System and method for information handling system software registration code management

• US 7,623,684 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanchwala, Rukaiya, Tolliver, Reva
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan; Sheela C
• Application Number:
  US11/184,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 382/305, 382/115, 717168-175, 702/2, 709/206, 235/379, 379/233, 379/114.05, 379/211.01, 379/133, 379/114.24, 156/332, 257/E31.121, 428/480, 370/338, 370/331, 707/202, 707/205, 430/533, 713189-193, 342/357.1, 342/457, 342/357.07, 705/58, 369/47.1, 369/47.36, 369/47.53, 369/47.48, 369/59.13, 369/59.19
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/126 Interacting with the operating system

Abstract

Registration codes associated with applications loaded on an information handling system are stored in a registration code table by a registration code module and retrieved for use when needed by an application to perform a restricted function, such as install or maintenance functions. The registration code table is populated at manufacture of the information handling system or automatically based on user preferences as a user inputs registration codes. The registration code table is secured with authentication information on the information handling system or, alternatively, at a network location accessible by the information handling system.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

plural processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information, the processing components including at least one storage device;

plural applications operable to run in cooperation with the processing components, at least one of the applications having an associated registration code, the application requiring input of the registration code to perform one or more associated functions; and

a registration code module stored on the storage device and interfaced with the at least one application, the registration code module executing on a processing component to save the registration codes on the storage device and to provide each of the at least one applications with the associated registration code to perform the associated function.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the registration code module is further operable to automatically save the registration codes according to a selected of plural save parameters.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the save parameters comprise an automatic save of the registration code at installation of the associated application.

4. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the save parameters comprise an automatic prompt querying whether to save the registration code.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the registration code module provides the registration code to the application as a XML file.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the registration code module provides the registration code to the application as a comma delimited file.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the registration code module is further operable to present stored registration codes for viewing at a display.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the processing components comprise a network interface, the registration code module further operable to communicate through the network interface to export or import registration codes.

9. A method for managing software application registration codes comprising:

installing with a processor plural applications on the information handling system, each of the installed applications having an associated registration code, the registration code required to perform one or more restricted functions with the associated application;

storing with the processor the plural registration codes on the information handling system at a common location; and

retrieving with the processor one or more of the plural registration codes to perform a restricted function with an associated application.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein retrieving further comprises:

detecting a request by an application for a stored registration code; and

automatically inserting the registration code in the application.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein retrieving further comprises:

detecting a request by a user to view the registration codes;

receiving a user selection of one of the registration codes; and

copying the selected registration code to an application.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the registration code comprises a text file.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the registration code comprises a comma delimited file.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein:

installing further comprises installing the applications during manufacture of the information handling system; and

saving further comprises saving the registration codes during manufacture of the information handling system.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein:

installing further comprises installing an application by an end user of the information handling system; and

saving further comprises automatically saving a registration code input by the end user during the installing of the application.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein:

installing further comprises installing an application by an end user of the information handling system; and

saving further comprises presenting the end user an option to save a registration code input by the end user during the installing of the application.

17. A system for saving software application registration codes, the system comprising:

an application registration code table storing plural application registration codes, each stored registration code associated with an application loaded on an information handling system; and

a registration code module loaded on the information handling system and executing on a processor to detect a request by an application running on the information handling system for the registration code associated with that application and to communicate the registration code to the requesting application.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the application registration code table is stored on the information handling system.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising an auto save module loaded on the information handling system, the auto save module operable to detect input of a registration code to an application running on the information handling system and to save the registration code in the registration code table.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the application registration code table is stored at a network location distal the information handling system, the system further comprising a network interface operable to export registration codes from the auto save module to the network location and to import registration codes from the network location to the information handling system.