System and method for authorizing the activation of a communication device

• US 20050107068A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Merrill Brooks, Graves, Phillip Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/409
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

A system and method for authorizing the activation of a communication device is provided. A request to activate a communication device is received by a communication service provider. The communication service provider or a central processor determines whether the communication device was validly sold in a purchase transaction. Alternately, the communication service provider can outsource the determining step to a central processor. The communication service provider or central processor determines whether to activate the communication device based on the determining action.

Claims

1. A method of authorizing the activation of a communication device, comprising:

receiving a request to activate a communication device;

determining whether the communication device was validly sold in a purchase transaction; and

responsive to a determination that the communication device was validly sold in a purchase transaction, authorizing activation of the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is from a customer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises an identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of an ESN, SIM, or IMEI.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received by a central processor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received by a communication service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the phone is deactivated prior to sale.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is pre-associated with a specific communication service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a wireless phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is an internet-enabled PDA.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a pager.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device can access the internet.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the communication device was not validly sold in a purchase transaction, denying authorization of the communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a central processor an identifier associated with the communication device, wherein the determining action comprises processing the identifier.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing an authorization request to a central processor; and

receiving from the central processor a response to the authorization request, wherein the determining action comprises processing the response.

18. A system for authorizing the activation of a communication device, comprising:

an input device operative to receive a request to determine whether a communication device was validly sold in a purchase transaction;

a processor coupled to the input device, wherein the processor is operative to determine whether the communication device was validly sold in a purchase transaction; and

an output device operative to output an activation response based on the determining action.

19. A system for authorizing the activation of a communication device, comprising:

an input device operative to receive a request to activate a communication device;

a processor coupled to the input device, wherein the processor is operative to process information based on the request and determine whether the communication device was validly sold in a purchase transaction, wherein the processor is further operative to determine whether to activate the communication device based on the determining action; and

an output device operative to output an activation response based on the determining actions.

20. A method of enabling a communication device to be activated, comprising:

inputting identification indicia of a communication device during a sale of the communication device, wherein the communication device may be activated through one or more communication service providers;

outputting a notification that the phone was sold prior to the activation of the communication device.

21. A method of enabling a communication device to be activated, comprising:

storing an identifier in a database entry, wherein the identifier is associated with a communication device received by a merchant, and wherein the communication device may be activated with a communication service provider;

receiving the identifier from a merchant terminal during a purchase transaction wherein a customer purchases the communication device at the merchant terminal, and wherein the merchant terminal is associated with the merchant; and

passing an authorization notification to a communication service provider system associated with the communication service provider, wherein said authorization notification indicates that the communication device was validly sold in the purchase transaction, and wherein the communication device has not yet been activated.

22. A method of enabling a communication device to be activated, comprising:

determining whether a communication device was previously sold in a valid purchase transaction, wherein said determining action is responsive to a customer request to activate the communication device, and wherein the communication device has not yet been activated.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request to performing the determining step from a communication service provider.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

activating the communication device.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

passing a result of the determining action to a communication service provider.

27. A method of enabling a communication device to be activated, comprising:

receiving a request to determine whether a communication device was validly sold, said request being associated with a customer request to activate a communication device;

determining whether the communication device was validly sold; and

creating a response based on whether the communication device was validly sold.

28. A method of authorizing activation of a communication device, comprising:

storing an identifier in a database entry, wherein the identifier is associated with a communication device;

receiving the identifier from a merchant as a result of a sale transaction in which a customer purchases the communication device from the merchant;

updating the database entry to indicate that the communication device was validly sold; and

receiving a request to authorize activation of the communication device after the updating action.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

processing the database entry.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

determining whether to activate the communication device based on the processing action.