1. A license administration device which manages grant or denial of functions in a plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information, the 5 license administration device comprising: a key store part which stores a default key restricting a predetermined function and an upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key information unique to the licensee device; a key extraction part which extracts the default key or the upgrade key in 10 connection with the licensee device indicated by a license change request upon receiving the license change request restricting or activating the predetermined function; and a key application part which overwrites the key information of the licensee device with the default key upon receiving the license change request restricting the 15 predetermined function, wherein, upon receiving the license change request activating the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key, the key application part applies the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device. 20

2. The license administration device according to claim 1, further comprising: a maximum store unit which stores a licensing maximum of granting the predetermined function to the plurality of licensing devices; and a maximum control part which updates the licensing maximum of the 25 maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum of granting the predetermined function which occurs when the key application part applies the default key or the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device, wherein, on a condition that the licensing maximum stored in the maximum store unit remains when the key extraction unit receives the license change request 5 activating the predetermined function, the key application part applies the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device.

3. The license administration device according to claim 2, wherein the maximum store unit stores a plurality of licensing maximums with respect to a plurality of 10 functions executable in the plurality of licensee devices, wherein the key store unit stores a plurality of upgrade keys with respect to the plurality of functions and a plurality of combinations of functions, and wherein the maximum control part updates the licensing maximum of the maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum for 15 each function or an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum for each combination of functions which occurs when the key application part applies the default key or the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device.

4. The license administration device according to claim 2, further comprising a 20 licensed status reader which reads licensed status information regarding the predetermined function in the plurality of licensee devices, wherein the maximum control part updates the licensing maximum of the maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum regarding the predetermined function corresponding to the licensed status information 25 which is varied when the key application part applies the default key or the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device.

5. The license administration device according to claim 4, further comprising a supervisory information acquisition part which acquires supervisory information by supervising the licensed status information with respect to the plurality of licensee 5 devices, wherein the maximum control part updates the licensing maximum of the maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum regarding the predetermined function corresponding to the supervisory information. 10 6. A license administration system including a plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information and a license administration device which manages grant or denial of functions in the plurality of licensee devices, wherein the licensee device includes a key information store unit used to store unique key information and issues a license change request restricting or activating a 15 predetermined function granted to or denied in the licensee device, wherein the license administration device includes a key store unit which stores a default key restricting the predetermined function and an upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key information for each licensee device, a key extraction part which extracts the default key or the upgrade key from the key 20 store part in connection with the licensee device indicated by a license change request upon receiving the license change request, and a key application part which overwrites the key information of the licensee device with the default key upon receiving the license change request restricting the predetermined function, and 2 5 wherein the key application part applies the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device upon receiving the license change request activating . c p . f .",\; .p [,,;; ; ., 5 "N 33 the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key.

7. A license administration method of managing grant or denial of functions in a 5 plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information, the license administration method comprising: storing a default key restricting a predetermined function and an upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key information for each licensee device; receiving a license change request restricting or activating the predetermined 10 function from the licensee device; extracting the default key or the upgrade key in connection with the licensee device indicated by the license change request; overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key upon receiving the license change request restricting the predetermined function; and 15 applying the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device upon receiving the license change request activating the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key.

8. A program applied to a license administration device managing grant or 20 denial of functions in a plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information, the program comprising: storing a default key restricting a predetermined function and an upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key information for each licensee device; receiving a license change request restricting or activating the predetermined 25 function from the licensee device; extracting the default key or the upgrade key in connection with the licensee r P 1 a t c".'-\. ,-%-- *b ~ 0 9 34 $,:I4 3 4 a . . device indicated by the license change request; overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key upon receiving the license change request restricting the predetermined function; and applying the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device upon 5 receiving the license change request activating the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key.

9. A wireless communication device in which a license administration device manages grant or denial of optional functions and which is switched between a default 10 state restricting a predetermined optional function and a granted state activating the predetermined optional function by use of unique key information under control of the license administration device.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 9, comprising: 15 a key reception part which receives the key information encrypted with a cipher key; a key information store unit which stores the key information; a key information reader which decrypts the key information by use of the cipher key to read function setting; and 20 a wireless communication part which carries out wireless communication based on the function setting, wherein the default state restricting the predetermined function is established when the key reception part receives the default key overwriting the key information, and then the granted state activating the predetermined optional function is established 25 when the key reception part receives the upgrade key applied to the key information.

11. A license change method applied to a wireless communication device in which a license administration device manages grant or denial of optional functions, the license change method comprising: overwriting key information unique to the wireless communication device 5 with a default key so as to establish a default state restricting a predetermined optional ? function in the wireless communication device when the license administration device receives a license change request restricting the predetermined optional function; and applying an upgrade key to the key information to establish a granted state activating the predetermined optional function in the wireless communication device 10 when the license administration device receives a license change request activating the predetermined optional function. Dated this 10'hay of January 2014 Of Anand and Anand Advocates Agent for the Applicant

2
DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF INVENTION:
LICENSE ADMINISTRATION DEVICE
AND LICENSE ADMINISTRATION METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
[OOO 11
The present invention relates to a license administration device and a license
10 administration method, each of which manages grant or denial of a license in a
licensee device performing its function according to key information.
The present application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No.
