System and method for streamlined registration of products over a communication network and for verification and management of information related thereto

• US 8,650,097 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yu Yung Choi
• Original Assignee: Yu Yung Choi
• Inventors: Choi, Yu Yung
• Primary Examiner(s): Thein, M.
• Application Number:
  US12/325,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,900 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The system and method of the present invention provide a data communication between unique ID (UID) registration center and electronic (or other) products, and the product'"'"'s data management. The UID is previously assigned and integrated or embedded to the product, where the UID of each product is registered with one or more particular UID registration centers over at least one communication network. Each UID is operable to securely store and selectively provide access to predefine location in the product and corresponds to data file at the UID registration center, with data file being inclusive of information related to the product purchase history, current ownership, etc., and wherein one or more authorized parties may subsequently advantageously utilize at least one UID to access, verify, edit, transfer, transmit, and/or otherwise manage at least one information item, including ownership right related to one or more corresponding registered products in the UID registration center.

Claims

1. A data processing system for selectively managing at least one information item related to the product, comprising:

register means for over at least one communication network, to register and/or store product'"'"'s information in at least one registration center, wherein said product'"'"'s information comprises at least an assigned unique identification code associated to a product and the product'"'"'s data file or record, in a corresponding account owned by at least one authorized party, wherein said unique identification code is one of plural information items in said product data file or record stored in a database located in said registration center, wherein said registration center database comprises at least one product'"'"'s end-user and/or product'"'"'s owner account owned by said at least one authorized party, further comprising;

a data management system for said at least one registration center, responsive to said at least one authorized party, operable to;

selectively register said unique identification code associated with the product, in a product data file or record in a corresponding account owned by said at least one authorized party, associate at least one information item related to the product with said unique identification code, and store said at least one information item in said product data file or record; and

verification means for verifying, by said at least one authorized party, said at least one information item related to the product, by supplying at least a unique identification code to said data management system to access at least one of said product data file or record containing said at least one information item;

wherein said at least one product data file or record in an account is owned by at least one authorized party of plural parties, further comprising data management means for selectively transferring said product data file or record involved with the product transaction between the plural parties, in response to transfer said product data file or record by a predetermined authorized party, of current ownership rights of a product from a first authorized party'"'"'s account, of said at least one authorized party, to a second authorized party'"'"'s account, of said at least one authorized party;

wherein said data management means is implemented as an Internet website with a graphical user interface, accessible by said first and said second authorized parties, and required verifier comprises at least one of;

authorization code request security responsive to a predetermined authorization code provided by a predefined authorized party, or a biometric identity verification of at least one of said first and/or said second parties;

wherein said predetermined authorization code is provided by an originator of said authorized party to an initial authorized party acquiring said ownership rights for the product, and wherein said predetermined authorization code is provided by said initial authorized party to subsequent authorized party acquiring said ownership rights for the product, wherein at least one of said initial authorized party and said subsequent authorized party, comprise said first authorized party;

embedding means for electronically embedding said at least a unique identification code by said authorized party, at a predefined location located in at least a portion of the product, that said unique identification code is not changeable without damaging or destroying the product'"'"'s functionality; and

output means for selectively operable by said at least one authorized party, to retrieve said unique identification code from said product, and to output said unique identification code thereto, for at least one of predefined purpose comprising a product registration, a product verification and a product management corresponding to said registration center.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said at least one authorized party comprises at least one of:

an originator party, a product manufacturer, a product distributor, a store selling the product, an owner of the product, an intended recipient of ownership rights to the product, an end-user, law enforcement personnel, and a party finding a product that has been previously lost or stolen.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said output means further comprise at least one of:

a display component, incorporated in the product, operable to visually display information, and selectively operable to display said unique identification code to said at least one authorized party in response to a predefined request therefor;

an audio component, incorporated in the product, operable to audibly output information, and selectively operable to audibly output said unique identification code to said at least one authorized party, in response to said predefined request therefor; and

a transmission component, incorporated in the product, operable to transmit to output information, and selectively operable to transmit output said unique identification code to external system, in response to a predefined request therefore, wherein said external system comprises at least one of;

reading system, remote system, data communication system, data management system, and data processing system.

4. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said embedding means further comprise at least one of:

an electronic product component operable to perform at least one predetermined function for the product, and further operable to store said unique identification code at said predefined location therein; and

/or

a dedicated electronic component, located at a predetermined position within the product, operable to store said unique identification code therein.

5. The data processing system of claim 4, further configured for use in conjunction with a unique identification code remote data communication system, wherein said embedding means and said output means further comprise a remotely operable electronic component selectively operable to remotely provide said unique identification code, across a predefined transmission distance, to said unique identification code remote data communication system, in response to a command thereto by said at least one authorized party.

