SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOFTWARE FEATURE MANAGEMENT

• US 20140282474A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Schnarr, Matthew Robert, Fakhraei, Alireza
• Granted Patent: US 9,928,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A method includes providing a computer readable code configured to perform a process of feature management. The computer code includes one or more configurable features having a feature property. The feature property includes a state. The method also includes: running the computer readable code on the local computer; connecting by the local computer with a feature computer server; identifying an instance of an installed computer program including the computer readable code, and retrieving a feature record associated with the installed computer program or the member from the feature server; and configuring a state of one or more of a set of the feature properties of the installed computer program based on a retrieved feature record. A system to perform the method is also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising a computer readable code configured to run on a local computer and configured to perform a process of feature management, said computer code comprising one or more configurable features having a feature property, said feature property comprising a state;

running said computer readable code on said local computer;

connecting by said local computer with a feature computer server;

identifying an instance of an installed computer program comprising said computer readable code, and retrieving a feature record associated with said installed computer program or said member from said feature server; and

configuring said state of one or more of a set of said feature properties of said installed computer program based on a retrieved feature record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying an instance of an installed computer program comprises identifying an instance of an installed computer program by an identification string.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said identification string comprises a serial number.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said identification string comprises an identification of said local computer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said identification string comprises a user name.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said user name identifies a subscription account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying an instance of an installed computer program comprises said feature server receiving a logon of a user at said local computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said state comprises an enabled state or a disabled state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said state further comprises a displayed or a hidden state.

10. The method of claim 1, following said step of configuring a state of one or more of said set of said feature properties, further comprising the step of displaying at least one of said features with an indication of said state of said feature property of said feature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying at least one of said features comprises a displayed color or brightness of color.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying at least one of said features comprises a displayed superimposed shaded box.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying at least one of said features comprises a displayed indicator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said displayed indicator comprises a character.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said character comprises a dot displayed in front of a feature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said dot displayed in front of a feature comprises color.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said color comprises red or green.

18. The method of claim 1, following said step of configuring a state of one or more of said set of said feature properties, further comprising the step of displaying at least one of said features with an indication of a presently unavailable feature.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising an instruction on how to enable said feature.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said instruction on how to enable said feature comprises an instruction on how to purchase a version of said computer program offering said feature or an instruction on how to purchase a subscription to a version of said computer program offering said feature.

21. A system comprising:

A local computer configured to run a computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising a computer readable code configured to run on said computer and to perform a process of feature management, said computer code comprising one or more configurable features having a feature property, said feature property comprising a state;

wherein said computer readable code is configured to run on said local computer, to connect by said local computer with a feature computer server, to identify an instance of an installed computer program comprising said computer readable code, and to retrieve a feature record associated with said installed computer program or said member from said feature server;

and to configure said state of one or more of a set of said feature properties of said installed computer program based on a retrieved feature record.