Remote activation of enhanced functionality features in locally created documents

Abstract

A method and system for remotely activating document features in locally created electronic documents. Documents having certain document features are created in a design application at a local computer. Codes correlating to the imparted document features are generated and embedded in the document file. Documents are delivered to a remote computer having a viewer application for opening and viewing the document. The viewer application reads the generated codes and unlocks functionality in the application for implementation of document features. The document features may provide enhanced functionality as value-added items such as digital signature capability, the ability to view a document in high fidelity, and local saving of the document with associated document data.

1 . A system for remotely activating document features in locally created electronic documents, the system comprising: 
 an electronic document application configured to: 
 create an electronic document on a local computer,  
 associate document features with the electronic document,  
 generate an activation key correlating to the document features associated with the electronic document, and  
 embed the activation key into the electronic document; and  
   a viewer application located on a remote computer configured to: 
 open the electronic document as received through an electronic network, and  
 access the activation key in the electronic document,  
 the viewer application having functionalities for carrying out document features, the functionalities being selectively unlocked in response to the activation key.  
   
   
   
       2 . A system for remotely activating document features in locally created electronic documents, the system comprising: 
 an electronic document application configured to: 
 create an electronic document on a local computer,  
 associate document features with the electronic document,  
 generate an activation key correlating to the document features associated with the electronic document,  
 embed the activation key into the electronic document, and  
 send the electronic document to a remote computer,  
 wherein the activation key of the electronic document is configured to be read by a remote viewer, the viewer having functionalities for carrying out document features, the functionalities being selectively unlocked in response to the read activation key.  
   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the document features are enhanced functionality features.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 means for generating a unique document code for the electronic document and embedding the document code into the electronic document;    a network server;    means for delivering the electronic document from the local computer to the remote computer through the network server;    means for reading the unique document code each time the electronic document passes from the network server to the remote computer; and    means for counting the number of times the unique document code is read.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 means for obtaining a unique license code and generating a unique organization code for the electronic document in response to the unique license code;    means for reading the unique organization code each time the electronic document passes from the network server to the remote computer; and    means for counting the number of times the unique organization code is read.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising means for determining a license fee in response to the number of times the unique organization code is read.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising means for determining a license fee in response to the number of times both the unique document code and unique organization code are read.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a feature code, which corresponds to the entered document features, the unique document code, and the unique organization code are binary data strings.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising means for combining the feature code, unique document code and unique organization code to create one contiguous binary data string.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the feature code succeeds the unique document code and unique organization code in the order of reading, whereby the addition of string length to the feature code in response to new document features added to the electronic document does not reposition binary string elements corresponding to the unique document code, unique organization code and existing document activation key.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic document application is a form design application.  
   
   
       12 . A system for remotely activating document features in locally created electronic documents, the system comprising: 
 a viewer application located on a remote computer configured to: 
 open an electronic document as received through an electronic network, the electronic document including an embedded activation key correlating to document features associated with the electronic document, and  
 access the activation key in the electronic document,  
 the viewer application having functionalities for carrying out document features, the functionalities being selectively unlocked in response to the activation key.  
   
   
   
       13 . A system for determining license fees for network based transactions, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of transaction files residing in a network server;    a unique organization code selected from a plurality of organization codes and embedded in at least one transaction file; and    a tracking program configured to: 
 request download of the at least one transaction file from the network server to a computer,  
 read the unique organization code each time the at least one transaction file is downloaded from the network server to the computer,  
 count the number of times the unique organization code is read, and  
 calculate a license fee for an organization based on the number of times the unique organization code is read.  
   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of organization codes corresponds to a unique organization.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a unique document code embedded in each of the plurality of transaction files,    wherein the tracking program is further configured to: 
 read the unique document code each time the at least one transaction file is downloaded from the network server to the computer,  
 count the number of times the unique document code is read, and  
 calculate the license fee for the organization based on the number of times the unique document code is read.  
   
