MX2007002359A - Web-based automated code delivery - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for preventing disablement of a device includes assigning a contract identification code, receiving a loan payment, forwarding the loan payment from a payment center to a finance company having an interest in the device, a code delivery computer determining whether the finance company has received the payment, the code delivery computer determining a previous code released for the device, releasing a new code subsequent to the previous code released for the device if the code delivery computer determines that the finance company has received the payment, the code delivery computer receiving the associated contract identification code from a user via telephony or an internet link, the code delivery computer providing the new code directly to the user via telephony, an internet link, or an email, and the device receiving the code from the user, thereby preventing disablement of the device.

Description

SUPPLY OF AUTOMATED CODES BASED ON THE NETWORK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to systems and methods of receiving payments and providing codes for a system which disables the equipment in response to the failure of a user to enter a code that correspond to a code stored in the vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Typically, monthly payments are made to service companies with very high reliability. This is partially due to the threat of service outages. For example, the irregularity in paying a telephone bill will result in the loss of telephone services. Therefore, telephone bills are paid regularly because the irregularity in doing so has immediate and tangible results. Monthly payments on an auto loan, for example, are probably not paid regularly. Although a car can be seized, the process is expensive and complex. Therefore, the threat of seizure is less immediate than that of the telephone service outage. To encourage repayment of reliable loans, it is desirable to have a "service" cut for the equipment subject to the loan, such as a car.

Conventional systems to encourage the amortization of reliable loans, interrupt the starting system of a car in a fixed or timed, regular interval. To re-enable the car, a user is required to return to a payment center, make a payment, and have an agent to reset the interruption mechanism for a fixed, renewed interval. The system can only be restored by an authorized agent when it requires a key contained in the deposit guarantee at the payment center. Although such a system is effective in encouraging users to repay their loans in a timely manner, it has extreme additional expense considerations. For example, the system requires a user to travel to the payment center each loan payment period in order to re-enable the car. In addition, a user must arrive at the payment center during their customer service hours. However, in addition, a user may have to wait to receive the attention of the first available agent in the payment center. A solution to these problems is described in the Patent No. 6,195,648, entitled "Loan Repay Enforcement System", issued February 27, 2001 and in US Patent Application No. 09 / 397,132, entitled "Time Based Disablement of Equipment", filed on September 16, 1999, both of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This patent and application describes systems and methods for disabling a device if a payment is not made in due time. Specifically, a control module associated with the equipment stores a plurality of codes. In order to avoid disabling the equipment, a code must be entered which corresponds to one of the stored plurality of codes before the expiration of a payment period. In order to receive a code, a timely payment must be received and recorded at a payment center. These requests describe an exemplary mode where a user mails a payment to a payment center before the deadline. When enough time has passed for the payment center to receive and process the payment, the user can contact the payment center by means of a telephone to identify the loan. In response, an employee of the payment center can check the payment center's database and verify receipt of payment. After verification, the employee of the payment center will reveal to the user the code which prevents the equipment from being disabled. Since these systems are based on the mailing of and payment processing through a payment center, there may be a delay between the time the payment is sent and a corresponding code provided to a user. During this delay, the equipment can be disabled due to the fact that a code has not been introduced before the expiration of the payment period. Typically, these payment centers are associated with the financial company that provides the financing for the purchase of the equipment. When the number of loans using the systems described in these applications grows, there is an increased administrative burden on the financial company to handle the codes and associated payments. For example, it is assumed that a financial company finances 400 to 1000 loans per month which use the disabling equipment described above. It is also assumed that each client receives 36 codes during a three-year loan. In less than a year the financial company could be responsible for between 500,000 and 1,000,000 codes. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide methods and apparatus which can reduce the delay between the time a payment is made and a code is supplied. In addition, it would be desirable to reduce the burden on financial companies to handle the codes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the deficiencies identified above and other deficiencies of previous systems, providing methods and apparatus for an automated code delivery system. According to the present invention, a user may pay and require one or more codes from a bank, an ATM, a neighborhood supermarket, a grocery store or a cash verification establishment, all of which may be mentioned as convenient centers of receipt of payments. A device in a convenient payment receiving center will interact with the financial company to send a payment of financed goods. The financial company can then provide an indication to an automated computer supplying the code that it has received one or more payments. The automated code delivery computer can then provide one or more codes to the user in the convenient payment receiving center. Using the