Abstract:
A warranty registration method for a wireless remote unit in a communication network is provided wherein the communication network includes a wireless network and a message center. Initial activation of a wireless remote unit prompts retrieval of warranty information specific to the wireless remote unit. A message is constructed based on the warranty information and subsequently transmitted to the message center. The message center receives the warranty information and transfers it to a warranty center.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to techniques for registering the warranty of a wireless remote unit in a communication network. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for a user of the wireless remote unit to register with a warranty center by utilizing a wireless-specific transmission medium. 
     Warranty registration is often ignored by the purchasers of warranted products because of the tedious process of completing a warranty form with various required information and mailing in the completed form. Even the purchasers of electronic products which may carry a fairly certain anticipation of repair needs in the near future avoid submitting the warranty registration until actual breakdowns. This causes disruption to the manufacturers of products because the manufactures may not be able to accurately estimate the costs related to the repairs covered under the warranty. 
     Due to the recent increase in the number of personal computers that are equipped with modem capability, the process for registering a warranty has been dramatically automated. The purchasers of new personal computers are requested in its first use to input warranty-related information and, by utilizing the modem, to register with the personal computer manufacturer for warranty service via a telecommunication network. 
     However, wireless remote units such as cellular telephones have not seen the benefits of such automatic warranty registration processes due to the complexities and difficulties associated with transferring data via a wireless network in contrast to the landline trunks of a public telecommunication network. 
     Another shortcoming of present-day warranty administration for wireless remote units (e.g., cellular telephones) is the questionable accuracy of the start date of the warranty period. For example, the date information may be missing from the paper warranty form that is submitted. This invention improves upon the current methods by automatically identifying and storing the activation date of the wireless remote unit. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide methods for efficiently registering wireless remote units utilizing a wireless transmission medium. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing warranty registration methods for a wireless remote unit located in a communication network. The communication network includes a wireless network, a message center and a warranty center. 
     A warranty registration process may be performed using a message, such as a wireless text message. The registration process involves constructing a wireless text message based on user-specific information that is input by the user in response to a request, and remote-unit-specific information that has been pre-stored in the memory of the remote unit. The text message is subsequently transmitted to the message center and decoded to the warranty information. The warranty information is either stored in a mailbox in the message center or immediately transferred to the warranty center and stored in a warranty database located in the warranty center. 
     Alternatively, the registration process may be performed using a wireless voice band tone message, such as Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (“DTMF”) tones. In this case the registration process involves constructing a voice band tone message based on the warranty information specific to the user and the wireless remote unit. The voice band tone message is transmitted to a voice-interactive device located in the message center which decodes the voice band tone message to the warranty information. The voice-interactive device may also support the wireless remote unit by providing voice instructions that the user of the wireless unit can follow in order to input necessary information. The decoded warranty information is either stored in the voice-interactive device temporarily until a periodic query by the warranty center or transferred to the warranty center immediately after the decoding process. 
    
    
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a communication network containing a wireless remote unit, wireless network, message center and warranty center in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIGS. 2 a-   2   b  are a flow chart of the steps involved in registering a warranty for a wireless device in a preferred embodiment of the methods of this invention. FIGS. 2 a-   2   b  are sometimes referred to collectively as FIG.  2 . 
     FIGS. 3 a-   3   c  are a flow chart of the steps involved in registering a warranty for a wireless device in an alternative embodiment of the methods of the invention. FIGS. 3 a-   3   c  are sometimes referred to collectively as FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with the present invention, communication network  10  includes remote unit  20 , wireless network  30 , message center  40 , public telecommunication network  50  and warranty center  60 . 
     Remote unit  20  can be a cellular phone, pager or any other wireless unit that has access to wireless network  30 . Remote unit  20  may include user interface  22 , central processor unit  24 , memory  26  and wireless transmitter and receiver  28 . User interface  22  typically includes a screen, a keypad, a microphone and/or a speaker. Central processor unit  24  executes various wireless protocols to facilitate transmission and receipt of data. More specifically, the network interworking functions of central processor unit  24  encode various information including voice, text, image, data and/or video into a data-versed medium that is transferable via wireless network  30  based on various protocols defined by the communication industry. 
     For example, a wireless messaging service, called Short Message Service (“SMS”), is extensively used in paging services to transfer alphanumeric text messages from a wireless device to a message center or vice versa. In order to use such a messaging service, central processor unit  24  locates an appropriate protocol and stored information from memory  26  and constructs a message. The SMS capabilities for Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) are further defined in the standard TIA/EIA IS-637. The SMS capabilities for Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”) are further defined in the standard TIA/EIA IS-136. The message service may also be the mobile-originated message capability of a Global System Mobile (“GSM”) wireless remote unit. The technology described above can be used in any wireless access technology by making use of the short-message service capability within that technology. 
