Patent ID: 8094037
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: G06Q,G07C

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying an appliance comprising: receiving indication of an appliance coupling to a communication port on a communication network; issuing, over the communication network and to a plurality of appliances accessible over the communication network, a request that identification information from a specific type of appliance be returned over the communication network; retrieving, over the communication network and in response to the request, a first identification assigned to the appliance during manufacturing of the appliance; validating the appliance using the first identification, wherein the validating comprises comparing the first identification having been retrieved to a database comprising valid manufacturer assigned serial numbers; and determining a status of the appliance when the appliance has been validated, wherein determining the status of the appliance comprises accessing a database comprising a registration status of the appliance corresponding to the first identification, and determining whether the appliance is unregistered; and registering the appliance when it is determined that the appliance is unregistered.