present invention, payments of financed purchases can be made in a shorter period of time than the normal method of mailing payments. In addition, after the payment is made, the user can almost instantly receive a code which avoids disabling the user's vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a code of a financial company is required. The finance company determines if a payment has been received for a code. If the payment has been received, the previous code released to the user is determined. Next, it is determined if more than one payment has been received. If only one payment has been received, a code is provided which is subsequent to the previously released code. Alternatively, if a payment has been received for more than one code, then the number of codes subsequent to the code previously released is provided based on the number of payments received. After receiving a code, the code can be entered in a vehicle disablement device, based on times, to avoid the disabling of a vehicle which has installed the disablement device based on time. An exemplary method to obtain a code and prevent the disabling of a device, includes assigning a contract identification code, associated with a loan agreement, a payment center that receives a loan payment, sending the payment from the payment center to a financial company, where the financial company has an interest in the device, a computer supplying the code that determines whether the financial company has received the payment, the computer supplying the code that determines a prior code, released for the device , release a new code subsequent to the previous code released for the device if the code supply computer determines that the financial company has received the payment, the computer supplying the code that receives the contract identification from a user via telephone or an internet link, the computer supplying the code that provides the new code directly to the user via telephone, an internet link, or an electronic mail , and the device that receives the user's code, thus preventing the device from being disabled. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with respect to the following description, appended claims and drawings where: FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement of elements in an exemplary system of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method for an automated computer supplying the code in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method for a convenient payment receiving center in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method for a financial company in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary automated code delivery computer in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 6 illustrates a page of the exemplary network that receives a contract ID code via a network interface; And FIG. 7 illustrates the provision of access to the codes released via the network interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with each of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, an apparatus for and methods of supplying codes and payments for a time-based disqualification of the equipment system is provided. It will be appreciated that each of the embodiments described includes both an apparatus and a method and that the apparatus and method of an exemplary embodiment may be different from the apparatus and method of another exemplary embodiment. Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary system for implementing the present invention. The system illustrated in Figure 1 includes an automated computer 110 for supplying the code, financial company 120, ATM 130, bank 140 and links 152 to 160 of bi-directional communication. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a user wishing to receive a code or provide a payment could use either the ATM 130 or the bank 140. If an ATM user 130 wishes to provide a payment, the ATM 130 provides the payment at the bidirectional communication link 160 to the financial company 120. Also, if a user at a bank 140 wishes to make a payment, the bank would transmit the payment through the bidirectional communication link 156 to the financial company 120. It will be recognized that ATM 130 and bank 140 can establish electronic payments with financial company 120, so that when a payment is made either at ATM 130 or bank 140, the payment is immediately provided to the financial company. 120. Upon receipt of the payment from the ATM 130 or bank 140, the financial company 120 provides an indication through from the link 158 of bidirectional communication to the computer 110 automated supply of the code, of which a payment has been made. If more than one payment is made, the financial company 120 would indicate that more than one payment has been made. If a user wishes to receive a code at an ATM 130 after making a payment, the ATM 130 would make contact with the automated computer 110 for supplying the code via a communication link 152. If the automated computer 110 for supplying the code has received an indication from the financial company 120 that a payment has been made for a code which has not been released to the user, the automated computer 110 supplying the code would provide the ATM 130 the code or codes that have not previously been released to the user through link 152 bidirectional communication. Likewise, if a user wishes to receive a code in bank 140, which the user has previously paid, bank 140 would make contact with automated computer 110 for supplying the code via a bidirectional communication link 154. Again, if the automated computer 110 for supplying the code has received an indication from the financial company 158 of receipt of a payment associated with a code not previously released to the user, the automated computer 110 supplying the code could provide the code or codes through link bidirectional communication 154 to bank 140. It should be recognized that ATM 130 and bank 140 are only two examples of the types of places in which payments can be made and codes can be received by a user. However, these can be replaced by any other place or apparatus in which payment can be made and transferred to the financial company and the codes can be received by the automated computer supplying the code. For example, these types of places include convenience supermarkets, grocery stores, and cash collection establishments, and will be referred to herein as a convenient payment receiving center.

