Andrew Keane Woods

US Patent:

7680741, Mar 16, 2010

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/828818

Inventors:

Richard W. Cook - Tucson AZ, US
Timothy A. Rosemore - Reno NV, US
Andrew A. Woods - Mountain View CA, US
Jennifer Possin - San Francisco CA, US
Edmund Y. L. Sung - Millbrae CA, US

Assignee:

Intuit Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/60

US Classification:

705 52, 705 51

Abstract:

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for using retail authorization to reduce the initial value of a software product. During operation, the system receives an initial bill for an un-activated version of the software product. Because this un-activated version is not fully functional, it has a lower value than a functional version of the software product, and hence the initial bill charges for a lower initial cost. During the sale of an un-activated version of the software product, the system activates the un-activated version from a point of sale system. After the sale, the system receives an additional bill for activating the software product.

US Patent:

20080270310, Oct 30, 2008

Filed:

Jul 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/829430

Inventors:

David B. DeGraaff - Mountain View CA, US
Andrew A. Woods - Mountain View CA, US
Alvin Hsung-Un Lee - Redwood City CA, US
Stephen L. Molloy - Andover MA, US
Michael A. Meagher - Cary NC, US
Hunter D. Smith - El Cajon CA, US
Richard W. Cook - Tucson AZ, US
Gaurav Kotak - San Francisco CA, US
Lisa E. Woods - Knoxville TN, US

Assignee:

INTUIT INC. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

H04L 9/00

US Classification:

705 58

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system that provides access to at least a portion of a software product are described. During operation, this system receives purchase information from a first location, where the purchase information includes information about purchased software features to which a user purchased access and where the purchased software features are provided by a first subset of modules in the software product. Next, the system receives an access request from a second location from which the software product can be accessed, where the access request includes an identifier provided to the user when the user purchased access to the purchased software features. Next, the system provides configuration instructions to the second location, where the configuration instructions dynamically enable the first subset of the modules.