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. 20, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2000
Lee B. Hansen, Forest Lake, MN (US);
Kerry M. Langsford, Roseville, MN (US);
Daniel J. Lenz, Maplewood, MN (US);
Ronald S. Tanning, Roseville, MN (US);
Lee B. Hansen, Forest Lake, MN (US);
Kerry M. Langsford, Roseville, MN (US);
Daniel J. Lenz, Maplewood, MN (US);
Ronald S. Tanning, Roseville, MN (US);
Unisys Corporation, Blue Bell, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for authorizing a temporary or permanent increase in the performance of a data processing system while providing little or no down time. This is accomplished by including extra or additional computer resources in the data processing system when, for example, it is provided to the customer. However, only those resources required to achieve the performance level purchased by the customer are enabled for use during normal operation. To temporarily or permanently increase the performance level of the data processing system, the customer purchases an authorization key. When the customer desires increased performance, the authorization key is registered on the data processing system, which enables the use of additional hardware resources. The authorization key may be used akin to an insurance policy that allows selective increases in performance level to accommodate unplanned increases in performance requirements.