201 1-1 441 90 filed June 29,201 1, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
15
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
Recently, a sales method which activates the function of each wireless
communication device in accordance with a contract between a licenser and a licensee
20 has been employed in order to sell wireless communication devices with limited
functions, such as cellular phones and information terminals. Specifically, a wireless
communication device, which performs its function according to key information
defining various operations, stores key information indicating the limitation to the
predetermined function in an initial condition, and then the function of a wireless
25 communication device is activated by rewriting key information according to a license
contract.
[0003]
Patent Literature Document 1 discloses a method of changing key information
in a wireless communication device. According to the method of Patent Literature
Document 1, a licensee specifies a wireless communication device and requests the
5 activation of its function with a support center, and therefore the support center
generates and transmits an upgrade key, i.e. data used to update the key information of
the wireless communication device, to a licensee's terminal. The licensee applies the
upgrade key, which is received with the terminal, to the wireless communication
device, thus updating the key information. In this connection, the upgrade key is
10 unique data encrypted with a cipher key unique to the wireless communication device.
which cannot be applied to other wireless communication devices. This is needed to
prevent functions from being activated by other wireless communication devices,
which are not covered by contracts, by way of illegal copying.
[0004]
15 Patent Literature Document 2 discloses a license administration system which
manages licenses of software products for each customer. It includes an agent which
starts up and enables a software product based on a license key unique to a user
terminal installing the software product therein, and an administration center which
manages the issued license in response to a key issue request from the user terminal
20 while generating, sending back, and storing a license key unique to the user terminal.
Herein, it reads the unique ID of the user terminal so as to generate a media key
recording the license information.
[0005]
Patent Literature Document 3 discloses a license administration system which
25 manages licenses of software products for customers, thus demonstrating the same
functionality as Patent Literature Document 2. Herein, a shipment management
center receives a media key and the name of a requested application so as to generate
and send back a license key to an agent making a request under the maximum
contacted quantity restricted by the licensed application software.
[0006]
5 Patent Literature Document 4 discloses a license administration system
adopting a license server which authenticates licenses while managing the contacted
quantities of licenses and the currently used licenses. The license server sends a
transfer license key, which is used to authenticate the license of a device executing a
job input from a user terminal, to an authentication server, and therefore the
10 authentication server authenticates the license of the job executing device by use of the
transfer license key.
[0007]
Patent Literature Document 5 discloses an installation management method of
an information processing device, in which an application-installation management
15 module generates counter information associated to a license ID for each application
ID based on an application-installation request and license information received from a
license management server, thus managing installation of software based on a license
status represented by the counter information.
CITATION LIST
PATENT LITERATURE DOCUMENT
[0008]
Patent Literature Document 1 : Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2008- 1 17078
Patent Literature Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2006-59 163
Patent Literature Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2006-591 64
Patent Literature Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2007-58720
5 Patent Literature Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2010-218397
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
10 [0009]
To additionally set or relocate wireless communication devices, licensees may
need to request changing wireless communication devices whose functions are
activated due to the additional setup and the relocation. For example, due to the
additional setting of a wireless communication device B in addition to a wireless
15 communication device A whose function has been already activated, a licensee may
need to request deactivation of the function of the wireless communication device A
while activating the function of the wireless communication device B.
[OO 1 01
Patent Literature Document 1 raises a problem that the foregoing upgrade key
20 unique to each wireless communication device cannot be applied to other wireless
communication devices. Patent Literature Documents 2 to 5 disclose the
conventional technologies relating to software license administration methods but fail
to disclose an upgrade key applied to key information of a licensee device.
The present invention is made in consideration of the foregoing problem, and
25 therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a license administration
device and a license administration method, each of which allows a licensee to
6
arbitrarily activate the function of a wireless communication device.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
[OOll]
5 The present invention is directed to a license administration device which
manages grant or denial of functions in a plurality of licensee devices achieving
functions according to key information. The license administration device includes a
key store part which stores a default key restricting the predetermined function and an
upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key information unique to the
10 licensee device; a key extraction part which extracts the default key or the upgrade key
in connection with the licensee device indicated by a license change request upon
receiving the licens'e change request restricting or activating the predetermined
function; and a key application part which overwrites the key information of the
licensee device with the default key upon receiving the license change request
15 restricting the predetermined function. Upon receiving the license change request
activating the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the
licensee device with the default key, the key application part applies the upgrade key
to the key information of the licensee device.
[0012]
20 The present invention is directed to a license administration system including
a plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information and a
license administration device which manages grant or denial of functions in a plurality
of licensee devices. The licensee device includes a key information store unit used to
store unique key information and issues a license change request restricting or
25 activating the predetermined function granted to or denied in the licensee device.
The license administration device includes a key store unit which stores a default key
restricting the predetermined function and an upgrade key activating the predetermined
function as the key information for each licensee device; a key extraction part which
extracts the default key or the upgrade key from the key store part in connection with
the licensee device indicated by a license change request upon receiving the license
change request; and a key application part which overwrites the key information of the
licensee device with the default key upon receiving the license change request
restricting the predetermined function. The key application part applies the upgrade
key to the key information of the licensee device upon receiving the license change
request activating the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of
10 the licensee device with the default key.
[00 131
The present invention is directed to a license administration method of
managing grant or denial of functions in a plurality of licensee devices achieving
functions according to key information, The license administration method includes
15 the steps of: storing a default key restricting the predetermined function and an
upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key information for each
licensee device; receiving a license change request restricting or activating the
predetermined function from the licensee device; extracting the default key or the
upgrade key in connection with the licensee device indicated by the license change
20 request; overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key
upon receiving the license change request restricting the predetermined function; and
applying the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device upon receiving
the license change request activating the predetermined function after overwriting the
key information of the licensee device with the default key.