In an exemplary mode, users may require to receive codes in locations or via methods of their choice. For example, a user may require to receive codes via an Internet connection between the user and the ACD 110 computer, for example via a network interface module 170, and / or may require to receive the codes via telephone, for example via a telephone interface module 180 as shown in FIG. 1. The network interface module 170 may, for example, include a page of the network on the Internet, hosted for example by the ACD 110 computer or by a system in communication with the ACD 110 computer, so that the user You can visit the webpage via an Internet browser and communicate with the ACD 110 computer via the network page. Both the network interface module 170 and the telephone interface module 180 can be connected to the automated code delivery computer using appropriate connections. For example, after the automated computer 110 for supplying the code has received an indication from the financial company 120 that a payment has been made for a code which has not been released to the user, the automated computer 110 supplies the code can provide the user with access to the code or codes which have not been previously released using a network browser via the interface module 170 of the network. A user can navigate to a specific network page via a secure connection (such as an HTTPS connection). The user's request for the supply of the code (s) can be made via one or more of an Internet link, telephony, email, or any other method, for example via ATM 130 or bank 140, and can specify that the code (s) can be supplied via one or more of an Internet link, telephony, email, or any other method, including for example via ATM 130 or bank 140. The The request can be made at any time, including the time when the loan agreement was introduced, and may include an email address in which the user desires the code and / or related information to be sent. The page of the network may include information such as that shown in FIG. 6. To access the newly released codes, the user can enter information that associates or identifies the user with the newly released codes. For example, the user can enter a contract ID code that is associated with the user's loan agreement. The automated computer 110 for supplying the code may associate the ID code of the user's loan contract with the codes released when it receives an indication from the financial company 120 that the corresponding codes have been paid for. Considering an example as shown in FIG. 6, where the associated contract ID code is 56223274. The user could be informed of this contract ID code, for example at the time the loan is made to secure the loan. The user can enter this code in the appropriate field in a user interface of the network interface 170. After the user enters the contract ID code in the interface 170 of the network, the automated code delivery computer 110 determines whether the contract ID code corresponds to any of the codes released. If it is found that the released codes are associated with the entered contract ID code, the codes may be displayed on a second page of the interface network 107 as shown in FIG. 7. If the amount that the user has paid to the financial company 120 guarantees the release of more than one code, each of the codes and corresponding expiration date can be presented on the second page of the network as shown. Instead of, or in addition to, displaying the released codes on a second page of the interface network 170 after the valid contract ID code is entered, the automated code delivery computer 110 can be configured to send an electronic mail message (or message of email) to the user that includes any released code associated with the valid contract ID code. The user can either enter an email address in an appropriate field of the network interface 170 (not shown), or can specify an email address where the correspondence is sent at the time the loan agreement is entered. , or at any other time. In an exemplary embodiment, the user may submit a request for released codes in the form of an email, containing for example a valid contract ID code and / or other information identifying and verifying the contract and / or the user. The request by electronic mail may include, for example, an indication or selection according to the user, about how the codes should be transmitted, for example by means of one or more forwarding email, telephone call (for example to a specific telephone number) , publication on a network site, and etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the user can establish communication with the automated computer 110 for supplying the code using a telephone via the telephone interface 180, for example in a situation where the user can not access or use the network interface 170. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the telephone interface may include a wireless transceiver capable of communicating with portable telephones and other wireless communication devices, such as a PDA. When the communication is established with the automated computer 110 for supplying the code via the telephone interface, the user can enter the appropriate contract ID code, for example, 56223274, by any appropriate means, such as by typing the code using the numeric keypad of the phone or by saying the code on the phone.

