US5717604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network monitoring system for tracking, billing and recovering licenses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-05-25
•
Granted: 1998-02-10
•
Expires: 2015-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A network monitoring system operates on a computer including processor for running a multi-tasking operating system capable of having active and inactive windows. The computer is connected to a server or a service which provides access to a user application subject to a license restriction. When the user application is associated with the active window, the user application is executed by the processor. A license recovering system includes a display coupled to the processor for displaying a user interface of the operating system. A user prompting device, run by the processor, the display and associated with an inactive window, prompts a user when the the inactive window has been inactive for a period greater than a first predetermined period. A closing device closes the user application when the inactive window has been inactive for a period greater than a second predetermined period. The network monitoring system also includes a real-time billing system for billing the computer user for access time to the user application subject to the license restriction to alleviate problems occurring in shared license pools on a network. The network monitoring system also includes a user priority system which defines user priorities for the application shared on the network. The priority system closes a current user accessing the user application if the priority of a new user requesting access is greater than the priority of the current user or if the application of the current user is idle.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Wiggins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2135
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A network monitoring system comprising: a computer including processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window, wherein one of said user applications is provided by at least one of a server and a service and is subject to a license restriction, wherein when said one of said user applications is associated with said active window, said user application is executed by said processing means; display means, coupled to said processing means, for displaying a user interface of said operating system; and user prompting means, run by said processing means and said display means and associated with said one of said user applications, for prompting a user when said one of said user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A network monitoring system comprising: a computer including processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window, wherein one of said user applications is provided by at least one of a server and a service and is subject to a license restriction, wherein when said one of said user applications is associated with said active window, said user application is executed by said processing means; display means, coupled to said processing means, for displaying a user interface of said operating system; and user prompting means, run by said processing means and said display means and associated with said one of said user applications, for prompting a user when said one of said user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said user prompting means includes a first timer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said user interface is a graphical user interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The network monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising: closing means, run by said processing means and associated with said one of said user applications, for closing said one of said user applications when said one of said user applications has been associated with said inactive window for a period greater than a second predetermined period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network monitoring system of claim 4 wherein said closing means includes a second timer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The network monitoring system of claim 4 further comprising: check means, associated with said processing means, said user prompting means, and said closing means, for periodically enabling said user prompting means and said closing means based on a third predetermined period shorter than said first and second predetermined periods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
The network monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising: identification (ID) means, associated with said computer, for generating an access request including a computer ID to access said one of said user applications and a termination request to terminate said one of said user applications; application usage storing means, coupled to said ID means, for storing said computer ID and user startup and termination data based on said access and termination requests for said computer; billing means, associated with said application usage storing means, for generating billing for said computer for use of said one of said user applications based upon said user startup and termination data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
The network monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of computers each including a processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system which is capable of running multiple user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window, wherein said plurality of computers are connected to at least one of a server and a service which provides access to said one of said user applications; network monitor means, coupled to said plurality of computers, for providing a first predetermined number of users access to said one of said user applications; storing means, associated with said network monitor means, for storing a user identity and a user priority for each of said first predetermined number of users; and comparing means, associated with said network monitor means and said storing means, for comparing a user priority of a new user requesting access to said one of said user applications to said user priorities stored in said storing means when said first predetermined number of users are currently accessing said one of said user applications.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The network monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising: closing means, coupled to said comparing means, for closing said one of said user applications for one of said first predetermined number of users if said user priority of said new user is higher than the user priority of said one of said first predetermined number of users.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The network monitoring system of claim 9 further comprising: access granting means, coupled to said comparing means, for granting said new user access to said one of said user applications.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The network monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising: closing means, coupled to said comparing means, for closing said one of said user applications for one of said first predetermined number of users if said user priority of said new user is the same as said user priority of said one of said first predetermined number of users and if said one of said user applications of said one of said predetermined number of users is associated with an inactive window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
A priority system for granting and denying access to a user application subject to a license restriction comprising: a plurality of computers each including a processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system capable of having active and inactive windows, said computer being connected to at least one of a server and a service which provides access to a user application subject to a license restriction, wherein said user application is associated with one of said active and inactive windows, and wherein when said user application is associated with said active window, said user application is executed by said processing means; network monitor means, coupled to said plurality of computers, for providing a first predetermined number of users access to said user application; storing means, associated with said network monitor means, for storing a user identity and user priority for each of said first predetermined number of users; and comparing means, associated with said network monitor means and said storing means, for comparing a user priority of a new user requesting access to said user application to said user priorities stored in said storing means when said first predetermined number of users are currently accessing said user application.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
198 words
A priority system for granting and denying access to a user application subject to a license restriction comprising: a plurality of computers each including a processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system capable of having active and inactive windows, said computer being connected to at least one of a server and a service which provides access to a user application subject to a license restriction, wherein said user application is associated with one of said active and inactive windows, and wherein when said user application is associated with said active window, said user application is executed by said processing means; network monitor means, coupled to said plurality of computers, for providing a first predetermined number of users access to said user application; storing means, associated with said network monitor means, for storing a user identity and user priority for each of said first predetermined number of users; and comparing means, associated with said network monitor means and said storing means, for comparing a user priority of a new user requesting access to said user application to said user priorities stored in said storing means when said first predetermined number of users are currently accessing said user application.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The priority system of claim 12 further comprising: closing means, coupled to said comparing means, for closing said user application for one of said first predetermined number of users if said user priority of said new user is higher than said user priority of said one of said first predetermined number of users.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The priority system of claim 13 further comprising: closing means, coupled to said comparing means, for closing said user application for one of said first predetermined number of users if said user priority of said new user is the same as said user priority of said one of said first predetermined number of users and if said user application of said one of said predetermined number of users is associated with an inactive window.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The priority system of claim 13 further comprising: access granting means, coupled to said comparing means, for granting said new user access to said user application.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