25 [0014]
The present invention is directed to a program applied to a license
administration device managing grant or denial of functions in a plurality of licensee
devices achieving functions according to key information. The program includes the
same process as the license administration method.
[00 1 51
5 The present invention is directed to a wireless communication device in
which a license administration device manages grant or denial of optional functions.
The wireless communication device is switched between a default state restricting the
predetermined optional function and a granted state activating the predetermined
optional function by use of unique key information under control of the license
10 administration device.
[00 1 61
The present invention is directed to a license change method applied to a
wireless communication device in which a license administration device manages
grant or denial of optional functions. The license change method includes the steps
15 of: overwriting key information unique to the wireless communication device with a
default key so as to establish a default state restricting the predetermined optional
function in the wireless communication device when the license administration device
receives a license change request restricting the predetermined optional function; and
applying an upgrade key to the key information to establish a granted state activating
20 the predetermined optional function in the wireless communication device when the
license administration device receives a license change request activating the
predetermined optional function.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
25 [0017]
According to the present invention, the license administration device
overwrites the key information with the default key unique to the licensee device, thus
restoring the licensee device in the initial condition. Additionally, it applies the
upgrade key, i.e. the differential information than the default key, to the key
information, thus activating the predetermined function. The default key and the
5 upgrade key can be decrypted using a cipher key unique to the licensee device. Thus,
it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation due to illegal copy of key information
by a holder in bad faith, and it is possible to arbitrarily restrict or activate functions in
licensee devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[OO 181
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a license administration system according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device included in the
15 license administration system.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a license administration device included in the
license administration system.
Fig. 4 shows lists of default keys and upgrade keys stored in a key store unit
included in the license administration device.
20 Fig. 5 shows a list of licensing maximums for functions stored in a maximum
store unit included in the license administration device.
Fig. 6 shows a sequence diagram regarding the procedure of storing a default
key and an upgrade key in the license administration device and the procedure of
updating the licensing maximums for each optional function.
Fig. 7 shows a flowchart of the license administration device updating
optional functions licensed to the wireless communication device.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
[00 1 91
The embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with
5 reference to the accompanying drawings below.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a license administration system according to the
embodiment of the invention. The license administration system includes a plurality
of wireless communication devices (or licensee devices) 10- 1 to 10-N (hereinafter,
collectively referred to as wireless communication devices 1 O), a plurality of
10 supervisory control devices (or licensee supervisory devices) 20-1 to 20-M (where
N>M) (hereinafter, collectively referred to as supervisory control devices 20), a license
administration device 30, and a key generation device 40. Herein, a licensee (e.g. a
user, an operator, a purchaser etc.) possesses the wireless communication device 10,
the supervisory control device 20, and the license administration device 30 while a
15 licenser (e.g. an administrator, a vendor, a seller etc.) possesses the key generation
device 40.
[0020]
The wireless communication device 20 wirelessly communicates with the
counterpart wireless communication device 10 via microwaves. For example, the
20 wireless communication device 10- 1 wirelessly communicates with the wireless
communication device 10-3. At this time, wireless communication is carried out in
accordance with key information stored inside the wireless communication device 10.
As functions defined by the key information, it is possible to name a communication
capacity, existence or nonexistence of a redundant configuration (Redundancy),
25 existence or nonexistence of cross polarization interference cancellation (XPIC)
application. For example, upon storing key information representing the
communication capacity of 10 Mbps, nonexistence of redundancy, and nonexistence of
XPIC application, the wireless communication device 10-1 wirelessly communicates
with the wireless communication device 10-3 in accordance with the setting content of
the key information. In this connection, the license administration device 30 is able
5 to rewrite the key information.
[002 11
The license administration device 30 transmits the key information to the
wireless communication device 10 whose key information needs to be rewritten via the
other wireless communication device 10 which is serially connected thereto via a
10 communication line. For example, when the subsequent-stage wireless
communication device 10 whose key information needs to be rewritten is connected to
the license administration device 30 via the forestage wireless communication device
10, the license administration device 30 transmits key information, which is destined
to the wireless communication device 10, to the forestage wireless communication
15 device 10. The forestage wireless communication device 10 receives and transfers
the key information to the subsequent-stage wireless communication device 10
indicated by its destination. In short, the forestage wireless communication device 10
serves as a router to transfer the key information to the subsequent-stage wireless
communication device 10,
20 LO0221
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wireless
communication device 10.
The wireless communication device 10 includes a key information store unit
101, a key reception part 102, a key information reader 103, a wireless communication
25 part 104, and a licensed status communication part 105. The key information store
unit 10 1 stores the key information defining a wireless communication function
implemented by the wireless communication part 104. In this connection, the key
information store unit 101 stores the key information which is encrypted using a cipher
key unique to the wireless communication device 10.
[0023]
5 The key reception part 102 receives a default key from the license
administration device 30 so as to overwrite the key information stored in the key
information store unit 101 with the default key. Thus, it is possible to restore the key
information stored in the key information store unit 101 to the original condition at
shipment. The key reception part 102 receives an upgrade key, representing
10 differential information than the default key, from the license administration device 30
so as to apply the upgrade key to the key information stored in the key information
store unit 101. When wirelessly receiving key information (i.e. a default key or an
upgrade key) from the other wireless communication device 10, the key reception part
102 receives the key information via the wireless communication part 104. When
15 receiving key information from the license administration device 30 or the other
wireless communication device 10 by wire, the key reception part 101 receive the key
information via a connection port (not shown).