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary method performed by the automated computer supplying the code. Initially, the automated code delivery computer determines whether a user request for a code has been received (step 210). The user's request will be received by the automated computer supplying the code from a convenient payment receiving center, the interface 170 of the network, or perhaps from the telephone interface 180. If the automated computer supplying the code has not received a requesting a code (path "NO" out of decision step 210), then the automated computer supplying the code continues to wait for a request from the user. However, if the automated code delivery computer has received a user request for a code ("YES" path out of decision step 210), then it is determined whether the automated computer supplying the code has received the payment verification of the financial company (step 220). If the automated computer supplying the code has not received the payment verification from the financial company (path "NO" outside of decision step 220), then the automated computer supplying the code informs the user that the payment has not been received (step 230). More specifically, the automated computer supplying the code can inform the convenient payment receiving center, which in turn informs the user, the user can be shown an appropriate message via the network interface 170, or a message can be delivered registered to the user's phone via the telephone interface. If it is determined that the automated computer supplying the code has received the payment verification from the financial company (path "YES" outside decision step 220), then the previous code released to the user is determined by the automated computer supplying the code (step 240). The automated code delivery computer then determines whether the payment verification indicates that more than one payment has been received (step 250). If the automated computer supplying the code determines that more than one payment has not been received ("NO" path out of decision step 250), then the automated computer supplying the code provides the code subsequent to the code previously released to the user ( step 260). More specifically, the automated code delivery computer provides the code to the convenient payment receiving center which provides the code to the user, and / or the released codes are provided to the user via the network interface 170 or 180 telephone interface. However, if the automated computer supplying the code determines that the payment verification indicates that more than one payment has been received ("YES" path out of decision step 250), then the automated computer supplying the code provides the number of codes subsequent to the previously released code corresponding to the number of payments received by the financial company (step 270), see, for example, FIG. 7 showing the release of three codes. As described herein, the codes can be provided to the user via a network interface such as the interface 170 of the network, via telephone such as the telephone interface 180, and / or via email. Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary method performed by a convenient payment receiving center in accordance with the present invention. Initially, a convenient payment receiving center determines whether the user is providing the payment (step 305). If the user is providing payment ("YES" path out of decision step 305), then the convenient payment receiving center determines whether more than one payment has been received (step 310). If the convenient payment receiving center determines that no more than one payment has been received ("NO" path out of decision step 310), then the convenient payment receiving center will send the payment to the financial company (step 315). However, if the convenient payment receiving center determines that more than one payment has been received ("YES" path out of decision step 310), the convenient payment receiving center will send the amount of the total payment receipts to the financial company together with an indication of the number of payments that are transmitted (step 320).

