System and method for associating a device with an existing service account

• US 20040215788A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US10/845,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method and system for associating a portable electronic device with an existing service account with minimal user input on the device connects the device to a gateway server. If the device is not associated with a gateway account or a temporary account, then the gateway server creates a temporary account for the device. When the gateway server receives an association of the device to an existing account with a service site, it converts the temporary account to a gateway account associated with the device and the existing account, and transfers any data for the temporary account to the existing account. In this manner, a portable electronic device can use certain services without first requiring the user to associate the device to an existing account. The user need not enter addressing or authentication information on the device to access this service, but can enter it from an input friendly device.

Claims

1. A method for associating a portable electronic device with an existing account with a service site, comprising;

(a) connecting a portable electronic device to a gateway server;

(b) creating a temporary account for the portable electronic device by the gateway server;

(c) receiving an association of the portable electronic device to the existing account with the service site by the gateway server; and

(d) converting the temporary account to a gateway account associated with the portable electronic device and the existing account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step (c) comprises:

(c1) receiving data from the portable electronic device by the gateway server;

(c2) storing the data for the temporary account;

(c3) receiving the association of the portable electronic device to the existing account with the service site by the gateway server; and

(c4) transferring the data for the temporary account to the existing account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting step (a) comprises:

(a1) connecting the portable electronic device to the gateway server; and

(a2) sending a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device to the gateway server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step (b) comprises:

(b1) determining if the portable electronic device is associated with any gateway account;

(b2) determining if the portable electronic device is associated with any temporary account, if the portable electronic device is not associated with any gateway account;

(b3) creating the temporary account for the electronic device by the gateway server, if the portable electronic device is not associated with the temporary account; and

(b4) associating the temporary account with a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the creating step (b) further comprises:

(b5) sending additional information or executable code to the portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the creating step (b) further comprises:

(b5) sending a list of supported services to the portable electronic device;

(b6) receiving a selection of a supported service;

(b7) determining if the portable electronic device is registered with an existing account of the supported service;

(b8) sending the unique device identifier to the supported service and adding the unique device identifier to the existing account of the supported service, if the portable electronic device is not registered with the existing account of the supported service; and

(b9) associating the unique device identifier to the existing account of the supported service by the gateway server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step (d) comprises:

(d1) receiving the association of the portable electronic device with the existing account with the service site from a user;

(d2) sending the association and a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device to the gateway server; and

(d3) associating the unique device identifier to the gateway account by the gateway server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the associating step (d3) comprises:

(d3i) prompting for any information needed to complete the association by the gateway server;

(d3ii) receiving the needed information by the gateway server; and

(d3iii) associating the unique device identifier with the gateway account by the gateway server.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the transferring step (c4) comprises:

(c4i) identifying the temporary account associated with a unique device identifier of the portable electronic device; and

(c4ii) transferring the data in a storage associated with the temporary account to a storage associated with the existing account.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

(c5) sending authentication information to the portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device connects to the service site directly.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step (d) comprises:

(d1) associating at the service site a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device with the existing account;

(d2) sending the unique device identifier and information for the existing account to the gateway server;

(d3) locating the temporary account by the gateway server utilizing the unique device identifier;

(d4) determining if a service site user has a gateway account; and

(d5) converting the temporary account to the gateway account by adding the unique device identifier and the information for the existing account.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the converting step (d) further comprises:

(d6) transferring the date in a storage associated with the temporary account to a storage associated with the existing account.

13. A computer readable medium with program instructions for associating a portable electronic device with an existing account with a service site, comprising the instructions for;

(a) connecting a portable electronic device to a gateway server;

(b) creating a temporary account for the portable electronic device by the gateway server;

(c) receiving an association of the portable electronic device to the existing account with the service site by the gateway server; and

(d) converting the temporary account to a gateway account associated with the portable electronic device and the existing account.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the receiving instruction (c) comprises:

(c1) receiving data from the portable electronic device by the gateway server;

(c2) storing the data for the temporary account;

(c3) receiving the association of the portable electronic device to the existing account with the service site by the gateway server; and

(c4) transferring the data for the temporary account to the existing account.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the connecting instruction (a) comprises:

(a1) connecting the portable electronic device to the gateway server; and

(a2) sending a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device to the gateway server.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the creating instruction (b) comprises:

(b1) determining if the portable electronic device is associated with any gateway account;

(b2) determining if the portable electronic device is associated with any temporary account, if the portable electronic device is not associated with any gateway account;

(b3) creating the temporary account for the electronic device by the gateway server, if the portable electronic device is not associated with the temporary account; and

(b4) associating the temporary account with a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device;

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the creating instruction (b) further comprises:

(b5) sending additional information or executable code to the portable electronic device.

18. The medium of claim 16, wherein the creating instruction (b) further comprises:

(b5) sending a list of supported services to the portable electronic device;

(b6) receiving a selection of a supported service;

(b7) determining if the portable electronic device is registered with an existing account of the supported service;

(b8) sending the unique device identifier to the supported service and adding the unique device identifier to the existing account of the supported service, if the portable electronic device is not registered with the existing account of the supported service; and

(b9) associating the unique device identifier to the existing account of the supported service by the gateway server.

19. The medium of claim 13, wherein the converting instruction (d) comprises:

(d1) receiving the association of the portable electronic device with the existing account with the service site from a user;

(d2) sending the association and a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device to the gateway server; and

(d3) associating the unique device identifier to the gateway account by the gateway server.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the associating instruction (d3) comprises:

(d3i) prompting for any information needed to complete the association by the gateway server;

(d3ii) receiving the needed information by the gateway server; and

(d3iii) associating the unique device identifier with the gateway account by the gateway server.

21. The medium of claim 14, wherein the transferring instruction (c4) comprises:

(c4i) identifying the temporary account associated with a unique device identifier of the portable electronic device; and

(c4ii) transferring the data in a storage associated with the temporary account to a storage associated with the existing account.

22. The medium of claim 14, further comprising:

(c5) sending authentication information to the portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device connects to the service site directly.

23. The medium of claim 14, wherein the converting instruction (d) comprises:

(d1) associating at the service site a unique device identifier for the portable electronic device with the existing account;

(d2) sending the unique device identifier and information for the existing account to the gateway server;

(d3) locating the temporary account by the gateway server utilizing the unique device identifier;

(d4) determining if a service site user has a gateway account; and

(d5) converting the temporary account to the gateway account by adding the unique device identifier and the information for the existing account.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the converting instruction (d) further comprises:

(d6) transferring the date in a storage associated with the temporary account to a storage associated with the existing account.

25. A system, comprising:

a gateway server, comprising a temporary account, wherein when a portable electronic device connects to the gateway server, the gateway server creates the temporary account for the portable electronic device, wherein if the gateway server receives an association of the portable electronic device to an existing account with a service site, the temporary account is converted to the gateway account associated with the portable electronic device and the existing account.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein if the gateway server receives data from the portable electronic device before receiving the association, the gateway server stores the data for the temporary account,

wherein when the gateway server receives the association, the gateway server transfers the data for the temporary account to the existing account.