US 12,393,178 B2
Method and device for managing licenses in an industrial automation system
Thomas Kriegel, Lüdenscheid (DE)
Assigned to Turck Holding GmbH, Halver (DE)
Filed by TURCK HOLDING GMBH, Halver (DE)
Filed on Oct. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/048,930.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2022 100 794.4 (DE), filed on Jan. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0229145 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. G05B 19/418 (2006.01); G06F 21/10 (2013.01)
CPC G05B 19/4186 (2013.01) [G06F 21/10 (2013.01); G05B 2219/1134 (2013.01); G05B 2219/24165 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for managing functionality licenses in a closed network of an industrial automation system, wherein the closed network includes a server and at least one subscriber device being connected via the closed network to the server, the at least one subscriber device being configured to establish a connection to a sensor and/or an actuator in a field level, the method comprising:
operating the server including a license database, wherein the license database includes a plurality of the functionality licenses, wherein each functionality license of the plurality of the functionality licenses includes a functionality identifier;
receiving a license request at the server from the at least one subscriber device, wherein the license request includes a further functionality identifier;
comparing the further functionality identifier to the functionality identifiers in the license database; and
assigning a functionality license of the database which comprises a functionality identifier that matches to the further functionality identifier to the subscriber device from which the license request was received at the server,
wherein the assigning includes storing of the at least one subscriber device from which the license request was received at the server as a licensed subscriber device in the license database.