US 6,829,596 B1 · Account/asset activation device and method

Abstract

An asset/account activation device and method are provided. According to a first preferred method, an asset may be activated by a point of sale device utilizing multiple security mechanisms. Activation codes are sent by secure electronic transmission from an activation host to the activation device. Upon execution of the asset purchase, the activation device dispenses the activation code. Prior thereto, a physical representation of the asset, in the form of a card or the like, has printed thereon an asset ID. To activate the asset, the asset owner contacts a processing device wherein the activation code and asset ID are compared based on time constraints, retailer location constraints and other constraints. Other security checks may be incorporated to include velocity checks. The apparatus of the invention includes an activation host, an activation device, a processing device or VRU, and an activation database. The activation database stores multiple data elements regarding accounts corresponding to specified assets, along with other system data such as retailer information, and security data. The activation host includes a central processor or computer which is able to manipulate the data to control the flow of data. The activation device is installed at a distributor location to distribute activation IDs. Asset activation occurs by interaction of the asset owner with the processing device which makes an activation approval request to the activation host. The activation host approves/disapproves the activation request with the asset host actually activating the asset. The asset host may communicate with the distributor's computer system to create a billing record or tracking report. A second preferred method is disclosed for distributing activation codes through the use of preprinted paper based sheets of activation IDs. Activation of assets in the second method is achieved in the same way as in the first method.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An apparatus for activation of an asset comprising:

an activation host residing at a first location for controlling and exchanging information regarding each asset of a plurality of assets purchased by an asset owner from a distributor, said activation host comprising a centralized computer for controlling and exchanging said information regarding each said asset;
an activation database for storing said information regarding each said asset, said activation database having a plurality of data records corresponding to said plurality of assets, said plurality of records including a unique activation code corresponding to each asset, and a unique account assigned each asset;
an activation device residing at a second location remote from said activation host, for exchanging information regarding said plurality of assets with said activation host, said activation device having means for printing data including said unique activation code, said activation device further including means for communicating with said activation host and processor means for processing data exchanged with said activation host;
a processing device residing at a third location remote from said activation host and said activation device for processing activation requests initiated from said asset owner, said processing device electronically communicating said activation requests to said activation host;
a plurality of physical mediums representing corresponding assets, each medium of said plurality of mediums having a unique asset ID thereon corresponding to said unique account in said activation database;
and wherein
a plurality of activation codes are transmitted to said activation device by said activation host and are stored in said activation device on a periodic basis, upon purchase of an asset by said asset owner from said distributor, at least one medium of said plurality of mediums being engaged with said activation device wherein said activation device transfers a corresponding activation code to said at least one medium, said activation code not being magnetically encoded on the medium and being visibly observable on the medium and wherein said processing device, upon prompting by said as set owner, communicates said asset ID and said activation code for comparison by said activation host to determine whether to activate said asset.

4 more elements

A method of activating an asset purchased by an asset owner from a distributor, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an activation host residing at a first location including a centralized computer and an activation database,
creating and storing a plurality of data records in said activation database, said data records including a plurality of account records, each account record corresponding to a unique asset, said data records further including a plurality of activation codes;
providing a physical medium as a tangible representation of the asset;
placing an asset ID on the medium, each medium having a unique asset ID;
distributing the medium to the distributor;
providing at least one activation device for each distributor, said at least one activation device residing of a second location remote from said activation host, said activation device communicating with said activation host;
electronically transferring a plurality of activation codes by said activation host to said activation device;
temporarily storing said plurality of activation codes in said activation device;
executing a purchase transaction wherein the asset owner purchases an asset from the distributor;
engaging the medium representing the asset of the purchase transaction with the activation device;
dispensing a unique activation code on the medium by said activation device, said activation code not being magnetically encoded on the medium and being visibly observable on the medium;
requesting activation of the asset by the asset owner communicating with the activation host;
comparing information from said medium having the asset ID and the activation code thereon to determine whether the asset can be activated;
and
transmitting a message indicating approval or disapproval of activation of the asset.

