Surrender and management of software licenses

摘要

A vendor-operated server can be configured to receive requests from one or more customers to return corresponding sets of (one or more) software licenses for financial credit. In response to receiving a request to return a set of software licenses, the vendor-operated server verifies the return of the set of software licenses to ensure that the customer (making the request) no longer uses the software licenses to operate the vendor's software application(s). After receiving and confirming a return of the set of software licenses back to the vendor-operated server, the vendor-operated server provides notification to, for example, a vendor's corresponding order management system (e.g., financial/license management system) to indicate that the customer has returned the set of software licenses. This verification ensures that the customer does not inadvertently or intentionally continue to use the vendor's software application after obtaining credit for the returned licenses.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a vendor computing device, a request for electronic return of a set of software licenses for financial credit, each license of the set of software licenses comprising an activation certificate, the activation certificate comprising information that authorizes operating a corresponding vendor software application at a client computer device; in response to receiving the request, verifying the electronic return of the set of software licenses; and providing notification, by the vendor computing device, that the set of software licenses has been returned.