System and method for remotely authenticating a device in a reward program
US7739198B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jun 15, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q20/3821
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A reward program directed to registering computer devices and their consumable parts via a computer network generates a unique key code value for each computer device. The key code is generated by a remote server in the computer network and may include appending a sequential counter to the serial number of the device being registered. The key code is then encrypted using a standard hash algorithm. The encrypted key code is saved in a device information database together with other device information and consumable part information related to the computer device. The encrypted key code is also returned to the computer device and saved in the device memory. The device information database is updated with the usage of consumable part information for each registered computer device. Customers also register with the reward program and are assigned to one or more registered computer devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.