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AssigneeUnisys Corporation
InventorsKenneth Kenton, Jeffery A. Stell, Richard A. Coffman, Jr.
Estimating the term…
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.
A method for discouraging or preventing an unlicensed peripheral device from being accessed by a computer system, having an operating system that has established contact with said peripheral device and has obtained identifying information associated with said peripheral device, wherein said peripheral device is of a type supported by said operating system, comprising the steps of:
An automated licensing system employed in a computer system to ensure that only peripheral devices with paid-up license fees can be accessed by said computer system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.