A license monitoring and recovering system comprising: a computer including processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window, wherein one of said user applications is provided by at least one of a server and a service and is subject to a license restriction, and wherein when said one of said user applications is associated with said active window, said one of said user applications is executed by said processing means; display means, coupled to said processing means, for displaying a user interface of said operating system; and closing means, run by said processing means and associated with said user application, for closing said one of said user application when said one of said user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
153 words
A license monitoring and recovering system comprising: a computer including processing means for executing a multi-tasking operating system which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window, wherein one of said user applications is provided by at least one of a server and a service and is subject to a license restriction, and wherein when said one of said user applications is associated with said active window, said one of said user applications is executed by said processing means; display means, coupled to said processing means, for displaying a user interface of said operating system; and closing means, run by said processing means and associated with said user application, for closing said one of said user application when said one of said user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The monitoring device of claim 16 further comprising: user prompting means, associated with said processing means, said display means and said one of said user applications, for prompting a user when said one of said user applications has been associated with said inactive window for a period greater than a second predetermined period, wherein said first predetermined period exceeds said second predetermined period.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of monitoring and recovering licenses comprising the steps of: executing a multi-tasking operating system on a computer which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window; providing one of said user applications using at least one of a server and a service, wherein said one of said user applications is subject to a license restriction; executing said one of said user applications with a processor associated with said computer when said user application is associated with said active window; displaying a user interface of said operating system; and prompting a user when said one of user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of monitoring and recovering licenses comprising the steps of: executing a multi-tasking operating system on a computer which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window; providing one of said user applications using at least one of a server and a service, wherein said one of said user applications is subject to a license restriction; executing said one of said user applications with a processor associated with said computer when said user application is associated with said active window; displaying a user interface of said operating system; and prompting a user when said one of user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: closing said one of said user applications when said one of said user applications has been associated with said inactive window for a period greater than a second predetermined period.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of: periodically enabling said user prompting means and said closing means based on a third predetermined period shorter than said first and second predetermined periods.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: generating an access request including a computer ID to access said one of said user applications and a user termination request to terminate said one of said user applications; storing said computer ID and user startup and termination time data based on said access and termination requests for said computers; generating billing for said computer for use of said one of said user applications based upon said startup and termination time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: providing a first predetermined number of users access to said one of said user applications subject to said license restriction; storing a user identity and user priority for said first predetermined number of users; and comparing a user priority of a new user requesting access to said one of said user applications to said user priorities stored in said storing means when said first predetermined number of users are currently accessing said one of said user applications.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of: closing said one of said user applications for one of said first predetermined number of users if said user priority of said current user is higher than said user priority of said one of said first predetermined number of users.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: granting said new user access to said one of said user applications.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a computer including a processing means for running a multi-tasking operating system capable of having active and inactive windows, said computer being connected to at least one of a server and a service which provides access to a user application subject to a license restriction, wherein said user application is associated with one of said active and inactive windows, and wherein when said user application is associated with said active window, said user application is executed by said processing means, a method of granting and denying access to said user application based upon user priority comprising the steps of: providing a first predetermined number of users access to said user application subject to said license restriction; storing a user identity and a user priority for each of said first predetermined number of users; and comparing a user priority of a new user requesting access to said user application to said user priorities stored in said storing means when said first predetermined number of users are currently accessing said user application.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a computer including a processing means for running a multi-tasking operating system capable of having active and inactive windows, said computer being connected to at least one of a server and a service which provides access to a user application subject to a license restriction, wherein said user application is associated with one of said active and inactive windows, and wherein when said user application is associated with said active window, said user application is executed by said processing means, a method of granting and denying access to said user application based upon user priority comprising the steps of: providing a first predetermined number of users access to said user application subject to said license restriction; storing a user identity and a user priority for each of said first predetermined number of users; and comparing a user priority of a new user requesting access to said user application to said user priorities stored in said storing means when said first predetermined number of users are currently accessing said user application.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of: closing said user application for one of said first predetermined number of users if said user priority of said new user is higher than said user priority of one of said first predetermined number of users.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of: granting said new user access to said user application.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of monitoring and recovering licenses comprising the steps of: executing a multi-tasking operating system on a computer which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window; providing one of said user applications using at least one of a server and a service, wherein said one of said user applications is subject to a license restriction; executing said one of said user applications with a processor associated with said computer when said user application is associated with said active window; displaying a user interface of said operating system; and closing said one of said user applications when said one of said user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of monitoring and recovering licenses comprising the steps of: executing a multi-tasking operating system on a computer which is capable of running a plurality of user applications each of which being associated with an active or an inactive window; providing one of said user applications using at least one of a server and a service, wherein said one of said user applications is subject to a license restriction; executing said one of said user applications with a processor associated with said computer when said user application is associated with said active window; displaying a user interface of said operating system; and closing said one of said user applications when said one of said user applications has been associated with an inactive window for a period greater than a first predetermined period.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of: prompting a user when said one of said user applications has been associated with said inactive window for a period greater than a second predetermined period shorter than said first predetermined period.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-09 | 2001-08-11 | 2002-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-09 | 2005-08-11 | 2006-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-09 | 2009-08-11 | 2010-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |