURTNEY, TERRY; EDGAR, DAVID; SIRMENIENE, VIDA; OLDFIELD, SIMON
To: IVANTI, INC.
Reel/Frame 066435/0567 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63136020 · Jan 11, 2021
Related Publication 20220222067A1 · Jul 14, 2022