System and method to automatically activate a recyclable/disposable telephone using a point-of-sale terminal

• US 20030092435A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Simple Products, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Simple Products, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Boivin, Roger
• Application Number:
  US10/290,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092435A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/005 Disposable prepaid communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for automatically activating a recyclable/disposable telephone using a point-of-sale terminal at a vendor'"'"'s location and a connection to a carrier'"'"'s server database system is more convenient and less costly than conventional techniques. A system for activating a mobile telephone comprises of a universal product code or an activation card associated with the mobile telephone, containing activation information needed to activate the mobile telephone, a point-of sale terminal operable to scan the universal product code or activation card associated with the mobile telephone to obtain the activation information, and a point-of-sale central computer operable to forward the activation information to a server database system in order to activate the mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A method for activating a mobile telephone comprising the steps of:

scanning a universal product code or an activation card associated with the mobile telephone to obtain activation information needed to activate the mobile telephone;

forwarding the activation information to a server database system; and

activating the mobile telephone at the server database system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone is a recyclable/disposable telephone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone comprises:

information identifying the mobile telephone; and

routing information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone further comprises:

information relating to a price paid to purchase the mobile telephone.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the information identifying the mobile telephone comprises a Mobile Identification Number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of scanning a universal product code or an activation card is performed by a point-of-sale terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information to a server database system is performed by a point-of-sale central computer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information comprises the step of:

transmitting an activation message comprising the Mobile Identification Number.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the activation message comprises the step of:

transmitting the activation message to the server database system using the routing information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of scanning the universal product code or an activation card is performed by a point-of-sale terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information is performed by a point-of-sale central computer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

16. A system for activating a mobile telephone comprising:

a processor operable to execute computer program instructions;

a memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the processor; and

computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable to perform the steps of;

scanning a universal product code or an activation card associated with the mobile telephone to obtain activation information needed to activate the mobile telephone;

forwarding the activation information to a server database system; and

activating the mobile telephone at the server database system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile telephone is a recyclable/disposable telephone.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone comprises:

information identifying the mobile telephone; and

routing information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone further comprises:

information relating to a price paid to purchase the mobile telephone.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the information identifying the mobile telephone comprises a Mobile Identification Number.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the step of scanning a universal product code or an activation card is performed by a point-of-sale terminal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information to a server database system is performed by a point-of-sale central computer.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information comprises the step of:

transmitting an activation message comprising the Mobile Identification Number.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the step of transmitting the activation message comprises the step of:

transmitting the activation message to the server database system using the routing information.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the step of scanning a UPC code or an activation card is performed by a point-of-sale terminal.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information is performed by a point-of-sale central computer.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

31. A computer program product for activating a mobile telephone comprising:

a computer readable medium;

computer program instructions, recorded on the computer readable medium, executable by a processor, for performing the steps of

scanning a UPC code or an activation card associated with the mobile telephone to obtain activation information needed to activate the mobile telephone;

forwarding the activation information to a server database system; and

activating the mobile telephone at the server database system.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the mobile telephone is a recyclable/disposable telephone.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone comprises:

information identifying the mobile telephone; and

routing information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone further comprises:

information relating to a price paid to purchase the mobile telephone.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the information identifying the mobile telephone comprises a Mobile Identification Number.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the step of scanning a UPC code or an activation card is performed by a point-of-sale terminal.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information to a server database system is performed by a point-of-sale central computer.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

40. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information comprises the step of:

transmitting an activation message comprising the Mobile Identification Number.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the step of transmitting the activation message comprises the step of:

transmitting the activation message to the server database system using the routing information.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the step of scanning a UPC code or an activation card is performed by a point-of-sale terminal.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the step of forwarding the activation information is performed by a point-of-sale central computer.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

46. A system for activating a mobile telephone comprising:

a universal product code or an activation card associated with the mobile telephone, containing activation information needed to activate the mobile telephone;

a point-of sale terminal operable to scan the universal product code or activation card associated with the mobile telephone to obtain the activation information; and

a point-of-sale central computer operable to forward the activation information to a server database system in order to activate the mobile telephone.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the mobile telephone is a recyclable/disposable telephone.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone comprises:

information identifying the mobile telephone; and

routing information.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the information needed to activate the mobile telephone further comprises:

information relating to a price paid to purchase the mobile telephone.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the information identifying the mobile telephone comprises a Mobile Identification Number.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the activation information comprises the Mobile Identification Number.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operable to forward the activation information using the routing information.

55. The system of claim 55, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone.

56. The system of claim 56, wherein the point-of-sale central computer is operated by a vendor of the mobile telephone or an independent third party.