US007949608B2
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`Li et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`May 24, 2011
`
`(54) ENABLING A SOFTWARE SERVICE
`
`AElgETsgj?gilgzMATlcALLY OBTAIN
`
`4/2004 Davis et a1.
`2004/0068731 A1
`2004/0148394 A1* 7/2004 Circenis et al. ............. .. 709/226
`2004/ 0267590 A1 12/2004 Clark et al.
`2006/0293942 A1* 12/2006 Chaddha et al. ................ .. 705/8
`
`(75) Inventors: Ying Li, Haidian (CN); Ying Chen,
`Beijing (CN); Zhong Tian, Beijing (CN)
`
`(73) Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation Armonk NY (Us)
`’
`’
`Subject to any disclaimer’ the: term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1427 days.
`
`Notice:Z
`
`( * )
`
`(21) Appl NO _ 11/412 585
`’
`Apr. 27, 2006
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2006/0245564 A1
`Nov. 2, 2006
`
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`Forelgn Apphcatlon Prmnty Data
`(30)
`A r 29 2005 (CN)
`2005 1 0068430
`p '
`’
`(51) Int_ CL
`G06 F 21/00
`705/59 705/51
`(52) U 5 Cl
`,
`I.
`.
`.
`...... .... ...... ... ......................... ..
`705/59
`(58) lsrleld 0f1.C lissl??clatiqon searclht """"
`ee app lea Ion e or Comp 6 e Seam 15 my’
`References Cited
`
`"""""""""""" "
`
`(200601)
`
`(56)
`
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`/
`31
`* 1E1;
`groigiler et
`'
`731973466 B1 *
`3/2007 petersgr'l'gl', ,,,,,,,,,
`2001/0044781 A1 11/2001 Shutes
`2002/0022971 A1
`2/2002 Tanaka et al.
`2002/0078203 A1
`6/2002 Greschler et al.
`2003/0200541 A1 10/2003 Cheng et al.
`2003/0217171 A1 * 11/2003 Von Stuermer et al. .... .. 709/231
`
`713/168
`705/1‘ 1
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Elfatatry, LayZell, Sorfware as a Service: A Negotiation Perspective,
`Dept of Computation, UMIST, UK
`A. Elfatatry et al.; “Software As a Service: A Negotiation Perspec
`tive;” Proceedings of the 26th Annual Internation Computer Software
`and Applications Conference (COMPSAC’02); 2002 IEEE.
`* Cited by examiner
`
`Primary ExamineriAndrew J. Fischer
`Assistant Examiner * Chrystina ZelaskiewicZ
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Cantor Colbum LLP;
`VaZken Alexanian
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Methods, and apparatus, enabling an originating service pro
`vider to automatically obtain from a 3’dparty service provider
`and run a software service online. Method comprising: origi
`nating service provider negotiating license with 3rd party
`service provider over certain software service run by 3’dparty
`service provider; license stipulating life cycle information of
`software service, enabling originating service provider to
`automatically Obtain Software Service; 3rd party provider
`delivering software service to originating service provider in
`response to agreements of license; and originating service
`provider automatically deploying software service in self
`hosted environment according to stipulation of the license.
