System having a Central License Management Unit and a Tool Apparatus

• US 20140180464A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Koerber, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US14/137,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180464A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/159
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/18 Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level

Abstract

A system has a central license management unit and at least one tool apparatus. The at least one tool apparatus includes at least one communication apparatus and a computation unit that is provided for the purpose of switching at least one function of the tool apparatus to available mode on the basis of a piece of information received from the central license management unit by means of the communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a central license management unit; and

at least one tool apparatus including (i) at least one communication apparatus and (ii) a computation unit configured for switching at least one function of the at least one tool apparatus to an available mode on the basis of a piece of information received from the central license management unit via the communication apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computation unit is configured to enable the at least one function for a period.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computation unit is configured to transfer at least one piece of identification information to the central license management unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computation unit includes a firmly programmed computation unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a computer that the computation unit is configured to use in at least one operating state to communicate with the central license management unit.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the computer is configured to output at least one piece of information about a function that can be switched to available mode.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the computer is to transmit an enable period for the at least one function, which is chosen by a user, to the tool apparatus.

8. The system according claim 1, further comprising:

a localization mechanism configured to ascertain a position.

12. A mobile computer in a system according to claim 5.

9. A tool apparatus in a system having a central license management unit, the tool apparatus comprising:

at least one communication apparatus; and

a computation unit configured for switching at least one function of the at least one tool apparatus to an available mode on the basis of a piece of information received from the central license management unit via the at least one communication apparatus.

11. A storage battery having a tool apparatus according to claim 9.

14. The storage battery according to claim 11, wherein the storage battery is a hand-held tool storage battery.

10. A tool comprising:

a tool apparatus including;

at least one communication apparatus; and

a computation unit configured for switching at least one function of the at least one tool apparatus to an available mode on the basis of a piece of information received from a central license management unit via the at least one communication apparatus.

13. The tool according to claim 10, wherein the tool is a hand-held tool.