Method and system to remotely grant limited access to software options resident on a device
First Claim
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1. A method to remotely permit use of resident software options comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving an access request from a user of a remotely located device seeking access to an option resident in memory of the device;
(B) determining whether to grant limited access in response to the access request when a set of criteria has been met;
(C) generating an electronic enabler configured to permit access to the option in response to an access grant;
(D) transmitting the electronic enabler to the device; and
(E) automatically enabling customer access to the option in the device in response to reception of the electronic enabler.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided that remotely grants limited access and permits use of resident software options in accordance with terms consistent with an access grant. The invention includes receiving an access request from a user to access a software option resident in memory of a device, determining whether to grant access in response to the request, and generating an access grant in response to a qualified access request that is transmitted from a centralized facility to a remote device to automatically enable access to the option.
54 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method to remotely permit use of resident software options comprising the steps of:
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(A) receiving an access request from a user of a remotely located device seeking access to an option resident in memory of the device;
(B) determining whether to grant limited access in response to the access request when a set of criteria has been met;
(C) generating an electronic enabler configured to permit access to the option in response to an access grant;
(D) transmitting the electronic enabler to the device; and
(E) automatically enabling customer access to the option in the device in response to reception of the electronic enabler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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15. An access granting system comprising:
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a device having at least one disabled option resident on a computer programmed to control the device;
a centralized facility located remotely from the device and having at least one access computer programmed to;
receive from a qualified customer a request to access and use the disabled option; and
grant access and use, on a pay-per-use basis, of the disabled option for a predetermined time period.
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24. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a sequence of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
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receive at a centralized facility an access request from a user to request access to an option resident in a remote device;
determine whether the user is qualified, and if so;
grant limited access to the option resident in the remote device;
generate a software key designed to allow limited access to the option;
send the software key to the device; and
enable limited access by a user to the option.
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Specification