International Business Machines Corporation

Green Market Square Limited

Joachim Bruchlos

Timo Kussmaul

Joachim Hagmeier

Dietmar Kuebler

Ludwig Fischer

Klaus Schroth

Guenther Reus

Peter Kuczewski

Provided are techniques for providing licensed access to application services based on a contract that specifies conditions for usage of the software application services by a service requester, access to the software application services being provided over a network under different license types, each license type defining a particular usage condition, including a service handler implementing a runtime environment, retrieving service requester profile data associated with the service request; retrieving an identified and validated contract associated with the service request by utilizing requester profile data; receiving license condition data corresponding to the identified contract; retrieving contract information corresponding to the identified and validated contract; receiving, by the licensing service component, usage data; comparing the received usage data with the received license condition data and determining availability of two or more licensing options to satisfy the service request and providing the service in accordance with one of the licensing options.

Automatic creation and configuration of license models and policies

The present invention refers to the field of networked computer telecommunication, and in particular to a method and system for processing services associated with a contract between a service requester (SC) and a service provider (SP) wherein said services are to be provided via a network, wherein at least one service contract is defined between said service requester and said service provider. In order to improve the processing of web services, license management facilities (A) are included into the prior art method cooperating closely with a Contract Management component (A) and a Service Metering Component (A). Preferably, a plurality of different license types are provided for selection to be used, which may further be combined also, in order to match best the needs of a customer.

Method for automatic creation and configuration of license models and policies

The present invention refers to the field of networked computer telecommunication, and in particular to a method and system for processing contract data defining contracts between a service requester and a service provider for services like Web Services to be provided via a network. In order to improve the processing of web services in presence of a multitude of valid contracts between binding a Service Consumer (SC) it is proposed to include () said contract data into a request for said service in order to enable the Service provider to evaluate () and select () a particular contract out said multitude in order to match best the needs of the Consumer.

Web service contract selection

A utilization method and system within a communication network comprises at least one service provider and at least one service consumer. In particular, a there is license contract method and system for validating web services during runtime. At least one parameter is provided to define, if and how many meter event requests associated with service requests may be stored in a cache memory. The parameter is predefined and may be contained in the license contract. Further, a counter may be provided for counting the service requests. The actual status of the counter is sent to the service consumer and/or the service provider.

Licensed content utilization validation using cache parameters

A self service terminal for processing transaction forms or slips, especially checks and transfer forms, is provided, including means for optically reading and taking an electronic image of said transaction form or slip with a transparent plate. The transaction form or slip is positionable on said transparent plate in such a way that there is no motion of the form when taking the electronic image.

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Calw, Germany

Joachim Bruchlos