[0024]
The key information reader 103 decrypts the key information stored in the key
20 information store unit 101 by use of a cipher key unique to the wireless
communication device 10, thus reading the function setting indicated by the key
information. Based on the function setting read by the key information reader 103,
the wireless communication device 104 notifies the supervisory control device 20 of
the licensed status information, indicating the function activated in the wireless
25 communication device 10, and the licensed status information, received from the
counterpart wireless communication device 10, via the wireless communication part
104.
[0025]
The supervisory control device 20 communicates with a plurality of wireless
communication devices 10 which is connected thereto via communication lines so as
5 to periodically acquire the licensed status information for each wireless
communication device 10, thus notifying the licensed status information to the license
administration device 30.
[0026]
The license administration device 30 stores a default key, i.e. key information
10 having an initial value unique to the wireless communication device 10, and an
upgrade key, i.e. differential information between the key information activating the
predetermined function and the default key. The license administration device 30
determines whether to apply the upgrade key to the wireless communication device 10
in response to the licensing maximum for function activation, which is determined in
15 accordance with the contract between the licenser and the licensee.
100271
The key generation device 40 inputs the identification information of the
wireless communication device 10, which is sold by the licenser, to generate a default
key and an upgrade key applied to the wireless communication device 10.
20 Additionally, the key generation device 40 determines an increment or decrement to
the licensing maximum of granting the predetermined function with respect to the
wireless communication device 10 possessed by the licensee based on the contract
between the licenser and the licensee. The licensing maximum is calculated for each
function. For example, different licensing maximums are set for each function such
25 that the number of wireless communication devices 10 allowed for XPIC application is
set to "5" while the number of wireless communication devices 10 allowed for
redundancy application is set to "2". In this connection, the key generation device 40
generates a default key, an upgrade key, and an increment or decrement to the
licensing maximum, all of which are recorded in a recording medium such as a CD
(Compact Disk) and applied to the license administration device 30 by the licenser.
5 [0028]
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the license
administration device 30.
The license administration device 30 includes reader 301, a key recorder 302,
a key store unit 303, a maximum control part 304, a maximum store unit 305, a key
10 extraction part 306, a licensed status reader 307, a key application part 308, and a
supervisory information acquisition part 309.
[0029]
The reader 301 reads a default key, an upgrade key, and an increment or
decrement to the licensing maximum from a recording medium installed by the
15 licensee. The key store unit 302 stores the default key and the upgrade key, which
are read by the reader 301, in the key store unit 303. The key store unit 303 stores
the default key and the upgrade key in connection with the identification information
of the wireless communication device 10.
[0030]
20 The maximum control part 304 updates the licensing maximum stored in the
maximum store unit 305 based on an increment or decrement to the licensing
maximum which is read by the reader 301. When the key extraction part 306 reads
the default key and the upgrade key from the key store unit 303, the maximum control
part 304 increases or decreases the licensing maximum stored in the maximum store
25 unit 305 in response to the read keys. Additionally, the maximum control part 304
updates the licensing maximum stored in the maximum store unit 305 based on the
supervisory information acquired by the supervisory information acquisition part 309.
The maximum store unit 305 stores the licensing maximum, representing the number
of devices which can be granted to each function, for each function activated in the
wireless communication device 10.
5 [0031]
The key extraction part 306 receives a license change request requesting
function activation or function restriction from the licensee possessing the wireless
communication device 10. The license change request includes the identification
information of the wireless communication device 10, which is subjected to function
10 activation or restriction, and the information representing the activated function. The
key extraction part 306 extracts from the key store unit 303 the default key which is
connected to the identification information included in the license change request, and
the upgrade key which is connected to the identification information and the function
information included in the license change request.
15 [0032]
The licensed status reader 307 reads the licensed status information, relating
to the licensed function of the wireless communication device 10, from the wireless
communication device 10. The licensed status information indicates that any one of
functions is activated among a plurality of functions limited by the default key. The
20 key application part 308 stores the key information as the default key extracted by the
key extraction part 306 in the wireless communication device 10 while applying the
upgrade key extracted by the key extraction part 306 to the key information of the
wireless communication device 10. The supervisory information acquisition part 309
acquires the supervisory information, representing the activated function of each
25 wireless communication device 10 supervised by each supervisory control device 20,
from the supervisory control device 20.
[0033]
Fig. 4 shows lists describing the details of key information stored in the key
store unit 303.
The key store unit 303 includes a default table storing default keys and an
5 upgrade table storing upgrade keys. Fig. 4(A) shows the default table which stores
the default key unique to the wireless communication device 10 in connection with the
identification information of the wireless communication device 10. For example,
the communication capacity is limited to 10 Mbps while no optional function requiring
a license is set in the initial condition of the wireless communication device 10. By
10 using the default key as the key information, the wireless communication device 10 is
allowed to carry out wireless communication by way of the setting defining the
communication capacity of 10 Mbps but precluding optional functions such as
redundancy application and XPIC application. The default key is encrypted using a
cipher key unique to the wireless communication device 10.
15 [0034]
Fig. 4(B) shows the upgrade table which stores an upgrade key used to
activate optional functions for each identification information of the wireless
communication device 10 in connection with combinations of optional functions.
The present embodiment provides three types of optional functions subjected to
20 activation, i.e. a function to increase the communication capacity (Capacity), a
function to apply redundancy (Redundancy), and a function to apply XPIC (XPIC).
