Dynamic online subscription for wireless wide-area networks

• US 20050083846A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Pradeep
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/16 Implementing security features at a particular protocol layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for dynamically subscribing for access to a wireless wide-area network via an online process. Subscription information and user credentials are digitally transmitted by a network carrier to a networking device and is stored locally by the device in a SmartCard, other portable medium, or on the device'"'"'s hard drive. The locally stored credentials and information may subsequently be updated wirelessly. No human interaction is required to subscribe, and access may be limited by a variety of criteria. A subscription may be used to access networks operated by multiple network carriers.

Claims

1. A subscription module incorporated within a network server, the subscription module facilitating subscribing a networking device for access to at least one wireless wide-area network (WWAN), the module executing the steps of:

receiving a subscription request; and

digitally transmitting subscription information for the networking device in response to the request;

wherein the subscription information comprises data for authenticating the networking device during attempts by the networking device to access the at least one WWAN.

2. The subscription module of claim 1 further executing the step of causing the networking device to be provisioned with data permitting access to the at least one WWAN.

3. The subscription module of claim 2 wherein the networking device is caused to be provisioned with data permitting access to at least two WWANs for simultaneous communications over the at least two WWANs.

4. The subscription module of claim 2 wherein the networking device is caused to be provisioned with data permitting access to the at least one WWAN for a limited duration.

5. The subscription module of claim 2 wherein the networking device is caused to be provisioned with data permitting access to the at least one WWAN with a limit on the amount of data to be transmitted.

6. The subscription module of claim 1 wherein receiving a subscription request comprises receiving wirelessly a subscription request from the networking device.

7. The subscription module of claim 1 wherein digitally transmitting subscription information comprises transmitting wirelessly to the networking device.

8. The subscription module of claim 7 wherein transmitting wirelessly comprises transmitting over a WWAN.

9. The subscription module of claim 7 wherein transmitting wirelessly comprises transmitting over a WLAN.

10. The subscription module of claim 1 further executing the step of accepting information to be associated with the networking device.

11. The subscription module of claim 10 wherein accepting information comprises accepting identification and authentication information.

12. The subscription module of claim 1 further executing the step of authenticating the subscription request.

13. The subscription module of claim 12 wherein the step of authenticating the subscription request comprises transacting with a universal identity server.

14. The subscription module of claim 1 wherein the at least one WWAN is a GPRS-based network.

15. The subscription module of claim 1, the subscription module facilitating subscribing a networking device for access to at least two WWANs, wherein at least one WWAN is a GPRS-based network and at least one WWAN is a CDMA-based network.

16. The subscription module of claim 1 wherein digitally transmitting subscription information comprises digitally transmitting a master key to be used in accessing the at least one WWAN.

17. The subscription module of claim 16 further executing the step of causing the master key to be digitally refreshed at a periodic interval.

18. The subscription module of claim 1 further executing the step of maintaining billing information associated with the subscription.

19. The subscription module of claim 1 wherein the subscription information further comprises a key for encrypting communications.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein causing the networking device to be provisioned comprises causing the networking device to be provisioned with data permitting access to the at least one WWAN with a limit on the amount of data to be transmitted.

20. A method of subscribing a networking device for access to at least one wireless wide-area network (WWAN), comprising the steps of:

receiving a subscription request; and

digitally transmitting subscription information for the networking device in response to the request;

wherein the subscription information comprises data for authenticating the networking device during attempts by the networking device to access the at least one WWAN.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising causing the networking device to be provisioned with data permitting access to the at least one WWAN.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein causing the networking device to be provisioned comprises causing the networking device to be provisioned with data permitting access to at least two WWANs for simultaneous communications over the at least two WWANs.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein causing the networking device to be provisioned comprises causing the networking device to be provisioned with data permitting access to the at least one WWAN for a limited duration.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein receiving a subscription request comprises receiving wirelessly a subscription request from the networking device.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein digitally transmitting subscription information comprises transmitting wirelessly to the networking device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting wirelessly comprises transmitting over a WWAN.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting wirelessly comprises transmitting over a WLAN.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of accepting information to be associated with the networking device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein accepting information comprises accepting identification and authentication information.

31. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of authenticating the subscription request.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of authenticating the subscription request comprises transacting with a universal identity server

33. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one WWAN is a GPRS-based network.

34. The method of claim 20, the method for subscribing a networking device for access to at least two WWANs, wherein at least one WWAN is a GPRS-based network and at least one WWAN is a CDMA-based network.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein digitally transmitting subscription information comprises digitally transmitting a master key to be used in accessing the at least one WWAN.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of causing the master key to be digitally refreshed at a periodic interval.

37. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of maintaining billing information associated with the subscription.

38. The method of claim 20 wherein the steps are performed without human interaction.

39. The method of claim 20 wherein the subscription information further comprises a key for encrypting communications.

40. A method of subscribing a networking device for access to at least one wireless wide-area network (WWAN), comprising the steps of:

contacting a subscription service; and

digitally receiving subscription information for the networking device from the subscription service;

wherein the subscription information comprises data for authenticating the networking device during attempts by the networking device to access the at least one WWAN.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the contacting step is performed wirelessly using the networking device.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the receiving step is performed wirelessly using the networking device.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of providing information to be associated with the networking device.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the information comprises identification and authentication information.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein digitally receiving subscription information further comprises storing the subscription information in a portable medium.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the portable medium is a Smart Card.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the portable medium is a Universal Identity Card.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the portable medium is a computer hard drive.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the portable medium is a USB flash drive.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein transferring the portable medium to a second networking device allows the second networking device to access the at least one WWAN.

51. The method of claim 40 wherein the subscription information further comprises a key for encrypting communications.

52. A portable storage medium for storing wireless wide-area network (WWAN) subscription information, whereby attaching the portable storage medium to a networking device enables establishing wireless connectivity between the networking device and at least one WWAN.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the portable storage medium is a SmartCard.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the portable storage medium is a Universal Identity Card.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the portable storage medium is a computer hard drive.

56. In a system comprising a subscription service and a plurality of wireless networks operated by a plurality of network carriers, a method of enabling a networking device to access any of the plurality of wireless networks, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the subscription service, a subscription request from the networking device; and

causing, by the subscription service, a first set of subscription information to be digitally transmitted to the networking device in response to the request;

wherein the first set of subscription information allows the networking device to access any of the plurality of wireless networks.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of:

sending, by the subscription service, a second set of subscription information to at least one network carrier from the plurality of network carriers;

wherein the second set of subscription information is used by a wireless network operated by the at least one network carrier to allow the networking device to access the wireless network.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the at least one network carrier, usage information regarding networking activity involving the networking device; and

maintaining billing information regarding the networking device.