Methods, mobile devices, data structures and computer program products for configuring mobile devices with network access information included in image data

• US 20050282531A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Andreasson, Markus
• Application Number:
  US10/870,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Mobile devices may be configured for network access by receiving image data at the mobile device including network access information for use by the mobile device in accessing the network. The network access information included in the image data can be processed to provide the network access information in a message format at the mobile device. The mobile device can be configured with the network access information. Related mobile devices, data structures, and computer program products are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a mobile device for network access comprising:

receiving image data at a mobile device including network access information for use by the mobile device in accessing the network;

processing the network access information included in the image data to provide network access information in a message format at the mobile device; and

configuring the mobile device with the network access information.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the network access information included in the image data comprises Short Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message and/or a Multimedia Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the Short Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message or the Multimedia Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message is separate from an over-the-air configuration message.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the network access information comprises a Wireless Application Protocol profile for the mobile device and/or a Multimedia Message Service profile for the mobile device.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) profile comprises a WAP gateway address, a WAP port number, and/or a WAP profile name.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein the network access information comprises a default home Web page, a timeout information, a default user name, a default password, circuit switched data, connection speed information associated with the circuit switched data, line type associated with the circuit switched data, GPRS access point, username associated with the GPRS access point, password associated with the GPRS access point, and/or parameters associated with access to an e-mail account.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the image data corresponds to at least one one-dimensional barcode configured to encode the network access information and/or at least one two-dimensional barcode configured to encode the network access information.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one one-dimensional and/or at least one two-dimensional barcode comprises an SMS, MMS, and/or Smartmessaging™

formatted mobile device configuration message.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving image data at the mobile device receiving comprises receiving the image data via a camera included in the mobile device.

10. A method according to claim 1 embodied in a computer program product.

11. A method of configuring a mobile device for network access comprising:

providing network access information for access by a mobile device to a network;

receiving image data at the mobile device including the network access information;

processing the network access information included in the image data, by the mobile, to provide the decoded network access information in a message format at the mobile device; and

configuring the mobile device with the network access information.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein providing the network access information comprises providing the network access information on a receipt associated with a service subscription to the network.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein providing the network access information comprises providing the network access information in an e-mail message.

15. A method according to claim 11 wherein providing the network access information comprises providing the network access information via a computer displayable document.

16. A method according to claim 11 wherein providing the network access information comprises providing the network access information via a mailing associated with a subscription to service from the network.

17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising:

increasing a size of a view of the network access information on the computer displayable document.

12. A method according to claim 111 wherein providing the network access information comprises providing the network access information as part of a kit including the mobile device.

18. A mobile device comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit/receive communications to/from a network that provides service to the mobile device;

a camera configured to provide image data including network access information in a mobile device message format; and

a processor circuit configured to process the image data to provide network access information based on the network access information in the mobile device message format for configuration of the mobile device therewith.

19. A mobile device according to claim 18 wherein the network access information in the mobile device message format comprises a Short Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message and/or a Multimedia Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message.

20. A mobile device according to claim 18 wherein the network access information in the mobile device message format comprises a WAP gateway address, a WAP port number, and/or a WAP profile name.

21. A mobile device according to claim 18 wherein the network access information comprises a default home Web page, a timeout information, a default user name, a default password, circuit switched data, connection speed information associated with the circuit switched data, line type associated with the circuit switched data, GPRS access point, username associated with the GPRS access point, password associated with the GPRS access point, and/or parameters associated with access to an e-mail account.

22. A mobile device according to claim 18 wherein the image data corresponds to at least one one-dimensional barcode configured to encode the network access information and/or at least one two-dimensional barcode configured to encode the network access information.

23. A mobile device according to claim 18 wherein the at least one one-dimensional and/or at least one two-dimensional barcode comprises an SMS and/or MMS formatted mobile device configuration message.

24. A data structure embodied in an optically compatible media comprising:

network access information in a mobile device message format on the media configured to provide the mobile device with access to a network.

25. A data structure according to claim 24 wherein the media comprises paper, plastic, metal, or a computer displayable document.

26. A data structure according to claim 24 wherein the network access information in the mobile device message format comprises a Short Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message and/or a Multimedia Message Service formatted mobile device configuration message.

27. A data structure according to claim 24 wherein the network access information in the mobile device message format comprises a WAP gateway address, a WAP port number, and/or a WAP profile name.

28. A computer program product for configuring a mobile device for network access, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to receive image data at a mobile device including network access information for use by the mobile device in accessing the network;

computer readable program code configured to process the network access information included in the image data to provide the network access information in a message format at the mobile device; and

computer readable program code configured to configure the mobile device with the network access information.