Graphical user interface and method for mobile device activation

• US 20080167027A1
• 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: Cue, Eddy, Kondrk, Robert H., Gautier, Patrice, Gromek, Monika, Anderson, Alexandrea, Shimizu, Debbie
• Granted Patent: US 8,966,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• 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 graphical user interface to assist an end user in activating an account for an electronic device having wireless communication capabilities, the account being with respect to a wireless service provider providing wireless network service, said graphical user interface comprising:

a plurality of display screens that are presented on a display device associated with a host computer, said display screens includes at least;

an end user status page to facilitate selection of a type of activation;

a service plan selection page to facilitate selection of a service plan for the wireless network service;

a media account page for a media account associated with an online media store so that a user can create a new media account or login to an existing media account;

an end user information entry page to facilitate entry of end user information;

a billing information page to facilitate entry of billing information for one or both the user media account and a wireless account;

a terms and conditions page regarding legal agreements with the online media store and with the wireless service provider; and

an activation page to inform the end user of activation information.

2. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said display screens further comprises:

a final review and submit page to initiate activation of the account for the electronic device with respect to the wireless service provider.

3. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the final review and submit page can further initiate creation of the new media account for the user not having the existing media account.

4. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of display screens further comprises:

a device preference page to assist the end user with setting one or more preferences or options to be applied to the operation of the electronic device.

5. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the end user status page enables a user to select from a plurality of types of activation.

6. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 5, wherein the types of activation include an individual plan and a family plan.

7. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 5, wherein the types of activation include a new individual plan, an existing individual plan, a new family plan, and an existing family plan.

8. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a multi-function device, and wherein the multi-function device supports at least wireless voice communication and media playback.

9. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of display screens further comprises:

a media account page for identifying a media account for the end user.

10. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the type of activation pertains to individual plan activation or family plan activation.

11. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the types of activation pertains to use of an existing phone number or a new phone number.

12. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said service plan selection page presents information on a plurality of service plans and their costs and enables the end user to select from the service plans.

13. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the billing information provided via said billing information page includes information pertaining to name and billing address for the end user and credit card number.

14. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation completion page informs the end user of a phone number associated with the electronic device being activated.

15. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of display screens further comprises:

a device preference page to assist the customer with setting one or more preferences or options to be applied to the operation of the electronic device.

16. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:

a transfer number page for identifying a phone number and an existing account, wherein the phone number to be transferred is to be used with the account being activated and associated with the electronic device.

17. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface is presented on a display device associated with a computing device, and wherein the electronic device is electrically coupled to the computing device.

18. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, 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.

19. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 18, wherein the application program is a media management application.

20. A computer-implemented method for activating an electronic device for wireless network service, the electronic device being associated with a customer of a wireless service provider associated with the wireless network service, said method comprising:

informing an activation server of an electronic device having wireless communication device that is to be activated for wireless network service;

displaying a customer status page to facilitate selection of a type of activation;

specifying to the activation server a type of activation desired by the customer;

displaying a service plan selection page to facilitate selection of a service plan for the wireless network service;

informing the activation server of a selected service plan;

displaying a customer account page to facilitate login to or creation of a user media account with an online media store;

providing account information for the user media account for the customer;

displaying a customer information entry page;

providing customer information to the activation server;

displaying a billing information page to facilitate entry of billing information for one or both the user media account and a wireless account;

informing the activation server of the billing information;

displaying a terms and conditions page regarding legal agreements with the online media store and with the wireless service provider;

informing the activation server of acceptance of the legal agreements;

displaying an information review page;

informing the activation server of approval of the information provided on the information review page;

displaying an activation completion page; and

displaying a device preference page to assist the customer with setting one or more preferences or options to be applied to the operation of the electronic device.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said displaying by said method is on a display device associated with a client computing device having the electronic device operatively coupled thereto.