Provisioning a User Device for Multiple Services

• US 20070293264A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tangoe US, Inc. (Asentinel Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Tangoe Incorporated
• Inventors: Gamble, Charles, Marsh, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider

Abstract

Systems and methods for provisioning an electronic device for multiple services are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment, among others, of a provisioning method includes receiving a first request to procure a user device capable of operating under a plurality of service plans. The method also includes receiving a second request to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan and receiving a third request to provision the user device for operation under a second service plan. Also, the method includes coordinating the first request, second request, and third request to provision the user device under the first service plan and second service plan.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first request to procure a user device capable of operating under a plurality of service plans;

receiving a second request to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan;

receiving a third request to provision the user device for operation under a second service plan; and

coordinating the first request, second request, and third request to provision the user device under the first service plan and second service plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first service plan is associated with a wireless local area network (WiLAN) service.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating a list of selectable user devices in response to the second request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second service plan is associated with a wireless wide area network (WiWAN) service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator for approval.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating orders for the requested user device, first service plan, and second service plan;

sending the orders for the requested user device, first service plan, and second service plan to one or more entities capable of fulfilling the orders;

managing the orders to invoke the provisioning of the user device with the first service plan and second service plan at substantially similar times.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the user device provisioned under the first service plan and second service plan to a procurer of the user device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more additional requests for provisioning the user device for one or more additional service plans; and

coordinating the first, second, third, and additional requests to provision the user device under the first, second, and additional service plans.

9. A business method comprising providing a provisioning agent that:

receives a first request to procure an electronic device, a second request to provision the electronic device for a first communication service, and a third request to provision the electronic device for a second communication service; and

provides orders to one or more additional agents, the orders including instructions for the additional agents to provision the electronic device for the first communication service and the second communication service.

10. The business method of claim 9, wherein the first communication service is associated with a local area service and the second communication service is associated with a wide area service.

11. The business method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a Fixed-Mobile Converged (FMC) device.

12. The business method of claim 9, wherein providing orders to the one or more remote locations includes instructing means for fulfilling the orders located at the one or more remote locations to install software onto the electronic device and to program profile information on the device.

13. The business method of claim 12, further comprising:

forwarding profile information, which is used by the fulfilling means to provision the electronic device, to an organization for storage on the premises of the organization.

14. The business method of claim 9, further comprising:

enabling a procurer to select a first category of options prior to receiving the first, second, and third requests;

enabling the procurer to select a second category of options prior to receiving the first, second, and third requests; and

enabling the procurer to select a third category of options prior to receiving the first, second, and third request;

wherein the categories of options correspond to device options, first communication service options, and second communication service options.

15. The business method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving one or more additional requests to provision the electronic device for one or more additional communication services.

16. The business method of claim 9, wherein the provisioning agent receives request in a centralized facility.

17. The business method of claim 16, wherein one or more of the additional agents fulfill the orders in the centralized facility.

18. A system comprising:

memory configured to store a program for provisioning an electronic device;

a processor configured to execute the program stored in memory; and

a network interface configured to allow an external user to enter a request for procuring a user device and for provisioning the user device for a plurality of services;

wherein the processor processes the request by ordering the requested user device and managing the provisioning of the requested user device for the plurality of services.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of services includes at least a local area communication service and a wide area communication service.

20. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for execution by a processing device, the computer program comprising:

logic that allows a first request to be received at a centralized location;

logic that allows a second request to be received at the centralized location;

logic that allows a third request to be received at the centralized location;

logic configured to coordinate the first request, second request, and third request;

wherein the first request is associated with an electronic device, the second request is associated with a first service being assisted by the electronic device, and the third request is associated with a second service being assisted by the electronic device.

21. The computer program of claim 20, wherein the logic configured to coordinate the requests comprises logic that generates a first order to procure the electronic device and generates second and third orders to provision the electronic device with the first service and second service.

22. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the logic configured to coordinate the requests further comprises logic that tracks the first, second, and third orders.