Digital certificate with software enabling indicator

Abstract

A server computer has a network interface circuit and a processing circuit. The network interface circuit is configured to provide communications over a network. The processing circuit is configured to transmit over the network an electronic document comprising a digitally signed identity associated with the server computer. The electronic document further comprises a software enabling indicator, the software enabling indicator comprising data indicating whether a software feature of a system is to be enabled for use.

1 . A server computer, comprising:
 a network interface circuit configured to communicate over a network; and   a processing circuit configured to transmit over the network an electronic document comprising a digitally signed identity associated with the server computer, the electronic document further comprising a software enabling indicator, the software enabling indicator comprising data indicating whether a software feature of a system is to be enabled for use.   
     
     
         2 . The server computer of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic document is a digital certificate configured for establishing the authenticity of the identity of the server computer to a remote device. 
     
     
         3 . The server computer of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic document comprises a public encryption key. 
     
     
         4 . The server computer of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic document is a Secure Socket Layer certificate. 
     
     
         5 . The server computer of  claim 1 , wherein the software enabling code is a license key, wherein the processing circuit is configured to embed the license key in the electronic document before the electronic document is digitally signed. 
     
     
         6 . The server computer of  claim 5 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to embed a validity date in the electronic document before the electronic document is digitally signed. 
     
     
         7 . The server computer of  claim 1 , wherein the software enabling code comprises an indication of a number of software licenses for a plurality of client computing devices. 
     
     
         8 . The server computer of  claim 7 , wherein the software enabling code comprises an indication of software licenses for a plurality of different software features. 
     
     
         9 . The server computer of  claim 1 , wherein the software enabling code comprises an indication of a first software license for a remote server computer and an indication of a plurality of second software licenses for client computers in communication with the remote server computer. 
     
     
         10 . A server computer, comprising:
 a network interface circuit configured to communicate over a network; and   a processing circuit configured to:
 receive over the network an electronic document comprising a digitally signed identity associated with a remote server computer, the electronic document further comprising a software enabling indicator, the software enabling indicator comprising data indicating whether a software feature of a system is to be enabled for use. 
   
     
     
         11 . The server computer of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to authenticate the server computer using the electronic document. 
     
     
         12 . The server computer of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic document further comprises a validity date representing a date after which the server computer can no longer be authenticated using this electronic document, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to store an indication that the software feature is no longer enabled for use after expiration of the validity date. 
     
     
         13 . The server computer of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
 generate a plurality of electronic documents, each comprising a digitally signed identity associated with the server computer, the plurality of electronic documents each comprising a second software enabling indicator; and   transmit one of the plurality of electronic documents to each of a plurality of remote computing devices for use in enabling a software feature on each of the remote computing devices.   
     
     
         14 . The server computer of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic document is a Secure Socket Layer certificate. 
     
     
         15 . A server computer, comprising:
 a network interface circuit configured to communicate over a network; and   a processing circuit configured to:
 receive a first digital certificate from a remote computer server over the network, the digital certificate comprising a software enabling code; 
 generate a plurality of second digital certificates based at least in part on the software enabling code; and 
 transmit the second digital certificates to each of a plurality of client computing devices to be used by each client computing device to enable a software feature. 
   
     
     
         16 . The server computer of  claim 15 , wherein the software enabling code comprises a first code for enabling a first software feature and a second code for enabling a second software feature, wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate one second digital certificate for enabling the first software feature and another second digital certificate for enabling the second software feature. 
     
     
         17 . The server computer of  claim 16 , wherein the first code represents a first number of licenses for use of the first software feature and the second code represents a second number of licenses for use of the second software feature. 
     
     
         18 . The server computer of  claim 15 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to transmit the one second digital certificate to a client computing device associated with a first care area within a medical facility and the another second digital certificate to a second client computing device associated with a second care area within the medical facility. 
     
     
         19 . The server computer of  claim 15 , further comprising the plurality of client devices, wherein the plurality of client devices are medical devices. 
     
     
         20 . The server computer of  claim 19 , wherein the medical devices are apheresis machines or infusion pumps.