     Another example for a transferable medium is Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (“DTMF”) tones. The DTMF tones are voice band tones that are used for dialing and conveying control information. In a wireless phone, DTMF tones are used to convey control information to message center  40 . 
     Other examples of information that can be converted into a transferable medium are facsimile images, electronic mail messages and video clips. 
     Memory  26  stores various data including speed-dial numbers, user-specific functions, protocols and warranty information specific to remote unit  20 . The warranty information may include a serial number, model number, product configuration and customer information. Wireless transmitter/receiver  28  transfers data from and to message center  40  via wireless network  30 . 
     Wireless network  30  may include base stations, regional stations, central stations and transmitters that are interconnected by landline trunks and wireless connections. 
     Message center  40  may include either mailbox  42  or voice-interactive device  44  or both of these units. Specifically, mailbox  42  is capable of receiving and storing SMS messages from remote unit  20  via wireless network  30 , while voice-interactive device  44  is capable of receiving and storing DTMF tones from remote unit  20  via wireless network  30 . Message center  40  further includes message center server  46  which is connected to mailbox  42  and voice-interactive device  44  for facilitating decoding of SMS messages and/or DTMF tones. Message center server  46  also transfers decoded warranty information to warranty center  60 , either periodically or instantaneously upon the receipt of the SMS messages and/or DTMF tones. 
     Warranty center  60  includes warranty storage center server  62  and warranty database  64 . Warranty storage center server  62  is connected to message center server  46  in order to transfer decoded warranty information from either mailbox  42  or voice-interactive device  44  to warranty information database  64 . Warranty database  64  may be a set of duplicative storage located in different sites in order to provide reliability in case of natural disasters. 
     The steps involved in registering a warranty for wireless remote unit  20  using SMS messages is illustrated in FIG.  2 . In step  200 , central processor unit  24  of remote unit  20  detects activation of remote unit  20  by the user who, for example, presses an on-off key. In step  202 , central processor unit  24  transmits a registration message from wireless transmitter/receiver  28  in order to register with wireless network  30 . 
     If this is the initial activation, the wireless remote unit  20  at step  203  will derive the current date and/or time from control channel information of wireless network  30 , and then store this value as the initial activation date in memory unit  26 . The recordation of the initial activation date in memory  26  prevents prolonging of the warranty period. 
     In step  204 , central processor unit  24  prompts a user input on user interface  22 , for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (“LCD”) or a speaker. User interface  22  displays or announces a warranty registration request to which the user responds, for example, by simply pressing one key to proceed with the registration process. Alternatively, user interface  22  may ask the user to input the user&#39;s name, address, phone number, the date and location of the remote unit  20  purchase, and other ancillary information. This information identifies the user of remote unit  20  and triggers the running of the warranty period. The warranty registration request may also ask the user to provide, on an optional basis, some demographic information including, for example, the frequency of remote unit  20  usage and the type of remote unit  20  usage such as Internet browsing. 
     In step  206 , central processor unit  24  determines whether the user of remote unit  20  has responded positively, i.e., whether proper information has been input in compliance with the warranty information request. If not, central processor unit  24  in step  210  reprompts a user input on the user&#39;s next activation of remote unit  20 . In step  211 , central processor unit  24  configures remote unit  20  for a regular phone call to be made by the user. 
     If central processor unit  24  determines that the user has responded positively to the warranty registration request, central processor unit  24  in step  212  retrieves the warranty information that is pre-stored in memory  26  at the remote unit&#39;s production facility. For example, the pre-stored warranty information may include the serial and model number of remote unit  20 , the phone number of the message center and the identification of the designated warranty storage center. 
     In step  214 , central processor unit  24  constructs an SMS message based on the warranty information that is input by the user and retrieved from memory  26 . In step  216 , central processor unit addresses the SMS message to appropriate mail box  42  in message center  40 . In step  218 , central processor unit  24  further constructs a wireless origination message containing information that is necessary to establish a wireless connection. 
     In step  220 , remote unit  20  establishes a connection between remote unit  20  and mailbox  42  located in message center  40  via wireless network  30  based on the wireless origination message. In step  222 , wireless transmitter/receiver transmits the SMS message to mailbox  42 . 
     In step  224 , message center server  46  retrieves the warranty information from the SMS message. Optionally, message center server  46  in step  226  further determines whether the retrieved warranty information is adequate to process a warranty registration. If not, message center server  46  requests remote unit  20  to retransmit the SMS message that contains adequate information. 
     If it is determined that all necessary information for the warranty registration has been received, message center server  46  in step  230  either stores the warranty information in mailbox  42  or immediately transfers the warranty information to warranty storage center  60  via Public Switch Telephone Network (“PSTN”)  50 . If the warranty information is stored in mailbox  42 , warranty storage center server  62  periodically accesses mailbox  42  to download the recent warranty information to warranty database  64 . 
