US 12,242,573 B2
Blockchain-based license management framework
Fernando Diaz, Castilleja de la Cuesta (ES); Aurora Ramos, Valladolid (ES); and Josep Martrat, Barcelona (ES)
Assigned to BULL SAS, Les Clayes-sous-Bois (FR)
Filed by BULL SAS, Les Clayes-sous-Bois (FR)
Filed on Jan. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/585,852.
Claims priority of application No. 21154148 (EP), filed on Jan. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0237267 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 21/10 (2013.01); G06Q 20/38 (2012.01); G06F 9/54 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 21/105 (2013.01) [G06F 21/10 (2013.01); G06Q 20/389 (2013.01); G06F 9/54 (2013.01); G06Q 2220/18 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for license management, the system comprising:
a computing device comprising a storage device and a processor that runs computer program instructions to implement
a smart contract configured to record a licensing agreement between a first party and a second party to license a usage of a network function in the smart contract, wherein the smart contract is persisted in a trade blockchain;
an e-licensing manager agent communicatively coupled to the trade blockchain and the network function, the e-licensing manager agent comprising:
an agreement Application Program Interface (API), wherein said agreement API triggers interaction of the smart contract such that the e-licensing manager agent uses the agreement API to retrieve the licensing agreement reflected in the smart contract associated with the network function from the trade blockchain;
wherein said smart contract enables a deployment of the network function from the trade blockchain through one or more orchestrators based on terms and conditions of the licensing agreement;
wherein said smart contract facilitates, verifies, and enforces negotiation of the licensing agreement comprising the terms and conditions, such that in response to generation of the smart contract, the second party is enabled to use the network function;
wherein said agreement API comprises a software intermediary that enables the e-licensing manager agent and the trade blockchain to exchange information;
a database comprising a repository that includes
a licensing registry to store information including licensing information associated with the network function, management of the network function, and the terms and conditions associated with usage of the network function; and
information required to configure the e-licensing manager agent, the first party and the second party;
a watcher;
a translator;
wherein said e-licensing manager agent is configured to provide the licensing agreement that is retrieved to said translator,
wherein said translator analyzes said licensing agreement and outlines the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement to said watcher;
wherein said watcher comprises code or logic and is configured to
 monitor the usage of the network function by the second party in real-time based on the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement to verify compliance of the smart contract, by monitoring actions of the usage of the network function by the second party,
 wherein said actions comprise one or more of
 usage of the network function within the terms and conditions of the licensing agreement,
 usage of the network function outside a scope of licensing agreement,
 violation of the terms and conditions, and such other actions;
detect whether there are violations in the usage of the network function,
detect said actions of the usage of the network function by the second party; and
record said actions of the usage of the network function by the second party;
a control API configured to create a transaction record in an operation blockchain, based on the actions that are recorded; and
an interface configured to provide context of the usage of the network function to an e-licensing manager communicatively coupled to said e-licensing manager agent.