Concurrent users access a system resource at the same time as others. Software licenses limit the number of concurrent users supported. Registered users can have different levels of control and access, important for security. The Internet heavily relies on concurrent user support for websites to handle large numbers of users.
A concurrent user is a person who accesses a system resource at the same time as one or more other users. Many computer programs support concurrent users. In the case of software, a software license can specifically limit the number of concurrent users supported by a program; for example, your teleconferencing software might support up to 20 concurrent users at any given time. Software companies use this as a way to provide multi-user functionality while still controlling how many people use their programs.
Concurrent users can view items such as files simultaneously over a network, and can also access software programs in similar ways. This allows offices to do things like purchase a copy of a software program with attached concurrent user licenses, so everyone in the office can use the software. This is much cheaper than equipping each computer with a separately licensed version of the software and paying for each computer each time updates are released.
When people buy software with concurrent user options, they get information about the number of concurrent users the software supports. Some companies require every user to be logged in, while others allow a certain number of unidentified users. If users are registered, the software can allow people to unregister people or devices and re-register different people and devices. This allows for flexibility in using the software without violating the terms of the software license.
With registered users you can also set permissions. This allows a concurrent user different levels of control and access. For example, in a teleconferencing program, one user might have permissions to invite participants and end the teleconference, while others are invited only as guests and not able to control the conference itself. Various levels of access can be important in a system where there are security concerns or concerns that a user might accidentally change a critical setting.
The Internet is heavily dependent on concurrent user support. Websites can support large numbers of users accessing the site and its resources simultaneously for everything from browser-based games to chat clients. Without concurrent user functionality, people would have to bide their time for online resources. People may notice that websites tend to be capped based on server capacity. Eventually, too many users will register or visit as guests and a site will start to slow down.
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