If the convenient payment receiving center determines that the user is not providing payment ("NO" path out of decision step 305), then the convenient payment receiving center determines whether the user is requesting a code (step 325) . If it is determined that the user is not requesting a code ("NO" path out of decision step 325), then the convenient payment receiving center again determines whether the user is providing the payment (step 305). If the convenient payment receiving center determines that the user is requesting a code ("YES" path out of decision step 325), then the convenient payment receiving center sends a code request to the automated computer supplying the code (step 330). Next, the convenient payment receiving center determines whether the automated computer supplying the code has provided a code (step 335). If it is determined that the automated code delivery computer has not provided a code ("NO" path out of decision step 335), then the convenient payment receiving center informs the user that there are no pending codes to be received (step 340) ). However, if the automated computer supplying the code has provided at least one code (path "YES" outside decision step 335), then it is determined if more than one code has been provided (step 345). If it is determined that more than one code has been provided (path "YES" outside decision step 345), then the convenient payment receiving center provides all codes received to the user (step 350). However, if more than one code has not been provided (path "NO" outside decision step 345), then the received code is provided to the user (step 355). Although not illustrated in FIG. 3, the methods described above may also include the steps of: the user enters the code into a time-based device disabling device; the time-based equipment disabling device that compares the received code of the user with the codes stored in the memory; and if there is a match, store an indication on the equipment disabling device based on times that the code has been entered, thus allowing the user to operate the equipment associated with the device of disabling equipment based on times until it occurs the date and / or time associated with a code that has not been entered. In addition, the methods may include the steps of: determining whether a date and / or time has occurred; if the date and / or time has occurred, determine whether a code associated with the date and / or time has been entered into the time-based equipment disabling device; disable the equipment if the code has not been previously entered; and allow the equipment to operate if the code has been previously entered. In addition, the disabling device may include a plurality of lights, for example, light-emitting diodes, to indicate whether the term of a payment is near. For example, a green light will indicate that no payment is due, a yellow light would indicate that a payment will expire in a short time, a red light would indicate that a payment is due immediately or that the equipment will be disabled. In addition, lights may flash intermittently at an increasing frequency between the time of the due date of a payment due. Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary method performed by the financial company in accordance with the present invention. Initially, the financial company determines if a payment has been received (step 410). If the financial company has not received a payment ("NO" path out of decision step 410), then the financial company continues to determine if a payment has been received. However, if the financial company has received a payment ("YES" path out of decision step 410), then the financial company records the payment in its own records (step 420). Next, it is determined if more than one payment has been received (step 430). If no more than one payment has been received ("NO" path out of decision step 430), then the financial company provides an indication to the automated computer 110 of supplying the code that a payment has not been received (step 440) . If more than one payment has been received ("YES" path out of decision step 430), then the financial company provides an indication to the automated computer 110 of supplying the received payment number code (step 450). Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary automated code delivery computer in accordance with the present invention. The automated computer for supplying the code includes a monitor 510, processor 520, memory 530, storage device 540, network access card 550, modem 560, keyboard 570 and mouse 580. The computer communicates with the financial company and the convenient center for receiving payments either via the modem 560 or using the 550 access card to the network. The computer communicates using the 560 modem if the computer is connected to the financial company or the convenient payment receiving center via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an integrated services digital network (ISDN), a coaxial cable, or Similar. The computer communicates using a 550 access card to the network if the computer is connected to the financial company or the convenient payment receiving center via an extended communication network (WAN), a local area network (LAN) or the like. . Using either the 560 modem or the 550 access card to the network, the computer can be connected either to the financial company or to the convenient center for receiving payments via the Internet. The network access card 550 can also be configured to exchange information with the interface 170 of the network. The interface 170 of the network can be either a stand-alone module (as shown), or its function can be integrated into the computer program and equipment of the automated computer supplying the code, for example, the processor 520. In addition, the modem 560 can be configured to exchange information with the telephone interface 180. Again, the telephone interface 180 can be a stand-alone module (as shown) or it can be integrated into the automated computer 110 for supplying the code. When the functions of the interface 170 of the network and the telephone interface 180 are integrated into the automated computer 110 for supplying the code, the processor 520, in conjunction with the memory 530, operates to perform the functions of determining whether it has been provided an indication by the finance company that one or more payments have been received, determine the previous code released to the user, and determine whether the payment verification indicates that more than one payment has been received. Processor 520 may be a microprocessor manufactured by companies such as Sun Microsystems, Intel or Advanced Microdevices. The storage device 540 stores the indications of the payments received from the financial company and stores the codes that are released to the user. The storage device 540 may also store information to associate the contract ID codes with the stored codes and store other information associated with the release of codes, such as the email addresses