Auto activation of a mobile device

• US 8,284,048 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Faith, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US13/069,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.5, 340/539.22, 340/593, 340/643, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 755/435.1, 755/456.1, 755/437, 755/439, 755/418, 755/419
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods for automatically activating a consumer device using a sensor capable of detecting an external stimulus and location determination system capable of providing current location data for the consumer device when a user receives a device. The location determination system provides location data, which is sent to the activation server, in response to the sensor actuating. The location data determined at the time the sensor senses the external stimuli is compared to location data stored on the activation server to automatically activate the consumer device.

Claims

1. A consumer device capable of automatic activation, the consumer device comprising:

a processor;

a sensor for detecting an external stimulus;

a location determination system for determining location data of the consumer device;

an antenna for communicating the location data to a communication network; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising a computer readable medium including code, executable by a processor, for implementing a method comprising;

sending a request for the location data to the location determination system in response to the detected external stimulus by the sensor;

generating an activation request signal including the location data received from the location determination system; and

sending the activation request signal to the antenna.

2. The consumer device of claim 1, wherein the consumer device is cellular telephone or a payment card.

3. The consumer device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photodiode.

4. The consumer device of claim 1, wherein the location determination system includes a global positioning system (GPS) component.

5. The consumer device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes two or more sensors.

6. A method for automatic activation of a consumer device on a server computer comprising:

assigning a user a consumer device with an associated account;

storing predetermined location data associated with the user on the server computer;

receiving an activation request message from the consumer device, including current location data of the consumer device, after the consumer device sends the activation request message in response to an external stimulus detected by a sensor in the consumer device;

comparing the predetermined location data and the current location data; and

sending an activation response signal to the consumer device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the activation response signal activates the consumer device if the predetermined location data corresponds to the current location data.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined location data includes one or more predetermined locations.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the activation request message additionally includes consumer device associated information.

17. A computer program product comprising a tangible computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a processor to implement the method of claim 6.

10. A method for automatic activation on a consumer device, the method comprising:

obtaining a packaged consumer device associated with an account of a user, wherein the account information is stored on the consumer device;

detecting an external stimulus with a sensor;

sending a request for the location data to a location determination system in response to the detected external stimulus by the sensor;

determining current location data of the consumer device with the location determination system; and

sending an activation request signal to a communication network through an antenna.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the external stimulus with the sensor is achieved by removing the packaging.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating an activation request signal including the location data from the location determination system.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, through the communication network, an activation response signal from an activation server.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the user is associated with one or more predetermined locations.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

activating the consumer device and the account if the one or more predetermined locations of the user corresponds to the location data of the consumer device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the packaging of the consumer device prevents the detection of the external stimulus by the sensor.