Patent ID: 7555654

Claim:
A method for enabling an active part of a computer program, comprising the steps of: making a user application request into a computer that calls a computer program that includes a check routine and that starts execution of said computer program in said computer by processing said check routine in said computer, and while processing said check routine in said computer, said computer, only after and in response to said application request, initiating a transmitter connected to said computer to transmit a launch signal; receiving said launch signal at a transponder located remote from said computer, said transponder comprising an internal memory; at said transponder, upon reception of said launch signal, irreversibly modifying said internal memory and automatically making a determination as to whether said internal memory can be modified any further and transmitting an enable code from said transponder to a receiver at said computer only if said determination indicates said internal memory is able to be modified any further; receiving said enable code at said receiver and communicating said enable code from said receiver to said computer; and while continuing to process said check routine in said computer, said computer checking said enable code to determine if said enable code satisfies an enable condition, and processing an active part of said computer program in said computer only if and as long as said enable condition is satisfied.