Systems and methods for electronic device point-of-sale activation

• US 20100235249A1
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Chakiris, Phil M., Smith, Merrill Brooks, Graves, Phillip Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods of activating an electronic device at a point-of-sale (POS). The device may be identified by an indicia and activation may occur following purchase of the device. The method may include the steps of receiving at a central processor from the POS the indicia identifying the device purchased at the POS; enabling by the central processor a feature or functionality of the device or use of the device; and conveying to the device information material to the feature, functionality, or use. The system may include a central processor that activates the device. The central processor may include various interfaces with the POS, provider, and device, as well as a database with records related to the device and an activation processor for determining if activation is appropriate, activating the device, and sending information material to the feature, functionality, or use to the device.

Claims

1. A method of activating an electronic device at a point-of-sale, the electronic device identified by a unique indicia and the activation occurring following a purchase of the electronic device in a purchase transaction, the method comprising:

receiving at a central processor from the point-of-sale the indicia identifying the electronic device purchased at the point-of-sale;

enabling, by the central processor, a feature of the electronic device, a functionality of the electronic device, or use of the electronic device;

conveying, from the central processor to the electronic device;

an activation confirmation; and

information material to the feature, functionality, or use of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale is a merchant terminal at a merchant location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale is a kiosk or vending machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature, functionality, or use of the electronic device is enabled by the central processor by:

determining if the indicia is valid;

flagging the electronic device as active in a database coupled to the central processor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

communicating the activation of the electronic device with a provider of goods or services that supports the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of communicating the activation comprises sending an activation message to the provider of goods or services.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of communicating the activation comprises reaching into a database associated with the provider of goods or services and changing the status of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device, and wherein the information material to the mobile communications device is the telephone number of the mobile communications device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information material to the mobile communications device is conveyed to the mobile communications device via a manner selected from the group consisting of:

a short message communication (SMS), a multi-media message (MMS), an electronic mail message, or an applet communication.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the central processor from the point-of-sale, user information specific to a user or purchaser of the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user information comprises information sufficient to identify the user or purchaser of the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information sufficient to identify the user or purchaser of the electronic device comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

drivers license information, passport information, social security number information, or date-of-birth information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information comprises drivers license information, and wherein the drivers license information is entered into the point-of-sale by reading a machine readable marking on the drivers license of the user or purchaser of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the user information comprises a telephone number the user is requesting be assigned to the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

before the enabling step, receiving from the point-of-sale confirmation that the purchase transaction of the electronic device is complete.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the confirmation comprises information confirming that funds required to purchase the electronic device have been transferred from a buyer of the electronic device to a seller of the electronic device.

18. A method of activating an electronic device at a point-of-sale, the electronic device identified by a unique indicia and the activation occurring following a purchase of the electronic device in a purchase transaction, the method facilitated between a point-of-sale, a central processor, and a provider of goods or services, the method comprising:

receiving at a central processor from the point-of-sale the indicia identifying the electronic device purchased at the point-of-sale and information sufficient to identify the point-of-sale;

determining, by the central processor;

whether the indicia is valid and identifies an non-activated electronic device;

whether the point-of-sale is authorized to request activation of the electronic device;

upon a positive determination that the indicia is valid and the point-of-sale is authorized, communicating with the provider in order to enable a feature of the electronic device, a functionality of the electronic device, or use of the electronic device;

conveying to the electronic device;

an activation confirmation; and

information material to the feature, functionality, or use of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of communicating with the provider comprises sending a communication to the provider from the central processor identifying the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of communicating with the provider comprises the central processor reaching into a database associated with the provider and modifying a status indicator of the electronic device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of communicating with the provider comprises maintaining, by the central processor, a database in which the electronic device is designated as active, and wherein the provider has access to the database.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device, and wherein the information material to the mobile communications device comprises a telephone number of the mobile communications device.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic device is a media device, and wherein the information material to the media device comprises account information with the provider of goods or services.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the indicia of the electronic device is entered into the point-of-sale by a manner selected from the group consisting of:

reading a magnetic stripe on the electronic device or its packaging, reading a bar code on the electronic device or its packaging, radio frequency identification (RFID) communications between the point-of-sale and the electronic device or its packaging, or manually entering into the point-of-sale the indicia.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the information material to the electronic device is conveyed to the electronic device via a manner selected from the group consisting of:

a short message communication (SMS), a multi-media message (MMS), an electronic mail message, or an applet communication.

26. A method of activating a mobile communications device at a point-of-sale, the mobile communications device identified by a unique indicia and the activation occurring following a purchase of the mobile communications device in a purchase transaction, the method facilitated between a point-of-sale, a central processor, and a provider of goods or services, the method comprising:

receiving at a central processor from the point-of-sale the indicia identifying the mobile communications device purchased at the point-of-sale;

communicating with the provider in order to activate the mobile communications device;

following activation of the mobile communications device, conveying to the electronic device a telephone number of the electronic communications device.

27. A central processor for activating an electronic device at a point-of-sale, the electronic device identified by a unique indicia and the activation occurring following a purchase of the electronic device from at the point-of-sale, the central processor comprising:

a point-of-sale communication interface that provides selectable communication between the central processor and the point-of-sale, the point-of-sale interface configured to receive from the point-of-sale;

the indicia identifying the electronic device; and

information sufficient to identify the point-of-sale;

a provider communication interface that provides selectable communication between the central processor and the provider of goods or services, the provider interface configured to transact communication with the provider regarding a status of the electronic device;

a electronic device communication interface that provides selectable communication between the central processor and the electronic device, the electronic device interface configured to send to the electronic device, following activation of the electronic device, information material to the electronic device;

a database comprising a record for each electronic device, the record comprising;

the indicia identifying the electronic device;

a status of the electronic device;

information sufficient to identify any point-of-sales that are authorized to request activation of the electronic device; and

information sufficient to identify the provider associated with the electronic device; and

an activation processor configured to;

determine whether the indicia is valid and identifies an electronic device with an inactive status;

determine whether the point-of-sale sending the activation request is authorized to request activation of the electronic device;

determine the provider associated with the electronic device and enable communication with the provider regarding the status of the electronic device;

convey to the electronic device information material to a feature, functionality, or use of the electronic device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the status of the electronic device in the database is active or inactive.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the information sufficient to identify the point-of-sale comprises a terminal identifier.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the information sufficient to identify the point-of-sale comprises information sufficient to identify a merchant location.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the information sufficient to identify the point-of-sale comprises information regarding the network over which the activation request from the point-of-sale was transmitted.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the determination of whether the point-of-sale sending the activation request is authorized to request activation of the electronic device comprises:

comparing the information sufficient to identify the point-of-sale with point-of-sale, merchant location, or network information previously stored in the database.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the activation processor enabling communication with the provider regarding the status of the electronic device comprises sending a communication from the central processor to the provider identifying the electronic device.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the activation processor enabling communication with the provider regarding the status of the electronic device comprises the central processor reaching into a database associated with the provider and modifying a status indicator of the electronic device.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the activation processor enabling communication with the provider regarding the status of the electronic device comprises the central processor maintaining, in the database, a record in which the electronic device is designated as active, and wherein the provider has access to the database.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the activation processor conveys to the electronic device information material to a feature, functionality, or use of the electronic device via a manner selected from the group consisting of:

a short message communication (SMS), a multi-media message (MMS), an electronic mail message, or an applet communication.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the information material to a feature, functionality, or use of the electronic device comprises a telephone number of the electronic device.