`Based on the method and apparatus of the present invention,
`the service provider can automatically and ?exibly obtain a
`software service to reduce costs of the service provider and
`ensure quality of the software service, and facilitate the
`expansion of software service ?led and software service
`update~
`
`1 Claim, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Service pzcnBex’s service conhinet
`120
`
`yurchsn agent
`
`licenle control sent in
`
`‘
`
`100 /
`
`120
`
`130
`
`service deploymnnt section
`
`150
`
`service delivering section
`
`TELETRAC Ex. 1009
`
`1
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 017
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`Fig.1
`
`100
`
`service provider's service container
`120
`
`purchese agent
`
`license control section
`
`120
`
`110
`/
`
`/130
`
`140
`/
`
`service deployment section
`
`/150
`
`service delivering section
`
`2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`Fig. 2
`
`Purchase agent
`
`110
`1
`130
`Z,
`
`service
`negotiator
`
`iicense
`
`/261
`
`service
`packer
`
`service
`unpacker
`
`servrce
`deployer
`
`servlce
`un
`deployer
`
`/151
`
`service
`deliverer
`
`service
`receiver
`
`3
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of7
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`negotiate a license with a
`3rd party service prouider
`
`/310
`
`i
`
`deliver a software service
`
`320
`
`1/
`
`i
`
`automatically deploy the software service /330
`in the originating service provider side
`according to the stipulation of the license
`
`1'
`
`[
`
`34o
`1/
`
`4
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of7
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`Fig. 4
`
`purchaser
`
`service I
`service A 9-‘
`service B 59-‘
`serviceC 59-2
`serviceD 59-3
`
`purchase model leasehold
`lease for period of time
`1 month
`lease for period of time 0. 5 month
`buy one license
`buy the service
`
`status
`on
`off
`on
`off
`
`Fig. 8
`(Prior Ar t)
`810
`service provider
`
`service hos t ing
`environment
`
`€821
`
`23
`
`8 2
`
`820
`
`824
`
`5
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`Fig. 5
`
`/500
`
`Begin
`l
`
`two parties negotiate
`license terms (lease)
`
`l
`
`generate a license and
`pack the software service
`
`i
`deliver the software service to the
`originating service provider
`1,
`the originating service provider/540
`unpacks the software service
`i
`hot-deply the
`software service
`
`/550
`
`does the timer expire
`
`automatically numove the
`software service
`
`580
`
`6
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 6 of7
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`Fig. 6
`
`Begin
`
`600
`
`two parties negotiate
`license clauses (buyout)
`
`/610
`
`generate a license and
`pack the software service
`
`J,
`remove the software service from the /630
`3rd party service provider
`
`i
`deliver the software service to /640
`the originating Service provider
`‘I,
`the originating service provider /550
`unpacks the software service
`
`i
`
`660
`hot-deploy the servie /
`
`670
`
`7
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 24, 2011
`
`Sheet 7 of7
`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`Fig. 7
`
`/500
`
`Begin
`1
`710
`check every license /
`
`720
`
`does
`service A have
`leasehold‘?
`
`730
`
`does the leasehol
`
`/740
`
`-7 0
`K s
`
`notify the removal of
`service A
`l
`undeploy
`l
`notify the removal of service /760
`A to the service bargainor
`l
`notify the removal of service A to /770
`the 3rd service provider
`
`1
`the 3rd service provider updates /780
`its license of service A
`
`790
`
`8
`
`

`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`1
`ENABLINGA SOFTWARE SERVICE
`PROVIDER TO AUTOMATICALLY OBTAIN
`SOFTWARE SERVICE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to information technology.
`More particularly, the present invention relates to a method
`and apparatus for enabling a software service provider to
`automatically obtain and run software service online.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
`
`2
`mining software that can be used for providing his client
`(such as China Telecommunications) with advanced geo
`graphical-position-based client relationship analysis.
`In the meantime, the spatial data mining software is pos
`ses sed by the other application service provider B and is being
`implemented to thereby provide the service for the client of B.
`That is to say, it is unnecessary for the client of B to install the
`spatial data mining software, but only necessary to issue a
`request for B to implement the software, perform mining and
`analysis, and return the analysis result to the client. This is
`“SaaS” model for said spatial data mining software.
`At present, if Service ProviderA holds that the spatial data
`mining software of B is valuable, A can:
`1) develop by himself or ask a third party to help develop the
`spatial data mining software, then debug and run the spatial
`data mining software in self-ho sted environment, and provide
`the implemented service to his own client (this is usually
`called implementation purchasing” model);
`2) transfer his own client’ spatial data mining request to B, so
`that B runs the spatial data mining software, calculates the
`result, and then return the result to A (this is usually called a
`“usage purchasing” model).
`As for the above model 1), Service Provider A bears the
`development costs by himself. Additionally, Service Provider
`A will also undertake greater risks because the software is
`developed upon the clients’ request, the value of the software
`is hard to be foreseen and it is inconvenient for the software to
`be updated.
`As for the above model 2), Service Provider A avoids the
`risks associated with development, but the quality of service
`(QoS) cannot be ensured. This is because the software execu
`tion completely depends on B, it is hard forA to control the
`quality of B’s accomplishment of the client’s request (for
`example, how many days will be taken to obtain an analysis
`report?) while A is the one who is directly responsible for the
`client.
`Obviously, neither of the above two models can ensure the
`?exibility of Service ProviderA in obtaining a software ser
`vice and providing a software service for his client.