6. The data processing system of claim 5, further comprising at least one of a product electrical power source and a dedicated embedding means power source, wherein said remotely operable electronic component is configured for active operation requiring electrical power therefor, said electrical power being provided by at least one of said product electrical power source, or said embedding means power source, such that said remotely operable electronic component is not operable in the absence of provision of electrical power thereto.

7. The data processing system of claim 6, comprising both said product electrical power source and said dedicated embedding means power source, wherein said dedicated embedding means power source is only operable to provide electrical power to the remotely operable electronic component when said product electrical power source is not operable.

8. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein said remotely operable electronic component is configured for passive operation requiring no electrical power therefor, such that said remotely operable electronic component is only operable to provide said unique identification code in response to an authorized command from a unique identification code remote data communication system configured to be operable to passively interface with said passive remotely operable electronic component.

9. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein:

said remotely operable electronic component is implemented and configured utilizing at least one of the following techniques for provision of said unique identification code;

radio frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, wireless data transmission, RuBee, magnetic contact data transfer, at least one high speed cellular data transmission protocol, and infrared (IR), and

said predefined transmission distance is configured to be at least one of;

substantially physical contact between said unique identification code remote data communication system and said product, a predefined proximity distance between said unique identification code remote data communication system and said product, and a line of sight distance between said unique identification code remote data communication system and said product.

10. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein said remotely operable electronic component further comprises a control component means for remote control by at least one predetermined authorized party, to selectively operate said remotely operable electronic component, providing said unique identification code to said data communication system.

11. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said at least one predefined purpose further comprise at least one of:

secure data communication between the product and said registration center, registering the product with said registration center, creating the product data file or record in said registration center, viewing at least one product information item in the product data file or record, updating or changing at least one product information item in the product data file or record, verifying product ownership rights of a particular party, determining a legal status of the product, verifying a possession-claiming party'"'"'s physical possession of the product, identifying the product'"'"'s status, and verifying the product'"'"'s authenticity.

12. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising data processing means for enabling each of a plurality of authorized parties to register and verify in at least one registration center, for the uniqueness of an intended unique serial number prior to assignment thereof to a corresponding product as said corresponding product'"'"'s unique identification code.

13. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said verification means further comprise authorization means for ensuring that said product data file or record is only accessible to said at least one authorized party, by requiring said at least one authorized party to provide, to said verification means, proof of an authorization to access said product data file or record.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said authorization means comprise a verifier requiring an authorization code for access therethrough, and wherein said proof of an authorization to access said product data file or record, comprises said authorization code.

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein said authorization code is provided to said at least one authorized party by another authorized party having previous ownership rights to the product.

16. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said data management means further comprise authorization means for transferring said product data file or record, in addition to said current ownership rights, from said first authorized party'"'"'s account to said second authorized party'"'"'s account, in response to said authorization to complete said product data file or record transaction.

17. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said data management system is configured for use with an electronic commerce system operable to enable a selling party to generate an electronic posting offering a predetermined product for sale in accordance with predetermined sales posting criteria, wherein said data management system further comprises a sales posting verification system, interfaced with said electronic commerce system, operable to:

enable said selling party to provide, to said data management system, a corresponding predetermined unique identification code for said predetermined product being offered for sale, in conjunction with at least a portion of product sales information from said electronic posting, and seller identity information;

verify said selling party'"'"'s compliance with said predetermined sales posting criteria, by comparing said predetermined unique identification code, said seller identity information, and said at least a portion of product sales information with information available in a predetermined product data record corresponding to said predetermined unique identification code; and

when said predetermined sales posting criteria are successfully verified, enabling said selling party to complete said electronic posting, and when said predetermined sales posting criteria are not verified, preventing said selling party from completing said electronic posting.

18. A data processing system for selectively managing, over at least one communication network, a plurality of information items related to a product, and for data communication between the product and at least one registration center, comprising:

register means for over at least one communication network, to register and/or store product'"'"'s information in at least one predefined registration center, wherein said product'"'"'s information comprises at least an assigned unique identification code associated to a product and the product data file or record, in a corresponding account owned by at least one authorized party, wherein said unique identification code is one of plural information items in said product data file or record stored in a database located in said registration center, wherein said registration center database comprises at least one product'"'"'s end-user and/or product'"'"'s owner account owned by said at least one authorized party, further comprising;

a data management system for said at least one registration center, responsive to said at least one authorized party, operable to;

selectively register said unique identification code associated with the product, in a product data file or record in a corresponding account owned by said at least one authorized party, associate at least one information item related to the product with said unique identification code, and store said at least one information item in said product data file or record; and

