Methods and apparatus for over-the-air subscriptions

• US 20060205395A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chandhok, Ravinder Paul (Rob), Walker, Gordon Kent, Chen, An Mei, Barone, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for over-the-air (OTA) subscriptions. A method is provided for performing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network. The method comprises establishing an overhead notification mechanism, and transmitting a package database to a device using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages. The method also comprises receiving a request from the device to subscribe to one or more selected service packages.

Claims

1. A method for providing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the method comprising:

establishing an overhead notification mechanism;

transmitting a package database to a device using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

receiving a request from the device to subscribe to a selected service package.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an updated package database is not installed on the device; and

transmitting the updated package database to the device using the overhead notification mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a client for installation on the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing services associated with the selected service package to the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving a request from the device to unsubscribe to a selected service package.

8. Apparatus for providing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

overhead notification logic that operates to establish an overhead notification channel;

transmitting logic that operates to transmit a package database to a device using the overhead notification channel, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

receiving logic that operates to receive a request from the device to subscribe to a selected service package.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising processing logic that operates to activate the device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitting logic operates to transmit an updated package database to the device using the overhead notification channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing logic operates to transmit a client for installation on the device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving logic further comprises logic to receive the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitting logic further comprises logic to provide services associated with the selected service package to the device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving logic further comprises logic to receive the request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.

15. Apparatus for providing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing an overhead notification mechanism;

means for transmitting a package database to a device using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

means for receiving a request from the device to subscribe to a selected service package.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for activating the device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining that an updated package database is not installed on the device; and

means for transmitting the updated package database to the device using the overhead notification mechanism.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting a client for installation on the device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for providing services associated with the selected service package to the device.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving comprises means for receiving a request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.

22. A computer-readable media comprising means, which when executed by a processor, operate to implement a method for over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the method comprising:

establishing an overhead notification mechanism;

transmitting a package database to a device using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

receiving a request from the device to subscribe to a selected service package.

23. The computer-readable media of claim 22, the method further comprising activating the device.

24. The computer-readable media of claim 22, the method further comprising:

determining that an updated package database is not installed on the device; and

transmitting the updated package database to the device using the overhead notification mechanism.

25. The computer-readable media of claim 22, the method further comprising transmitting a client for installation on the device.

26. The computer-readable media of claim 22, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

27. The computer-readable media of claim 22, the method further comprising providing services associated with the selected service package to the device.

28. The computer-readable media of claim 22, wherein the receiving comprises receiving a request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.

29. A method for operating a device to perform over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the method comprising:

establishing an overhead notification mechanism;

receiving a package database using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

transmitting a request over-the-air to subscribe to a selected service package.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising activating the device to request over-the-air subscriptions.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving an updated package database using the overhead notification mechanism.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving a client for installation.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising operating the client to render information from the package database.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving services associated with the selected service package.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting a request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.

37. Apparatus for performing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

overhead notification logic that operates to establish an overhead notification channel;

receiving logic that operates to receive a package database from a content server using the overhead notification channel, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

transmitting logic that operates to transmit a request over-the-air to subscribe to a selected service package.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising processing logic that operates to perform an activation process with the content server.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprises logic to receive an updated package database using the overhead notification channel.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising processing logic that operates to receive a client for installation.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the client operates to render information from the package database.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the transmitting logic operates to transmit the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the receiving logic operates to receive services associated with the selected service package.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the transmitting logic operates to transmit a request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.

45. Apparatus for performing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing an overhead notification mechanism;

means for receiving a package database from a content server using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

means for transmitting a request over-the-air to subscribe to a selected service package.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for activating with the content server.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for receiving an updated package database using the overhead notification mechanism.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for receiving a client for installation.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for operating the client to render information from the package database.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising means for receiving services associated with the selected service package.

52. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting a request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.

53. A computer-readable medium comprising means, which when executed by a processor, operate to perform a method for over-the-air subscriptions in a data network, the method comprising:

establishing an overhead notification mechanism;

receiving a package database from a content server using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages; and

transmitting a request over-the-air to subscribe to a selected service package.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, the method further comprising activating with the content server.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, the method further comprising receiving an updated package database using the overhead notification mechanism.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, the method further comprising receiving a client for installation.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, the method further comprising operating the client to render information from the package database.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the request to subscribe to the selected service package using a device-to-server protocol.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, the methods further comprising receiving services associated with the selected service package.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting a request to unsubscribe to the selected service package.