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.

1 . A method of activating at least one feature stored in a media device, comprising: 
 storing at a central processor information identifying a media device;    after the storing action, inputting device identifier information at a merchant terminal during a purchase of the media device, the device identifier information identifying the media device;    receiving the device identifier information from a merchant terminal at a central processor;    registering the sale of the media device based on the act of receiving the device identifier information;    receiving a device activation request at the central processor; and    determining whether to authorize activation of the device based on the registering action.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 initiating activation of the media device based on a determination that the media device is registered.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the act of initiating activation of the media device comprises: 
 causing the media device to store activation information.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the activation information enables a storage functionality of the device.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the activation information enables a communication functionality of the media device, the communication functionality enabling the media device to communicate in a particular manner with another device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the act of initiating activation of the media device comprises: 
 passing activation information to a user, the activation information being usable by the user to activate the device.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the request is received from the user at a user computer, and wherein the activation information is passed to the user computer.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the act of initiating activation of the media device comprises: 
 causing a physical apparatus to structurally change the media device, the structural change causing the media device to be activated.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 denying the activation request based on a determination that the media device is not registered.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 wherein the device activation request comprises a request to activate at least one of the device itself, a function of the device, a functionality of the device, a capability of the device, and data stored in the device.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least one of: 
 a flash drive, a USB drive, an external hard drive, a thumb drive, an SD format memory card, a CF format memory card, an xD format memory card, a Memory Card Duo, and a SIM card.    
   
   
       12 . A method of activating a feature of a media device, comprising: 
 inputting device identifier information during a device purchase transaction;    passing the device identifier information to a central processor;    storing the device identifier information by the central processor;    receiving device activation information by an activation processor;    passing an activation authorization request to the central processor;    processing the device identifier information by the central processor;    passing an activation authorization response to the activation processor; and    initiating device activation or denying the activation authorization request.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , 
 wherein the device activation request comprises a request to activate at least one of the device itself, a function of the device, a functionality of the device, a capability of the device, and data stored in the device, and    wherein the device comprises at least one of: a flash drive, a USB drive, an external hard drive, a thumb drive, an SD format memory card, a CF format memory card, an xD format memory card, a Memory Card Duo, and a SIM card.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 preventing activation of the media device until the central processor receives a confirmation indicating the completion of the purchase transaction.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the confirmation comprises a confirmation that purchase funds have been transferred from a buyer of the media device to a seller of the media device.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 automatically deactivating the device unless a message confirming that the sale has been completed is received in a timely fashion.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 receiving a cancellation message indicating that the purchase transaction has been cancelled; and    deactivating the media device based on the cancellation message.    
   
   
       18 . A method of activating an account, comprising: 
 completing a purchase transaction associated with an account;    sending a transaction confirmation indicating that the purchase transaction was completed; and    activating the account based on the transaction confirmation.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the act of completing a purchase transaction comprises: 
 receiving a payment or a commercially acceptable promise of payment for activating a feature of the media device.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 automatically deactivating the account unless the message confirming that the transaction was completed is received in a timely fashion.    
   
   
       21 . A method of activating a feature of a media device, comprising: 
 passing a request to activate an account based on a purchase of account value, the request being passed before funds associated with the purchase have been transferred from a buyer of the account value to a seller of the account value;    automatically causing the account to de-activate if the purchase transaction is cancelled.    
   
   
       22 . A method of activating at least one feature stored in a media device, comprising: 
 storing at a central processor information identifying a media device, the media device comprising at least one of a flash drive, a USB drive, an external hard drive, a thumb drive, an SD format memory card, a CF format memory card, an xD format memory card, a Memory Card Duo, and a SIM card;    after the storing action, inputting device identifier information at a merchant terminal during a purchase of the media device, the device identifier information identifying the media device;    receiving the device identifier information from a merchant terminal at a central processor;    registering the sale of the media device based on the act of receiving the device identifier information;    receiving a device activation request at the central processor;    determining whether to authorize activation of the device based on the registering action; and    based on a determination that the media device is registered, causing the media device to store activation information, the activation information enabling at least one of a storage and processing functionality of the media device.