Method and system to grant indefinite use of software options resident on a device
First Claim
1. A method to permit indefinite use of an inactivated option resident on a medical device comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at a centralized facility, a request from a user for indefinite use of an option resident on a medical device located remotely from the centralized facility;
determining whether to grant indefinite use of the option in response to the request based on whether a set of criteria has been satisfied, including whether the customer is qualified to use time medical device;
generating an activation key configured to permit indefinite use of the option in response to an indefinite use grant;
transmitting the activation key from the centralized facility to the device;
automatically enabling user access to the option resident on the device in response to reception of the activation key; and
periodically monitoring whether the customer continues to be qualified for the medical device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for granting indefinite use of inactivated software options pre-installed on a device is provided. The system includes receiving, at a remote processing facility, a recurrent use request from a user requesting access to an inactivated software option resident on the device. The system is further configured to validate the request and generate an activation key. The activation key is transmitted from the processing facility to the device automatically activating the option and granting recurrent access. The activation key or code is generated at the processing facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a recurrent use identifier, and the selected option. A method to permit recurrent use of resident, yet, inactivated software of a device is also provided.
50 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method to permit indefinite use of an inactivated option resident on a medical device comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a centralized facility, a request from a user for indefinite use of an option resident on a medical device located remotely from the centralized facility; determining whether to grant indefinite use of the option in response to the request based on whether a set of criteria has been satisfied, including whether the customer is qualified to use time medical device; generating an activation key configured to permit indefinite use of the option in response to an indefinite use grant; transmitting the activation key from the centralized facility to the device; automatically enabling user access to the option resident on the device in response to reception of the activation key; and periodically monitoring whether the customer continues to be qualified for the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 28)
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11. A system to grant recurrent use of inactivated options comprising:
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a device having at least one inactivated software application resident on a computer programmed to control an option of the device; a receiving center remotely located from the device configured to; receive a request from a user for recurrent use of the at least one inactivated software application resident on the computer; transmit an access code from the receiving center to the device; and directly responsive to receipt of the access code, enable recurrent use of the at least one inactivated software application resident on the device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A processor, having a computer program with a set of instructions, executed by a computer, causes the computer to:
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receive a user identifier; validate the user identifier at the processing station; receive a request from a user to recurrently use a software application resident in memory of a medical device, wherein the medical device is connected to a processing station via a public communication channel; receive a system identifier; validate the system identifier at the processing station; determine user qualification, and if the user is qualified; generate an electronic enabler; transmit the electronic enabler to the device; and grant recurrent use of the software application. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. At least one processor, executing a sequence of instructions, said sequence of instructions derived from a computer data signal and causing the at least one processor to:
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accept, at a centralized facility, a request from a customer for recurrent use of an option of a medical imaging device located remotely from the centralized facility; determine whether the medical imaging device is capable of supporting the option requested; determine whether the customer is qualified, and if so; generate an activation signal designed to allow recurrent use of the option; transmit the activation signal from the centralized facility to the medical imaging device; and permit the customer recurrent use of the option. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification