Ultrasound method and system for enabling an ultrasound device feature

• US 6,490,684 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Fenstemaker, David E., Raiff, Steven U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/052,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 713/189, 713/201, 705/59, 705/2
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5205 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

An ultrasound method and system are presented for enabling an ultrasound device feature. An ultrasound device is installed with features that are not immediately available for use (i.e., the features are installed disabled). To enable these features, a key is locally or remotely supplied to the ultrasound device. With these preferred embodiments, hardware or software features of an ultrasound device can be enabled on demand for evaluation purposes. Further, if the feature is enable for a limited amount of time, a user can pay a reduced fee for the temporary use of the feature. Additionally, because the necessary hardware is factory-installed in and shipped with the ultrasound device, a user who desires the temporary or permanent use of a hardware feature can enable the feature without taking the ultrasound device off-line.

Claims

1. A method for enabling features on an ultrasound device, the method comprising:

(a) providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature, said disabled feature being provided before said ultrasound device is upgraded;

(b) upgrading said ultrasound device by supplying said ultrasound device with a key operative to enable said disabled feature; and

(c) with an application-level software routine in said ultrasound device, enabling said disabled feature with said key, wherein said feature is enabled before the next time said ultrasound device is powered-up.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature before a user receives said ultrasound device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature after a user receives said ultrasound device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises remotely providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises locally providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises remotely supply said ultrasound device with a key operative to enable said disabled feature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises locally supplying said ultrasound device with a key operative to enable said disabled feature.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises temporarily enabling said disabled feature.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises enabling said disabled feature with said key in response to said key being unexpired.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises permanently enabling said disabled feature.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said key varies as a function of a serial number of said ultrasound device and a code corresponding to said disabled feature.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said key varies as a function of a serial number of said ultrasound device, a code corresponding to said disabled feature, and an expiration date.

13. A method for enabling features on an ultrasound device, the method comprising:

(a) providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature before said ultrasound device is upgraded;

(b) upgrading said ultrasound device by supplying said ultrasound device with an encrypted key;

(c) decrypting said encrypted key; and

(d) with an application-level softare routine in said ultrasound device, enabling said disabled feature with said decrypted key, wherein said feature is enabled before the next time said ultrasound device is powered-up.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said encrypted key varies as a function of a serial number of said ultrasound device and a code corresponding to said disabled feature.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said encrypted key varies as a function of a serial number of said ultrasound device, a code corresponding to said disabled feature, and an expiration date.

16. A method for enabling features on an ultrasound device, said ultrasound device comprising a feature control manager and an ultrasound device application, the method comprising:

(a) providing an ultrasound device with a disabled feature, said disabled feature being provided before said ultrasound device is upgraded;

(b) upgrading said ultrasound device by supplying said ultrasound device with a key operative to enable said disabled feature;

(c) with a feature control manager of said ultrasound device, receiving a request for validation of a feature from an ultrasound device application, wherein the feature control manager comprises an application-level software routine;

(d) with said feature control manager of said ultrasound device, validating said requested feature; and

(e) with said feature control manager of said ultrasound device, providing said ultrasound device application with a command operative to enable said feature, wherein said feature is enabled before the next time said ultrasound device is powered-up.

17. The method of claim 16, where (c) comprises receiving a feature name from an ultrasound device application.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein (c) is automatically performed during power-up of said ultrasound device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein (c) is automatically performed when said application is called to use said feature.

20. The method of claim 16, where (d) comprises comparing a key provided to said ultrasound device wit a code stored in said ultrasound device, said key and said code corresponding to said feature.

21. An ultrasound device feature controller comprising:

a feature control manager comprising an application-level software routine,

a feature control database coupled wit said feature control manager and comprising a disabled feature provided to said ultrasound device before said ultrasound device is upgraded; and

a key receiver coupled with said feature control manager, said key receiver operative to receive a key during an upgrade to said ultrasound device;

wherein said feature control manager is operative to receive a request for validation of a feature from an ultrasound device application and validate said request by providing said ultrasound device application with a command operative to enable said feature, further wherein said feature is enabled before the next time said ultrasound device is powered-up.

22. The invention of claim 21, further comprising a feature receiver coupled with said feature control manager.

23. The invention of claim 21, wherein said key receiver comprises a disk drive.

24. The invention of claim 21, wherein said key receiver comprises a network link.

25. The invention of claim 21, wherein said key receiver comprises a modem.

26. The invention of claim 21, wherein said key receiver comprises a user interface.

27. The invention of claim 21, wherein said feature control manager is operative to compare a key supplied to said key receiver with a code stored in said feature control database.

28. An ultrasound device feature controller of an ultrasound device comprising:

means for receiving a key operative to enable a disabled feature of an ultrasound device; and

means for enabling said disabled feature of said ultrasound device with said key, said means for enabling comprising an application-level software routine;

wherein said disabled feature is provided in said ultrasound device before said ultrasound device is upgraded, wherein said key is received when said ultrasound device is upgraded, and wherein said feature is enabled before the next time said ultrasound device is powered-up.

29. The invention of claim 28, wherein said key is encrypted, and wherein the invention further comprises means for decrypting said key.

30. The invention of 1, 13, 16, 21, or 28, wherein said ultrasound device comprises an ultrasound imaging system.

31. The invention of 1, 13, 16, 21, or 28, wherein said ultrasound device comprises an ultrasound image review station.