`Therefore, a method and an apparatus are needed in the
`?eld to enable a service provider to automatically and ?exibly
`obtain a software service and automatically run the software
`service.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In view of the above problems, the present invention pro
`poses a method and an apparatus enabling an originating
`service provider to online automatically obtain from a 3rd
`party service provider and run a software service.
`According to one aspect of the present invention, a method
`of enabling an originating service provider to online auto
`matically obtain from a 3rd party service provider and run a
`software service is provided. The originating service provider
`and the 3rd party service provider both providing one or more
`software services. The method comprises: the originating
`service provider negotiating a license with a 3rd party service
`provider over a certain software service run by the 3rd party
`service provider, the license stipulating life cycle information
`of the software service, so that the originating service pro
`vider is able to automatically obtain the software service; the
`3rd party service provider delivering the software service to
`the originating service provider in response to the agreements
`of the license; and the originating service provider automati
`cally deploying the software service in the self-hosted envi
`ronment according to the stipulation of the license.
`
`The ubiquity of the Web and Internet has now enabled
`companies of every siZe to take full advantage of the power,
`simplicity, and ?exibility of services-based business comput
`ing. What was once known as outsourcing has evolved into
`today’s Software as a Service (SaaS). Today, many compa
`nies are choosing to move their applications from Host and
`Client/Server-based architectures to a Service Oriented
`Architecture (SOA) in order to reap the bene?ts associated
`with the standard and high e?iciency brought about by Web
`and Intemet-based services.
`One of the key foundations of the method of Software as a
`Service is the software service provider. The software service
`provider is usually a third-party company or organization that
`hosts applications or services for individuals or businesses. A
`client can have access to applications by connecting via Inter
`net or leaseline to a data center maintained by the software
`service providers. However, these applications do not need to
`be installed onto a local server or a personal computer of the
`client. Thus, owing to the existence of the software service
`providers, the client can save space of magnetic disk neces
`sary for the installation of applications or services or save
`expenditure for managing and maintaining applications. The
`software service providers may comprise application soft
`ware service providers and system software service providers
`and the like, which are generally called “Service Providers”
`for the sake of brevity in the present application. Moreover, a
`“software service” is also brie?y called as “Service” in the
`present application.
`FIG. 8 schematically shows the case that the Service Pro
`vider 810 provides services for the clients 821-824 in a SaaS
`model. The Service Provider 810 deploys some services in its
`service hosting environment 820 (for brevity and conve
`nience, FIG. 8 only schematically shows two services 831,
`832). The Service Provider 810 implements a service 831 in
`its hosting environment to provide services for clients 821
`and 822 and implements a service 832 to provide services for
`clients 823 and 824. It is unnecessary for the clients them
`selves to run services.
`During the dot-com boom of the late l990’s, leading Ser
`vice Providers were typically large organizations with mas
`sive resources built around data center infrastructure that
`targeted Fortune 500 accounts. Today, as more of the baseline
`hardware, networking and software to support software as a
`service has become commoditiZed, Service Providers have
`taken on many shapes and cater to companies of virtually
`every siZe. It can be asserted that, today’s Service Providers
`are a mix of companies who are adding Software as a Service
`to their traditional offerings and operations.
`Although the current Service Providers varies, their modes
`for obtaining services are nothing more than two types. The
`following is an example for illustration.
`Supposing Service Provider A is an application service
`provider for providing client relationship management
`(CRM) software, he ?nds in the current market a spatial data
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`

`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`3
`According to the other aspect of the present invention, a
`service providing apparatus for enabling an originating ser
`vice provider to online automatically obtain from a 3rd party
`service provider and run a software service is provided. The
`originating service provider and the 3’dparty service provider
`both providing one or more software services. The service
`providing apparatus comprises: a license control section, for
`communicating and negotiating a license with the 3rd party
`service provider, the license stipulating life cycle information
`of the software service, so that the originating service pro
`vider is able to automatically obtain the software service; a
`service delivering section, for delivering the service to the 3rd
`party service provider according to the stipulation of the
`license; and a service deployment section, for automatically
`deploying in self-hosted environment the software service
`delivered from the 3rd party service provider according to the
`stipulation of the license.
