Systems and Methods for Authorizing Use of Validly Sold Merchandise
First Claim
1. A method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise, facilitated between a manufacturer that manufactured the specific merchandise, a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, a customer that purchases the specific merchandise, and a central processor that authorizes activation and use of the specific merchandise, the method comprising:
- receiving at the central processor;
an indicia of the specific merchandise, sufficient to uniquely identify the specific merchandise; and
an activation code associated with the specific merchandise, the activation code required to allow the specific merchandise to properly function;
storing at the central processor the indicia of the specific merchandise and the activation code;
receiving at the central processor a confirmation of a valid purchase transaction of the specific merchandise from the retailer, the confirmation of valid sale comprising the indicia of the specific merchandise;
determining at the central processor the activation code associated with the specific merchandise;
providing the activation code associated with the specific merchandise to the customer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is generally directed to a method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise, facilitated between at least a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, a customer that purchases the specific merchandise, and a central processor that authorizes activation and use of the specific merchandise. The method includes the steps of receiving an indicia that uniquely identifies the specific merchandise, and an activation code associated with the merchandise that will allow the merchandise to properly function; storing the indicia of the specific merchandise and the activation code; receiving a confirmation of a valid purchase transaction of the specific merchandise, the confirmation of valid sale comprising the indicia of the specific merchandise; determining the activation code associated with the specific merchandise; and providing the activation code associated with the specific merchandise to the customer.
117 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise, facilitated between a manufacturer that manufactured the specific merchandise, a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, a customer that purchases the specific merchandise, and a central processor that authorizes activation and use of the specific merchandise, the method comprising:
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receiving at the central processor; an indicia of the specific merchandise, sufficient to uniquely identify the specific merchandise; and an activation code associated with the specific merchandise, the activation code required to allow the specific merchandise to properly function; storing at the central processor the indicia of the specific merchandise and the activation code; receiving at the central processor a confirmation of a valid purchase transaction of the specific merchandise from the retailer, the confirmation of valid sale comprising the indicia of the specific merchandise; determining at the central processor the activation code associated with the specific merchandise; providing the activation code associated with the specific merchandise to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise purchased by a customer, facilitated by a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, the method comprising:
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storing at the retailer; an indicia of the specific merchandise, sufficient to uniquely identify the specific merchandise; and an activation code associated with the specific merchandise, the activation code required to allow the specific merchandise to properly function; following a valid purchase transaction at a point-of-sale of the retailer, determining the activation code associated with the specific merchandise; providing the activation code associated with the specific merchandise to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise, facilitated between a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, a customer that purchases the specific merchandise, and a central processor that authorizes activation and use of the specific merchandise, the method comprising:
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selecting, by the customer, the specific merchandise from the retailer; conducting, by the customer, a valid purchase transaction for the specific merchandise, wherein the customer provides payment for the specific merchandise; receiving, by the customer, an activation code associated with the specific merchandise; entering, by the customer, the activation code into the specific merchandise; using, by the customer, the specific merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of managing the activation and use of a specific merchandise, facilitated between a manufacturer that manufacturers the specific merchandise, a retailer that sells the specific merchandise, and a customer that purchases the specific merchandise, the method comprising:
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identifying at the manufacturer the specific merchandise with an indicia; providing the specific merchandise from the manufacturer to the retailer for sale to the customer; receiving at the manufacturer an indication that a valid sale has been transacted between the customer and the retailer, the indication comprising the indicia of the specific merchandise; providing from the manufacturer to the customer an activation code that enables use of the specific merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification