Enabling and disabling software features
First Claim
1. A method of changing the available features in a software-implemented feature set containing a plurality of features, comprising the steps:
- forming a token from identification information and feature related information and issuing the token;
receiving the token and obtaining identification information and desired feature related information from the token;
in response to a determination to authorize change in the feature set, the further steps;
using the identification information to generate an authorization key;
forming a feature change code from the authorization key and information related to an authorized feature set and issuing the feature change code; and
receiving the feature change code and obtaining the authorization key and information related to the authorized feature set from the feature change code;
generating a local authorization key using the identification information;
comparing the received authorization key with the local authorization key; and
implementing the authorized feature set if the received authorization key and the local authorization key match.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This application relates to a method of enabling and disabling software features in a software-implemented feature set, to the software itself and to a device with the software thereon. In accordance with the method of the invention, a token formed from identification and feature related information is sent to an authorization device. The authorization device creates a key from this information and sends the key and information on the authorized feature set back to the device. The device generates its own version of the key and compares its version with the received version. If the two keys match, the authorized feature set is implemented.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of changing the available features in a software-implemented feature set containing a plurality of features, comprising the steps:
-
forming a token from identification information and feature related information and issuing the token;
receiving the token and obtaining identification information and desired feature related information from the token;
in response to a determination to authorize change in the feature set, the further steps;
using the identification information to generate an authorization key;
forming a feature change code from the authorization key and information related to an authorized feature set and issuing the feature change code; and
receiving the feature change code and obtaining the authorization key and information related to the authorized feature set from the feature change code;
generating a local authorization key using the identification information;
comparing the received authorization key with the local authorization key; and
implementing the authorized feature set if the received authorization key and the local authorization key match. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
2. A method of changing the available features in a software-implemented feature set containing a plurality of features, comprising the steps:
-
forming a token from identification information and feature related information and issuing the token;
receiving a feature change code and obtaining an authorization key and information related to an authorized feature set from the feature change code;
generating a local authorization key using the identification information;
comparing the received authorization key with the local authorization key; and
implementing the authorized feature set if the received authorization key and the local authorization key match.
-
-
11. Apparatus comprising:
-
means for forming a token from identification information and feature related information means for issuing the token;
means for receiving a feature change code means for obtaining an authorization key and information related to an authorized feature set from the feature change code;
means for generating a local authorization key using the identification information;
means for comparing the received authorization key with the local authorization key; and
means for implementing the authorized feature set if the received authorization key and the local authorization key match.
-
-
12. A method of authorizing change in the available features in a software-implemented feature set containing a plurality of features, comprising the steps:
-
receiving a token;
obtaining identification information and feature related information from the token;
in response to a determination to authorize change in the feature set, the further steps;
using the identification information to generate an authorization key;
forming a feature change code from the authorization key and information related to the authorized feature set; and
issuing the feature change code. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. Apparatus for authorizing change in the available features in a software-implemented feature set containing a plurality of features, comprising:
-
means for obtaining identification information and feature related information from a token;
means for determining to authorize change in the feature set means for generating an authorization key using the identification information;
means for forming a feature change code from the authorization key and information related to the authorized feature set; and
means for issuing the feature change code.
-
Specification