Electronic warranty system and method

• US 20040046033A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kolodziej, Ryan Henry, Reynolds, Frederick D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An electronic warranty unit and method. In one embodiment the electronic warranty unit includes a programmable electronic memory unit configured for removable insertion into a device and an electronic warranty stored on the electronic memory unit. A method for electronically warranting a device includes removably attaching an electronic warranty unit, capable of storing an electronic warranty for the device, to the device or removably inserting the electronic warranty unit into the device.

Claims

1. An electronic warranty unit comprises:

a programmable electronic memory unit configured for removable attachment to a device; and

an electronic warranty stored on the electronic memory unit.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein the electronic warranty unit comprises at least one of:

a removably attachable electronic label;

a removably insertable memory card including at least one of a single in line memory module and a dual in line memory module;

a removably insertable memory chip; and

a removably insertable cartridge.

3. The unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic memory unit comprises a computer-readable media including at least one of an erasable programmable read only memory device and a read only memory device.

4. The unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic warranty comprises:

a warranty module including at least one of the following warranty parameters;

a duration;

a start date;

an end date;

a model number;

number of uses;

a user;

a serial number;

hours use;

fixed warranty terms;

a service monitor;

a consumables counter;

and a retailer and manufacturer identification.

5. The unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic label is applied to at least one of:

an appliance; and

a consumable configured for use with the appliance.

6. The unit of claim 5 wherein the appliance is a printer, the consumable is an ink jet printer cartridge, and the electronic label is applied to the printer ink cartridge.

7. The unit of claim 2 and further comprising:

a reader configured to write the electronic warranty to, and read the electronic warranty from, the electronic warranty unit with the reader being at least one of a component of the appliance and a device independent of the appliance.

8. The unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic warranty unit is configured to trigger registration of the electronic warranty upon insertion of the memory card into the appliance.

9. An electronic warranty unit comprising:

a programmable electronic memory unit configured for at least one of removable attachment to a device and removable insertion into a device; and

at least one of an electronic warranty and an electronic warranty template stored on the electronic memory unit, wherein the electronic warranty includes a plurality of warranty parameters and the electronic warranty template defines a plurality of warranty parameter fields.

10. An electronic warranty reader comprising:

a read and write tool configured for reading from and writing to an electronic warranty unit;

at least one of an electrical contact area and a wireless communicator in communication with the read and write tool and configured for establishing electrical communication with an electronic warranty unit;

a memory including a warranty module monitor configured for storing electronic warranty; and

a user interface configured for entering and displaying the electronic warranty of an electronic warranty unit and configured for operating the reader.

11. An electronic warranty system comprising:

a removably insertable electronic warranty unit including an electronic warranty; and

a device configured to be covered by the electronic warranty and including a reader configured to removably receive the electronic warranty unit and configured to perform at least one of reading the electronic warranty from the electronic warranty unit and writing the electronic warranty to the electronic warranty unit.

12. The system of claim 11 and further comprising:

an appliance, including at least one of the electronic warranty unit and the reader, to which the electronic warranty applies.

13. An electronic warranty system comprising:

a device comprising a removably insertable electronic warranty unit that stores an electronic warranty and configured to be covered by the electronic warranty; and

a mobile reader configured to perform at least one of reading the electronic warranty from the electronic warranty unit and writing the electronic warranty to the electronic warranty unit.

14. An electronic warranty system comprising:

a warranty service provider configured to support an electronic warranty for a printer;

a printer including;

a removably insertable electronic warranty unit configured for storing an electronic warranty for the printer; and

a reader configured to read the electronic warranty from the electronic warranty unit and to write the electronic warranty to the electronic warranty unit;

an optional computing device including a user interface configured for operating the printer; and

a network communication link configured to facilitate communication between the printer, the warranty service provider, and the optional computing device.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the reader comprises:

a memory configured for storing the electronic warranty;

a user interface configured for operating the reader and for displaying the electronic warranty to a user and for entering data into the electronic warranty; and

a read/write tool configured for reading the electronic warranty from and writing the electronic warranty to the electronic warranty unit.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the printer optionally includes:

an embedded web server configured for permitting access to the electronic warranty of the electronic warranty unit through a web page of the printer.

