Importance

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Abstract

A verification and activation module for a product remembers where the product was purchased, the purchase date, purchase price, length of warranty, name and address of purchasing consumer, etc. The verification and activation module may enable operation of the product, enable operation of a replacement product and disable a defective product that has been replaced under warranty or after an out of warranty service exchange. It may be removable from the product and may be packed separately or installed in the product. It may be programmed at the time of product purchase using wireless means, e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared (IRD), or by direct electrical connection to a programmer at the point of sale. An optical scanner at the point of sale may be used to scan information from a UPC label on the product package and either through the wireless or direct electrical connection can program the verification and activation module from the scanned UPC and other information and additional information, e.g., store name and location, purchase price, purchase date, serial number of product, manufacturer, product model number, warranty duration, consumer name, address and other desired information. The verification and activation module may include a non-volatile memory. Warranty, repair and replacement histories may be retained for later retrieval in the non-volatile memory of the verification and activation module. The verification and activation module may also be used for security purposes to render the product inoperable if a certain security condition is not met.

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First Claim