Software features licensing and activation procedure

A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:

• authorizing at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• correlating the at least one first software feature with a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites in a features activation file;
• obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
• correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the features activation file;
• removing at least one second software feature previously authorized for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the features activation file;
• downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• activating the at least one first software feature according to the features activation file;
• deactivating the at least one second software feature;
• and
• downloading the at least one first software feature over a network,
• wherein the features activation file comprises a listing of control unit IDs information correlated to licensed features.

A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:

• purchasing at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• obtaining a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• correlating the at least one first software feature with the control unit ID in a downloadable features activation file;
• obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
• correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the downloadable features activation file;
• removing at least one second software feature previously purchased for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the downloadable features activation file;
• downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• activating the at least one first software feature;
• deactivating the at least one second software feature according to the features activation file;
• and
• storing the downloaded features activation file,
• wherein the control unit ID comprises information and wherein the purchasing is performed by a transactions processor.

A method for licensing software for a remote site of a plurality of sites, the method comprising:

• completing a purchase of at least one first software feature for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• obtaining a control unit ID for the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• correlating the at least one first software feature with the control unit ID in a features activation file;
• obtaining another control unit ID for another remote site of the plurality of sites;
• correlating the at least one first software feature with the another control unit ID in the features activation file;
• removing at least one second software feature previously authorized for the remote site of the plurality of sites from the features activation file;
• downloading the features activation file at the remote site of the plurality of sites;
• downloading the at least one first software feature from a software database over a network;
• activating the at least one first software feature;
• and
• deactivating the at least one second software feature, wherein
• the features activation file comprises a listing of control unit IDs information correlated to licensed features.