The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 1995
Filed:
Apr. 13, 1994
Kenneth Kenton, Wilmington, DE (US);
Jeffery A Stell, Exton, PA (US);
Richard A Coffman, Jr, Phoenixville, PA (US);
Unisys Corporation, Blue Bell, PA (US);
Abstract
System and method of encouraging computer system customers to purchase licenses before employing certain types of peripheral devices for use with their computer system. The computer system establishes contact with a peripheral device. It then verifies that the peripheral device is supported by the operating system. If the peripheral device is supported, the system determines whether the peripheral device is licensed (and therefore requires a driver license key in order for the peripheral device to be accessed by the system). If the peripheral device requires a driver license, the system determines whether the corresponding driver license key is installed in the keys file of the computer system. If the driver license key is not installed, the system compels (or encourages) installation of the driver license key by (1) displaying a licensing violation message instructing the customer to obtain the proper license; and/or (2) precluding access of the peripheral device by the computer system.