Remote disabling of an article of manufacture
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a processor communicating with a prompting device;
an interface for enabling communication between the processor and the prompting device;
the processor sends a first registration message to register with a first service provider;
the processor attempts a second registration with a second service provider;
the processor produces a prompt on the prompting device via the interface to fulfill an exclusive service agreement with the first service provider;
the processor receives a response to the prompt; and
if the response fulfills the service agreement, then the processor permits registration with the second service provider;
or if the response fails to fulfill the service agreement, then the processor disables a function of an article of manufacture.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, and computer program products describe remotely disabling an article of manufacture. One such device includes a processor communicating with a display device. The processor sends a first registration message to register with a first service provider. If the processor attempts a second registration with a second service provider, the processor produces a prompt on the display to fulfill a service agreement to the first service provider. The processor receives a response to the prompt. If the response fulfills the service agreement, then the processor permits registration with the second service provider. If, however, the response fails to fulfill the service agreement, then the processor disables a function of the article of manufacture.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a processor communicating with a prompting device;
an interface for enabling communication between the processor and the prompting device;
the processor sends a first registration message to register with a first service provider;
the processor attempts a second registration with a second service provider;
the processor produces a prompt on the prompting device via the interface to fulfill an exclusive service agreement with the first service provider;
the processor receives a response to the prompt; and
if the response fulfills the service agreement, then the processor permits registration with the second service provider;
orif the response fails to fulfill the service agreement, then the processor disables a function of an article of manufacture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of remotely disabling an article of manufacture, comprising:
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sending a first registration message to a first service provider;
attempting a second registration with a second service provider;
prompting to fulfill a service agreement to the first service provider;
receiving a response to the prompt; and
if the response fulfills the service agreement, then permitting registration with the second service provider;
orif the response fails to fulfill the service agreement, then disabling a function of the article of manufacture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for remotely disabling an article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium storing computer code, the computer code performing the following steps;
sending a first registration message to a first service provider;
attempting a second registration with a second service provider;
prompting to fulfill a service agreement to the first service provider;
receiving a response to the prompt; and
if the response fulfills the service agreement, then permitting registration with the second service provider;
orif the response fails to fulfill the service agreement, then disabling a function of the article of manufacture. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification