Method for providing activation key protection

• US 20070041584A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Clint, Anson, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US11/204,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20070041584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0897 involving additional devices, e.g. trusted platform module [TPM], smartcard or USB

Abstract

A software activation method is disclosed which uses a two-key paradigm. The method provides increased piracy protection while providing a relatively straight forward process for a user to satisfy a license claim.

Claims

1. A method for providing activation key protection comprising:

installing a software application onto an information handling system;

providing a manufacturing key and a verification key for the software application;

combining the manufacturing key and the verification key to provide an activation key;

activating the software application using the activation key; and

,

associating the verification key with the software application to enable a user to verify proper activation and license of the software application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

destroying the manufacturing key after activating the software application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the associating is by storing the verification key within non-volatile memory of the information handling system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the associating includes attaching a sticker containing the verification key onto the information handling system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

the providing the manufacturing key and the verification key is via the sticker.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising

destroying the manufacturing key by removing the manufacturing key from the sticker.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein

the installing occurs during the manufacturing of a build to order information handling system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

the software application is an operating system.

9. A method of manufacturing an information handling system comprising:

installing a software application onto the information handling system, the software application including an associated manufacturing key and verification key, the manufacturing key and the verification key being combined to provide an activation key;

activating the software application using the activation key; and

,

associating the verification key with the software application to enable a user to verify proper activation and license of the software application.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

destroying the manufacturing key after activating the software application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein

the information handling system includes non-volatile memory;

and,

the associating is by storing the verification key within the non-volatile memory of the information handling system.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein

the associating is by attaching a sticker containing the verification key onto the information handling system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein

the software application includes a sticker, the sticker including the manufacturing key and the verification key.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

destroying the manufacturing key by removing the manufacturing key from the sticker.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein

the installing occurs during the manufacturing of a build to order information handling system.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein

the software application is an operating system.

17. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a software application stored on the memory, the software application including an associated manufacturing key and verification key, the manufacturing key and the verification key being combined to provide an activation key, the software being activated via the activation key, the manufacturing key being destroyed after activating the software application, the verification key being stored on the memory and being associated with the software application to enable a user to verify proper activation and license of the software application.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein

the memory includes non-volatile memory;

and,

the verification key is stored within the non-volatile memory of the information handling system.

19. The information handling system of claim 17, further comprising

a verification sticker, the verification sticker containing the verification key.

20. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein

the software application is an operating system.