Systems and methods for time based remote control of product functionality

Abstract

Systems and methods provide remote control of product functionality and software kits allow firmware development of remote control of product functionality. The remote control may be location-based where the product functionality is based upon the geographical location of the product. Alternatively, the remote control of the product functionality may be based upon proximity of the product to an authentication device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a feature of a product from a remote server, comprising:
 receiving, within the remote server, a geographic location of the product;   determining whether the geographic location is within a geographic area stored in a geographic feature list on the remote server; and   sending, when the geographic location is within the geographic area, a message to the product from the remote server, the message enabling the feature; the feature corresponding to the geographic area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the geographic location being received from a mobile device in communication with the product. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the geographic location being determined by the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the feature being enabled for a period defined in the geographic feature list in association with the geographic area, the product automatically disabling the feature when the period is over. 
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling a feature of a product from a remote server, comprising:
 receiving, within the remote server, a geographic location of the product;   determining whether the geographic location is within a geographic area stored in a geographic feature list on the remote server; and   sending, when the geographic location is within the geographic area, a message to the product from the remote server, the message disabling the feature.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the geographic location being received from a mobile device in communication with the product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , the geographic location being determined by the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , the feature being disabled for a period defined in the geographic feature list in association with the geographic area, the product automatically enabling the feature when the period is over. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a feature of a product from a remote server, comprising:
 receiving, by the remote server, an indication that the product is proximate to an authentication device;   determining, with the remote server, a controllable feature of the product based on identification of the authentication device; and   sending a message from the remote server to the product to control the feature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the message indicating that the feature is to be either enabled or disabled. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , the message indicating a period during which the feature is to be controlled. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the feature being enabled for the period, and automatically disabled when the period is over.