Timothy R Butler

US Patent:

7962416, Jun 14, 2011

Filed:

Nov 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/681017

Inventors:

Winnie C. Durbin - Dousman WI, US
Kun Zhang - Waukesha WI, US
Karamjeet Singh - Germantown WI, US
Dave Mehring - Sussex WI, US
Thomas Leroy Lamoureux - Waukesha WI, US
Hubert A. Zettel - Waukesha WI, US
Timothy D Butler - Waukesha WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Technology Services, Inc. - Pewaukee WI
General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 21/00
G06F 21/22
H04N 7/16

US Classification:

705 59, 705 55, 705 56, 726 4, 726 5, 726 28, 726 31

Abstract:

A system and method to remotely enable software based options for a trial period in remote equipment is disclosed. The invention includes receiving and authenticating a user, and receiving an option-enabling request from the user specifying the particular option requested to be enabled in a particular piece of equipment at a remote location. A system I. D. is validated, and the system ensures that the option has not already been enabled at least once before, and if it has not, a software enabling key is generated and sent to activate the option in the remote equipment.