Updating diagnostic device software and enabling features

• US 20060123231A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Brad R., Melhem, Nina
• Application Number:
  US10/519,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123231A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/115 Instrument identification, i.e. recognizing an electrophonic musical instrument, e.g. on a network, by means of a code, e.g. IMEI, serial number, or a profile describing its capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method of unlocking at least one feature of a diagnostic device. The method includes receiving, from a user, product-indentifying information (such as serial number) for the diagnostic device. A server can then generate a software key that corresponds to the product-identifying information and transmit the software key to the user via a text-to-speech server to cause the software key to be spoken to the user. The user can enter the software key into the diagnostic device to unlock the at least on feature. The transaction can be initiated at the user'"'"'s telephone, where the software key is also received, eliminating the need for a network-connected diagnostic device.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a diagnostic device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user, product-identifying information for the diagnostic device;

transmitting a software key that corresponds to the product-identifying information to a text-to-speech server; and

performing a text-to-speech conversion of the software key to cause the software key to be spoken to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering the software key into the diagnostic device, and wherein modifying the diagnostic device comprises unlocking at least one feature in response to the software key being entered.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering the software key into the diagnostic device, and wherein modifying the diagnostic device comprises enabling a software update in response to the software key being entered.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the user, payment information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the payment information comprises credit card information.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving, from the user, feature-identifying information corresponding to the feature to be unlocked.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the product-identifying information comprises a serial number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the software key is transmitted to the text-to-speech server in VXML format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the software key is transmitted via the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a prompt to the user requesting the user to specify a diagnostic device type.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating to the user that a feature of the diagnostic device must be unlocked before it can be used.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the product-identifying information comprises a DTMF signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the product-identifying information comprises a set of spoken characters.

14. A method of unlocking at least one feature of a diagnostic device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user, a serial number for the diagnostic device;

receiving, from the user, credit card information;

receiving, from the user, feature-identifying information corresponding to the feature to be unlocked;

generating a software key in response to receiving the serial number and the credit card information, the software key corresponds to the serial number and the feature-identifying information;

transmitting the software key to a text-to-speech server via the Internet;

transmitting the software key from the text-to-speech server to the user in voice format via the PSTN to cause the software key to be spoken to the user; and

entering the software key into the diagnostic device to unlock the at least one feature.

15. A system for providing a software key to a user comprising:

a voice platform;

a diagnostic device database comprising identifying data for particular diagnostic devices and further comprising feature data for particular diagnostic devices;

an enterprise server comprising a processor and a memory, the enterprise server being communicatively connectable to the voice platform and the diagnostic device database; and

a set of machine instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive at least one input requesting a software key for a particular diagnostic device;

verify the particular diagnostic device by reference to the database; and

transmit a software key in a markup language to the voice platform;

wherein the voice platform converts the markup language software key to voice format and transmits it to the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the set of instructions are further operable to generate a software key that is associated with the particular diagnostic device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the software key only enables the particular diagnostic device and no other diagnostic device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the markup language is VXML.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the software routine is further executable to identify a particular feature to be enabled, the particular feature being associated with the particular device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the enterprise server receives information regarding the particular feature to be enabled from the user via the voice platform.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the software key only enables the particular feature.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the software key further only enables the particular device.