Patents by Inventor Kara L. Nance

Kara L. Nance has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and system for controlling access to software features in an electronic device
    Patent number: 7613932
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling access to features on an electronic device, such as a printer, is disclosed. The electronic device is shipped with multiple software features, but one or more of the features may be disabled. According to aspects of the present invention, when a customer subsequently licenses or purchases one of the disabled features, the feature is enabled as follows. A key corresponding to the disabled feature is stored on a portable storage device. When the portable storage device is inserted into the electronic device, the key is customized based on device-specific information of the electronic device, thereby reducing a possibility that the key can be copied and used for enabling the feature on more than one device. The customized key is then used to enable the feature in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kara L. Nance, J. Douglas Henley
  • Method and system for controlling access to software features in an electronic device
    Publication number: 20040215969
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling access to features on an electronic device, such as a printer, is disclosed. The electronic device is shipped with multiple software features, but one or more of the features may be disabled. According to aspects of the present invention, when a customer subsequently licenses or purchases one of the disabled features, the feature is enabled as follows. A key corresponding to the disabled feature is stored on a portable storage device. When the portable storage device is inserted into the electronic device, the key is customized based on device-specific information of the electronic device, thereby reducing a possibility that the key can be copied and used for enabling the feature on more than one device. The customized key is then used to enable the feature in the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kara L. Nance, J. Douglas Henley