of the users of the system. Although the storage device 540 is illustrated as a single device located within the computer, it will be recognized that the storage device may be more than one device and that the storage device may be external to the computer. Although it is illustrated that the automated computer supplying the code includes a 510 monitor, 570 keyboard and 580 mouse, it will be recognized that these are not required and can be omitted. For example, if the automated computer supplying the code is installed as a server in a computer network, the monitor 510, the keyboard 570 and the mouse 580, are not required for the proper functioning of the computer. Although other exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with particular types of vehicle disabling devices, it will be recognized that the present invention is equally applicable to any type of vehicle disablement device. Furthermore, although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with a vehicle disablement device, it will be recognized that the present invention is equally applicable to any type of disablement device. Additionally, although exemplary embodiments of the present invention were described in connection with loan payments, the present invention is equally applicable to any other type of loan agreement that includes leases and the like. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with clear and concise language and with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof including the best mode anticipated by the inventors, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited by the description of the exemplary embodiments contained therein.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1. - A method for obtaining a code and avoiding the disabling of a device, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: assigning a contract ID code associated with a loan contract; a payment center that receives the loan payment; send the payment from the payment center to a financial company, where the financial company has an interest in the device, - a computer supplying the code that determines whether the financial company has received the payment; the computer supplying the code that determines a previous code released for the device; release a new code subsequent to the previous code released for the device if the code supply computer determines that the financial company has received the payment; the computer supplying the code that receives a user's contract identification code via telephone, an internet link, or an electronic mail; the computer supplying the code that provides the new code directly to the user via telephone, an internet link, or an electronic mail; the device that receives the user's code, thus avoiding the disabling of the device.
2. 2. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the code supply computer receives the associated contract identification code directly from the user.
3. 3. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that telephony is used to provide the contract identification code, associated, to the computer supplying the code and to provide the new code directly to the user.
4. 4. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the code supply computer provides the new code directly to the user after receiving the associated contract identification code from the user.
5. 5. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the internet link used to provide the contract identification code, associated, to the computer supplying the code, and the internet link used to provide the new code directly to the user , they are the same.
6. 6. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the internet link includes a page of the network accessible via a network browser.
7. 7. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the contract identification code is received and access to the released code is provided in the computer supplying the code via an internet interface.
8. 8. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the contract identification code is received and the released code is accessed, it is provided in the computer supplying the code via a telephone interface.
9. 9. - The method of claim 1, characterized in that the device includes red, yellow and green lights, which are illuminated to indicate when a payment is due.
10. 10. A system for providing a code and preventing the disabling of a device, characterized in that it comprises: a device which receives the codes to avoid disabling the device; a financial company, where the financial company has a security interest in the device and regular payment contracts for the device; a payment center to receive payments for the device and to send payments to the financial company; a computer supplying the code which receives an indication from the financial company of whether a payment has been made and based on the indication provides the codes directly to a user.
11. 11. The system of claim 10, characterized in that the code supply computer provides the codes to the user via an internet link.
12. 12. - The system of claim 10, characterized in that the code supply computer provides the codes to the user via telephone.
13. 13. - The system of claim 10, characterized in that the code supply computer provides the codes to the user via e-mail.
14. 14. - The system of claim 10, characterized in that the device is a vehicle.
15. 15. - The system of claim 14, characterized in that the vehicle is a car.
16. 16. - The system of claim 10, characterized in that the payment center is an ATM.
17. 17. The system of claim 10, characterized in that the payment center is a financial institution.
18. 18. The system of claim 10, characterized in that the payment center is a supermarket or convenience store.
19. 19. - The system of claim 10, characterized in that the payment corresponds to a weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly payment.
20. 20. The system of claim 10, characterized in that the device includes red, yellow and green lights, which are illuminated to indicate when a payment is due. RESXJMEN OF THE INVENTION A method to avoid disabling a device includes assigning a contract identification code, receiving a loan payment, sending the loan payment from a payment center to a financial company that has an interest in the device, a code supply computer determines if the financial company has received the payment, the code supply computer determines a previous code released for the device, release a new code subsequent to the previous code released for the device if the code release computer determines that the financial company has received the payment, the computer supplying the code receives the identification code of the associated contract from a user via telephony or a link via the Internet, the computer supplying the code provides the new code directly to the user via telephony, an Internet link, or an email ion, and the device receives the code from the user, thus preventing the device from being disabled.