`According to another aspect of the present invention, a
`service providing apparatus of a 3rd party service provider for
`online automatically providing a software service for an
`originating service provider is provided. The 3’dparty service
`provider and the originating service provider both providing
`one or more software services. The service providing appa
`ratus comprises: a license control section, for communicating
`and negotiating a license with the originating service pro
`vider, the license stipulating life cycle information of the
`software service, so that the 3rd party service provider is able
`to automatically provide the software service for the originat
`ing service provider; and a service delivering section, for
`delivering the software service to the originating service pro
`vider according to the stipulation of the license.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The principles of the present invention are described below
`with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combi
`nation with the advantageous embodiments of the present
`invention, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a service provider according to
`the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a demonstrating composition of a purchasing
`agent of the service provider as shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a ?ow diagram of the method according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of data structure of the
`license according to the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a ?ow diagram of one advantageous embodiment
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a ?ow diagram of the other advantageous embodi
`ment according to the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a ?ow diagram of performing the license accord
`ing to the present invention; and
`FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of “Software as a Service”
`model.
`In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar parts
`use the same or similar reference signs.
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`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides systems, methods and
`apparatus enabling an originating service provider to online
`automatically obtain from a 3’dparty service provider and run
`a software service. An example of a method of enabling an
`originating service provider to online automatically obtain
`from a 3rd party service provider and run a software service is
`provided. The originating service provider and the 3rd party
`service provider both providing one or more software ser
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`vices. The method comprises: the originating service pro
`vider negotiating a license with a 3rd party service provider
`over a certain software service run by the 3rd party service
`provider, the license stipulating life cycle information of the
`software service, so that the originating service provider is
`able to automatically obtain the software service; the 3’dparty
`service provider delivering the software service to the origi
`nating service provider in response to the agreements of the
`license; and the originating service provider automatically
`deploying the software service in the self-hosted environment
`according to the stipulation of the license.
`The present invention also provides a service providing
`apparatus for enabling an originating service provider to
`online automatically obtain from a 3rd party service provider
`and run a software service. The originating service provider
`and the 3rd party service provider both providing one or more
`software services. An example of a service providing appa
`ratus comprises: a license control section, for communicating
`and negotiating a license with the 3rd party service provider,
`the license stipulating life cycle information of the software
`service, so that the originating service provider is able to
`automatically obtain the software service; a service deliver
`ing section, for delivering the service to the 3rd party service
`provider according to the stipulation of the license; and a
`service deployment section, for automatically deploying in
`self-hosted environment the software service delivered from
`the 3rd party service provider according to the stipulation of
`the license.
`The method and apparatus in the present invention allow
`one service provider to automatically obtain a software ser
`vice (also called a “service”) from the other service provider
`and to deploy and run the service in self-hosted environment.
`This reduces the costs of the service provider on the one hand,
`and can also ensure the quality of service (QoS) on the other
`hand.
`In the present invention, the originating service provider
`automatically obtains and runs a software service by moni
`toring the license. The license in the present invention stipu
`lates life cycle information of the software service, the license
`being connected to a special monitoring mechanism (eg a
`timer) located in the originating service provider or the 3rd
`party service provider so as to monitor the performance of the
`license, for example, whether or not the life cycle information
`begins, expires or the like. The software service can be pro
`vided in response to the commencement of a service life cycle
`and is removed in response to the expiration of the life cycle.
`It can be seen that, the present invention enables the originat
`ing service provider to automatically obtain, run and (if nec
`essary) remove a software service by monitoring the perfor
`mance of the license.
`Therein, automatically obtaining a software service by the
`originating service provider comprises obtaining it via at least
`one of cloning with a timestamp, cloning or moving modes.
`The present application applies the concepts “clone” and
`“move” in the software technology to the conventional model
`via which a service provider obtains a software service, so
`that the present invention provides for the service provider to
`automatically online obtain and run the service.
`When the originating service provider automatically
`obtains a software service from the 3rd party service provider
`through cloning with a timestamp, the 3rd party service pro
`vider can keep the software service and a copy of its license in
`self-ho sted environment. Meanwhile, in the process when the
`service is run in the environment provided by the originating
`service provider, the originating service provider or the 3rd
`party service provider sets a timer to monitor whether or not
`the timestamp expires and automatically remove the service
`
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`
`

`
`US 7,949,608 B2
`
`5
`in the environment provided by the originating service pro
`vider When the timestamp expires.
`When the originating service provider obtains a softWare
`service from the 3rd party service provider via the cloning
`mode, the case is similar to that through cloning With a times
`tamp. HoWever, there is no restriction on expiration of the
`timestamp.
