Method and system for mobile device activation

• US 20080166993A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kondrk, Robert H., Gautier, Patrice, Gromek, Monika, Anderson, Alexandrea, Shimizu, Debbie, Cue, Eddy
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Methods, systems and graphical user interfaces that facilitate activation of mobile devices, such as communication devices or multi-function devices, via computers are disclosed. According to one embodiment, activation of a mobile device with respect to a wireless service provider can be performed by users through use of a computer (e.g., personal computer) that communicate with a remotely located activation server. According to another embodiment, graphical user interfaces can be presented to users so as to enable end users to easily activate mobile devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for activating wireless network service for an electronic device through use of a host device, the electronic device being associated with a customer for wireless network service provided by a wireless network service provider, said method comprising:

receiving device information from the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the host device;

acquiring customer information pertaining to the customer;

receiving a service plan selection from the customer;

receiving billing information for payment of the service plan; and

initiating activation of a wireless service account for use of the electronic device with the wireless network service provided by the wireless network service provider, wherein the wireless service account being activated is based on the customer information, the service plan and the billing information.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

requiring formation of a media account with the online media store when the customer does not already have a media account with the online media store.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

thereafter initiating activation of the wireless network service for the electronic device associated with the customer.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting account information for approval; and

receiving approval from the customer for the account information.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting at least one service agreement for approval; and

receiving approval of the at least one service agreement.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the host device is a personal computer, and wherein said method is performed by an application program operating on the personal computer.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the application program is a media management application.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited 1, wherein said method further comprises:

enabling, following said activating, the electronic device for usage of at least one operation that was previously restricted prior to said enabling.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited 1, wherein said method further comprises:

obtaining a credit indication for the customer; and

determining one or more service plans that are made available to the customer based at least in part on the credit indication for the customer,

wherein the service plan selection is one of the one or more service plans.

10. A computer-implemented method for activating an electronic device for wireless network service through use of a host device, the electronic device being associated with a customer for wireless network service provided by a wireless network service provider, said method comprising:

receiving device information from the electronic device while the electronic device is attached to the host device;

acquiring customer information pertaining to the customer;

offering the user one or more service plans;

receiving a user selection of one of the service plans; and

receiving billing information for payment of the selected service plan.

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

offering the user a plurality of payment options; and

receiving a user selection of one of the payment options.

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

initiating activation of an account for the customer whereby the electronic device is provided with access to wireless network service in accordance with the selected service plan.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

activating the electronic device for use with the wireless network service in accordance with the selected service plan.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said activating comprises:

enabling the electronic device; and

initiating setup of the wireless network service to permit usage by the electronic device.

15. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein the user is an end user and wherein the user selections are made by the user by a computer program operating on the host device.

16. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method is performed by an activation server that is operatively connected to the host device via a network.

17. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method is performed by the host device.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

establishing wireless service account for the user, the wireless service account pertaining to the selected service plan and being paid for in accordance with the billing information.

19. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

thereafter activating the wireless network service for the electronic device associated with the user.

20. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a multi-function device.

21. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile phone.

22. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether the user has a media account with an online media store.

23. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 22, wherein said method further comprises:

requiring formation of a media account with the online media store when said determining determines that the user does not have a media account with the online media store.

24. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 23, wherein said method further comprises:

establishing wireless service account for the user, the wireless service account pertaining to the selected service plan and being paid for in accordance with the billing information.

25. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 24, wherein said method further comprises:

thereafter activating the wireless network service for the electronic device associated with the user.

26. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, wherein said offering of one or more payment options is dependent on the credit worthiness of the user.

27. A computer-implemented method for activating an electronic device for wireless network service from a host device, the electronic device being associated with a customer for wireless network service provided by a wireless network service provider, said method comprising:

receiving device information from the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the host device;

determining whether the electronic device has already been activated based on the device information; and

automatically initiating activation of the electronic device when said determining determines that the electronic device has not already been activated.

28. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 27, wherein the host device is a personal computer, and wherein said method is performed by an application program operating on the personal computer.

29. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 28, wherein the electronic device is a multi-function device, and wherein one function of the multi-function device is a wireless phone function, and another function of the multi-function device is a media playback function.

30. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 29, wherein the application program is a media management application.

31. A computer readable medium including at least computer executable program code tangibly embodied therein for activating wireless network service for an electronic device through use of a client computing device, the electronic device being associated with a customer for wireless network service provided by a wireless network service provider, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving device information from the electronic device;

computer program code for acquiring customer information pertaining to the customer;

computer program code for receiving a service plan selection from the customer;

computer program code for receiving billing information for payment of the service plan; and

computer program code for initiating activation of a wireless service account for use of the electronic device with the wireless network service provided by the wireless network service provider.

32. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for detecting connection of the electronic device to the host device; and

wherein said computer program code for receiving device information receives, the device information from the electronic device without user interaction once the electronic device is connected to the host device.