WIRELESS INTERNET ACTIVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080057957A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Elwin, Randy, Altbaum, Leonardo Daniel, Matsuo, Kotaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A wireless modem device is configured for connection over a cellular carrier network to a second network. The device is initially in a non-activated mode in which the wireless modem device can only be connected to an authorization server of a cellular carrier network and cannot communicate outside the boundaries of an activation service for the wireless modem device. Activation is initiated by the cellular carrier network on receipt of a request from the wireless modem device to access a web resource address (URL) of the second network. The handset is connected to the carrier authorization server if the wireless modem device has not been activated, and is provided with an activation page at the authorization server. The authorization server activates the wireless modem device for wireless connection to the second network through the cellular carrier network.

Claims

1. A method for activating a wireless modem device for wireless access to a network, the method comprising:

receiving a request to access a web resource address (“

URL”

) from the wireless modem device over a cellular network;

determining if the wireless modem device has been activated for wireless connection to a second network associated with the URL;

directing the communication from the wireless modem device to an activation page of an authorization server of the cellular network if the wireless modem device is not activated;

receiving activation information associated with the wireless modem device; and

activating the wireless modem device for connection to the second network over the cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation step comprises an over the air service provisioning (OTASP) procedure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the service provisioning procedure changes the network parameters of the wireless modem device to public network parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation information includes payment for wireless network service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling the wireless modem device to a host device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless modem device is integrated with the host device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless modem device is removably connected to the host device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the wireless modem device has been activated for connection to the second network comprises:

obtaining an activation status for the wireless modem device stored in a subscriber database on the cellular network;

determining whether the activation status is “

activated”

or “

not activated;

”

allowing full communication over the second network if the activation status associated with the wireless modem device is “

activated;

” and

directing the request to the authorization server if the activation status associated with the wireless modem device is “

not activated.”

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating step further comprises changing an activation status for the wireless modem device stored in a subscriber database to “

activated”

when the activation is complete.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the activating step further comprises changing the network activation status stored on the wireless modem device to “

activated.”

11. A system for activating a wireless modem device for wireless access to a network, the system comprising:

a cellular network linked to a second network;

an authorization server linked to the cellular network;

a subscriber database communicatively coupled with the authorization server and associated with the cellular network, the subscriber database containing an activation status for each of a plurality of wireless modem devices, the network activation status comprising an “

activated”

status for each wireless modem device which has been activated for communication over the second network and a “

not activated”

status for each wireless modem device which has not been activated for communication over the second network;

a communication module associated with the cellular network and configured to receive web resource requests from wireless modem devices to access a web resource address (“

URL”

) of the second network over the cellular network, the communication module further configured to query the subscriber database to determine the activation status for a requesting wireless modem device, and forward any web resource request received from a wireless modem device having a “

not activated”

status to the authorization server, the authorization server comprising a provisioning module configured for activation and provisioning of a non-activated wireless modem device to enable network communication over the second network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the provisioning module is further configured to change the activation status of the wireless modem device to “

activated”

in the carrier subscriber database when the activation is complete.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the provisioning module is further configured to change a network activation status stored in the wireless modem device from “

not activated”

to “

activated”

when the activation is complete.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the provisioning module is configured with an activation page to which the wireless modem device is directed on detection of a request to access a URL of the second network from the non-activated wireless modem device.

15. A wireless modem device comprising:

a data storage module coupled with the processor and containing a unique identification number for the wireless modem device and a current activation status, the activation status being selected from the group consisting of “

activated” and

“

not activated”

for communication over the second network;

a processor having a network communication module configured for establishing network communications over a cellular network to a second network, wherein the processor is configured to change the network activation status in the data storage module from “

not activated”

to “

activated”

on completion of an activation and provisioning procedure carried out by a cellular carrier authorization server.