Patents by Inventor William G. Blair

William G. Blair 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).

  • Patent number: 7739725
    Abstract: A system for granting indefinite use of inactivated software options pre-installed on a device is provided. The system includes receiving, at a remote processing facility, a recurrent use request from a user requesting access to an inactivated software option resident on the device. The system is further configured to validate the request and generate an activation key. The activation key is transmitted from the processing facility to the device automatically activating the option and granting recurrent access. The activation key or code is generated at the processing facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a recurrent use identifier, and the selected option. A method to permit recurrent use of resident, yet, inactivated software of a device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • Patent number: 7634645
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for requesting remotely enabled access to inactive software options resident on a device. A graphical user interface (GUI) is electronically linked to a centralized facility remotely located from the device. Option identifying parameters, such as a user ID, host ID, system ID, modality selection, and option selection are entered using the GUI and transmitted via an electronic request to the centralized facility. In response to the received request, the centralized facility generates a software key and transmits same to the device for activation of the option if approved by the centralized facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue, Geoffrey S. Christanday, Esmeraldo R. V. Davantes
  • Patent number: 6983375
    Abstract: A system for granting indefinite use of inactivated software options pre-installed on a device is provided. The system includes receiving, at a remote processing facility, a recurrent use request from a user requesting access to an inactivated software option resident on the device. The system is further configured to validate the request and generate an activation key. The activation key is transmitted from the processing facility to the device automatically activating the option and granting recurrent access. The activation key or code is generated at the processing facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a recurrent use identifier, and the selected option. A method to permit recurrent use of resident, yet, inactivated software of a device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • Patent number: 6966000
    Abstract: A system and method are provided that remotely grants limited access and permits use of resident software options in accordance with terms consistent with an access grant. The invention includes receiving an access request from a user to access a software option resident in memory of a device, determining whether to grant access in response to the request, and generating an access grant in response to a qualified access request that is transmitted from a centralized facility to a remote device to automatically enable access to the option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • Patent number: 6829704
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for activating inactive software options pre-installed on a device upon initialization of the device and thereby preventing installation during device operation. The invention includes receiving a request from a user at a centralized facility for access to an inactive option resident on the device. After validation of the request, an option-specific activation key or code is generated at the centralized facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a host identifier, a use period identifier, and the selected option. The activation key is then transmitted from the centralized facility to the device whereupon only during initialization or reboot of the device is access to the inactive option automatically granted. The limiting of access to the inactive option until device initialization ensures that option enablement is prevented during device operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • Publication number: 20020161990
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for activating inactive software options preinstalled on a device upon initialization of the device and thereby preventing installation during device operation. The invention includes receiving a request from a user at a centralized facility for access to an inactive option resident on the device. After validation of the request, an option-specific activation key or code is generated at the centralized facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a host identifier, a use period identifier, and the selected option. The activation key is then transmitted from the centralized facility to the device whereupon only during initialization or reboot of the device is access to the inactive option automatically granted. The limiting of access to the inactive option until device initialization ensures that option enablement is prevented during device operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • Publication number: 20020152395
    Abstract: A system and method are provided that remotely grants limited access and permits use of resident software options in accordance with terms consistent with an access grant. The invention includes receiving an access request from a user to access a software option resident in memory of a device, determining whether to grant access in response to the request, and generating an access grant in response to a qualified access request that is transmitted from a centralized facility to a remote device to automatically enable access to the option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • Publication number: 20020152401
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for requesting remotely enabled access to inactive software options resident on a device. A graphical user interface (GUI) is electronically linked to a centralized facility remotely located from the device. Option identifying parameters, such as a user ID, host ID, system ID, modality selection, and option selection are entered using the GUI and transmitted via an electronic request to the centralized facility. In response to the received request, the centralized facility generates a software key and transmits same to the device for activation of the option if approved by the centralized facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue, Geoffrey S. Christanday, Esmeraldo R.V. Davantes
  • Publication number: 20020152400
    Abstract: A system for granting indefinite use of inactivated software options pre-installed on a device is provided. The system includes receiving, at a remote processing facility, a recurrent use request from a user requesting access to an inactivated software option resident on the device. The system is further configured to validate the request and generate an activation key. The activation key is transmitted from the processing facility to the device automatically activating the option and granting recurrent access. The activation key or code is generated at the processing facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a recurrent use identifier, and the selected option. A method to permit recurrent use of resident, yet, inactivated software of a device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue