Point-of-sale activation of media device account

Abstract

This method and apparatus may activate removable or portable media devices (or accounts associated therewith), such as flash drives, USB drives, external hard drives, thumb drives, memory cards of various formats (SD, CF, xD, Memory Card Duo), SIM cards, other phone cards, or other devices containing a writable and / or readable memory. The devices may be activated after purchase based on a communication between a central processor and a device or device user. Further, this method and apparatus may activate an account related to a media device at a point-of-sale (“POS”), and may later activate the device by communicating with an account activation processor. Activation and deactivation of the device (or account) may further be based on a confirmation or cancellation of a purchase transaction associated with the device, such as a purchase of the device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 664,370, filed Mar. 23, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to distributing and activating accounts and / or removable (or portable) media devices, such as flash drives, USB drives, external hard drives, thumb drives, memory cards of various formats (SD, CF, xD, Sony™ Memory Card Duo), SIM cards, other phone cards, or other devices containing a writable and / or readable memory. More particularly, the invention relates to activating an account related to a media device at a point-of-sale (“POS”) and later activating the device by communicating with an account activation processor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Traditional media devices are distributed in a usable state to merchants and consumers. Such devices include a typical USB flash drive and camera...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The invention described herein provides methods of distributing media devices in such a manner that they are not usable unless or until they have been validly sold or transferred to an authorized user. In these embodiments, activation of a removable media device may be authorized at point-of-sale, and the media device may be activated at point-of-sale, upon the purchaser's request, or upon the first attempted use by the purchaser in a processing device. This provides several significant advantages. One advantage is loss prevention and control. Another advantage is that both manufacturers and merchants can track the sales of media devices such as camera memory and removable storage devices.

Problems solved by technology

However, the small size of such devices makes them relatively more vulnerable to theft.

Because these devices are typically very expensive, there is a large potential for merchant loss.

The software is not completely usable on a user's computer until the user accesses a central site.

However, the central site ensures that only one user (or a limited number of users) may activate the software.

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