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 remotely delivering software. The method comprises installing a provisioning application on a first device, in response to accessing an advertisement for a software product; determining one or more second devices that are synchronized with the first device, wherein the one or more second devices are remote from the first device, and wherein the one or more synchronized second devices are not registered with a software provider of the software product; registering the one or more synchronized second devices with the software provider of the software product; receiving, from the first device, a selection of one or more of the registered devices for installation of the software product; and directing installation of the software product on the one or more selected registered devices.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for providing subscriber eligibility verification using community validation. The method comprises: receiving credentials to verify a user as eligible to be a member of a group; matching the credentials to member information of a plurality of verified members of the group; requesting a reference from a plurality of matched verified members of the group, verifying that the user is eligible to be a member of the group; and validating the user as a member of the group upon receipt of at least one of the requested references.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for version independent Point of Sale Activation (POSA) product download. The method comprises accessing a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of entries associated with a plurality of Point of Sale Activation (POSA) cards available for purchase at a retail store; retrieving, from the database, a plurality of entries associated with a previous version of a software product, wherein the previous version of the software product has not been redeemed; generating a serial number for each retrieved entry, wherein each serial number is associated with a current version of the software product; and updating, in the database, each retrieved entry with the generated serial number.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for licensing web assets. The method comprises loading a web asset for use by one or more software applications when an entitlement to use the web asset exists for a first user of the web asset, wherein the entitlement defines a purchased license to the web asset, and wherein the web asset is use agnostic.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for integrating e-commerce providers with third-party vendors. The method comprises receiving an order from one vendor of a plurality of vendors, wherein the order comprises a vendor identification, a fulfillment identification, and a vendor stock keeping unit (SKU), and wherein a plurality of the vendors each has a unique communication protocol; mapping the fulfillment identification to a user identification (userID) known to a provider; mapping the vendor SKU to a provider SKU; generating a provisioning call responsive to the mapping; and provisioning the SKU for the userID in a database of the provider in response to the provisioning call.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, etc. for generating an animated preview of a number of images are disclosed. A selection of a group of images is received. A set of digital images from the group of images are identified as being representative of the group. At least some portion of the identified set of representative digital images from the group is then used to create an animated image. The animated image serves as a preview of the group of images, such that, when a user browses the images and sees the preview associated with a corresponding folder or directory, the user is able to quickly and easily associate the images in the group with a particular event and identify contents of the folder or directory.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include a license provisioning application that organizes licensing information into a licensing data structure in a multi-application environment. The license provisioning application can use the licensing data structure to increase the efficiency of license management operations by representing complex licenses and their relationships, including locale-based licensing and flexible licensing frameworks. The license provisioning application includes a caching mechanism for faster performance, and facilitates ease of use for license management operations, such as activation, renewal, and deactivation (both in bulk and individually), handling subscription based licensing, trial licensing, and executing license queries. The license provisioning application can provide a graphical representation of licenses and relationships for performing various license management operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning a subscription product is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a request for a subscription product; retrieving a profile and at least one subscription associated with the profile, wherein the at least one subscription comprises a plurality of subscription details; validating the plurality of subscription details; retrieving product data for the subscription product based on the validated subscription details; determining a dominant subscription product when there are at least two subscriptions associated with the profile; and sending the product data for the dominant subscription product, wherein the product data enables activation of a product license.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote purchase, installation, and licensing of software is disclosed. The method comprising receiving, from a mobile device, a request for a software application; determining compatibility between at least one registered device and the software application; providing, to the mobile device, a list comprising compatible registered devices; placing the software application on an installation queue for the selected registered device in response to an input; and downloading the queued software application to the registered device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a software application that does not have independent licensing information are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a first software application is associated with a license dependency rule that indicates one or more other software applications that must be installed and activated in order for the first software application to be fully executed and used on the target computer system. A license manager module evaluates the license dependency rule, for example, by making remote license calls to verify the license status of the software applications identified in the license dependency rule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning price-differentiated products while deterring piracy comprising creating a plurality of triples, wherein each triple comprises a first component, a second component, and a third component, wherein each triple uniquely identifies a price-differentiated product; providing to a vendor of the product a plurality of pairs, wherein each pair in the plurality of pairs comprises the first component and the second component of the triple for each price-differentiated product provided to the vendor; receiving the pair from the vendor when the product is sold; providing to a purchaser identification verifier the pair for the product that was sold; receiving from the purchaser identification verifier the second component of the triple upon verification of an identity of a purchaser; and providing product activation information to the identity verified purchaser in response to receiving the second component, wherein the activation information enables use of the product.

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: A method and apparatus for redeeming a software subscription while deterring piracy. The method comprises receiving a request to activate a software subscription, wherein the request comprises a redemption code and a userID; validating the redemption code; retrieving a user profile based on the userID; validating a sales region where the software subscription was purchased against a country code in the user profile; and activating the software subscription upon successful validation of the redemption code and sales region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning a subscription product is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a request for a subscription product; retrieving a profile and at least one subscription associated with the profile, wherein the at least one subscription comprises a plurality of subscription details; validating the plurality of subscription details; retrieving product data for the subscription product based on the validated subscription details; determining a dominant subscription product when there are at least two subscriptions associated with the profile; and sending the product data for the dominant subscription product, wherein the product data enables activation of a product license.

Abstract: Methods and systems for activating a software application while provisioning a web service to operate with the software application are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a product activation procedure is performed during a workflow to provision a web service to operate with a software application. By activating the software application during the web service provisioning workflow, an end-user can establish ownership of a proper license for the software application without having to input any license information, such as a serial number or product key, associated with the end-user's license.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a software application that does not have independent licensing information are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a first software application is associated with a license dependency rule that indicates one or more other software applications that must be installed and activated in order for the first software application to be fully executed and used on the target computer system. A license manager module evaluates the license dependency rule, for example, by making remote license calls to verify the license status of the software applications identified in the license dependency rule.

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: Example embodiments herein include a license manager process that receives a license query from a server device. The license query requests usage data associated with a permanent license on a client device. In response to receiving the license query, the license manager procures the usage data associated with the permanent license on the client device. The license manager then transmits the usage data associated with the permanent license to the server device. Furthermore, the license manager receives a revocation request from the server device. In this manner, the revocation request is received in response to transmitting the usage data associated with the permanent license to the server device. In turn, the license manager revokes the permanent license that was indicated in the revocation request to disable use of the respective application on the client device.