System and method for administering licenses stored in an electronic module, and product unit comprising said module
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing one or more product units, comprising:
- receiving, by a test rig of a manufacturing system, a first identifier from a product unit, wherein the first identifier identifies the product unit;
transmitting, by the manufacturing system, the first identifier to a first server computer, wherein the manufacturing system and the first server computer are controlled by separate business entities;
receiving, by the test rig from the first server computer, a first digitally-signed document comprising a first digital signature that is determined mathematically by using the first identifier; and
installing into a memory of the product unit, by the test rig, the first digitally-signed document after being received from the first server computer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit'"'"'s “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit'"'"'s identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit'"'"'s memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing one or more product units, comprising:
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receiving, by a test rig of a manufacturing system, a first identifier from a product unit, wherein the first identifier identifies the product unit; transmitting, by the manufacturing system, the first identifier to a first server computer, wherein the manufacturing system and the first server computer are controlled by separate business entities; receiving, by the test rig from the first server computer, a first digitally-signed document comprising a first digital signature that is determined mathematically by using the first identifier; and installing into a memory of the product unit, by the test rig, the first digitally-signed document after being received from the first server computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for manufacturing one or more product units, comprising:
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a first server computer configured to i) receive a first identifier originating from a product unit, wherein the first identifier identifies the product unit, and ii) transmit the received first identifier to another server computer, wherein the first server computer and the other server computer are controlled by separate business entities; and a test rig configured to i) read the first identifier from the product unit; ii) receive, from the first server computer, a first digitally-signed document comprising a first digital signature that is determined mathematically by using the first identifier; and iii) installing, into a memory of the product unit, the first digitally-signed document after being received from the first server computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A product unit comprising:
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a memory configured to store a first digitally-signed document when received by the product unit from a first device; a network adapter configured to i) transmit a first identifier to the first device, wherein the first identifier comprises a globally unique communications address that identifies the product unit, ii) receive the first digitally-signed document comprising a first digital signature from the first device, wherein the first digital signature is determined mathematically by using the globally unique communications address transmitted to the first device, and iii) transmit the stored first digitally-signed document to a second device when requested by the second device; and a processor configured to enable performance, by the product unit, of a predetermined task when instructed to perform the task and based on the network adapter receiving a message that comprises the globally unique communications address. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification