Verification of a benefit purchase incident to a computer system purchase
First Claim
1. A method for purchase verification, comprising the acts of:
- receiving at a server a first message from a computer system, the first message including a service tag, the service tag identifying the computer system;
determining at the server if the service tag is valid; and
generating a second message from the server, the second message authorizing providing a benefit if the service tag is determined to be valid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A service tag is generated and stored on a computer when a make-to-order computer is assembled. When a user receives a computer and attempts to access the internet, a unique number, the service tag, is provided by the computer to an internet service provider'"'"'s (ISP'"'"'s) host server. The host server provides the key to a proprietary server, such as a server operated by the manufacturer of the computer. The proprietary server compares the service tag number received from the ISP server to a list of valid service tag numbers. If the service tag number is valid the proprietary server returns a purchase plan to the ISP server, allowing the user to obtain previously agreed benefits. One embodiment provides internet access as the previously agreed benefits.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for purchase verification, comprising the acts of:
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receiving at a server a first message from a computer system, the first message including a service tag, the service tag identifying the computer system;
determining at the server if the service tag is valid; and
generating a second message from the server, the second message authorizing providing a benefit if the service tag is determined to be valid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for purchase verification, comprising the acts of:
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generating a service tag that identifies a computer system, the computer system including a processor coupled to a memory;
storing the service tag in the memory at assembly of the computer system;
receiving a message at a server sent from the computer system, the message including the service tag;
verifying that the service tag value as received matches a service tag value stored in the server; and
authorizing receipt of a benefit if the received service tag matches. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for purchase verification of a benefit, comprising the acts of:
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receiving a first message at a first server, the first message being sent from a computer system, the first message including a service tag;
transmitting a second message from the first server to a second server, the second server attempting to verify the validity of the service tag; and
transmitting from the second server a third message to the first server, the third message allowing access to the benefit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system in a computer system for purchase verification, the computer system including a processor, the system comprising:
a non-volatile computer readable memory, the non-volatile computer readable memory including;
instructions, executable on the processor, configured to store a service tag installed upon assembly of the computer system, the service tag identifying the computer system; and
instructions, executable on the processor, configured to send the service tag to a remote server. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. A system for purchase verification, the system being on a server platform, the server operated by a service provider, the server configured to communicate with a purchased computer system, the server including a processor and a memory, the server platform configured to communicate with a remote computer system, the system comprising:
a non-volatile computer readable memory, the non-volatile computer readable memory storing;
a database, the database including a set of valid service tags; and
instructions, executable on the processor, configured to receive a message, the message including a service tag.
Specification