Abstract: Data associated with the services in a service oriented architecture are stored in a primary repository and replicated across secondary repositories. Functionality can be implemented to efficiently synchronize data across the primary repository and the secondary repositories. Data synchronization can comprise calculating and comparing hash values of one or more nodes, based in part on concatenated hash values of child nodes and data that comprise the one or more nodes, of a tree structure representing data stored in the repositories.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding apparatus for metering usage of software products on a computer are proposed. The metering system is based on the use of a software catalogue. The software catalogue lists all the known products to be metered; each product is identified by one or more executable modules indicative of its running. A licensing agent detects the executable modules that have been launched. For each executable module, the system checks if a corresponding product is listed in the catalogue, and can decide an appropriate action, or simply meter the usage of the product for future reporting and invoicing activity. If no corresponding product is found in the catalogue, the method according to the present invention performs a similarity check between the unknown detected module and the product identifiers existing on the catalogue. Sometimes the difference between a new product and a catalogued one is very limited.

Abstract: Metering execution of interpreted programs on a data processing system is accomplished. An interpreted program requests a service to an interpreter running the interpreted program. The interpreter invokes a native external function for implementing the service. The invocation of the external function is intercepted. The interpreted program identified according to the external function by accessing a catalogue which associates native functions with interpreted programs. A license management operation is performed according to the identified interpreted program.

Abstract: Data associated with the services in a service oriented architecture are stored in a primary repository and replicated across secondary repositories. Functionality can be implemented to efficiently synchronize data across the primary repository and the secondary repositories. Data synchronization can comprise calculating and comparing hash values of one or more nodes, based in part on concatenated hash values of child nodes and data that comprise the one or more nodes, of a tree structure representing data stored in the repositories.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes using a class loader, detecting an entry point to a Java application; using a class loader, detecting each entry point extension to the Java application; and contacting a third party license server for acquiring a license for each of the Java application and extension associated with each detected entry point.

Abstract: A method (400) of controlling use of a software product (or equivalent digitally encoded products) on a data processing system of a customer by a supplier of the product. The method includes the steps of monitoring (433–447) operation of the customer system for detecting a condition of use of the product (such as the number of end-users running the product simultaneously), providing (450–462) reconciliation information indicative of the detected condition of use over a corresponding period of time to a data processing system of the supplier (for example periodically sending a corresponding message through the INTERNET), and updating (471–480) licensing information stored on the supplier system and indicative of a licensing condition of the product according to the reconciliation information.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding apparatus for metering usage of software products on a computer are proposed. The metering system is based on the use of a software catalogue. The software catalogue lists all the known products to be metered; each product is identified by one or more executable modules indicative of its running. A licensing agent detects the executable modules that have been launched. For each executable module, the system checks if a corresponding product is listed in the catalogue, and can decide an appropriate action, or simply meter the usage of the product for future reporting and invoicing activity. If no corresponding product is found in the catalogue, the method according to the present invention performs a similarity check between the unknown detected module and the product identifiers existing on the catalogue. Sometimes the difference between a new product and a catalogued one is very limited.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding system (200) for metering execution of interpreted programs (220) are proposed. Typically, an interpreter, such as the Java Virtual Machine (215), lacks built-in capabilities for communicating with the hardware and software platform of the computer directly; for this purpose, the virtual machine invokes external native functions through the Java Native Interface (225). The solution of the invention is based on the idea of stubbing the dynamic libraries (235) that implement those native functions. Therefore, when the virtual machine needs a native function (for example, to load a new class), a stub library (250) is loaded in place of the required dynamic library. As soon as the virtual machine calls the desired command, the stub library takes control and identifies the interpreted program that is run by the virtual machine; preferably, this operation is performed by querying a catalogue that associates the new class with the corresponding interpreted program.

Abstract: A method (400) of controlling use of a software product (or equivalent digitally encoded products) on a data processing system of a customer by a supplier of the product. The method includes the steps of monitoring (433-447) operation of the customer system for detecting a condition of use of the product (such as the number of end-users running the product simultaneously), providing (450-462) reconciliation information indicative of the detected condition of use over a corresponding period of time to a data processing system of the supplier (for example periodically sending a corresponding message through the INTERNET), and updating (471-480) licensing information stored on the supplier system and indicative of a licensing condition of the product according to the reconciliation information.