In this connection, optional functions subjected to activation are not necessarily
limited to three types; hence, it is possible to set other optional functions subjected to
activation. With Capacity application, the communication capacity is increased from
25 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps. Seven types of upgrade keys are provided and stored in the
upgrade table. Specifically, seven types such as (1) Capacity application, (2)
Redundancy application, (3) XPIC application, (4) Capacity and Redundancy
application, (5) Capacity and XPIC application, (6) Redundancy and XPIC application,
and (7) Capacity, Redundancy, and XPIC application are provided to the upgrade table.
The reason why an upgrade key for each combination of optical functions is stored in
5 the upgrade table in addition to an upgrade key for each function is that each upgrade
key is differential data solely applied to a default key. Upgrade keys are each
encrypted using a cipher key unique to the wireless communication device 10. Thus,
even when an upgrade key issued to a desired wireless communication device 10 is
illegally copied and applied to the key information of the other wireless
10 communication device 10, it is possible to prevent the illegal transfer of the upgrade
key because the upgrade key cannot be decrypted using a cipher key of the other
wireless communication device 10.
[0035]
Additionally, the contents of the default table and the upgrade table stored in
15 the key store unit 303 are encrypted using a cipher key unique to the license
administration device 30. Thus, even when the contents of the default table and the
upgrade table are captured by way of illegal access, it is possible to prevent the default
key and the upgrade key from being illegally used.
COO3 61
2 0 Fig. 5 shows a list of the stored content of the maximum store unit 305.
The maximum store unit 305 stores the licensing maximum for each optional
function in connection with each optional function. The maximum store unit 305
having the stored content shown in Fig. 5 differs from the key store unit 303 storing
the upgrade table shown in Fig. 4(B) in that it does not store a combination of optional
25 functions but does store the licensing maximum in connection wit a single optional
function. Therefore, when the key extraction part 306 extracts an upgrade key,
representing Capacity and XPIC application, from the key store unit 303, the
maximum control part 304 reduce the licensing maximum, which is stored in the
maximum store unit 305 in connection with Capacity, by one, while reducing the
licensing maximum, which is stored in connection with XPIC, by one.
5 [0037]
Next, the operation of the license administration system will be described in
detail.
Fig. 6 shows a sequence diagram regarding the procedure of storing a default
key and an upgrade key in the license administration device 30 and the procedure of
10 updating the licensing maximum for each optional function.
[003 81
When the licensee starts to manage licenses with the license administration
device 30 or the licensee purchases a new wireless communication device 10, the
licensee requests the key generation device 40 possessed by the licenser to generate a
15 default key and an upgrade key used for the new wireless communication device 10
(step S501). A key generation request includes the identification information of the
wireless communication device 10 which should be applied to the default key and the
upgrade key, Specifically, the licensee issues the key generation recjuest to request
the licenser to issue the default key and the upgrade key, and then the licenser inputs
20 the key generation request to the key generation device 40.
[003 91
Upon receiving the key generation request (step S502), the key generation
device 40 generates the default key and the upgrade key based on the identification
information of the wireless communication device 10 (step S503). Since the key
25 generation device 40 possessed by the licenser stores the identification information of
the wireless communication device 10 and the cipher key unique to the wireless
communication device 10, it encrypts the plain default key and the plain upgrade key
by use of the cipher key, thus generating a default key and an upgrade key unique to
the wireless communication device 10. Thereafter, the key generation device 40
encrypts the default key and the upgrade key by use of a cipher key unique to the
5 license administration device 30 so as to store them in a predetermined recording
medium in connection with the identification information of the wireless
communication device 10 (step S504).
[0040]
Next, the key generation device 40 calculates an increment or decrement to
10 the licensing maximum of granting the predetermined optional function with the
wireless communication device 10 possessed by the licensee based on the contract
between the licenser and the licensee (step S505). Specifically, every time the
licenser contacts with the licensee, the licenser sets the licensing maximum of granting
the predetermined optional function to the key generation device 40, wherein the key
15 generation device 40 calculates a difference between the licensing maximum which
was set to issue a previous recording media and the newly set licensing maximum,
thus producing an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum. Thereafter, the
key generation device 40 encrypts the increment or decrement to the licensing
maximum by use of a cipher key unique to the license administration device 30. thus
20 storing it in a recording medium (step S506). Thus, the key generation device 40
issues a recording medium recording the default key, the upgrade key, and the
increment or decrement to the licensing maximum (step S507).
[004 11
The key generation device 40 issues a recording medium, which is transferred
25 to the licensee by the licenser. The licenser receives the recording medium (step
S508) and inputs the recording medium to the license administration device 30 (step
S509). When the license administration device 30 receives the recording medium,
the reader 301 reads the default key and the upgrade key as well as the identification
information of the wireless communication device 10, which is connected to those
keys, from the recording medium (step S5 10). Next, the key recorder 302 records the
5 default key and the upgrade key, which are read by the reader 301, in the key store unit
303 in connection with the identification information of the wireless communication
device 10 (step S5 1 1 ).
[0042]
The reader 301 reads the licensing maximum from the recording medium
10 (step S512). Next, the maximum control part 304 adds the increment or decrement of
the licensing maximum, which is read by the reader 301, to the licensing maximum
stored in the maximum store unit 305 (step S5 13).
Through the above process, the key generation device 40 generates the default
key and the upgrade key which are stored in the license administration device 30,
15 while the key generation device 40 generates the increment or decrement of the
licensing maximum which is applied to the license administration device 30.
