System and method for ensuring payment for sold or leased equipment
First Claim
1. A method for automatically rendering unusable operating functions of a machine in a user'"'"'s custody, associated with a credit account, and having a system comprising (i) a controller having a code generator and a disabling program for activating a shut-down sequence;
- and (ii) an interface for entering a re-set code to set a new interval;
the method comprising;
(a) activating the disabling program to initiate a preselected interval associated with the credit account so that the machine will become disabled after the preselected interval if a re-set code generated by the code generator is not entered;
(b) upon a paid status of the credit account, releasing a remote re-set code to match the re-set code generated by the code generator from a location remote from the machine, the remote re-set code being generated at the remote location from a count corresponding to a tracked predetermined parameter and being transmitted to the remote location;
(c) entering the remote re-set code into the interface to set a next interval;
(d) receiving identifying information of the user at the remote location and confirming the identity of the user at the remote location before releasing the remote re-set code; and
,(e) repeating steps (b)–
(d) to keep the machine operational.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A limited electronic system and method are provided for automatically shutting down equipment when an account associated with purchased or leased equipment falls into arrears. The system includes a control center (connected to a machine) with a screen display, means for entering a code, and a controller. The controller has a disabling program that shuts down the machine after a predetermined interval, such as time. Because the program automates the shut-down when no (timed) interval is in place, the user must obtain a “re-set code” from a non-user—i.e., the financing entity, the equipment supplier, the account manager, or other entity—and enter it into the system to set the next interval so the machine remains operational. The re-set code is generated by the machine. The non-user at a location remote from the machine receives or generates parallel re-set codes. The method involves: (a) activating the program, (b) assessing the payment status of the account, and (c) when the account is paid, releasing the re-set code to the user for manual entry it into the control center. If the account is in arrears, the re-set code is not released to the user, and no entry of a new re-set code, the program causes the machine to shut-down.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for automatically rendering unusable operating functions of a machine in a user'"'"'s custody, associated with a credit account, and having a system comprising (i) a controller having a code generator and a disabling program for activating a shut-down sequence;
- and (ii) an interface for entering a re-set code to set a new interval;
the method comprising; (a) activating the disabling program to initiate a preselected interval associated with the credit account so that the machine will become disabled after the preselected interval if a re-set code generated by the code generator is not entered; (b) upon a paid status of the credit account, releasing a remote re-set code to match the re-set code generated by the code generator from a location remote from the machine, the remote re-set code being generated at the remote location from a count corresponding to a tracked predetermined parameter and being transmitted to the remote location; (c) entering the remote re-set code into the interface to set a next interval; (d) receiving identifying information of the user at the remote location and confirming the identity of the user at the remote location before releasing the remote re-set code; and
,(e) repeating steps (b)–
(d) to keep the machine operational. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- and (ii) an interface for entering a re-set code to set a new interval;
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12. A method for automatically rendering unusable a machine in a user'"'"'s custody upon an unpaid balance of an account associated with a use or a purchase of the machine, where the machine is connected to a system having a control center comprising
a user interface for entering a code, and, a controller having a code generator and a shut-down program for shutting the machine down at the end of an interval unless a correct code is entered into the control center; -
the method comprising (a) activating the shut-down program to initiate an interval so that the machine will become disabled after the preselected interval if a re-set code generated by the code generator is not entered, (b) at a defined point during the interval, determining that the account has a paid status, (c) depending upon the paid status of the account, releasing a code selected from the group consisting of (i) a remote re-set code to match the re-set code generated by the code generator when the account has a balance due for initiating a new interval, the remote re-set code being generated at the remote location from a count corresponding to a tracked predetermined parameter and being transmitted to the remote location and (ii) a final code when the account has a zero balance due for disabling the shut-down program. (d) entering the code into the user interface, (e) receiving identifying information of the user at the remote location and confirming the identity of the user at the remote location before releasing the remote re-set code; and
,(f) if the code entered in step (d) was a re-set code and the identifying information of the user confirms the identity of the user, repeating steps (b)–
(e) until the account has a zero balance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for automatically shutting down a machine when a credit account associated with a purchase or a lease of the machine falls into arrears;
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wherein the machine is connected to a control center of a shut-down system comprising a user interface for entering a re-set code to keep the machine operational, and a controller having a disabling program awaiting activation for triggering a timed sequence shut-down, a code generator, and means for monitoring a timed interval preceding the timed sequence shut-down; the method comprising; (a) activating the disabling program to shut the machine down after the timed interval if a re-set code generated by the code generator is not entered, (b) generating a remote re-set code at the remote location from a count corresponding to a tracked predetermined parameter and transmitted to the remote location; (c) transmitting a re-set code generated by the code generator to a non-user at a location remote from the machine, (d) transmitting identifying information of the user to the remote location and confirming the identity of the user at the remote location before releasing the remote re-set code; and
,(e) at a defined point in the timed interval, triggering the timed sequence shut-down unless a code is entered into the user interface to initiate a new timed interval and the confirming identifying information is received, wherein the code is obtained from the non-user upon the credit account having a paid status for the timed interval. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for ensuring that payments are made on a timely and regular basis to an account for a purchase or a leasing of a machine, comprising:
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means for checking on a payment status of the account; and
,a control center connected to the machine and having a display screen for displaying a message, a user interface for entering a code into the machine, and a controller for controlling the operation of the machine; means for receiving an input transmission of identifying information of the user to confirm the identity of the user; the controller including a timed shut-down program for rendering the machine unusable after a first timed interval when the account associated with the machine falls in arrears, means for monitoring the timed interval, and a code generator for generating a re-set code for entering into the user interface so as to initiate a new timed interval, the re-set code being generated at the remote location from a count corresponding to a tracked predetermined parameter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification