System and method for expiring modular software components for wireless communication devices

• US 7,970,375 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Date, Umesh M., Patel, Mehul B., Rajaram, Gowri S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/679,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20070143749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for expiring a software module on a wireless communication device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, at the wireless communication device, an expiration notice for the software module and determining if license renewal of the software module is automatic. If the license renewal is not automatic, then the method includes notifying a user of the wireless communication device of the receipt of the expiration notice, and de-activating the software module upon receipt of instructions to not renew. In certain embodiments, the software module is de-activated after an expiration of a trial period if no instructions are received from the user in response to the notifying step. The method may further include sending the renewal instructions to the software module server upon receipt of instructions to renew, receiving an activation key from the software module server in response to sending the renewal instructions, and activating the software module utilizing the activation key. If the license renewal is automatic or receipt of instructions to renew are received, then the method includes sending the renewal instructions to the software module server, receiving an activation key from the software module server, and activating the software module utilizing the activation key.

Claims

1. A method for expiring a software module on a wireless communication device, comprising:

receiving, at the wireless communication device, an expiration notice for the software module;

determining if license renewal of the software module is automatic; and

if the license renewal is not automatic, then;

notifying a user of the wireless communication device of the receipt of the expiration notice, and

de-activating the software module upon receipt of instructions to not renew, and

if the license renewal is automatic or upon receipt of instructions to renew, then;

sending the renewal instructions to a software module server, receiving an activation key from the software module server, and activating the software module utilizing the activation key.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising de-activating the software module if no instructions are received from the user in response to the notifying step.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising de-activating the software module after an expiration of a trial period if no instructions are received from the user in response to the notifying step.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation key is a renewed license.

5. A wireless communication device comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display;

memory coupled to the processor; and

instructions stored on the memory, the instructions to perform the following when executed by the processor;

receiving an expiration notice for the software module,

determining if license renewal of the software module is automatic, and

if the license renewal is not automatic, then;

notifying a user of the wireless communication device of the receipt of the expiration notice, and

de-activating the software module upon receipt of instructions to not renew, and

if the license renewal is automatic or upon receipt of instructions to renew, then;

sending the renewal instructions to a software module server,

receiving an activation key from the software module server, and

activating the software module utilizing the activation key.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions are to further perform the following when executed by the processor:

de-activating the software module if no instructions are received from the user in response to the notifying step.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions are to further perform the following when executed by the processor:

de-activating the software module after an expiration of a trial period if no instructions are received from the user in response to the notifying step.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the activation key is a renewed license.