Claims
- 1. A method of licensing an electronic circuit design for use within a target electronic circuit, the method being employed in at least one licensing system, each licensing system including a licensing controller communicably coupleable to a respective target electronic circuit, comprising the steps of:
determining whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit by verifying first licensing information included in first data associated with the electronic circuit design, the first licensing information having at least one associated attribute; in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit, applying the first data to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller; and in response to a predetermined event, updating the at least one associated attribute to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step includes accessing second licensing information, comparing at least a portion of the first licensing information with at least a portion of the second licensing information, and determining whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit based on results of the comparison.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step includes applying the first data to the target electronic circuit for programmably configuring the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of generating a signature of the first data applied to the target electronic circuit.
- 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the updating step includes, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is programmably configured for a first time within the target electronic circuit, updating the at least one associated attribute to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is not being programmably configured for the first time within the target electronic circuit, not updating the at least one associated attribute.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step includes applying the first data to the target electronic circuit for testing the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the updating step includes, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, updating the at least one associated attribute to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has not passed the testing, not updating the at least one associated attribute.
- 10. The method of claim 7 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, applying second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller to enable functional operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 11. The method of claim 1 further including the step of applying second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller to enable functional or test operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the licensing system is connected to at least one network, and the determining step includes accessing at least a portion of the first licensing information over the network.
- 13. The method of claim 2 wherein the licensing system is connected to at least one network, and the determining step includes accessing at least a portion of the first and second licensing information over the network.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step, the applying step, and the updating step are executable by a plurality of licensing systems, each licensing system being connected to at least one network.
- 15. A system for licensing an electronic circuit design for use within a target electronic circuit, comprising:
at least one first storage configured to store first data associated with the electronic circuit design, the first data including first licensing information, the first licensing information having at least one associated attribute; a computer configured to access the first data stored in the first storage, and to determine whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit by verifying the first licensing information; and a controller configured to convey the first data from the computer to the target electronic circuit, wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit, to apply the first data to the target electronic circuit via the controller.
- 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer is further configured, in response to a predetermined event, to update the at least one associated attribute to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 17. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer is further configured to access second licensing information, to compare at least a portion of the first licensing information with at least a portion of the second licensing information, and to determine whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit based on results of the comparison.
- 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first storage is further configured to store the second licensing information.
- 19. The system of claim 17 further including a second storage configured to store the second licensing information.
- 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the second storage is included in the controller, and the controller is further configured to convey the second licensing information from the second storage to the computer.
- 21. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer is further configured to apply the first data to the target electronic circuit for programmably configuring the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 22. The system of claim 21 wherein the target electronic circuit is configured to generate a signature of the first data.
- 23. The system of claim 21 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is programmably configured for a first time within the target electronic circuit, to update the at least one associated attribute to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 24. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is not being programmably configured for the first time within the target electronic circuit, not to update the at least one associated attribute.
- 25. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer is further configured to apply the first data to the target electronic circuit for testing the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, to update the at least one associated attribute to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 27. The system of claim 26 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has not passed the testing, not to update the at least one associated attribute.
- 28. The system of claim 25 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, to apply second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller to enable functional operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 29. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer is further configured to apply second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller to enable functional or test operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 30. The system of claim 15 further including at least one network, the first storage and the computer being communicably connected to the network, and wherein the computer is further configured to access at least a portion of the first licensing information over the network.
- 31. The system of claim 19 further including at least one network, the first storage, the second storage, and the computer being communicably connected to the network, and wherein the computer is further configured to access at least a portion of the first and second licensing information over the network.
- 32. A method of licensing an electronic circuit design for use within a target electronic circuit, the method being employed in a licensing system including a computer and a controller for conveying data between the computer and the target circuit, comprising the steps of:
accessing first data associated with the electronic circuit design by the computer, the first data including first licensing information, the first licensing information having at least one associated attribute; verifying the first licensing information to determine whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit by the computer; and in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit, applying the first data to the target electronic circuit by the computer via the controller.
- 33. The method of claim 32 further including the step of storing the first data in at least one first storage.
- 34. The method of claim 33 further including the step of storing the first data in at least one first storage, wherein the first storage is included in the licensing system.
- 35. The method of claim 32 further including the step of, in response to a predetermined event, updating the at least one associated attribute by the computer to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 36. The method of claim 32 wherein the verifying step includes accessing second licensing information by the computer, comparing at least a portion of the first licensing information with at least a portion of the second licensing information, and determining whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit based on results of the comparison.
- 37. The method of claim 36 further including the step of storing the second licensing information in the at least one first storage.
- 38. The method of claim 36 further including the step of storing the second licensing information in a least one second storage.
- 39. The method of claim 38 further including the step of conveying the second licensing information from the second storage to the computer by the controller, wherein the second storage is included in the controller.
- 40. The method of claim 32 wherein the applying step includes applying the first data to the target electronic circuit for programmably configuring the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 41. The method of claim 40 further including the step of generating a signature of the first data by the target electronic circuit.
- 42. The method of claim 40 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is programmably configured for a first time within the target electronic circuit, updating the at least one associated attribute by the computer to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 43. The method of claim 42 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is not being programmably configured for the first time within the target electronic circuit, not updating the at least one associated attribute.
