METHOD AND SYSTEM TO REMOTELY ENABLE SOFTWARE-BASED OPTIONS FOR A TRIAL PERIOD

摘要

A system and method to remotely enable software based options for a trial period in remote equipment (30-34) is disclosed. The invention includes receiving (102) and authenticating (104) a user, and receiving an option-enabling request (110) from the user specifiying the particular option requested to be enabled in a particular piece of equipment (30-34) at a remote location. A system I.D. is validated (112), and the system ensures that the option has not already been enabled (118) at least once before, and if it has not (122), a software enabling key is generated (124) and sent (126) to activate the option in the remote equipment (30-34).