[0043]
Next, the process of the license administration device 30 changing the
optional function granted to the wireless communication device 10 will be described in
20 detail.
Fig. 7 shows a flowchart regarding the process of the license administration
device 30 changing the optional function granted to the wireless communication
device 10. The licensee possessing the wireless communication device 10 sends a
license change request, which requests activation or restriction of each optional
25 function in the wireless communication device 10, to the license administration device
30, and then the key extraction part 306 of the license administration device 30
receives the license change request (step S601). The license change request includes
the identification information of the wireless communication device 10 and each
optional function to be activated. Next, the licensed status reader 307 reads from the
wireless communication device 10 the licensed status information representing each
5 optional function which was already granted to the wireless communication device 10
indicated by the identification information included in the license change request (step
S602).
[0044]
Next, the key extraction part 306 extracts the default key, which is connected
10 to the identification information included in the license change request, from the key
store unit 303 (step S603). Subsequently, the key application part 308 applies the
default key as the key information of the wireless communication device 10 indicated
by the identification information included in the license change request (step S604).
The maximum control part 304 adds one to the licensing maximum which is stored in
15 the maximum store unit 305 and connected to the optional information indicated by
the licensed status information (step S605). Thus, the license administration device
30 applies the default key to the wireless communication device 10 so as to limit all
the optional functions granted to the wireless communication device 10, thus
increasing the licensing maximum regarding the limited optional function.
20 [0045]
The key extraction part 306 determines whether or not the license change
request includes an optional function to be activated (step S606). When it determines
that the license change request includes an optional function to be activated (i.e. the
decision result "YES" in step S606), the maximum control part 304 determines
25 whether or not all the licensing maximums connected to the optional functions
included in the license change request are above "1" (step S607). When it determines
that all the licensing maximums stored in the maximum store unit 305 are above "I"
(i.e. the decision result "YES" in step S607), the key extraction part 306 extracts an
upgrade key, which is connected to an optional function or a combination of optional
functions included in the license change request, from the key store unit 303 (step
5 S608). Subsequently, the key application part 308 applies the upgrade key to the key
information of the wireless communication device 10 indicated by the identification
information included in the license change request (step S609).
[0046]
Next, the maximum control part 304 subtracts one from the licensing
10 maximum which is stored in the maximum store unit 305 and connected to the
optional function to be activated included in the license change request (step S610).
Then, the license administration device 30 exits the foregoing process. As described
above, the license administration device 30 applies the upgrade key to the wireless
communication device 10 so as to activate the optional function applied to the wireless
15 communication device 10 while decreasing the licensing maximum with regard to the
activated optional function.
[0047]
When the foregoing step S606 determines that the license change request does
not include any optional function to be activated (i.e. the decision result "NO" in step
20 S606), or when the foregoing step S607 determines the existence of any optional
function with the licensing maximum of "0" in the maximum store unit 305 (i.e. the
decision result "NO" in step S607), the license administration device 30 exits its
process without applying the upgrade key to the wireless communication device 10.
When the step S607 determines the existence of any optional function with the
25 licensing maximum of "0" in the maximum store unit 305, it is preferable for the
license administration device 30 to output an error message such as "the selected
optional function is short of its license count" before exiting its function.
[0048]
Next, the process of the license administration device 30 managing the
licensing maximum will be described in detail.
5 When the licensee purchases from the licenser a new wireless communication
device 10 in which the predetermined optional function is activated in advance, the
license administration device 30 needs to change the licensing maximum, which is
stored in the maximum store unit 305, in response to the activated optional function.
To cope with the circumstances, the present embodiment adopts the supervisory
10 control device 20 to collect the licensed status information, indicating each optional
function granted to the wireless communication device 10, thus periodically updating
the licensing maximum based on the licensed status information.
[0049]
Specifically, the supervisory control device 20 periodically acquires the
15 licensed status information from a plurality of wireless communication devices 10
which are connected thereto via communication lines, thus notifying it to the license
administration device 30. In the case of Fig. 1 in which a plurality of wireless
communication devices 10 is serially connected to the supervisory control device 20,
the supervisory control device 20 acquires the licensed status information from all the
20 wireless communication devices 10 which are serially connected thereto. That is, the
subsequent-stage wireless communication device 10, which is connected to the
supervisory control device 20 via the forestage wireless communication device 10,
transmits the licensed status information thereof to the forestage wireless
communication device 10, which subsequently transmits its licensed status information
25 to the supervisory control device 20 in addition to the licensed status information
which is received from the subsequent-stage wireless communication device 10.
[0050]
When the supervisory information acquisition part 309 of the license
administration device 30 receives the licensed status information from all the
supervisory control devices 20, the maximum control part 304 calculates the licensing
5 maximum for each optional function with respect to the wireless communication
device 10 based on all the licensed status information. It is possible to calculate the
current licensing maximum by subtracting the granted count, which is calculated based
on the licensed status information, from the licensing count which is determined in
accordance with the contract between the licenser and the licensee. Subsequently, the
10 maximum control part 304 overwrites the licensing maximum with the calculated
licensing maximum in the maximum store unit 305.
[005 11
This makes it possible for the license administration device 30 to update the
licensing maximum stored in the maximum store unit 305 in response to the increased
15 number of wireless communication devices 10 which should be administered. Since
the license administration device 30 acquires the licensed status information from a
plurality of wireless communication devices 1 via the supervisory control device 20, it
is possible to prevent congestion of communication lines between the wireless
communication devices 10 and the license administration device 30 in the process of
20 updating the licensing maximum.
