Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for upgrading the software lock of microprocessor

US5790783A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 1996
Grant dateAug 4, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 28, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2211/007
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing, maintaining and upgrading the software lock of a microprocessor. When a processor upgrade occurs, software that was serialized to the previously installed processor detects that it is running on an unauthorized processor. The software initiates a reauthorization process based on a reauthorization use profile. The temporary re-enabling of the software is allowed if the authorization service is not available.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.