System and associated terminal, method, and computer program product for configuring and updating service access points and providing service content specific pricing in the mobile domain

• US 20050255886A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Salo, Juha, Aaltonen, Janne, Muhonen, Ahti, Vainio, Antti-Pentti, Hannikainen, Ari
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Various techniques for service access point configuration for mobile terminals of wireless systems are provided. Pre-configured service access point settings may be provided on a multimedia memory card with a client application capable of configuring the service access point settings in the mobile terminal from the pre-configured service access point settings on the multimedia memory card. Over-the-air updating of service access point settings may be performed by communication between a service access point and a mobile terminal or a client application on the mobile terminal for automatically configuring service access point settings on the mobile terminal based upon information provided by the service access point. Service content specific pricing in the mobile domain is also provided. Service content specific pricing content delivery may be provided through a particular service access point configured for the service content specific pricing.

Claims

1. A system for providing a service access point setting to a mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory card, wherein said memory card includes at least one pre-configured service access point setting;

a mobile terminal adapted to receive said memory card; and

a client application on said mobile terminal, wherein said client application operates on said mobile terminal using at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said client application is capable of using at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting automatically without manual intervention.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting comprises at least one of:

a service access point name;

a service access point address;

a service access point user name; and

a service access point password.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting further comprises:

a service access point authentication setting.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting further comprises:

a service access point maximum data speed setting.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting further comprises:

a service access point session type setting.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting further comprises:

a service access point security setting.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting further comprises:

at least one service access point alternate server address.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said client application resides on said memory card.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said client application resides in said mobile terminal.

11. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory card port;

a memory card for insertion into said memory card port, wherein said memory card comprises at least one pre-configured service access point setting; and

a client application, wherein said client application operates on said mobile terminal using at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein said client application is capable of using at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting automatically without manual intervention.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein said client application resides on said memory card.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein said client application resides in said mobile terminal.

15. A method of providing a service access point setting to a mobile terminal, comprising:

providing a memory card with at least one pre-configured service access point setting;

inserting said memory card into a mobile terminal; and

executing a client application which automatically configures a service access point utilized by said client application on said mobile terminal based upon the at least one pre-configured service access point setting on said memory card.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

pre-configuring at least one service access point setting on said memory card.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said client application requires a service access point to operate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of executing said client application initiates said step of configuring said service access point.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer-useable medium having control logic stored therein for providing a service access point setting to a mobile terminal, said control logic comprising:

a first code for executing a client application requiring at least one setting for a service access point;

a second code for acquiring at least one pre-configured service access point setting from a memory card; and

a third code for providing said at least one pre-configured service access point setting to said client application.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said control logic further comprises:

a fourth code for storing said at least one pre-configured service access point setting in a resident memory; and

a fifth code for providing said at least one pre-configured service access point setting that is stored in resident memory to said client application.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer-useable medium having control logic stored therein for providing a service access point setting to a mobile terminal, said control logic comprising:

a first code that requires at least one pre-configured service access point setting and initiates acquiring at least one pre-configured service access point setting;

a second code for reading a memory for acquiring at least one pre-configured service access point setting; and

a third code for providing said at least one pre-configured service access point setting to said first code.

22. A system for updating at least one service access point setting on a mobile terminal, comprising:

a mobile terminal that communicates with a wireless network, wherein said wireless network comprises at least one pre-configured service access point setting, and wherein said mobile terminal comprises at least one configured service access point setting; and

a client application that operates on said mobile terminal using said at least one configured service access point setting,

wherein said wireless network is capable of providing another pre-configured service access point setting to said mobile terminal to replace said at least one configured service access point setting, and

wherein said client application is capable of operating on said mobile terminal using said another pre-configured service access point setting as said at least one configured service access point setting.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one pre-configured access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured access point setting, comprises at least one of:

a service access point name;

a service access point address;

a service access point user name; and

a service access point password.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured service access point setting, further comprises:

a service access point authentication setting.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured service access point setting, further comprises:

a service access point maximum data speed setting.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured service access point setting, further comprises:

a service access point session type setting.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured service access point setting, further comprises:

a service access point security setting.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured service access point setting, further comprises:

at least one service access point alternate server address.

