General purpose automated activation and provisioning technologies

• US 20040137890A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalke, Catherine
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/39 Arrangements for preventing metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/28 SMS billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Automated activation and provisioning technologies can be applied in a variety of scenarios. For example, an automated activation and provisioning server can translate user desired features into associated provisioning directives. The directives can then be sent to elements of a wireless communications network support system. Activation and provisioning for a rich set of features can thus be achieved without manual intervention or reaction to the user'"'"'s choices. Receipt of the user'"'"'s choices can be accomplished in real time via a user interface of a mobile wireless device or a web-based user interface.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following to achieve automated provisioning for a mobile wireless device in a wireless communications network support system:

receiving an indication of one or more subscriber-desired services, wherein the subscriber-desired services are selected by the subscriber via an electronic user interface;

translating the indication of the subscriber-desired services into associated provisioning directives; and

sending the associated provisioning directives to provisioning elements within the wireless communications network support system to achieve provisioning for the subscriber-desired services.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the electronic user interface comprises a web browsing user interface.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein

a wireless communication network is supported by the wireless communications network support system;

and

the associated provisioning directives are sent to provisioning elements behind the wireless communication network from the perspective of the mobile wireless device.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the electronic user interface comprises a user interface presented by the mobile wireless device.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein the mobile wireless device is unactivated.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise an enhanced service.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise a ring tone feature.

8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise enrolling in a transactional electronic payment system for premium services.

9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise subscribing to an online office.

10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise subscribing to an image center.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise game functionality.

12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise text messaging functionality.

13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise unified messaging functionality.

14. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise subscribing to a subscription-based assistance program.

15. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise purchasing equipment insurance.

16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise enrolling in a mobile to mobile minutes plan.

17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprise voice activated dialing.

18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-desired services comprises purchasing accessories.

19. A method of automated provisioning for a mobile wireless device in a wireless communications network support system, the method comprising:

receiving indication of one or more subscriber-desired services, wherein the subscriber-desired services are selected by the subscriber via an electronic user interface;

translating the indication of the subscriber-desired services into associated provisioning directives; and

sending the associated provisioning directives to provisioning elements within the wireless communications network support system to achieve provisioning for the subscriber-desired services.

20. An automated activation and provisioning server computer system for achieving automated activation and provisioning in a wireless communications network support system, the server computer system comprising:

a translation engine operable to translate indications of one or more subscriber-desired services into associated provisioning directives; and

a real time provisioning engine operable to send the associated provisioning directives within the wireless communications network support system, the real time provisioning engine being operable to thereby achieve automated provisioning for the one or more subscriber-desired services.

21. An automated activation and provisioning system for achieving automated activation and provisioning in a wireless communications network support system, the system comprising:

means for receiving communications from a wired web whereby a subscriber can select desired services via a web interface;

means for receiving communications from a mobile wireless device whereby a subscriber can select desired services via a user interface of the mobile wireless device; and

means for translating the desired services into associated provisioning directives, wherein the means for translating is shared by the means for receiving communications from the wired web and the means for receiving communications from a mobile wireless device.

22. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions for performing the following to activate an unactivated mobile wireless device:

receiving from a user of the unactivated wireless device an indication of services desired by the user;

translating the indication into provisioning directives operable to provision the services; and

sending the provisioning directive to provisioning the services.

23. A method of activating an unactivated mobile wireless device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between the unactivated mobile wireless device and a user interface generator operable to receive from the unactivated mobile wireless device an indication of services desired;

in software, translating the indication of services desired to appropriate provisioning directives; and

sending the provisioning directives to appropriate elements within a mobile wireless network support system to effect automated activation and provisioning for the unactivated mobile wireless device.

24. An method of distributing a mobile wireless device, the method comprising:

placing indicia of information for activating the mobile wireless device with a distribution package comprising the mobile wireless device; and

upon receipt of the indicia in an automated system, activating the mobile wireless device;

wherein receipt of the indicia can be achieved via a web browser interface or via a user interface of the mobile wireless device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the indicia is associated with a distributor, the method further comprising:

upon receipt of the indicia, recording an indication that a commission is to be paid to the distributor.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein receipt of the indicia comprises receipt of the indicia by a computer system sharing a translation engine operable to translate one or more user-desired services to associated provisioning directives between communications from both web browsing users and users operating a user interface of a mobile wireless device.

27. In an unactivated mobile wireless device, a method of connecting to a server computer to activate the unactivated mobile wireless device, the method comprising:

connecting to a gateway operable to forward communication to the server computer;

accepting input from a user of the unactivated mobile wireless device specifying one or more selected service options related to activation; and

forwarding the input to the server via the gateway to effect activation and provisioning of the mobile wireless device with the selected service options.

28. A method of adding automated provisioning functionality to an automatic activation system, the method comprising:

receiving provisioning-related software configuration modifications to an automated activation and provisioning computer server; and

integrating the provisioning-related software configuration modifications in the automated activation and provisioning computer server.

29. A method of receiving activation directives in an automatic activation system, the method comprising:

in the system, receiving at least one directive originating from actions by a user of a mobile wireless device via the mobile wireless device; and

in the system, receiving at least one directive originating from a non-wireless web browser system.

30. A method of receiving activation directives in an automatic activation system, the method comprising:

presenting a series of user interfaces at a wireless mobile device to receive user selections for completing activation; and

receiving user selections via the user interfaces;

wherein the user interfaces comprise a user interface for selecting voice services.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the user interfaces comprise a user interface for subscribing to a digital cash service.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the user interfaces comprise a user interface for purchasing accessories for the digital mobile device.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the user interfaces comprise a user interface for subscribing to an instant messaging service.

34. An unactivated mobile wireless device kit comprising:

an unactivated mobile wireless device; and

indicia of data operable for activating the device via the device itself when the data is provided to an activation server via the device and operable for activating the device via a wired web session when the data is provided to the activation server via the wired web session.