   
   
       16 . A system for determining license fees for network based transactions, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of transaction files residing in the memory of a network server;    a unique organization code selected from a plurality of organization codes and embedded in at least one transaction file;    a communication module operating on one of a plurality of computers and configured to place a request from the one computer for download of the at least one transaction file from the network server; and    a tracking module operating on the network server and configured to: 
 read the unique organization code each time the at least one transaction file is downloaded from the network server to the one computer,  
 count the number of times the unique organization code is read, and  
 calculate a license fee for an organization based on the number of times the unique organization code is read.  
   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of organization codes corresponds to a unique organization.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a unique document code embedded in each of the plurality of transaction files.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the tracking module is additionally configured to: 
 read the unique document code each time the at least one transaction file is downloaded from the network server to the computer,    count the number of times the unique document code is read, and    calculate the license fee for the organization based on the number of times the unique document code is read.    
   
   
       20 . A method of determining license fees for network based transactions, the method comprising: 
 placing a request from a computer to a network server for download of at least one transaction file from the network server;    accessing a unique organization code each time the at least one transaction file is downloaded from the network server to the computer, wherein the unique organization code is embedded in at least one transaction file;    counting the number of times the unique organization code is accessed; and    calculating a license fee for an organization based on the number of times the unique organization code is accessed.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the unique organization code is selected from a plurality of organization codes, and wherein each of the plurality of organization codes corresponds to a unique organization.  
   
   
       22 . A method of determining license fees for network based transactions, the method comprising: 
 embedding a unique organization code selected from a plurality of organization codes into at least one transaction file;    placing a request from a computer to a network server for download of the at least one transaction file from the network server;    accessing the unique organization code each time the at least one transaction file is downloaded from the network server to the computer;    counting the number of times the unique organization code is accessed; and    calculating a license fee for an organization based on the number of times the unique organization code is accessed.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of organization codes corresponds to a unique organization.  
   
   
       24 . A method of remotely activating document features in a locally created electronic document, the method comprising: 
 generating an activation key in relation to document features associated with an electronic document;    embedding the activation key in the electronic document;    delivering the electronic document to a remote computer;    opening the electronic document in a remote viewer application;    reading the activation key in the electronic document; and    unlocking selected document features with the activation key.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 generating a unique document code for the electronic document;    embedding the document code into the electronic document;    delivering the electronic document to the remote computer through a network server;    reading the unique document code for each delivery from the network server to the remote computer; and    counting the number of times the unique document code is read.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 locating a unique license code in the electronic document application;    generating a unique organization code for the electronic document based on the unique license code;    reading the unique organization code each time the electronic document passes from the network server to the remote computer; and    counting the number of times the unique organization code is read.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 calculating a first license fee in response to the number of times the unique organization code is read; and    calculating a second license fee in response to the number of times both the unique document code and the unique organization code are read.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the electronic document application is a form design application.  
   
   
       29 . A method of remotely activating document features in a locally created electronic document, the method comprising: 
 creating an electronic document at a local computer using an electronic document application;    associating document features with the electronic document;    generating an activation key in relation to the document features associated with the electronic document;    embedding the activation key in the electronic document; and    sending the electronic document to a remote computer,    wherein the activation key in the electronic document is configured to be accessed and selected document features unlocked by a viewer application having functionality for executing the document features.    
   
   
       30 . A method of remotely activating document features in a locally created electronic document, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a remote computer, a first electronic document comprising an embedded activation key in relation to a plurality of document features associated with the electronic document;    opening the first electronic document in a viewer application having functionality for executing the document features;    accessing the activation key in the first electronic document; and    unlocking selected document features via the activation key.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the unlocking is performed only when the first electronic document is selected for processing.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , additionally comprising: 
 receiving a second electronic document comprising a corresponding embedded activation key;    opening the second electronic document in the viewer application;    deselecting the first electronic document from processing;    accessing the activation key in the second electronic document; and    unlocking selected document features in the second electronic document via the corresponding activation key.