System and method for ensuring payment for sold or leased equipment
First Claim
1. A method for automatically rendering unusable the operating functions of a machine in a user'"'"'s custody, associated with a credit account, and having a system comprising (i) a controller having a code generator and a disabling program for activating a shut-down sequence;
- and (ii) a user-interface for entering a re-set code to set a new timed interval;
the method comprising;
(a) activating the disabling program to initiate a preselected interval associated with the account, (b) upon a paid status of the account, releasing a re-set code from a location remote from the machine, (c) entering the re-set code into the user interface to set the next interval, and, (d) repeating steps (b)-(c) to keep the machine operational.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A limited electronic system and method are provided for automatically shutting down equipment when an account associated with purchased or leased equipment falls into arrears. The system includes a control center (connected to a machine) with a screen display, means for entering a code, and a controller. The controller has a disabling program that shuts down the machine after a predetermined interval, such as time. Because the program automates the shut-down when no (timed) interval is in place, the user must obtain a “re-set code” from a non-user—i.e., the financing entity, the equipment supplier, the account manager, or other entity—and enter it into the system to set the next interval so the machine remains operational. The re-set code is generated by the machine. The non-user at a location remote from the machine receives or generates parallel re-set codes. The method involves: (a) activating the program, (b) assessing the payment status of the account, and (c) when the account is paid, releasing the re-set code to the user for manual entry it into the control center. If the account is in arrears, the re-set code is not released to the user, and no entry of a new re-set code, the program causes the machine to shut-down.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for automatically rendering unusable the operating functions of a machine in a user'"'"'s custody, associated with a credit account, and having a system comprising (i) a controller having a code generator and a disabling program for activating a shut-down sequence;
- and (ii) a user-interface for entering a re-set code to set a new timed interval;
the method comprising;
(a) activating the disabling program to initiate a preselected interval associated with the account, (b) upon a paid status of the account, releasing a re-set code from a location remote from the machine, (c) entering the re-set code into the user interface to set the next interval, and, (d) repeating steps (b)-(c) to keep the machine operational. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- and (ii) a user-interface for entering a re-set code to set a new timed interval;
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17. A method for automatically rendering unusable a machine in a user'"'"'s custody upon an unpaid balance of an account associated with the use or purchase of the machine, where the machine is connected to a system having a control center comprising
a user interface for entering a code, and, a controller having a code generator and a shut-down program for shutting the machine down at the end of a preselected interval unless a code is entered into the control center; -
the method comprising (a) activating the shut-down program to initiate an interval, (b) at a defined point during the timed interval, determining that the account has a paid status, (c) depending upon the paid status of the account, releasing a code selected from the group consisting of (i) a re-set code when the account has a balance due for initiating a new interval and (ii) a final code when the account has a zero balance due for disabling the shut-down program, (d) entering the code into the user interface, and, (e) if the code entered in step (d) was a re-set code, repeating steps (b)-(d) until the account has a zero balance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for automatically shutting down a machine when a credit account associated with the purchase or lease of the machine falls into arrears;
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wherein the machine is connected to a control center of a shut-down system comprising a user interface for entering a re-set code to keep the machine operational, and a controller having a disabling program awaiting activation for triggering a timed sequence shut-down, a code generator, and means for monitoring a timed interval preceding the shut-down;
the method comprising;
(a) activating the disabling program to shut the machine down after a timed interval associated with the account, (b) transmitting a re-set code generated by the code generator to a non-user at a location remote from the machine, and, (c) at a defined point in the timed interval, triggering the timed sequence shut-down unless a code is entered into the user interface to initiate a new timed interval, wherein the code is obtained from the non-user upon the account having a paid status for the timed interval. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for ensuring that payments are made on a timely and regular basis to an account for the purchase or leasing of equipment, comprising:
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means for checking on the payment status of the account; and
,a control center connected to a machine and having a display screen for displaying a message, a user interface for entering a code into the machine, and a controller for controlling the operation of the machine;
the controller including a timed shut-down program for rendering the machine unusable after a timed interval when the account associated with the machine falls in arrears, means for monitoring the timed interval, and a code generator for generating a re-set code for entering into the user interface so as to initiate a new timed interval. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification