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AssigneeSierra Wireless, Inc.
InventorsRichard Wodzianek, Jody Pondick, Iulian Mocanu, Kirstin Gulbransen
Estimating the term…
A platform discrimination indication register is stored in a wireless network card. This register holds a platform discrimination indication that indicates whether the wireless network card can be used to transfer data with notebook computers or whether the wireless network card is restricted to transferring data from a personal digital assistant or defined set of restricted devices. The platform discrimination indication can be upgraded using a key value obtained from an Internet site. This key value is limited to a specific wireless network card because of the use of a unique electronic I.D. An Internet site encrypts the electronic I.D. to produce the first key, such as a platform activation key (PAK). This first key is then decrypted at the personal data device in order to obtain a unique calculated I.D. value. If the calculated I.D. value matches the electronic I.D. value on the wireless network card, then the platform discrimination indication is altered (upgraded), allowing the operation of the wireless network card with notebook computers.
A method comprising:
A method comprising:
A wireless network card for use with portable data devices, the wireless network card including a stored platform discrimination indication, the value of the platform discrimination indication determining whether the wireless network card can be used with a given type of portable data device, one value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the wireless network card to be used with a restricted set of portable data devices, another value of the platform discrimination indication allowing the use of the wireless network card with an expanded set of portable data devices, the expanded set of portable data devices including the restricted set of portable data devices as well as additional portable data devices not included in the restricted set of portable data devices.
A wireless network card software driver for a portable data device, the wireless network card software driver adapted to implement the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.