System and method for authorizing the activation of a communication device

Abstract

Systems and methods of authorizing the activation of a previously functioning by subsequently deactivated or disabled communication device are disclosed. The method comprises receiving at a central processor an authorization request from a merchant terminal at the merchant store to authorize activation of a communication device, the central processor being in selective communication with the merchant terminal and a communications service provider; determining at the central processor whether the communication device was validly sold from the merchant store in a purchase transaction; authorizing at the central processor activation of the communication device, responsive to a determination that the communication device was validly sold from the merchant store in a purchase transaction; and sending a notification from the central processor to the communications service provider that the communication device is authorized and ready for activation.

1 . A method of authorizing the activation of a previously functioning by subsequently deactivated or disabled communication device, comprising: 
 receiving at a central processor an authorization request from a merchant terminal at the merchant store to authorize activation of a communication device, the central processor being in selective communication with the merchant terminal and a communications service provider;    determining at the central processor whether the communication device was validly sold from the merchant store in a purchase transaction;    authorizing at the central processor activation of the communication device, responsive to a determination that the communication device was validly sold from the merchant store in a purchase transaction; and    sending a notification from the central processor to the communications service provider that the communication device is authorized and ready for activation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 activating at the central processor the communication device.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activation request is from a customer.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activation request comprises an identifier.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the identifier comprises at least one of an ESN, SIM, or IMEI.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activation request is received by the communication service provider.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is associated with a specific communication service provider prior to sale.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a wireless communication device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a wireless phone.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is an internet-enabled PDA.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a pager.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 denying at the central processor authorization of the communication device responsive to a determination that the communication device was not validly sold in a purchase transaction.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 passing an authorization request to a central processor; and    receiving from the central processor a response to the authorization request, wherein the determining action comprises processing the response.    
   
   
       14 . A system for authorizing the activation of a communication device, comprising: 
 an input device operative to receive a request from a merchant terminal at a merchant store to authorize activation of a communication device;    a processor coupled to the input device, wherein the processor is operative to process information based on the request and determine whether the communication device was validly sold from the merchant store in a purchase transaction, wherein the processor is further operative to determine whether to authorize activation of the communication device based on the determining action; and    an output device operative to output an activation authorization response to a communication service provider based on the determining actions.    
   
   
       15 . A method of authorizing activation of a communication device, comprising: 
 deactivating or otherwise disabling the communication device prior to sale from a merchant store;    storing at a central processor an identifier in a database entry, wherein the identifier is associated with a communication device, and wherein the central processor is in selective communication with a merchant terminal at the merchant store and at least one communications service provider;    receiving at the central processor a request to authorize activation of the communication device as a result of a sale transaction in which a customer purchases the communication device from the merchant store;    authorizing activation of the communication device; and    notifying the communications service provider that the communication device is authorized and ready for activation.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving a request to authorize activation of the communication device comprises receiving at the central processor the identifier from the merchant terminal; and 
 updating at the central processor the database entry to indicate that the communication device was validly sold from the merchant store.