Abstract: According to example configurations as described herein, use of software can be contingent upon whether a hierarchical license tree has a valid license for a software resource associated with a respective node in the tree. For example, an installer can be configured to traverse the hierarchical license tree to identify which, if any, of the software resources as represented by nodes in the tree has a valid license and therefore can be installed for execution on a respective computer system. If a valid license exists for a given node in the tree, the software resource associated with the given node as well as software resources associated with child nodes of the given node can be installed for use on the computer. A software resource manager can be configured to prevent installation, execution, etc., of software resources for nodes above the respective parent node that do not have a corresponding valid license.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for managing software entitlements. The method comprises receiving a user request to enable access to a first software product that requires a special entitlement, wherein the user is entitled to access one or more second software products that require a corresponding one or more general entitlements, and wherein the first software product and the one or more second software products are resident in a memory accessible via a single access portal; verifying a user entitlement to the first software product requiring the special entitlement; and providing a license to enable access to the first software product that requires the special entitlement and the one or more second software products that require the general entitlement.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for sharing server resources. One or more applications are registered to a first local group on a device, and one or more applications are registered to a second local group on the device. If a user and device have been authenticated, and a device token already acquired for obtaining authorization for a first application of the first local group to access resources from a server, the same device token is available for use in obtaining authorization for a second application of the first group to access (share) resources from the server. Thus, the user need not re-submit authentication credentials to the authorization server. When the user signs out of an application of the same group, the sign out procedure is processed locally for all applications of the group. A device token is surrendered when it is not needed by applications of any other group.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for sharing server resources. One or more applications are registered to a first local group on a device, and one or more applications are registered to a second local group on the device. If a user and device have been authenticated, and a device token already acquired for obtaining authorization for a first application of the first local group to access resources from a server, the same device token is available for use in obtaining authorization for a second application of the first group to access (share) resources from the server. Thus, the user need not re-submit authentication credentials to the authorization server. When the user signs out of an application of the same group, the sign out procedure is processed locally for all applications of the group. A device token is surrendered when it is not needed by applications of any other group.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for managing software entitlements. The method comprises receiving a user request to enable access to a first software product that requires a special entitlement, wherein the user is entitled to access one or more second software products that require a corresponding one or more general entitlements, and wherein the first software product and the one or more second software products are resident in a memory accessible via a single access portal; verifying a user entitlement to the first software product requiring the special entitlement; and providing a license to enable access to the first software product that requires the special entitlement and the one or more second software products that require the general entitlement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using a flexible serialization technique to determine whether certain protected content items (e.g., software) are eligible to be installed on a target computer system during an installation procedure are described. Consistent with some embodiments of the invention, a serial number entered by an end-user is decoded to identify a product identifier that corresponds with a select folder in a folder hierarchy on a storage medium that contains various payloads for installing digital content items on a target computer system. The folder that corresponds with the product identifier includes license configuration information that specifies a set of digital content items eligible for installation, based on the serial number entered by the end-user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using a flexible serialization technique to determine whether certain protected content items (e.g., software) are eligible to be installed on a target computer system during an installation procedure are described. Consistent with some embodiments of the invention, a serial number entered by an end-user is decoded to identify a product identifier that corresponds with a select folder in a folder hierarchy on a storage medium that contains various payloads for installing digital content items on a target computer system. The folder that corresponds with the product identifier includes license configuration information that specifies a set of digital content items eligible for installation, based on the serial number entered by the end-user.

Abstract: According to example configurations as described herein, use of software can be contingent upon whether a hierarchical license tree has a valid license for a software resource associated with a respective node in the tree. For example, an installer can be configured to traverse the hierarchical license tree to identify which, if any, of the software resources as represented by nodes in the tree has a valid license and therefore can be installed for execution on a respective computer system. If a valid license exists for a given node in the tree, the software resource associated with the given node as well as software resources associated with child nodes of the given node can be installed for use on the computer. A software resource manager can be configured to prevent installation, execution, etc., of software resources for nodes above the respective parent node that do not have a corresponding valid license.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for simulation installation operations is presented. An installer software application is identified and is used for performing installation operations, and a payload to be installed by the installer software application is also identified. Installation of the payload by the installer software application is simulated, wherein an entry is made in a database to record operations that were performed rather than conventional installation operations. This simulation includes updating configuration information and product information for the payload in a product database and refraining from performing file copies.