Software features licensing and activation procedure
View Patent ↗A computer system for providing software over a network includes: a computer system for providing software over a network is provided. The system includes: a control unit configured to reside at a site, the control unit including a control unit identification (ID) that uniquely identifies the control unit to the network; a copy of the software, the software including sets of features; a license generator configured to create a features activation file containing the control unit ID and identifying at least one set of features to be activated by the control unit; a computer configured to download the features activation file to the control unit; and, the control unit configured for activating one of the sets of features according to the features activation file. A method and a computer program product are disclosed.
1. A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:
authorizing at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
obtaining a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the control unit ID in a downloadable features activation file;
obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the downloadable features activation file;
removing at least one second software feature previously authorized for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the downloadable features activation file;
downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
activating the at least one first software feature according to the features activation file;
deactivating the at least one second software feature; and
downloading the at least one first software feature from a software database over a network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control unit ID comprises information stored in a controller unit, and wherein the features activation file comprises a listing of control unit IDs information correlated to licensed features.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the authorizing comprises completing a purchase and is performed by a transactions processor.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising storing the downloaded features activation file in a controller unit.
5. A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:
purchasing at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites through an administrator;
obtaining a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the control unit ID in a downloadable features activation file;
obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the downloadable features activation file;
removing at least one second software feature previously purchased for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the downloadable features activation file;
downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
activating the at least one first software feature;
deactivating the at least one second software feature according to the features activation file; and
storing the downloaded features activation file in a controller unit.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the control unit ID comprises information stored in a controller unit and wherein the purchasing is performed by a transactions processor.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising downloading the at least one first software feature from a software database over a network.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the features activation file comprises a listing of control unit IDs information correlated to licensed features.
9. A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:
authorizing at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites through an administrator;
obtaining a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the control unit ID in a downloadable features activation file;
obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the downloadable features activation file;
removing at least one second software feature previously authorized for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the downloadable features activation file;
downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
downloading the at least one first software feature from a software database over a network;
activating the at least one first software feature; and
deactivating the at least one second software feature, wherein
the features activation file comprises a listing of control unit IDs information correlated to licensed features.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising storing the downloaded features activation file in a controller unit.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control unit ID comprises information stored in a controller unit.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the authorizing comprises completing a purchase.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the authorizing is performed by a transactions processor.
14. A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:
authorizing at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
obtaining a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the control unit ID in a downloadable features activation file;
obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the downloadable features activation file;
removing at least one second software feature previously authorized for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the downloadable features activation file;
downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
storing the downloaded features activation file in a controller unit;
downloading the at least one first software feature from a software database; and
activating the at least one first software feature according to the features activation file.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the features activation file comprises a listing of control unit IDs information correlated to licensed features.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the control unit ID comprises information stored in a controller unit.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the authorizing comprises completing a purchase and is performed by a transactions processor.