`When the originating service provider obtains a softWare
`service from the 3rd party service provider via the moving
`mode, the 3rd party service provider integrally remove the
`softWare service in the self-hosted environment.
`Through the above different modes for automatically
`obtaining a softWare service, the service provider is capable
`of determining the model for obtaining a softWare service
`based on the current market value of the software service.
`Therefore, the risks of the service provider for providing a
`certain softWare service are reduced, so that the provided
`softWare service can be quickly updated. Accordingly, the
`service provider has a ?exible scalability so as to easily
`expand the service area.
`In addition, according to the method and apparatus of the
`present invention, the obtained softWare service can be hot
`deployed. Thus, the softWare service is deployed to the host
`ing environment of the originating service provider during
`run-time, but is unnecessary to be interrupted. Consequently,
`the automaticity of the present invention can be further
`improved and the originating service provider can more con
`veniently perform operation.
`The present invention also provides a service providing
`apparatus of a 3rd party service provider for online automati
`cally providing a softWare service for an originating service
`provider is provided, the 3rd party service provider and the
`originating service provider both providing one or more soft
`Ware services. An example of a service providing apparatus
`comprises: a license control section, for communicating and
`negotiating a license With the originating service provider, the
`license stipulating life cycle information of the softWare ser
`vice, so that the 3’dparty service provider is able to automati
`cally provide the softWare service for the originating service
`provider; and a service delivering section, for delivering the
`softWare service to the originating service provider according
`to the stipulation of the license.
`The advantageous embodiments of the method and appa
`ratus according to the present invention are explained as
`folloWs by referring to the accompanying draWings. First of
`all, the composition of the service provider in the present
`invention is discussed. The present invention involves tWo
`parties of service provides. Thus, for convenient explana
`tions, a party requiring to obtain a softWare service is de?ned
`as “an originating service provider”, While a party from Which
`the originating service provider obtains a softWare service is
`de?ned as “a 3rd party service provider”. Similarly, for con
`venient explanations, one originating service provider and
`one 3rd party service provider are taken as examples to
`describe the present invention. HoWever, it should be under
`stood that, the number of service providers has nothing to do
`With the implementation of the present invention. Any num
`ber of originating service providers or 3rd party service pro
`viders can participate in the implementation of the method in
`the present invention.
`In the present invention, any service provider can be either
`an originating service provider or a 3’dparty service provider.
`Since the present invention mainly relates to the improvement
`in the aspect of an originating service provider, the imple
`mentation of the present invention does not require a 3rd party
`service provider to have the same structure as the present
`invention. HoWever, it is preferable that the 3rd party service
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`provider have the same structure as the present invention.
`Moreover, in the implementation process of the present
`invention, the originating service provider and the 3rd party
`service provider are peer-to-peer, namely, they can be origi
`nating service provider or 3rd party service provider With
`respect to each other. Further, as aforesaid, “softWare service”
`is also brie?y called “service” in the present application.
`FIG. 1 shoWs the service provider in the present invention
`has a service container 100 Which comprises tWo main parts,
`a purchasing agent 110 and softWare services A, B collec
`tively represented by a sign 120 (it should be understood that,
`here are tWo services shoWn as examples, but the number of
`services has nothing to do With the implementation of the
`present invention).
`The purchasing agent 110 comprises a license control sec
`tion 130 for communicating With a 3rd party service provider
`to negotiate a license and managing the license, the license
`being mainly used for managing the life cycle of a service, the
`present invention performing control via the license control
`section according to the life cycle information stipulated by
`the license so that the service provider can automatically
`obtain the service; a service deployment section 140 for
`deploying a service or removing a service in the hosting
`environment of the service provider according to the stipula
`tion of the license; and a service delivering section 150 for
`delivering a service to a 3rd party service provider.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the composition of the purchasing agent
`110 in an advantageous embodiment according to the present
`invention. According to a advantageous embodiment in the
`present invention, the license control section 13 0 further com
`prises a service bargainer 131 for communicating With a 3rd
`party service provider to negotiate and generate a license 132,
`and a license manager 133 for managing the license and
`monitoring the performance of the license. For example, the
`license manager 133 can further comprise a timer that counts
`based on a service life cycle stipulated by the license, and
`When the service life cycle expires, invalidates the license or
`installs the service from the environment of the service pro
`vider. Detailed descriptions are as folloWs.
