Automated warranty registration

• US 6,240,286 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Rydbeck, Nils R. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/528,641
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/403, 455/418, 455/419, 455/411, 455/410, 455/422, 455/550, 455/435, 455/424, 455/425, 455/517, 455/432, 379/106.01
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A method for determining when a wireless communications device'"'"'s warranty period begins uses the wireless communications device'"'"'s first use date as a proxy for the start of the warranty period. After being powered-on, the wireless communications device checks a non-volatile warranty registration status-flag. If that flag indicates that the wireless communications device has not previously registered, the wireless communications device sends a unique identifier, such as a serial number, to a warranty registration center. The warranty registration center stores the identifier with an associated registration date stamp. The wireless communications device then changes the warranty registration status flag to indicate that the device has been registered for warranty purposes. Once this automated warranty registration is complete, the wireless communications device proceeds with normal operation. The recorded first use date may be used as the start of the warranty period.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a warranty period of a communications device comprising the steps of

setting up a call from the communications device to a warranty registration center;

and

sending at least one message from the communications device to the warranty registration center to cause the warranty period to start;

wherein said sending at least one message from the communications device to the warranty registration center comprises automatically sending a unique identifier from said communications device to a warranty registration center;

receiving said identifier at said warranty registration center; and

storing said identifier with an associated registration date at said warranty registration center.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications device is a mobile radio and said call from said mobile radio to said warranty registration center is placed via a wireless communications network.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of programming the communications device to automatically call said warranty registration center to initiate the warranty period after activation of the communication device and before any other communications.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an indicator that said communications device has been registered.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said providing an indicator that said communications device has been registered comprises providing an indicator in said communications device that said communications device has been registered.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said providing an indicator that said communications device has been registered comprises providing an indicator in said warranty registration center that said communications device has been registered.