System and method for platform activation
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- in a portable data device, checking a wireless network card for a stored platform discrimination indication, the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device;
and depending on a value of the platform discrimination indication, inhibiting or allowing data transfer, across a wireless network, using the wireless network card, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices wherein the restricted set of portable data devices includes a personal digital assistant but does not include notebook computers;
said additional portable data devices comprising said notebook computers; and
wherein said platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from restricted set of portable data devices to expanded set.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A platform discrimination indication register is stored in a wireless network card. This register holds a platform discrimination indication that indicates whether the wireless network card can be used to transfer data with notebook computers or whether the wireless network card is restricted to transferring data from a personal digital assistant or defined set of restricted devices. The platform discrimination indication can be upgraded using a key value obtained from an Internet site. This key value is limited to a specific wireless network card because of the use of a unique electronic I.D. An Internet site encrypts the electronic I.D. to produce the first key, such as a platform activation key (PAK). This first key is then decrypted at the personal data device in order to obtain a unique calculated I.D. value. If the calculated I.D. value matches the electronic I.D. value on the wireless network card, then the platform discrimination indication is altered (upgraded), allowing the operation of the wireless network card with notebook computers.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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in a portable data device, checking a wireless network card for a stored platform discrimination indication, the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device; and depending on a value of the platform discrimination indication, inhibiting or allowing data transfer, across a wireless network, using the wireless network card, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices wherein the restricted set of portable data devices includes a personal digital assistant but does not include notebook computers; said additional portable data devices comprising said notebook computers; and wherein said platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from restricted set of portable data devices to expanded set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
- at a first device, using an input electronic ID of a wireless network card to determine a first key value;
at a portable data device not the first device, using the first key value to calculate a calculated ID value; and
at the portable data device, comparing the calculated ID value to the electronic ID of the wireless network card so that if the calculated ID value matches the electronic ID of the wireless network card data transmissions from the portable data device through the wireless network card, across a wireless network, are enabled by modifying a stored platform discrimination indication, the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices wherein the restricted set of portable data devices includes a personal digital assistant but does not include notebook computers;
said additional portable data devices comprising said notebook computers; and
wherein said platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from restricted set of portable data devices to expanded set. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- at a first device, using an input electronic ID of a wireless network card to determine a first key value;
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20. A wireless network card for use with portable data devices, the wireless network card including a stored platform discrimination indication, the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device;
- a value of the platform discrimination indication determining whether the wireless network card can be used with a type of the portable data device to transfer data across a wireless network, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices wherein the restricted set of portable data devices includes a personal digital assistant but does not include notebook computers;
said additional portable data devices comprising said notebook computers; and
wherein said platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from restricted set of portable data devices to expanded set.
- a value of the platform discrimination indication determining whether the wireless network card can be used with a type of the portable data device to transfer data across a wireless network, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices wherein the restricted set of portable data devices includes a personal digital assistant but does not include notebook computers;
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21. A wireless network card software driver for a portable data device, the wireless network card software driver adapted to implement the steps of:
- checking the wireless network card for a platform discrimination indication the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device;
using the platform discrimination indication to determine whether to enable data transfer, across a wireless network, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices wherein the restricted set of portable data devices includes a personal digital assistant but does not include notebook computers;
said additional portable data devices comprising said notebook computers; and
wherein said platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from restricted set of portable data devices to expanded set.
- checking the wireless network card for a platform discrimination indication the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device;
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22. A wireless network card for use with portable data devices, the wireless network card including a stored platform discrimination indication, the platform discrimination indication dependent upon a wireless data transfer capacity of the portable data device;
- a value of the platform discrimination indication determining whether the wireless network card can be used with a type of portable the data device to transfer data across a wireless network, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices, the platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from the restricted set of portable data devices to the expanded set through a process wherein a user takes an electronic I.D. of the wireless network card, uses the electronic I.D. of the wireless network card to produce a first key value, this first key value is then used by the personal portable data device to calculate a calculated I.D., if the calculated I.D. matches the electronic I.D. of the wireless network card, the platform discrimination indication is modified to allow the wireless network card to operate with the expanded set of portable data devices;
said additional portable data devices comprising said notebook computers; and
wherein said platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from restricted set of portable data devices to expanded set.
- a value of the platform discrimination indication determining whether the wireless network card can be used with a type of portable the data device to transfer data across a wireless network, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data device types, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data device types, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices, the platform discrimination indication capable of being upgraded from the restricted set of portable data devices to the expanded set through a process wherein a user takes an electronic I.D. of the wireless network card, uses the electronic I.D. of the wireless network card to produce a first key value, this first key value is then used by the personal portable data device to calculate a calculated I.D., if the calculated I.D. matches the electronic I.D. of the wireless network card, the platform discrimination indication is modified to allow the wireless network card to operate with the expanded set of portable data devices;
Specification