System and method for regulating a network service provider's ability to host distributed applications in a distributed processing environment

摘要

The present invention is directed to a novel system and method for regulating a network service provider's ability to provide network services to a distributed application executing on a network connected computer, which is dependent upon whether the NSP possesses a valid permit. The permit is a data structure created by a vendor or distributor of a distributed application. The vendor can selectively issue a permit to the NSP (or NSPs) for which authorization is being granted. When the distributed application is being executed at a client computer, and the services of a particular NSP are requested, an application running at the client first requests that the NSP provide the client with a valid permit. If the permit is valid and authentic, and the identity of the NSP is confirmed, then the application executing at the client will permit the distributed application to utilize the network services of the selected NSP.