verification means for verifying, by said at least one authorized party, said at least one information item related to the product, by supplying at least a unique identification code to said data management system to access at least one of said product data file or record containing said at least one information item;

wherein said at least one product data file or record in an account is owned by at least one authorized party of plural parties, further comprising data management means for selectively transferring said product data file or record involved with the product transaction between the plural parties, in response to transfer said product data file or record by a predetermined authorized party, of current ownership rights of a product from a first authorized party'"'"'s account, of said at least one authorized party, to a second authorized party'"'"'s account, of said at least one authorized party;

wherein said data management means is implemented as an Internet website with a graphical user interface, accessible by said first and said second authorized parties, and required verifier comprises at least one of;

authorization code request security responsive to a predetermined authorization code provided by a predefined authorized party, or a biometric identity verification of at least one of said first and/or said second parties;

wherein said predetermined authorization code is provided by an originator of said authorized party to an initial authorized party acquiring said ownership rights for the product, and wherein said predetermined authorization code is provided by said initial authorized party to subsequent authorized party acquiring said ownership rights for the product, wherein at least one of said initial authorized party and said subsequent authorized party, comprise said first authorized party;

embedding means for electronically embedding said at least a unique identification code by an authorized party of plural authorized parties, at a predefined location located in at least a portion of the product, that said unique identification code is not changeable without damaging or destroying the product'"'"'s functionality; and

an information management system for at least one said registration center operable to;

enable configuration, storage, access and management of at least one account for each of the plural authorized parties, wherein each said at least one account comprises at least one product data file or record corresponding to the product and the product-associated information, and configured for at least one of storing, viewing, editing, updating, marking and managing at least a portion of the plural product-associated information corresponding to the said product and at least comprising said unique identification code, wherein said product-associated information comprises the information linked within said communication network corresponding to said unique identification code;

enable said plural authorized parties to at least one of access and manage, a least a portion of information contained in said product data file or record; and

enable said product to secure data communication with said registration center, wherein said data communication comprises at least one of wired and wireless.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein said at least one authorized party comprises at least one of:

an originator party, a product manufacturer, a product distributor, a store selling the product, an owner of the product, an intended recipient of ownership rights to the product, an end-user, law enforcement personnel, and a party finding a product that has been previously lost or stolen.

20. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein said embedding means further comprise at least one of:

an electronic component operable to perform at least one predetermined function for the product, and further operable to store said unique identification code at said predefined location therein; and

/or

a dedicated electronic component, located at a predetermined position within the product, operable to store said unique identification code therein.

21. The data processing system of claim 20, further comprising:

a remotely operable electronic component selectively operable to remotely provide said unique identification code, in response to a command thereto by said at least one authorized party, wherein said electronic component is implemented and configured utilizing at least one of the following techniques for provision of said unique identification code;

radio frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, wireless data transmission, RuBee, magnetic contact data transfer, at least one high speed cellular data transmission protocol, and infrared (IR).

22. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein said data management system is configured for use with an electronic commerce system operable to enable a selling party to generate an electronic posting offering a predetermined product for sale in accordance with predetermined sales posting criteria, wherein said data management system further comprises a sales posting verification system, interfaced with said electronic commerce system, operable to:

enable said selling party to provide, to said data management system, a corresponding predetermined unique identification code for said predetermined product being offered for sale, in conjunction with at least a portion of product sales information from said electronic posting, and seller identity information;

verify said selling party'"'"'s compliance with said predetermined sales posting criteria, by comparing said predetermined unique identification code, said seller identity information, and said at least a portion of product sales information with information available in a predetermined product data record corresponding to said predetermined unique identification code; and

when said predetermined sales posting criteria are successfully verified, enabling said selling party to complete said electronic posting, and when said predetermined sales posting criteria are not verified, preventing said selling party from completing said electronic posting.

23. A data processing system for selectively managing, over at least one communication network, a plurality of information items related to a product, and for data communication between the product and registration center, the plural information items including at least a unique identification code associated with the product, comprising:

register means for over at least one communication network, to register and/or store product'"'"'s information in at least one registration center, wherein said product'"'"'s information comprises at least an assigned unique identification code associated to a product and the product'"'"'s data file or record, in a corresponding account owned by at least one authorized party, wherein said unique identification code is one of plural information items in said product data file or record stored in a database located in said registration center, wherein said registration center database comprises at least one product'"'"'s end-user and/or product'"'"'s owner account owned by said at least one authorized party, further comprising;

a data management system for said at least one registration center, responsive to at least one authorized party, operable to;

