Patent attributes
A predetermined number of assigned units for each of a plurality of individually selectable pieces of digital content are checked when each piece of digital content is executed in a customer computer network or on an application service provider. Execution of a requested digital content is granted when the number of required units to execute the requested digital content is less than or equal to the total number of available units. Any licensed digital content may be executed on the separate application service provider through a communication network. Access is granted for execution of the requested digital content by a license manager based on whether the application service provider required units of the requested digital content are greater than the available units on the requesting customer computer network. Execution of the requested digital content on the application service provider may be immediate if the application service provider is available or execution can be delayed. If the requested digital content cannot be executed immediately, the required units can be locked up and charged to the customer computer network available units or left uncharged.
