Proof of Concept for a License Middleware for Cross-Provider License Management of Digital Educational Media
October 1, 2022 to July 1, 2024
Digital educational media play an increasingly important role in school education. However, their use is often hindered by technical challenges such as media discontinuities and a multitude of login procedures. Additionally, the acquisition of licenses and the management of usage rights are often cumbersome and require extensive manual effort due to the involvement of various institutions.
To address these challenges, the project “Control & Connect“ was initiated. It aims to enable seamless and media-continuous access to digital educational media, in alignment with the digitization strategies of the federal and state governments. Teachers and learners will benefit from simplified handling.
The project is supported by a consortium of three main actors: Fraunhofer FOKUS, responsible for technical implementation; Verband Bildungsmedien Service GmbH (VBMS), representing the interests of school associations and publishers; and Landesinitiative n-21 e. V., contributing its extensive experience in the management and coordination of school structures in Lower Saxony.
License Middleware
The proposed solution was to develop and implement a license middleware for license management. The following four open-source repositories form the basis of the developed license middleware, which enables schools and educational institutions to manage digital educational media efficiently and in compliance with legal requirements. With these components, educational institutions can organize licenses centrally and control access to digital media according to legal provisions.
- https://github.com/fraunhoferfokus/cc_license-core: The core component for license management, providing all functions for managing licenses (including UI).
- https://github.com/fraunhoferfokus/cc_license-manager: This module manages and assigns licenses to users or groups.
- https://github.com/fraunhoferfokus/cc_metadata-manager: Manages the metadata of educational media to support the licensing process.
- https://github.com/fraunhoferfokus/cc_user-context-manager: Manages user information and their permissions within the license management system.
The license middleware acts as an intermediary for license management, enabling the integration of various systems and applications as well as their simple and legally compliant use. With the license middleware serving as a technical bridge within interoperable IT architectures, data can be mediated between users, applications, authentication servers, and content and license providers through standardized interfaces. This facilitates efficient management of usage rights and seamless, straightforward use of digital educational media.
License Middleware: Technical Details
The license middleware utilizes functions from the Common Learning Middleware to ensure the interoperability of licensed educational media with various learning platforms.
Standardized exchange data formats were defined and implemented as part of the project.
Modules import licenses from connected license management systems of sellers, synchronize user data and the underlying organizational structure with connected authentication services, and align product metadata from publishers.
The license management component builds on these modules and integrates their data through an additional module for license assignment.
Interfaces are available that allow applications, such as virtual learning environments or learning management systems, to seamlessly display licensed digital learning content to their users.
For each request for digital learning content, the appropriate license for the user and content is checked via an interface at the license middleware.
The project thus positions itself as an “enabler” for the evolution and innovation in the use of digital educational media as well as user-centric data management.
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.