Ultrasound method and system for enabling an ultrasound device feature
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for enabling features on an ultrasound device, the method comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for enabling features on an ultrasound device, the method comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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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:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ultrasound device feature controller comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An ultrasound device feature controller of an ultrasound device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. The invention of 1, 13, 16, 21, or 28, wherein said ultrasound device comprises an ultrasound imaging system.
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31. The invention of 1, 13, 16, 21, or 28, wherein said ultrasound device comprises an ultrasound image review station.
Specification