Secure feature activation
A method for a user computer to selectively activate a feature of a software package executing on the user computer includes receiving a feature activation license from a remote server and activating an inactive feature originally present in the software package.
1 . A method for a user computer to selectively activate a feature of a software package executing on the user computer comprising:
receiving a feature activation license from a remote server; and
activating an inactive feature originally present in the software package.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising sending a request for activation of the inactive feature from a user computer to the remote server before the feature activation license is received by the remote server.
3 . The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the inactive feature is not present in the software package and the inactive feature is bundled with the feature activation license.
4 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the inactive feature is activated automatically in response to a particular event.
5 . The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the particular event is an expiration date.
6 . The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the particular event is activation of another related inactive feature.
7 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the feature activation license is authenticated before the inactive feature is activated.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein currency is exchanged from a user of the software package to the software vendor in exchange for the feature activation license.
9 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the inactive feature is activated for a set period of time.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of inactive features are activated concurrently.
11 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the feature activation license is encrypted.
12 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the feature activation license is encrypted via a shared symmetric key.
13 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the feature activation license is encrypted via an asymmetric private key.
14 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the feature activation license is verified via a plurality of digital certificates.
15 . The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising adding a new feature to the software package wherein the new feature is encapsulated with the feature activation license.
16 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein a user of the software package is given an option of obtaining the new feature after requesting the feature activation license.
17 . The method as recited in claim further 1 comprising adding a patch to the software package wherein the patch is encapsulated with the feature activation license.
18 . The method as recited in claim 17 wherein a user of the software package is given an option of obtaining the patch after requesting the feature activation license.
19 . A method for selectively activating a feature of a software package executing on a user computer comprising:
a remote server receives a request from a user computer for activation of an inactive feature that is originally present in the software package;
the remote server processes the request; and
the remote server sends a feature activation license to the user computer for activating the inactive feature.
20 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the inactive feature is not originally present in the software package and is bundled with the feature activation license.
21 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the feature activation license is authenticated before the inactive feature is activated.
22 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein currency is exchanged from the user to the software vendor in exchange for the feature activation license.
23 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the inactive feature is activated on a single computer.
24 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the inactive feature is activated for a set period of time.
25 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein a plurality of inactive features are activated concurrently.
26 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the inactive feature is activated for a specific device.
27 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein a feature is activated on a plurality of devices.
28 . The method as recited in claim 27 wherein the feature is activated for the plurality of devices via a group identifier.
29 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the feature activation license is encrypted.
30 . The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the feature activation license is encrypted via a shared symmetric key.
31 . The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the feature activation license is encrypted via an asymmetric private key.
32 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the feature activation license is verified via a plurality of digital certificates.
33 . The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising adding a new feature to the software package wherein the new feature is encapsulated with the feature activation license.
34 . The method as recited in claim 33 wherein the user is given an option of obtaining the new feature after requesting the feature activation license.
35 . The method as recited in claim further 19 comprising adding a patch to the software package wherein the patch is encapsulated with the feature activation license.
36 . The method as recited in claim 35 wherein the user is given an option of obtaining the patch after requesting the feature activation license.
37 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the feature activation license is obtained electronically.
38 . The method as recited in claim 37 wherein the feature activation license is obtained through email.
39 . The method as recited in claim 37 wherein the feature activation license is obtained through a through an Internet web interface.
40 . The method as recited in claim 37 wherein the feature activation license is obtained via FTP.
41 . The method as recited in claim 37 wherein the feature activation license is obtained via SCP.
42 . A method for selectively activating a feature of a software package executing on a user computer comprising:
a user requesting activation of an inactive feature originally present in the software package;
the user computer transmits a request for a feature activation license to a remote server of a software vendor;
the remote server receives the request;
the remote server processes the request;
the remote server sends the feature activation license to the user computer;
the user computer receives the feature activation license; and
the user computer activates the inactive feature.
43 . The method as recited in claim 42 wherein the feature activation license is authenticated before the inactive feature is activated.
44 . The method as recited in claim 42 wherein currency is exchanged from a user of the software package to the software vendor in exchange for the feature activation license.
45 . The method as recited in claim 42 wherein the feature activation license is obtained though a human interaction.
46 . A system for selectively activating a feature of a software package comprising:
a system information interface;
a device information segment on the system information interface wherein the device information segment shows a product identification and a box identification;
a software list segment on the system information interface wherein the software list segment shows a plurality of installed software packages;
a feature activation list segment on the system information interface wherein the feature activation list shows a status of installed features related to an individual installed software package; and
a software upgrade/installation interface on the system information interface wherein the software upgrade/installation interface is utilized for selectively activating an inactive feature.
47 . The system as recited in claim 46 wherein the software list segment is further comprised of a name, a version, a description and an install date each of which is related to the individual software package.
48 . The system as recited in claim 46 wherein the feature activation list segment is further comprised of a description, an activation date, an expiration date and a status each of which is related to an individual installed feature of the individual installed software package.
49 . The system as recited in claim 46 wherein a feature activation license is obtained via the software upgrade/installation interface.
50 . The system as recited in claim 49 wherein the feature activation license is obtained though an Internet web interface.
51 . The system as recited in claim 49 wherein the feature activation license is obtained via FTP.
52 . The system as recited in claim 49 wherein the feature activation license is obtained via SCP.
53 . A data structure for use in selectively activating a feature of a software package executing on a user computer comprising:
a box identification corresponding to the user computer; and
a box feature identification that has a list of features to be activated.
54 . A data structure for use in selectively activating a feature of a software package executing on a group of user computers comprising:
a group identification corresponding to the user computer; and
a group feature identification that has a list of features to be activated.
55 . A software package which has inactive features that can only be activated through obtaining a feature activation license.
56 . A method for determining a computer box identifier comprising:
obtaining a MAC identifier;
obtaining a system information component relating to the computer box; and
combining the MAC identifier and the system information component into the computer box identifier.