     In step  232 , message center server  46  transmits an acknowledgment message to remote unit  20  confirming that the warranty registration process is complete. Central processor unit  24  in step  234  terminates the connection between remote unit  20  and message center  40 . In step  236 , central processor unit  24  resets itself for a regular phone call to be made by the user. 
     The order of the steps in FIG. 2 is not critical. For example step  204  can occur earlier in the process before step  202 . 
     FIG. 3 shows adaptation of the method of FIG. 2 to an alternative embodiment utilizing DTMF tones rather than SMS messages. Many of the steps in FIG. 3 are the same as or similar to steps in FIG. 2, except for the DTMF-specific steps (e.g., steps  316 ,  318 ,  320 ,  322 ,  324 ,  326 ,  328 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334 ,  336  and  338 ). Thus, the discussion of some of the steps in FIG. 3 can be somewhat abbreviated because more extensive discussion has already been provided for corresponding steps in FIG.  2 . 
     In step  300 , central processor unit  24  of remote unit  20  detects activation of remote unit  20  by the user. At step  302 , central processor unit  24  transmits a registration message from wireless transmitter/receiver  28  in order to register with wireless network  30 . 
     If this is the initial activation, the wireless remote unit  20  at step  303  will derive the current date and/or time from control channel information of wireless network  30 , and then store this value as the initial activation date in memory unit  26 . The recordation of the initial activation date in memory  26  prevents prolonging of the warranty period. 
     In step  304 , central processor unit  24  prompts a user input on user interface  22 , for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (“LCD”) or a speaker. User interface  22  displays or announces a warranty registration request to which the user responds, for example, by simply pressing one key to proceed with the registration process. Alternatively, user interface  22  may ask the user to input the user&#39;s name, address, phone number, the date and location of the remote unit  20  purchase, and other ancillary information. This information identifies the user of remote unit  20  and triggers the running of the warranty period. 
     In step  306 , central processor unit  24  determines whether the user of remote unit  20  has responded positively, i.e., whether proper information has been input in response to the warranty information request. If not, central processor unit  24  in step  310  reprompts a user input on the user&#39;s next activation of remote unit  20 . In step  311 , central processor unit  24  resets remote unit  20  for a regular phone call. 
     If central processor unit  24  determines that the user has responded positively to the warranty registration request, central processor unit  24  in step  312  retrieves the warranty information that is pre-stored in memory  26  at the production facility. 
     In step  314 , central processor unit  24  constructs an origination message containing necessary information to establish a connection to a voice-interactive device (such as the address of voice-interactive device  44 ), and utilizes wireless transmitter/receiver  28  to transmit the origination message to wireless network  30 . In step  316 , based on the origination message, a wireless connection is established between remote unit  20  and voice-interactive device  44 . 
     In step  318 , voice-interactive device  44  transmits a series of voice instructions to remote unit  20 . The instructions may include, for example, an announcement, “Thank you for purchasing a Lucent Technologies™ cellular phone. Using the keypad, please type in your name and the date of purchase.” In step  320 , central processor unit  24  executes the instructions by utilizing user interface  22  and records the response of the user in memory  26 . 
     In step  322 , central processor unit  24  collects all the information (including pre-stored warranty information from memory  26 , as well as the user response from step  320 ) and constructs a DTMF message. In step  324 , central processor unit  24  addresses the DTMF message to be delivered to voice-interactive device  44  located in communication network  10 . In step  326 , central processor unit  26  transmits the DTMF message to voice-interactive device  44  via wireless network  30 . 
     In step  328 , message center server  46  retrieves from voice-interactive device  44  the DTMF message and decodes the DTMF tones into the warranty information. In step  330 , message center server  46  determines whether the decoded warranty information is adequate to proceed with the warranty registration process. If not, message center  40  forwards a voice instruction to remote unit  20  requesting the user to re-enter appropriate information. For example, the voice message may announce: “There was an error. Please repeat registration.” 
     If it is determined that all necessary information for the warranty registration process has been received, message center server  46  in step  334  either stores the warranty information in voice-interactive device  44  or transfers the warranty information to warranty storage center  60  via PSTN  50 . If the warranty information is stored in voice-interactive device  44 , warranty storage center server  62  may periodically access voice-interactive device  44  to download warranty information to warranty database  64 . 
     In step  336 , voice-interactive device  44  transmits an acknowledgment message to remote unit  20  so that the following announcement, for example, can be played at user interface  22 : “Thank you for registering your phone with Lucent Technologies™.” Central processor unit  24  in step  338  terminates connection between remote unit  20  and message center  40 . In step  340 , central processor unit  24  resets itself for a regular phone call to be made by the user. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.