- 44. The method of claim 32 wherein the applying step includes applying the first data to the target electronic circuit for testing the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 45. The method of claim 44 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, updating the at least one associated attribute by the computer to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 46. The method of claim 45 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has not passed the testing, not updating the at least one associated attribute.
- 47. The method of claim 44 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, applying second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit by the computer via the licensing controller to enable functional operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 48. The method of claim 32 further including the step of applying second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit by the computer via the licensing controller to enable functional or test operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 49. The method of claim 32 further including the step of accessing at least a portion of the first licensing information over at least one network by the computer, the first storage and the computer being communicably connected to the network.
- 50. The method of claim 38 further including the step of accessing at least a portion of the first and second licensing information over at least one network by the computer, the first storage, the second storage, and the computer being communicably connected to the network.
- 51. A system for licensing an electronic circuit design for use within a target electronic circuit, comprising:
at least one network; at least one first storage communicably connected to the network, the first storage being configured to store first data associated with at least one electronic circuit design, the first data including first licensing information, the first licensing information having at least one associated attribute; and at least one licensing subsystem communicably connected to the network, wherein the licensing subsystem includes a computer configured to access the first data stored in the first storage over the network, and to determine whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within at least one target electronic circuit by verifying the first licensing information; and a controller configured to convey the first data from the computer to the target electronic circuit, wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit, to apply the first data to the target electronic circuit via the controller.
- 52. The system of claim 51 wherein the computer is further configured, in response to a predetermined event, to update the at least one associated attribute over the network to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 53. The system of claim 51 wherein the computer is further configured to access second licensing information over the network, to compare at least a portion of the first licensing information with at least a portion of the second licensing information, and to determine whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit based on results of the comparison.
- 54. The system of claim 53 wherein the first storage is further configured to store the second licensing information.
- 55. The system of claim 53 further including a second storage configured to store the second licensing information, the second storage being communicably connected to the network.
- 56. The system of claim 55 wherein the second storage is included in the controller, and the controller is further configured to convey the second licensing information from the second storage to the computer.
- 57. The system of claim 51 wherein the computer is further configured to apply the first data to the target electronic circuit for programmably configuring the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 58. The system of claim 57 wherein the target electronic circuit is configured to generate a signature of the first data.
- 59. The system of claim 57 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is programmably configured for a first time within the target electronic circuit, to update the at least one associated attribute over the network to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 60. The system of claim 59 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is not being programmably configured for the first time within the target electronic circuit, not to update the at least one associated attribute.
- 61. The system of claim 51 wherein the computer is further configured to apply the first data to the target electronic circuit for testing the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 62. The system of claim 61 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, to update the at least one associated attribute over the network to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 63. The system of claim 62 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has not passed the testing, not to update the at least one associated attribute.
- 64. The system of claim 61 wherein the computer is further configured, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, to apply second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller to enable functional operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 65. The system of claim 51 wherein the computer is further configured to apply second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit via the licensing controller to enable functional or test operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 66. A method of licensing an electronic circuit design for use within a target electronic circuit, comprising:
accessing first data stored in at least one first storage over at least one network by at least one licensing subsystem, the licensing subsystem including a computer and a controller, the first storage and the licensing subsystem being communicably connected to the network, the first data including first licensing information, the first licensing information having at least one associated attribute; determining whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within at least one target electronic circuit by verifying the first licensing information by the computer; and in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit, applying the first data to the target electronic circuit by the computer via the controller.
- 67. The method of claim 66 further including the step of, in response to a predetermined event, updating the at least one associated attribute over the network by the computer to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 68. The method of claim 66 wherein the determining step includes accessing second licensing information over the network, comparing at least a portion of the first licensing information with at least a corresponding portion of the second licensing information, and determining whether the electronic circuit design is licensable for use within the target electronic circuit based on results of the comparison.
- 69. The method of claim 68 further including the step of storing the second licensing information in the first storage.
- 70. The method of claim 68 further including the step of storing the second licensing information in at least one second storage, the second storage being communicably connected to the network.
- 71. The method of claim 70 further including the step of conveying the second licensing information from the second storage to the computer, wherein the second storage is included in the controller.
- 72. The method of claim 66 wherein the applying step includes applying the first data to the target electronic circuit for programmably configuring the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 73. The method of claim 72 further including the step of generating a signature of the first data by the target electronic circuit.
- 74. The method of claim 72 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is programmably configured for a first time within the target electronic circuit, updating the at least one associated attribute by the computer over the network to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 75. The method of claim 74 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design is not being programmably configured for the first time within the target electronic circuit, not updating the at least one associated attribute.
- 76. The method of claim 66 wherein the applying step includes applying the first data to the target electronic circuit for testing the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 77. The method of claim 76 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, updating the at least one associated attribute by the computer over the network to indicate the licensed use of the electronic circuit design within the target electronic circuit.
- 78. The method of claim 77 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has not passed the testing, not updating the at least one associated attribute.
- 79. The method of claim 76 further including the step of, in the event it is determined that the electronic circuit design has passed the testing, applying second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit by the computer via the licensing controller to enable functional operation of the electronic circuit design.
- 80. The method of claim 66 further including the step of applying second data associated with the electronic circuit design to the target electronic circuit by the computer via the licensing controller to enable functional or test operation of the electronic circuit design.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/350,885 filed Jan. 23, 2002 entitled MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LICENSED DELIVERY AND ACCOUNTING OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60350885 |
Jan 2002 |
US |