[0052]
As described above, since the license administration device 30 overwrites the
key information with the default key unique to the wireless communication device 10,
it is possible to establish the default status of restricting all the optional functions in
25 the wireless communication device 10. Additionally, the license administration
device 30 applies the upgrade key to the key information, which is overwritten with
the default key, so as to release restriction of the predetermined optional function.
That is, when the licensee changes the device subjected to activation of the optional
function from the predetermined wireless communication device 10 to the other
wireless communication device 10, the licensee needs to input a license change request,
5 which requests restricting the optional function in the predetermined wireless
communication device 10, to the license administration device 30 while inputting
another license change request, which requests activation of the optional function in
the other wireless communication device 10, to the license administration device 30,
thus changing the wireless communication device 10 subjected to activation of the
10 optional function.
[0053]
To change the activated state of the optional function, the license
administration device 30 overwrites the key information with the default key and then
applies the upgrade key (i.e. differential information than the default key) to the key
15 information. Due to the process of changing the activated state of the optional
function by use of the default key and the upgrade key, the license administration
device 30 does not need to prepare a downgrade key, corresponding to differential data
for each optional function, thus reducing the number of keys which should be retained
as the key information.
20 [0054]
Additionally, the license administration device 30 upgrades the licensing
maximum stored in the maximum store unit 305 when the key application part 308
applies the default key or the upgrade key to the wireless communication device 10.
In this connection, the key application part 308 does not apply the upgrade key,
25 indicating the optional function with the licensing maximum "Ow, to the wireless
communication device 10. Thus, the license administration device 30 is able to
activate or restrict the optional function in the wireless communication devices 10
within the licensing count which is determined in accordance with the contract
between the licenser and the licensee.
[005 51
5 Heretofore, the present invention is described in detail with reference to the
drawings, but the detailed configuration is not necessarily limited to the foregoing
embodiment; hence, it is possible to produce various modifications within the scope of
the invention as defined in the appended claims.
[0056]
10 In the foregoing embodiment, every time a license change request is received,
the licensed status reader 307 reads the licensed status information from the wireless
communication device 10 so as to update the licensing maximum of each optional
function based on the licensed status information; but this is not a restriction. For
example, the supervisory information acquisition part 309 may acquire and store the
15 licensed status information from the supervisory control device 20 so as to update the
licensing maximum based on the licensed status information.
[0057]
In the foregoing embodiment, the maximum store unit 305 stores the licensing
maximum for each optional function; but this is not a restriction. The maximum
20 store unit 305 may store the licensing maximum for each upgrade key. For example,
it is possible for the maximum store unit 305 to store the licensing maximum for each
upgrade key such that the licensing maximum regarding the upgrade key of Capacity
application is set to "5"; the licensing maximum regarding the upgrade key of
Redundancy application is set to "5"; and the licensing maximum regarding the
25 upgrade key of Capacity and Redundancy application is set to "1 ". In this case, a
single wireless communication device 10 is solely allowed to set Capacity and
Redundancy application therein.
[0058]
In the foregoing embodiment, the license administration device 30 reads
default keys, upgrade keys, increments or decrements to licensing maximums via
5 recording media; but this is not a restriction. For example, the license administration
device 30 may directly read default keys, upgrade keys, and increments or decrements
to licensing maximums from the key generation device 40 via telephone
communication lines.
[0059]
Each of the wireless communication device 10, the supervisory control device
20, the license administration device 30, and the key generation device 40 includes a
computer system therein. The functions and processes of these devices 10 to 40 can
be recorded in computer-readable recording media in the form of programs. That is,
the computer system, included in each of the foregoing devices 10 to 40, may read and
15 execute the predetermined program from recording media so as to implement functions
and processes. Herein, computer-readable recording media refer to magnetic disks,
magneto-optical disks, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, semiconductor memory, and so on.
Additionally, it is possible to distribute computer programs to computers via
communication lines so as to enable each computer to execute the predetermined
20 program.
[0060]
In this connection, programs can be drafted to achieve a part of functions and
processes installed in the foregoing devices 10 to 40. Alternatively, programs can be
drafted as differential files (or differential programs) which are combined with
25 programs preinstalled in computer systems so as to achieve functions and processes of
the foregoing devices.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[006 11
The present invention provides a license administration device and a license
5 administration method, each of which is able to collectively manage optional functions
granted to or denied in a plurality licensee devices; hence, the present invention is
applicable to any licensee devices which are not necessarily limited to wireless
communication devices but which embrace cellular phones, information terminals, and
personal computers, thus allowing a licensee to arbitrarily activate or restrict optional
10 functions in licensee devices which licensees possess within the licensing maximum
for each optional function. Thus, it is possible to provide beneficial services to
organizations and associations which possess plenty of information devices so as to
allocate optional functions to those devices in accordance with contracts between
licensers and licensees.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
wireless communication device
supervisory control device
license administration device
key generation device
key information store unit
key reception part
key information reader
wireless communication part
licensed status communication part
reader
key recorder
key store unit
maximum store unit
key extraction part
licensed status reader
key application part
supervisory information acquisition part

WE CLAIM:
1. A license administration device which manages grant or denial of functions in
a plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information, the
5 license administration device comprising:
a key store part which stores a default key restricting a predetermined
function and an upgrade key activating the predetermined function as the key
information unique to the licensee device;
a key extraction part which extracts the default key or the upgrade key in
10 connection with the licensee device indicated by a license change request upon
receiving the license change request restricting or activating the predetermined
function; and
a key application part which overwrites the key information of the licensee
device with the default key upon receiving the license change request restricting the
15 predetermined function,
wherein, upon receiving the license change request activating the
predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the licensee device
with the default key, the key application part applies the upgrade key to the key
information of the licensee device.
