Service escrowed transportable wireless event reporting system
AssigneeNumerex Corp.
InventorsMichael A. Marett, Edward I. Comer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.
Claims20
A method, for providing a system for wireless event monitoring and associated event monitoring services, comprising the steps of:
- in preparation for sale of the system through a mass-market sales channel, associating a number with the system;
- associating with the number a specified amount of the services to be deemed prepaid with consumer purchase of the system;
- subsequent to consumer purchase of the system, receiving from the system a wireless signal conveying the number;
- and
- responsive to receiving the number, activating services for the system in accordance with the specified amount of services.
A method, for providing a wireless event monitoring system that comprises hardware, embedded software, and monitoring service, the method comprising the steps of:
- assigning an identity to a controller during manufacture of the controller;
- offering for sale through a mass-market sales channel a package comprising:
- the hardware;
- the embedded software;
- and
- the monitoring service,
- wherein the hardware comprises the controller;
- and
- using, by the controller, the assigned identity to connect to a wireless network automatically upon power up,
- wherein the monitoring service is escrowed for activation of services upon the automatic connection of the controller to the wireless network.
A method, for providing a wireless event monitoring system that comprises hardware, embedded software, and monitoring service, the method comprising the steps of:
- assigning an identity to a controller during manufacture of the controller;
- offering for sale through a mass-market sales channel a package comprising:
- a system comprising the hardware and the embedded software, the hardware comprising the controller;
- and
- the monitoring service,
- wherein the monitoring service is escrowed for activation of services upon the automatic connection of the controller to a wireless network;
- and
- upon power up of the controller, automatically connecting the controller to the wireless network using the assigned identity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.