29. A mobile terminal capable of communicating with a wireless network to update at least one service access point setting on said mobile terminal, wherein said mobile terminal comprises:

at least one configured service access point setting; and

a client application that operates on said mobile terminal using at least one of said at least one configured service access point setting,

wherein said mobile terminal is capable of receiving at least one pre-configured service access point setting to replace said at least one configured service access point setting, and

wherein said client application is capable of operating on said mobile terminal using said at least one pre-configured service access point setting as said at least one configured service access point setting.

30. A method of updating a service access point setting on a mobile terminal having at least one configured service access point setting, wherein said mobile terminal is capable of communicating with a wireless network, comprising:

downloading at least one pre-configured service access point setting from said wireless network to said mobile terminal; and

replacing at least one of said at least one configured service access point setting on said mobile terminal with said at least one pre-configured service access point setting downloaded from said wireless network.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

pre-configuring at least one service access point setting on said wireless network.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of downloading at least one pre-configured service access point setting is initiated by said wireless network.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of downloading at least one pre-configured service access point setting is initiated by said mobile terminal.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said initiation by said mobile terminal is controlled by a client application on said mobile terminal.

35. A computer program product comprising a computer-useable medium having control logic stored therein for updating a service access point setting on a mobile terminal, said control logic comprising:

a first code for wirelessly receiving at least one pre-configured service access point setting; and

a second code for replacing at least one configured service access point setting with said at least one pre-configured service access point setting.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein said control logic further comprises:

a third code for adding said at least one pre-configured service access point setting to said mobile terminal.

37. A system for providing service content specific pricing content delivery, comprising:

a service content delivery gateway; and

a service content specific pricing service access point, wherein said service content specific pricing service access point is connected to said service content delivery gateway for receiving service content specific pricing content.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a client application wirelessly connected to said service content specific pricing service access point for receiving service content specific pricing content, wherein said client application uses the service content specific pricing content.

39. A method of providing service content specific pricing content delivery, comprising:

offering service content specific pricing for content;

subscribing to said service content specific pricing for at least some of the content; and

delivering the at least some of the content.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of delivering at least some of the content occurs through a service content specific pricing service access point.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

supplying content for service content specific pricing to a service provider.

42. A billing method for providing service content specific pricing content delivery, comprising:

offering to a consumer at least one selection for subscribing to content and delivery of the content; and

charging the consumer a single fee for consumption of the content and delivery of the content for the at least one selection.

43. A billing method for providing service content specific pricing content delivery between a content creator and a consumer, comprising:

supplying content for service content specific pricing to a service provider, wherein the content is associated with a content cost and a transmission cost;

establishing at least one available service content specific pricing subscription option for delivery of at least some of the content,

wherein the available service content specific pricing subscription is related to the content cost and transmission cost of the content to be delivered; and

offering to a consumer at least one of the available service content specific pricing subscription options.

44. The billing method of claim 43, wherein the content is further associated with an aggregation cost.

45. A billing method for providing service content specific pricing content delivery between a content creator and a wireless network operator, comprising:

supplying content for service content specific pricing to a service provider, wherein the content is associated with a content cost and a transmission cost; and

establishing at least one available service content specific pricing subscription option for delivery of at least some of the content,

wherein the available service content specific pricing subscription is related to the content cost and transmission cost of the content to be delivered.

46. The billing method of claim 45, wherein the content is further associated with an aggregation cost.

47. A server comprising:

a service content specific pricing service access point.

48. The server of claim 47, wherein said server is a gateway general packet radio service support node.

49. The server of claim 47, wherein said service client specific pricing service access point is running on said server.

50. A system for providing a service access point setting to a mobile terminal, comprising:

a pre-configured service access point setting source including at least one pre-configured service access point setting;

a mobile terminal adapted to communicate with said pre-configured service access point setting source; and

a client application on said mobile terminal, wherein said client application operates on said mobile terminal using at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said client application is capable of using at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting automatically without manual intervention.

52. A method of providing a service access point setting to a mobile terminal, comprising:

providing a pre-configured access point setting source with at least one pre-configured service access point setting;

executing a client application which automatically configures a service access point utilized by said client application on said mobile terminal based upon the at least one pre-configured service access point setting of the pre-configured access point setting source.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said client application requires a service access point to operate.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein said step of executing said client application initiates said step of configuring said service access point.