OVER-THE-AIR DEVICE PROVISIONING AND ACTIVATION

• US 20080164304A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Narasimhan, Subram, Kiraly, Kenneth P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,694,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Simplified wireless device activation may be achieved using temporary and permanent numbers used to connect to a wireless service provider. In one implementation, an electronic book reader device includes a memory that contains a temporary number that may be used to connect to a wireless service provider. The temporary number may be replaced with a permanent number that is used to connect to the wireless service provider. This replacement may occur once the electronic book reader device connects with the wireless service provider for the first time. The permanent number may be used to connect to the wireless service provider after the initial connection with the wireless service provider has transpired.

Claims

1. An electronic book reader device, comprising:

storage containing a temporary number used to connect to a wireless service provider, the temporary number being replaceable with a permanent number used to connect to a wireless service provider, wherein the permanent number is used instead of the temporary number after the temporary number is used by the device to connect to a wireless service provider.

2. The electronic book reader device as recited in claim 1, further comprising wireless communications technology that enables the electronic book reader device to connect to a wireless service provider and to make use of wireless services offered by the wireless service provider.

3. The electronic book reader device as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage is non-volatile memory.

4. The electronic book reader device as recited in claim 1, wherein the temporary number is a temporary mobile directory number (MDN).

5. The electronic book reader device as recited in claim 1, wherein the permanent number is a permanent mobile directory number (MDN).

6. The electronic book reader device as recited in claim 1, wherein the temporary and permanent numbers are unique mobile directory numbers (MDNs).

7. The electronic book reader device as recited in claim 1, wherein the temporary number is replaced with the permanent number a first time that the electronic book reader device connects with a wireless service provider.

8. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage facility further comprises a unique serial number and an electronic serial number (ESN).

9. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 8, wherein the unique serial number is assigned by a merchant that offers wireless devices for purchase.

10. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 8, wherein the ESN is assigned by a manufacturer of wireless devices.

11. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 1, further comprising wireless communications technology that enables the electronic book reader device to connect to a content service that provides electronic content for download.

12. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 11, wherein the content service further offers electronic book reader devices for sale that include technology that enables the reader devices to wirelessly self activate.

13. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 12, wherein a self activated electronic book reader device may wirelessly obtain content offered by the content service.

14. The electronic reader device as recited in claim 11, wherein the content service is an ecommerce service that offers content for sale.

15. A method, comprising:

detecting use of a temporary number to establish a wireless communications session;

providing a permanent number to a wireless device, the permanent number is used instead of the temporary number to establish the wireless communications session; and

assigning the permanent number to the wireless device.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the temporary number is a temporary mobile directory number (MDN) to connect to the wireless service provider.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the providing provides a permanent mobile directory number (MDN).

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the assigning assigns a permanent mobile directory number (MDN) to the wireless device.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising maintaining a temporary number database including at least a plurality of temporary numbers assignable to wireless devices, each of the plurality of temporary numbers usable by a wireless device to initially connect to a wireless service provider.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising maintaining a permanent number database including at least a plurality of permanent numbers assignable to wireless devices, each of the plurality of permanent numbers usable to replace a temporary number assigned to a wireless device.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising detecting use of the permanent number to establish a wireless communications session with a wireless service provider.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

applying power to a wireless device; and

processing the using, receiving and replacing acts before use of the wireless device is enabled.

23. A method, comprising:

ordering a wireless device;

receiving the ordered wireless device;

connecting to a wireless service provider automatically when the wireless device is powered on;

receiving a permanent number from the wireless service provider, the permanent number enabling the wireless device to communicate with the wireless service provider; and

replacing a temporary number used to connect to a wireless service provider with the permanent number.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the replacing replaces a temporary mobile directory number (MDN) with a permanent MDN.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the receiving receives a permanent mobile directory number (MDN) from the wireless service provider, the permanent MDN enabling the wireless device to communicate with the wireless service provider.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the ordering orders an electronic book reader device that is enabled with wireless communications technology, the technology enabling the electronic book reader device to communicate with a wireless service provider.

27. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the online ecommerce merchant offers wireless devices that are provisioned to allow activation and use of the wireless devices with a wireless service provider without necessitating customers to go a brick and mortar establishment.

28. A method at least partially implemented with a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving an order for a wireless device; and

fulfilling the order for the wireless device, the fulfilling including having a wireless device sent to an entity, the wireless device provisioned with a temporary number that is used to connect to a wireless service provider when the wireless device is powered on and wherein the temporary number is replaceable with a permanent number once the wireless device connects with a service provider for a first time.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising sending a wireless device forecast to a wireless device distribution center, the wireless device forecast including a number of wireless devices that a merchant anticipates it will sell over a defined time period.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising receiving a pool of temporary numbers from a wireless service provider, each temporary number in the pool of temporary numbers assignable to a wireless device offered for sale by a merchant.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising generating a unique serial number that is paired with each temporary number in the pool of temporary numbers received from the wireless service provider.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

generating a unique serial number for each wireless device forecast as being offered for sale; and

sending each generated unique serial number to a device distribution center to pair with wireless devices housed at the device distribution center.

33. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the temporary number is a temporary mobile directory number (MDN) that is replaceable with a permanent MDN.

34. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the permanent number is a permanent mobile directory number (MDN).

35. The method as recited in claim 28, generating a data record that includes an electronic serial number (ESN) received from a supplier or manufacturer of wireless devices, a unique serial number generated by a merchant that sells wireless devices, and a temporary number that may be used by a wireless device to connect to a wireless service provider.

36. An electronic media device, comprising:

wireless communications technology that provides wireless communications connectivity; and

a storage containing data that enables wireless self activation of the electronic media device through wireless communication with a wireless service provider,

wherein completion of the self activation enables wireless delivery of electronic content from a service.

37. The electronic media device as recited in claim 36, wherein the service absorbs at least some costs associated with the electronic media device'"'"'s use of wireless communication bandwidth provided by a wireless service provider.

38. The electronic media device as recited in claim 36, wherein the electronic media device is an electronic book reader device.

39. The electronic media device as recited in claim 36, wherein the electronic content from the service includes at least one of an electronic book, an electronic periodical, and an electronic newspaper.

40. The electronic media device as recited in claim 36, wherein the storage includes a temporary number that enables the electronic media device to communicate with a wireless service provider, the temporary number being replaceable with a permanent number after the temporary number is used for the first time to communicate with a wireless service provider.

41. The electronic media device as recited in claim 36, wherein the service provides additional electronic content that may be wirelessly delivered to the electronic media device, and the service to charge a fee to deliver the additional electronic content.

42. The electronic media device as recited in claim 41, wherein the fee is derived from at least part of costs associated with the electronic media device'"'"'s use of wireless communication bandwidth provided by a wireless service provider.