selectively register said unique identification code associated with the product, in a product data file or record in a corresponding account owned by said at least one authorized party, associate at least one information item related to the product with said unique identification code, and store said at least one information item in said product data file or record; and

verification means for verifying, by said at least one authorized party, said at least one information item related to the product, by supplying at least a unique identification code to said data management system to access at least one of said product data file or record containing said at least one information item;

wherein said at least one product data file or record in an account is owned by at least one authorized party of plural parties, further comprising data management means for selectively transferring said product data file or record involved with the product transaction between the plural parties, in response to transfer said product data file or record by a predetermined authorized party, of current ownership rights of a product from a first authorized party'"'"'s account, of said at least one authorized party, to a second authorized party'"'"'s account, of said at least one authorized party;

wherein said data management means is implemented as an Internet website with a graphical user interface, accessible by said first and said second authorized parties, and required verifier comprises at least one of;

authorization code request security responsive to a predetermined authorization code provided by a predefined authorized party, or a biometric identity verification of at least one of said first and/or said second parties;

wherein said predetermined authorization code is provided by an originator of said authorized party to an initial authorized party acquiring said ownership rights for the product, and wherein said predetermined authorization code is provided by said initial authorized party to subsequent authorized party acquiring said ownership rights for the product, wherein at least one of said initial authorized party and said subsequent authorized party, comprise said first authorized party;

embedding means for electronically embedding said at least a unique identification code by said authorized party, at a predefined location located in at least a portion of the product, that said unique identification code is not changeable without damaging or destroying the product'"'"'s functionality; and

verification means for verifying said at least one product information item comprises product'"'"'s ownership, product brand name, model name/number, production date, warranty information, manufacturer, distributor, retail store, e-commerce store, purchase date, return date, status and contact information, by said at least one authorized party, by supplying said at least a unique identification code to said data management system to access at least a portion of said product data file or record containing said at least one product information item, in said at least one corresponding registration center.

24. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein said verification means further comprise authorization means for ensuring that said product data file or record is only accessible to said at least one authorized party, by requiring said at least one authorized party to provide, to said verification means, proof of an authorization to access said product data file or record, wherein said proof of authorization is provided to said at least one authorized party by another authorized party having previous ownership rights to the product.

25. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein said data management system further comprising operable to:

enable configuration, storage, access and management of said at least one account for said plural authorized parties, and configured for at least one of storing, viewing, editing, updating, marking and managing at least a portion of the plural product-associated information corresponding to the said product and at least comprising said unique identification code, wherein said product-associated information comprises the information linked within said communication network corresponding to said unique identification code;

enable said plural authorized parties to at least one of access, edit, update, mark and manage, a least a portion of information contained in said product data file or record.

26. The data processing system of claim 23, further comprising:

data communication means for selectively operable by at least one authorized party of the plural authorized parties or said data management system, to retrieve said unique identification code from said predefined location of the product, and data communication comprises said unique identification code thereto, for at least one predefined purpose comprising a product registration, a product verification and a product management corresponding to said registration center.

27. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein said data management system further comprises said verification means, and herein, said at least one predefined purpose comprises at least one of:

secure data communication between the product and said registration center, registering the product with said data management system, creating said product data file or record in said data management system viewing at least one product information item in said product data file or record, updating or changing at least one product information item in said product data file or record, verifying product ownership rights of a particular party, determining a legal status of the product, verifying a possession-claiming party'"'"'s physical possession of the product, identifying the product'"'"'s status, and verifying the product'"'"'s authenticity.

28. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein said data management system is configured for use with an electronic commerce system operable to enable a selling party to generate an electronic posting offering a predetermined product for sale in accordance with predetermined sales posting criteria, wherein said data management system further comprises a sales posting verification system, interfaced with said electronic commerce system, operable to:

enable said selling party to provide, to said data management system, a corresponding predetermined unique identification code for said predetermined product being offered for sale, in conjunction with at least a portion of product sales information from said electronic posting, and seller identity information;

verify said selling party'"'"'s compliance with said predetermined sales posting criteria, by comparing said predetermined unique identification code, said seller identity information, and said at least a portion of product sales information with information available in a predetermined product data record corresponding to said predetermined unique identification code; and

when said predetermined sales posting criteria are successfully verified, enabling said selling party to complete said electronic posting, and when said predetermined sales posting criteria are not verified, preventing said selling party from completing said electronic posting.

29. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein said at least one authorized party comprises at least one of:

an originator party, a product manufacturer, a product distributor, a store selling the product, an owner of the product, an intended recipient of ownership rights to the product, an end-user, law enforcement personnel, and a party finding a product that has been previously lost or stolen.