17. An electronic warranty retail point-of-purchase station comprising:

a plurality of electronic warranty units including an electronic warranty;

at least one of a programmer configured to customize the electronic warranty on the electronic warranty unit, a validator configured to electronically register the electronic warranty, and a read/write tool configured for reading and writing to the electronic warranty unit; and

a user interface configured to operate at least one of the programmer, the validator, and the read/write tool.

18. A method of electronically warranting a product, the method comprising:

purchasing an electronic warranty for an appliance including acquiring a programmable electronic memory unit; and

electronically activating the electronic warranty of the electronic memory unit.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein purchasing an electronic warranty comprises acquiring the electronic memory unit as at least one of an electronic label and an electronic memory card.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein triggering the electronic warranty comprises at least one of:

removably inserting the electronic memory card including the electronic warranty into the appliance and powering on the appliance;

transferring the electronic warranty from the electronic memory card to an internal electronic memory card in the appliance;

using the electronic memory card to activate the electronic warranty stored on in an internal memory card in the appliance; and

removably attaching the electronic label including the electronic warranty onto the appliance.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein purchasing an electronic warranty comprises:

selecting the parameters of the warranty at a point-of-purchase station including writing the parameters of the warranty into an electronic warranty template of the electronic warranty unit; and

specifying the parameters to include at least one of;

a duration;

a start date;

an end date;

a model number;

number of uses;

a user;

a serial number;

hours use;

fixed warranty terms;

a service monitor;

a consumables counter; and

a retailer and manufacturer identification.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein purchasing an electronic warranty comprises:

supplying a serial number of the appliance for which the electronic warranty is being purchased.

23. A method of electronically warranting a product, the method comprising:

storing an resident electronic warranty in a memory of a device; and

activating the resident electronic warranty by at least one of;

inserting an electronic memory unit into the device that is programmed to trigger activation of the resident electronic warranty;

obtaining authorized activation of the resident electronic warranty through networked communication between the device and a warranty service provider; and

downloading an upgraded electronic warranty into the resident electronic warranty of the device from a warranty service provider through a network communication link.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of electronically warranting a product, the method comprising:

purchasing an electronic warranty for an appliance including acquiring a programmable electronic memory unit; and

electronically activating the electronic warranty of the electronic memory unit.

25. The medium of claim 24 wherein purchasing an electronic warranty comprises acquiring the electronic memory unit as at least one of an electronic label and an electronic memory card.

26. The medium of claim 24 wherein triggering the electronic warranty comprises at least one of:

removably inserting the electronic memory card including the electronic warranty into the appliance and powering on the appliance;

transferring the electronic warranty from the electronic memory card to. an internal electronic memory card in the appliance;

using the electronic memory card to activate the electronic warranty stored on in an internal memory card in the appliance; and

removably attaching the electronic label including the electronic warranty onto the appliance.

27. The medium of claim 24 wherein purchasing an electronic warranty comprises:

selecting the parameters of the warranty at a point-of-purchase station including writing the parameters of the warranty onto the electronic warranty unit.

28. The medium of claim 24 and further comprising:

disposing the electronic warranty in a memory of the device as a resident electronic warranty; and

activating the resident electronic warranty by at least one of;

inserting the electronic memory unit into the device;

requesting activation through networked communication between the resident electronic warranty and a warranty service provider;

downloading an upgraded electronic warranty into the resident electronic warranty from a warranty service provider through a network communication link.

29. The medium of claim 24 wherein purchasing an electronic warranty comprises:

supplying a serial number of the appliance for which the electronic warranty is being purchased.