A Web based framework for online software leasing

Abstract

The advent of the Internet has brought about new channels for software distribution as well as offering enhanced functionality for applications. This has led to Application Service Provider (ASP) business models that are based on thin client architecture. ·while offering new opportunities that were not possible up to a few years ago, the ASP model is concerned with a number of issues, including the fact that most software systems are essentially stand alone applications which might not be suitable for thin client models, the concern of the software developer that its product might be easily copied or reverse-engineered by competitors and hackers and the fact that software developers have to write software in a different manner to make it suitable for use on ASPs. Besides, users might wish to purchase short term subscriptions, perhaps using a pay-per-use model, but the cost of such subscriptions might still outweigh the benefits, and the users are concerned that their privacy rights might be violated while they use software online. With these problems in mind, this work proposes a framework for online leasing of software. The framework attempts to provide an acceptable solution for both the software developer and for the user, addressing the issues listed above. A number of features are provided, including: a tool for converting stand alone Java applications to applications suitable for leasing; Client-side software that provides functionality for leased applications that are implemented as stand alone packages; Server-side software that is needed to unlock the leased software's functionality; Lease management tools; and technologies that prevent users from tampering with leased software.