12 more elements

A method of activating an asset purchased by an asset owner from a distributor, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an activation host including a centralized computer and an activation database;
creating and storing a plurality of data records in said activation database, said data records including a plurality of account records, each account record corresponding to a unique asset, said data records further including a plurality of activation codes;
providing a medium as a tangible representation of the asset;
placing an asset ID on the medium, each medium having a unique asset ID;
distributing the medium to the distributor;
providing at least one activation device for each distributor, said activation device communicating with said activation host;
electronically transferring a plurality of activation codes by said activation host to said activation device;
temporarily storing said plurality of activation codes in said activation device;
executing a purchase transaction wherein the asset owner purchases an asset from the distributor;
engaging the medium representing the asset of the purchase transaction with the activation device;
dispensing a unique activation code on the medium;
requesting activation of the asset by the asset owner communicating with the activation host;
comparing information from said medium having the asset ID and the activation code thereon to determine whether the asset can be activated;
and
transmitting a message indicating approval or disapproval of activation of the asset;
determining an average number of asset purchase transactions occurring at a distributor site for a given period of time in the activation database;
recording the number of asset purchase transactions occurring at the distributor site for the given time period in the activation database;
determining a threshold value of maximum asset purchase transactions allowable at the distributor site for the given period of time;
monitoring the asset purchase transactions at the distributor site to determine if an excess number of asset purchase transactions have occurred;
and
transmitting a message from said activation host to the distributor via the activation devices indicating approval or disapproval of an asset purchase transaction based upon comparison of the recorded number of asset purchase transactions and the value of maximum asset purchase transactions allowable.

18 more elements

A method of activating an asset purchased by an asset owner from a distributor, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an activation host including a centralized computer and an activation database;
creating and storing a plurality of data records in said activation database, said data records including a plurality of account records, each account record corresponding to a unique asset, said data records further including a plurality of activation codes;
providing a medium as a tangible representation of the asset;
placing an asset ID on the medium, each medium having a unique asset ID;
distributing the medium to the distributor;
providing at least cone activation device for each distributor, said activation device communicating with said activation host;
electronically transferring a plurality of activation codes by said activation host to said activation device;
temporarily storing said plurality of activation codes in said activation device;
executing a purchase transaction wherein the asset owner purchases an asset the distributor;
engaging the medium representing the asset of the purchase transaction with the activation device;
dispensing a unique activation code on the medium;
requesting activation of the asset by the asset owner communicating with the activation host;
comparing information from said medium having the asset ID and the activation code thereon to determine whether the asset can be activated;
and
transmitting a message indicating approval or disapproval of activation of the asset;
determining an average number of asset purchase transactions occurring at each activation device for a given period of time;
recording said average number for each activation device in the activation database;
monitoring the asset purchase transactions occurring at each activation device by said activation host to determine if an excess number of asset purchase transactions have occurred at a particular activation device;
and
transmitting a message from said activation host to the activation device locking out the activation device from dispensing activation codes when an excess number of asset purchase transactions have occurred.

17 more elements

A method of activating an asset purchased by an asset owner from a distributor, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an activation host including a centralized computer and an activation database;
creating and storing a plurality of data records, said data records including a plurality of account records, each account record corresponding to a unique asset to be distributed by the distributor, and sold to an asset owner, said data records further including a plurality of activation codes, each activation code of said plurality of activation codes corresponding to a unique account record of said plurality of account records;
providing a physical medium as a tangible representation of the asset;
placing an asset ID on the medium, each medium having a unique asset ID, each asset ID placed on each medium corresponding to a unique account record in said plurality of account records;
distributing the medium to the distributor;
transferring a plurality of activation codes to the distributor;
enabling the plurality of activation codes by the distributor contacting the activation host, and said activation host confirming the distributor has received the intended plurality of activation codes;
executing a purchase transaction wherein the asset owner purchases an asset from the distributor;
placing an activation code on the medium by engaging the medium with the activation device;
providing a processing device remote from said activation host for processing activation requests by electronic communications with said activation host;
requesting activation of the asset by the asset owner using the processing device which electronically communicates with the activation host;
comparing information from said medium having the asset ID and the activation code thereon to determine whether the asset is authorized for activation;
and
transmitting a message to the asset owner indicating approval or disapproval of activation of the asset.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Account/asset activation device and method

Life of this patent

Account/asset activation device and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34