Abstract: A method and an apparatus for validating software usage are described. The method involves collecting data containing user activity data when a piece of software is running and being used by a user, periodically generating a data packet containing the data collected to obtain a plurality of the data packets; verifying that each data packet is generated according to predetermined rules, checking the collected data contained in a plurality of verified data packets to determine whether the user is using the software, and checking whether the checked collected data have similarity with past collected data that exceeds a predetermined level of similarity. Software usage by a user is deemed to be validated if it is determined that the user is using the software and no past collected data exceeding the predetermined level of similarity is found.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for validating software usage, the method comprising: collecting data containing user activity data when a piece of software is running and being used by a user; periodically generating a data packet containing the data collected to obtain a plurality of the data packets; verifying that each data packet is generated according to predetermined rules; checking the collected data contained in a plurality of verified data packets to determine whether the user is using the software; and checking whether the checked collected data have similarity with past collected data that exceeds a predetermined level of similarity, wherein software usage by a user is deemed to be validated if it is determined that the user is using the software and no past collected data exceeding the predetermined level of similarity is found.