Definitions of Features, Products, Memory, and License Models
This section describes some of them most often-used terms in Sentinel EMS:
Features
A feature is a functional component in your software application that can be licensed. A feature can range from specific functionality, such as Print or Export, to a module, or even to an entire application.
After you define at least one feature, you can add that feature to either a Sentinel LDK Product or a Cloud Product. This enables you to sell a product with one or more licensed features.
Products
A product is a collection of one or more licensed features. Each product can be sold independently. Products are often associated with a part number (P/N or SKU). Sentinel EMS supports the following product types:
You can have a common pool of Features in a Batch Code in both Sentinel LDK and Cloud Products.
Products can differ from each other, both in the Features that they contain, and also in the license terms specified for each Feature. You can control the specific Products you define, the Features they include, and the license terms assigned to each Feature in each Product.
Typically, this function is performed by the product manager, and implemented by the software engineer. The implementation scenario can be one of the following:
>You create a common product with all the related Features bundled. The order taker can switch on/off products while producing the order. The Features in the product can be controlled without changing its code by different license models.
>You can define a number of products with combination of different Features by understanding the market requirements and keep them ready for order.
Memory
Memory is a functional component that can be added to a product. You can define segments in memory according to your requirements, and select different colors for the segments to make it easy to identify them. After you have defined a memory segment, you can enter data into the segment.
In Sentinel EMS, you can create the following type of memories:
| Dynamic Memory | Dynamic memory is significantly larger than the default memory. However, dynamic memory space is shared between dynamic memory files (the space available to you for your applications, similar to default memory files) and license data (Features and Product). All space that is not utilized for license data can be used for dynamic memory files. Dynamic memory can be divided into dynamic memory files. |
| Default Memory | Product-specific memory that is defined in segments according to your needs. Default memory space allocation is smaller than dynamic memory. |
License Models
A license model is the logic behind a business transaction relating to licensing. For example, a rental license model enables you to charge for the use of software for a specific period of time. License models constitute various parameters (attributes) that define how a Product can be used by the end user.
An important step in the development of a licensing strategy is the preparation of a licensing plan. Business decision makers in an organization, such as product or marketing managers, define protection and business rules, and specify the license models required to meet the company’s software distribution needs.
You can configure usage terms to meet your company’s individual requirements. Sentinel EMS enables you to choose from a variety of built-in license models. For Sentinel LDK Products, you can specify license terms from the available Sentinel LDK License Models and for Cloud Product you can specify license terms from the available Cloud License Models.
Sentinel LDK License Models
>Perpetual—A license that can be used indefinitely.
>Expiration Date—A time-limited license that expires on a specific date.
>Execution Count—A per-feature, usage-limited license that expires after the maximum number of uses is reached.
>Time Period—A time-limited license that expires after a specified number of days from the first usage date. For example, a trial license that expires 30 days after the first time the feature is accessed.
>Unlocked—A license that can be used as a trial license. Available only for Unlocked Products.
These license models comprise license attributes, which belong to the following categories:
>Concurrency
>License Terms
>Accessibility
Cloud License Models
>Subscription—Specifies that the license to use the product is valid for a specified duration (for example, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year).
>Postpaid—Specifies that the license to use the product is valid for a specified duration, but the billing can be done based on the usage model, which can either be Time Based or Count Based.
>Prepaid—Specifies a limit on the maximum number of times a license can be used, in addition to license validity.
>Concurrent—A subscription-based license model in which there is a limit on the concurrent use of a Feature. You can specify the number of concurrent instances allowed for a feature and select how concurrent instances are counted.