IP Library Granted Patent US 11,321,754
Granted Patent B2
US 11,321,754 · App. 16/299,046 · Granted May 3, 2022

Configuring an electronic device based on a transaction

Inventors: Kurt Roman Thielen (Maple Grove, MN); Robert Edward Taylor (Newbury, VT); Patrick James Sansonetti (Hopkinton, MA); Ryan Michael Melville (Chaska, MN); James Joseph Alviani (Plymouth, MN)
Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
G06Q30/0621G06F9/4411H04L63/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,321,754
App. No.
16/299,046
Granted
May 3, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for detection of a network signal identifying an electronic device in response to a transaction initiated by an entity. For example, the network signal can be transmitted by the electronic device in response to an initial network connection. An entity identifier identifies the entity associated with initiating a transaction based on matching identifying information contained in the network signal with transaction information from a supply chain. A configurator to configure the electronic device specific to the identified entity can be based on a feature set determined by channels through which the electronic device came to an end user. The feature set programs the electronic device to interoperate with a network device in response to the initial network connection.

Claims (32)

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory;

instructions in the apparatus; and

processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:

identify an electronic device in response to a transaction initiated by an entity, the electronic device identified based on the transaction communicated as part of a network signal transmitted by the electronic device in response to an initial network connection, the transaction to trigger a recording of information associated with device configuration status, the device configuration status including previous configurations of the device;

identify the entity associated with initiating a transaction based on transaction information from a supply chain; and

configure the electronic device specific to the identified entity based on a feature set determined by channels through which the electronic device came to an end user, the feature set linked to the device identifier via a database associated with an intermediary of the supply chain, the feature set used to program the electronic device to establish a connection with a provisioning service in response to the initial network connection, the electronic device configured based on configuration instructions specific to the intermediary of the supply chain, the intermediary of the supply chain a retailer of the device, the configuration instructions based on the configuration status of the device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to obtain identifying information for the electronic device from at least one of a data storage medium of the electronic device or a networking hardware.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to determine that the electronic device corresponds to an entity associated with the transaction in the supply chain.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the feature set varies depending on a transaction context associated with the electronic device, the transaction context including at least one of time of purchase, location of purchase, or learned demographic information.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the feature set is used to customize the electronic device by activating data already stored on the electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to store information pertaining to the feature set applied to the electronic device.

7. A method comprising:

identifying an electronic device in response to a transaction initiated by an entity, the electronic device identified based on the transaction communicated as part of a network signal transmitted by the electronic device in response to an initial network connection, the transaction to trigger a recording of information associated with device configuration status, the device configuration status including previous configurations of the device;

identifying the entity associated with initiating a transaction based on transaction information from a supply chain; and

configuring the electronic device specific to the identified entity based on a feature set determined by channels through which the electronic device came to an end user, the feature set linked to a device identifier via a database associated with an intermediary of the supply chain, the feature set used to program the electronic device to establish a connection with a provisioning service in response to the initial network connection, the electronic device configured based on configuration instructions specific to the intermediary of the supply chain, the intermediary of the supply chain a retailer of the device, the configuration instructions based on the configuration status of the device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further including retrieving identifying information for the electronic device from at least one of a data storage medium of the electronic device or a networking hardware.

9. The method of claim 7 , further including determining that the electronic device corresponds to an entity associated with the transaction in the supply chain.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the feature set varies depending on a transaction context associated with the electronic device, the transaction context including at least one of time of purchase, location of purchase, or learned demographic information.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the feature set is used to customize the electronic device by activating data already stored on the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 7 , further including storing, on a database, information pertaining to the feature set applied to the electronic device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage disk or storage device comprising instructions thereon that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:

identify an electronic device in response to a transaction initiated by an entity, the electronic device identified based on the transaction communicated as part of a network signal transmitted by the electronic device in response to an initial network connection, the transaction to trigger a recording of information associated with device configuration status, the device configuration status including previous configurations of the device;

identify the entity associated with initiating a transaction based on transaction information from a supply chain; and

configure the electronic device specific to the identified entity based on a feature set determined by channels through which the electronic device came to an end user, the feature set linked to the device identifier via a database associated with an intermediary of the supply chain, the feature set used to program the electronic device to establish a connection with a provisioning service in response to the initial network connection, the electronic device configured based on configuration instructions specific to the intermediary of the supply chain, the intermediary of the supply chain a retailer of the device, the configuration instructions based on the configuration status of the device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage disk or storage device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to retrieve identifying information for the electronic device from at least one of a data storage medium of the electronic device or a networking hardware.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage disk or storage device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine that the electronic device corresponds to an entity associated with the transaction in the supply chain.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage disk or storage device of claim 13 , wherein the feature set varies depending on a transaction context associated with the electronic device, the transaction context including at least one of time of purchase, location of purchase, or learned demographic information.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage disk or storage device of claim 16 , wherein the feature set is used to customize the electronic device by activating data already stored on the electronic device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage disk or storage device of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to store, on a database, information pertaining to the feature set applied to the electronic device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to configure the electronic device to interface with a peripheral device purchased with the electronic device.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to configure an input setting of the electronic device for an input associated with a peripheral device purchased with the electronic device.

Assignments (15)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2024
From: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 067417/0402 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 059452/0243 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; QTERICS, INC.
To: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 059102/0314 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: QTERICS, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 058915/0773 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 21, 2022
From: UPDATELOGIC, INC.
To: QTERICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058728/0237 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
PURCHASE AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2019
From: LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 049216/0159 →
MERGER Recorded May 16, 2019
From: SILICON IMAGE, INC.
To: LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049203/0794 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2019
From: UPDATELOGIC, INC.
To: QTERICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049203/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2019
From: LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: QTERICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049203/0813 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2019
From: THIELEN, KEVIN ROMAN; TAYLOR, ROBERT EDWARD; SANSONETTI, PATRICK JAMES; MELVILLE, RYAN MICHAEL; ALVIANI, JAMES JOSEPH
To: UPDATELOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 049203/0489 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2019
From: QTERICS, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 049203/0860 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14990415 · Jan 7, 2016
Division 13190056 · Jul 25, 2011
Related Publication 20190213656A1 · Jul 11, 2019