`The service deployment section 140 may further include a
`service deployer 141 for deploying a service in the hosting
`environment of the service provider according to the stipula
`tion of the license, and a service un-deployer 142 for remov
`ing the service from the ho sting environment according to the
`stipulation of the license. Therein, the service deployer 141
`can be a hot-deployer so as to deploy a service to the hosting
`environment of the service provider during the run-time,
`Without the service being re-started due to the re-deployment.
`This further improves automaticity of the present invention.
`The service delivering section 150 can further comprise a
`service deliverer 151 and a service receiver 152. The service
`deliverer 151 can further comprise parts for compressing and
`encrypting a service to be delivered, and the service receiver
`152 can further comprise parts for decompressing and
`decrypting the received service so as to facilitate the delivery
`of the service. As those skilled in the art understand, the
`service delivering section 150 can adopt any proper mode
`(eg through a Wireless mode, etc.) to receive or deliver a
`service, Which does not in?uence the implementation of the
`present invention.
`Moreover, the purchasing agent 110 can further comprise a
`service packing section 260 including a service packer 261
`and a service unpacker 262. The service packer 261 is used for
`packing and serialiZing the service to be provided according
`to a prede?ned format so that the foregoing service delivering
`section delivers the service to the outside. The service
`unpacker 262 is used for unpacking and deserialiZing the
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`US 7,949,608 B2
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`7
`service according to the format corresponding to the service
`packer so that the service deployer deploys the service in the
`hosting environment.
`FIG. 3 describes a Work?oW of the method in the present
`invention. Provided that an originating service provider
`thinks software service A run by a 3rd party service provider
`is valuable to himself, the originating service provider con
`sequently decides to obtain the service from the 3rd party
`service provider. The method according to the present inven
`tion starts from step S300 and enters into step S310. In step
`S3 10, the originating service provider communicates With the
`3’d party service provider through his service bargainer to
`express his aspiration for obtaining the service and negotiate
`a license over service A. The license may stipulate for
`example the mode for the originating service provider to
`obtain a service, and may further stipulate obtaining informa
`tion relating to life cycle management of the service if nec
`essary.
`Based on such factors as the operating strategy of an origi
`nating service provider or the value of a service to the origi
`nating service provider, the originating service provider may
`choose to obtain the service via at least one of the folloWing
`three models:
`1) lease for period of time (e. g. 1 month);
`2) buy one license;
`3) buy the service.
`Correspondingly, the 3rd party service provider provides a
`softWare service for the originating service provider by letting
`the softWare service for period of time, selling a license and
`selling out the service.
`Corresponding to the above three models, the folloWing
`three mechanisms for obtaining a service are provided:
`1) Clone With a timestamp (the 3’d party service provider still
`has a copy of the service; the originating service provider can
`only use the service Within one leasehold (e. g. 1 month) and
`accordingly perform timing according to the timestamp of the
`service, When the timestamp expires, the service being auto
`matically self-deleted from the hosting environment of the
`originating service provider);
`2) Clone (the 3’d party service provider still has a copy of the
`service, the originating service provider can use the service
`all the While);
`3) Move (the service is removed from the hosting environ
`ment of the 3rd party service provider and is permanently
`deployed to the hosting environment of the originating ser
`vice provider).
`FIG. 4 shoWs a demonstrating data structure of a license.
`According to the present invention, an originating service
`provider may determine hoW to obtain a service based on such
`factors as his oWn requirements, or value of the service, such
`that a high ?exibility for obtaining the service is provided.
`After the originating service provider and the 3’d party
`service provider negotiate a license, the method according to
`the present invention enters step S320. The 3’d arty service
`provider delivers a softWare service to the originating service
`provider through his service deliverer and via a proper com
`munication route.
`The next is step S330, Wherein after the 3rd party service
`provider receives the service, the originating service provider
`deploys the service in self-hosted environment so as to run
`and provide the service for the client. Subsequently, the
`method of the present invention ends in step S340.
`It should be understood that, before the 3’d party service
`provider delivers the service, the service and various auxiliary
`information can be ?rstly packed or serialiZed, compressed,
`encrypted and the like according to a prede?ned format so as
`to be delivered to the originating service provider via a proper
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`communication interface. Said various information may
`comprise for example client information of the service,
`execution status and the like. Correspondingly, after the origi
`nating service provider side receives the service, the service
`also