Blockchain-based licensing as a service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025028791-A1
Application number	US-202318239766-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2023
Priority date	Jul 17, 2023
Publication date	Jan 23, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Example methods and systems for blockchain-based licensing as a service are described. In one example, a computer system may receive a first request to obtain a first license associated with a first product from a first client system. In response, the computer system may (a) select a first blockchain from multiple blockchains, and (b) generate and store a first non-fungible token (NFT) on the first blockchain to issue the first license. Further, the computer system may receive a second request to obtain a second license associated with the first product or a second product from a second client system. In response, the computer system may (a) select a second blockchain from multiple blockchains, and (b) generate and store a second NFT on the second blockchain to issue the second license.

First claim

1 . A method for a computer system to perform blockchain-based licensing as a service, wherein the method comprises:
in response to receiving, from a first client system associated with a first user, a first request to obtain a first license associated with a first product,
selecting, from multiple blockchains accessible by the computer system, a first blockchain based on one or more first features associated with the first blockchain, wherein the multiple blockchains include at least the first blockchain and a second blockchain; and
based on a first fungible token (FT) associated with the first product, generating and storing a first non-fungible token (NFT) on the first blockchain to issue the first license; and
in response to receiving, from a second client system associated with a second user, a second request to obtain a second license associated with the first product or a second product,
selecting, from the multiple blockchains, the second blockchain based on one or more second features associated with the second blockchain; and
based on the first FT or a second FT associated with the second product, generating and storing a second NFT on the second blockchain to issue the second license.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the first blockchain comprises:
selecting the first blockchain based on one or more of the following first features associated with the first blockchain: trust level, performance level and cost.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the first blockchain and the second blockchain comprises:
selecting the first blockchain and the second blockchain from the multiple blockchains that are each implemented using one of the following: layer 1 blockchain technology, layer 2 blockchain technology, private blockchain technology, consortium blockchain technology and cross-chain technology.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to receiving the first request, generating and storing the first FT on a first license registrar with a first licensor; and updating a first license store associated with the first licensor to indicate that the first FT is available for acquisition.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to receiving the first request, transferring ownership of the first FT from the first licensor to a vendor; and updating a second license store associated with the vendor to indicate that the first FT is available for acquisition.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and storing the first NFT comprises:
generating and storing the first NFT to include metadata that is stored using a Merkle tree structure, wherein the metadata includes an expiry date and an amount of license fee associated with the first license.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating and storing the first NFT comprises:
calling or invoking a smart contract function to mint the first NFT on the first blockchain based on the first FT associated with the first product.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that includes a set of instructions which, in response to execution by a processor of a computer system, cause the processor to perform blockchain-based licensing as a service, wherein the method comprises:
in response to receiving, from a first client system associated with a first user, a first request to obtain a first license associated with a first product,
selecting, from multiple blockchains accessible by the computer system, a first blockchain based on one or more first features associated with the first blockchain, wherein the multiple blockchains include at least the first blockchain and a second blockchain; and
generating and storing a first token on the first blockchain to issue the first license to the first client system or the first user; and
in response to receiving, from a second client system associated with a second user, a second request to obtain a second license associated with the first product or a second product,
selecting, from the multiple blockchains, the second blockchain based on one or more second features associated with the second blockchain; and
generating and storing a second token on the second blockchain to issue the second license to the second client system or the second user.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein selecting the first blockchain comprises:
selecting the first blockchain based on one or more of the following first features associated with the first blockchain: trust level, performance level and cost.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein selecting the first blockchain comprises:
selecting the first blockchain from the multiple blockchains that are each implemented using one of the following: layer 1 blockchain technology, layer 2 blockchain technology, private blockchain technology, consortium blockchain technology and cross-chain technology.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein generating and storing the first token and the second token comprises:
generating and storing the first token, being a first non-fungible token (NFT), on the first blockchain based on a first fungible token (FT) associated with the first product; and generating and storing the second token, being a second NFT, on the second blockchain based on the first FT or a second FT associated with the second product.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to receiving the first request, generating and storing the first FT on a first license registrar with a first licensor; and updating a first license store associated with a first licensor to indicate that the first FT is available for acquisition.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to receiving the first request, transferring ownership of the first FT from the first licensor to a vendor; and updating a second license store associated with the vendor to indicate that the first FT is available for acquisition.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein generating and storing the first NFT comprises:
generating and storing the first token to include metadata that is stored using a Merkle tree structure, wherein the metadata includes an expiry date and an amount of license fee associated with the first license.

15 . A computer system, comprising:
(a) a processor; and (b) a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the following: generate and store a first fungible token (FT) associated with a first product, and a second FT associated with a second product; in response to receiving, from a first client system associated with a first user, a first request to obtain a first license associated with the first product,
select a first blockchain from multiple blockchains accessible by the computer system, wherein the multiple blockchains include at least the first blockchain and a second blockchain; and
based on the first FT, generate and store a first non-fungible token (NFT) on the first blockchain to issue the first license; and
in response to receiving, from a second client system associated with a second user, a second request to obtain a second license associated with the first product or a second product,
select the second blockchain from the multiple blockchains; and
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Assignees

• Vmware Inc

Inventors

• Lin Bo
• Wu Qi
• Zeng Xi
• Lou Kai
• Chen Dongping
• Zeng Yi
• Li Danyang
• Shen Dongsheng
• Han Donghai

Classifications

• H04L9/3239

  involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD · CPC title

• H04L9/50

  using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees · CPC title

• G06F21/105 Primary

  Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level · CPC title