20
2. The license administration device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a maximum store unit which stores a licensing maximum of granting the
predetermined function to the plurality of licensing devices; and
a maximum control part which updates the licensing maximum of the
25 maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum of
granting the predetermined function which occurs when the key application part
applies the default key or the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee
device,
wherein, on a condition that the licensing maximum stored in the maximum
store unit remains when the key extraction unit receives the license change request
5 activating the predetermined function, the key application part applies the upgrade key
to the key information of the licensee device.
3. The license administration device according to claim 2, wherein the maximum
store unit stores a plurality of licensing maximums with respect to a plurality of
10 functions executable in the plurality of licensee devices,
wherein the key store unit stores a plurality of upgrade keys with respect to
the plurality of functions and a plurality of combinations of functions, and
wherein the maximum control part updates the licensing maximum of the
maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum for
15 each function or an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum for each
combination of functions which occurs when the key application part applies the
default key or the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device.
4. The license administration device according to claim 2, further comprising a
20 licensed status reader which reads licensed status information regarding the
predetermined function in the plurality of licensee devices,
wherein the maximum control part updates the licensing maximum of the
maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum
regarding the predetermined function corresponding to the licensed status information
25 which is varied when the key application part applies the default key or the upgrade
key to the key information of the licensee device.
5. The license administration device according to claim 4, further comprising a
supervisory information acquisition part which acquires supervisory information by
supervising the licensed status information with respect to the plurality of licensee
5 devices,
wherein the maximum control part updates the licensing maximum of the
maximum store unit based on an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum
regarding the predetermined function corresponding to the supervisory information.
10 6. A license administration system including a plurality of licensee devices
achieving functions according to key information and a license administration device
which manages grant or denial of functions in the plurality of licensee devices,
wherein the licensee device includes a key information store unit used to store
unique key information and issues a license change request restricting or activating a
15 predetermined function granted to or denied in the licensee device,
wherein the license administration device includes a key store unit which
stores a default key restricting the predetermined function and an upgrade key
activating the predetermined function as the key information for each licensee device,
a key extraction part which extracts the default key or the upgrade key from the key
20 store part in connection with the licensee device indicated by a license change request
upon receiving the license change request, and
a key application part which overwrites the key information of the licensee
device with the default key upon receiving the license change request restricting the
predetermined function, and
2 5 wherein the key application part applies the upgrade key to the key
information of the licensee device upon receiving the license change request activating
. c p . f .",\; .p [,,;; ; ., 5 "N
33
the predetermined function after overwriting the key information of the licensee device
with the default key.
7. A license administration method of managing grant or denial of functions in a
5 plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to key information, the
license administration method comprising:
storing a default key restricting a predetermined function and an upgrade key
activating the predetermined function as the key information for each licensee device;
receiving a license change request restricting or activating the predetermined
10 function from the licensee device;
extracting the default key or the upgrade key in connection with the licensee
device indicated by the license change request;
overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key
upon receiving the license change request restricting the predetermined function; and
15 applying the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device upon
receiving the license change request activating the predetermined function after
overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key.
8. A program applied to a license administration device managing grant or
20 denial of functions in a plurality of licensee devices achieving functions according to
key information, the program comprising:
storing a default key restricting a predetermined function and an upgrade key
activating the predetermined function as the key information for each licensee device;
receiving a license change request restricting or activating the predetermined
25 function from the licensee device;
extracting the default key or the upgrade key in connection with the licensee
r P 1
a t c".'-\. ,-%-- *b ~
0 9 34 $,:I4 3 4 a . .
device indicated by the license change request;
overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key
upon receiving the license change request restricting the predetermined function; and
applying the upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device upon
5 receiving the license change request activating the predetermined function after
overwriting the key information of the licensee device with the default key.
9. A wireless communication device in which a license administration device
manages grant or denial of optional functions and which is switched between a default
10 state restricting a predetermined optional function and a granted state activating the
predetermined optional function by use of unique key information under control of the
license administration device.
10. The wireless communication device according to claim 9, comprising:
15 a key reception part which receives the key information encrypted with a
cipher key;
a key information store unit which stores the key information;
a key information reader which decrypts the key information by use of the
cipher key to read function setting; and
20 a wireless communication part which carries out wireless communication
based on the function setting,
wherein the default state restricting the predetermined function is established
when the key reception part receives the default key overwriting the key information,
and then the granted state activating the predetermined optional function is established
25 when the key reception part receives the upgrade key applied to the key information.
11. A license change method applied to a wireless communication device in
which a license administration device manages grant or denial of optional functions,
the license change method comprising:
overwriting key information unique to the wireless communication device
5 with a default key so as to establish a default state restricting a predetermined optional
?
function in the wireless communication device when the license administration device
receives a license change request restricting the predetermined optional function; and
applying an upgrade key to the key information to establish a granted state
activating the predetermined optional function in the wireless communication device
10 when the license administration device receives a license change request activating the
predetermined optional function.
Dated this 10'hay of January 2014
Of Anand and Anand Advocates
Agent for the Applicant