Information processing system and recording media

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic system having a communication means and executing specified processing by software. In particular, there is provided an information processing system designed to making it possible to freely control upgrading of a facility thereof. The information processing system comprises a communication means, a plurality of processing system, a unit for allocating inherent data, which is used to enable or disable use, to at least one of the processing facilities, and disabling use of the one processing facility, and a unit for enabling the disabled use of the processing facility associated with data received via the communication means.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a communication unit;    a plurality of processing facilities preinstalled in the apparatus and restricted in use by use enabling data;    a unit allocating, to at least a selected one of the plurality of processing facilities, respective data used to enable or disable use of each said selected processing facility; and    a unit newly enabling a currently disabled use of a selected processing facility in response to commercial consideration from a requester of the use and to respectively associated use enabling data received via the communication unit, and 
 wherein said software or programs are received by said communication unit.  
   
     
     
         2 . Recording media for storing program data readable by an information processing system and executed on the system, tangibly embodying facilities executed by the system, comprising: 
 communication facility data;    facility data for allocating inherent data, which is used to enable or disable use, to at least one of a plurality of processing facilities to be run by said information processing system, and disabling the use of the one processing facility; and    facility data for enabling the disabled use of the processing facility associated with inherent data received via said communication facility.    
     
     
         3 . Recording media for storing program data readable by an information processing system and executed on the system, tangibly embodying facilities executed by the system, comprising: 
 communication facility data;    facility data for disabling use of a processing facility to be run by said information processing system;    facility data for receiving publicity information via said communication facility; and    facility data for enabling the use of said processing facility disabled by said disabling facility under the condition that the publicity information received via said communication facility be output or displayed.    
     
     
         4 . The recording media according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 facility data for storing the publicity information received via said communication facility in said information processing system and thus updating publicity information; and    facility data for outputting or displaying the stored latest publicity information while being interlocked with said facility for enabling the disabled use of said processing facility.    
     
     
         5 . Recording media for storing program data readable by an information processing system and executed on the system, tangibly embodying facilities executed by the system, comprising: 
 facility data for disabling use of at least one of processing facilities to be run by said information processing system;    facility data for storing publicity information    facility data for enabling the use disabled by said disabling facility under the condition that the publicity information be output or displayed.    
     
     
         6 . Recording media for storing program data readable by an information processing system and executed on the system, tangibly embodying facilities executed by the system, comprising: 
 communication facility data;    facility data for activating a plurality of processing facilities provided as a plurality of software packages so as to run the processing facilities;    facility data for allocating inherent key data to at least one of said software, and disabling use of the software; and    facility data for enabling the disabled use of the software associated with the key data when the key data is received by said communication facility.    
     
     
         7 . Recording media for storing program data readable by an information processing system and executed on the system, tangibly embodying facilities executed by the system, comprising: 
 communication facility data;    display facility data;    facility data for activating a processing facility provided as software so as to run the processing facility;    facility data for disabling use of the software, and enabling the disabled use when a commercial program for outputting publicity information on a display screen is received by said communication facility; and    facility data for activating said commercial program responsively to activation of the software.    
     
     
         8 . A method for enabling a use-disabled facility in an information processing system, having a communication means and having a plurality of processing facilities to be run by said information processing system, the method comprising: 
 a first step for allocating inherent data, which is used to enable or disable use, to at least one of said processing facilities, and disabling the use of the one processing facility; and    a second step for enabling the disabled use of the processing facility associated with the data received via the communication means.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said second step enables the disabled use of the processing facility, to which the data is allocated, for a given period after the start of use.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said processing facilities are provided as software or programs to be run by said information processing system.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said software or programs are given in the form of program recording media.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said software or programs are received by said communication means.  
     
     
         13 . A method for enabling a use-disabled facility in an information processing system having a communication means and having a processing facility, the method comprising: 
 a first step for disabling use of said processing facility;    a second step for receiving publicity information via said communication means; and    a third step for enabling the use of said processing facility disabled by said disabling step under the condition that publicity information received via said communication means be output or displayed.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said method further comprises a fourth step for storing the publicity information received via said communication means and thus updating publicity information, and said third step for enabling the disabled use of said processing facility outputs or displays the stored latest publicity information.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said third step for enabling the disabled use of said processing facility enables the disabled use of a processing facility associated with the received publicity information.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said method further comprises a fifth step for enabling the disabled use of said processing facility for a given period after the start of use.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said processing facility is provided as software or a program to be run by said information processing system.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said software or program is given in the form of a program recording medium.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said software or program is received by said communication means.  
     
     
         20 . A method for enabling a use-disabled facility in an information processing system having processing facilities, the method comprising: 
 a first step for disabling use of at least one facility of said information processing system; and    a second step for storing publicity information,    a third step for enabling the use disabled by said first step under the condition that the publicity information be output or displayed.    
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said third step for enabling the disabled use of a processing facility enables the disabled use of a processing facility associated with the publicity information.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said method further comprises for enabling the disabled use of said processing facilities for a given period after the start of use.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said processing facilities are provided as software or programs to be run by said information processing system.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said software or programs are given in the form of program recording media.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus providing selection use of processing facilities, comprising: 
 a communication unit;    a source of pre-installed processing facilities having key data respectively associated therewith;    a unit normally disabling use of one or more respective, selected said pre-installed processing facilities and responsive to commercial consideration from a requester of the use and receipt via the communication unit of key data, for a respective, currently disabled processing facility, to selectively enable use thereof, and 
 wherein the source comprises pre-installed said processing facilities.