Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for remotely enabling a preinstalled and previously disabled application on a computer system

US6301666A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
32References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1999
Grant dateOct 9, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99939
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of providing a preconfigured computer system to a user commences with the installation of first and second applications on the computer system. The computer system is then configured to restrict access to the first application by a user, so as to inhibit ready and convenient execution of the first application by the user. However, access to the second application is not restricted, so that this second application can be executed or invoked in a usual and convenient manner. The computer system is then supplied to an end user, with the first and second of applications installed thereon. Responsive to a subsequent request from the user, the restrictions on the access to the first application are removed so as not to inhibit the execution of the first application by the user.

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