Automatic Device Capabilites Change Notification

• US 20080220759A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Norrman, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• 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 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved approach to mobile device capability management. Heretofore, a capability management device is provided at a mobile communication network. Upon change of a mobile device capability, a related notification is sent to the capability management device which applies a policy decision whether to track the capability change at the network side or not. Should the decision be ‘yes’, the capability management device starts a device management session to collect further information on a mobile device capability change beyond the information made available with the mobile device capability change notification. After retrieval of the mobile device capability change information, the capability management device will update its mobile device capability state accordingly. Optionally, the capability management device may share the generated information with third party cooperating with the mobile device for, e.g., service delivery.

Claims

1. Method of operating a mobile device capability management device in a mobile communication network with respect to at least one mobile device served by the mobile communication network, wherein a mobile device capability is represented as first a mobile device profile in the mobile device capability management device and as a second mobile device profile in the mobile device, comprising the steps:

receiving a mobile device capability change information with respect to a mobile device capability change;

assessing the need to update the first mobile device profile on the basis of a mobile device capability management policy and the received mobile device capability change information.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of updating the first mobile device profile according to the mobile device capability management policy and the mobile device capability change information.

3. Method according to claim 2 comprising the step of updating the first mobile device profile comprises the steps:

establishing a mobile device management session between the mobile device capability management device and the mobile device for evaluation of the second mobile device profile with respect to a mobile device capability change; and

receiving the mobile device capability update information from the mobile device in accordance with an evaluation result.

4. Method according to claim 1 comprising the first mobile device profile and/or the second mobile device profile is represented as a mobile device management tree structure comprising mobile device management objects.

5. Method according to claim 4, comprising the step of updating the first mobile device profile in the mobile device capability management device comprises a step of updating a mobile device capability change object (CHOB), wherein the mobile device capability change object is a mobile device management object in the mobile device management tree structure dedicated to mobile device capability change management.

6. Method according to claim 1 comprising the mobile device capability change information (CHAN) contains a qualitative parameter indicating seriousness of change to the second mobile device profile and a quantitative parameter indicating amount of effective changes to the second mobile device profile.

7. Method according to claim 6, comprising the step of assessing the need to update the second mobile device profile is achieved through classification of the quantitative parameter and/or the qualitative parameter.

8. Method according to claim 1 comprising a step of notifying a service provider providing at least one service to the mobile device and/or an application interacting with the mobile device on a mobile device capability change.

9. Method according to claim 1 comprising mobile device capability change information is received directly from the mobile device at the mobile device capability management device.

10. Method according to claim 1 comprising mobile device capability change information is received from a mobile device capability monitoring device.

11. Method according to claim 1 comprising the mobile device capability change information is exchanged through circuit switched mobile communication, packet switched mobile communication, and/or through service layer data exchange.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein software code portions corresponding to the steps comprise a computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a mobile device capability management device operated in a mobile communication network, wherein the computer program product is run on a processor of the mobile device capability management device.

12. Method of operating a mobile device being enabled for mobile device capability management through a mobile communication network, wherein a mobile device capability state is represented in the mobile device as a mobile device profile, comprising the steps:

monitoring a change in the mobile device capability;

generating mobile device capability change information with respect to a mobile device capability change;

forwarding the mobile device capability change information to the mobile communication network.

13. Method according to claim 12, comprising the mobile device capability change information comprises a qualitative parameter indicating seriousness of change to the mobile device profile and a quantitative parameter indicating amount of effective changes to the mobile device profile.

14. Method according to claim 12 comprising the steps:

receiving a request for detailed mobile device capability change information from the mobile communication network;

establishing a mobile device management session with the mobile communication network; and

forwarding the detailed mobile device capability change information to the mobile communication network.

15. Method according to claim 12 it comprises a step of representing the mobile device profile as a mobile device management tree structure comprising at least one mobile device management object.

16. Method according to claim 15, it comprises a step of representing the mobile device capability change information as a mobile device capability change object (CHOB) in the mobile device management tree, wherein the mobile device capability change object (CHOB) is a mobile device management object in the mobile device management tree structure dedicated to mobile device capability change management.

17. Method according to claim 12 comprising the mobile device capability change information is forwarded to a mobile device capability management device in the mobile communication network.

18. Method according to claim 12 comprising the mobile device capability change information is forwarded to a mobile device capability monitoring device in the mobile communication network, for subsequent conveyance thereof to a mobile device capability management device in the mobile communication network.

19. Method according to claim 12 comprising the mobile device capability change information is exchanged with the mobile communication network through circuit switched mobile communication, packet switched mobile communication, and/or through service layer data exchange.

40. The method of claim 12, wherein software code portions corresponding to the steps comprise a computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a mobile device being enabled for mobile device capability management through a mobile communication network, wherein the computer program product is run on a processor of the mobile device.

20. Mobile device capability management device being operated in a mobile communication network with respect to at least one mobile device served by the mobile communication network, wherein a mobile device capability is represented as a first mobile device profile in the mobile device capability management device and as a second mobile device profile in the mobile device, comprising:

a communication unit adapted to receive mobile device capability change information with respect to a mobile device capability change;

an assessment unit adapted to assess the need to update the first mobile device profile on the basis of a mobile device capability management policy and the mobile device capability change information.

21. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising a mobile device profile updating unit adapted to update the first mobile device profile according to the mobile device capability management policy and the received mobile device capability change information.

22. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 21 comprising the mobile device profile updating unit comprises:

a session initiating unit adapted to initiate a mobile device management session between the mobile device capability management device and the mobile device for evaluation of the second mobile device profile with respect to a mobile device capability change; and

a capability change information processing unit adapted to process the mobile device capability change information from the mobile device in accordance with an evaluation result.

23. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising a mobile device profile memory adapted to store the first mobile device profile and/or the second mobile device profile according to a mobile device management tree structure comprising mobile device management objects.

24. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 23, comprising the capability change information processing unit is adapted to update the first mobile device profile in the mobile device profile memory by updating a mobile device capability change object, wherein the mobile device capability change object (CHOB) is a mobile device management object in the mobile device management tree structure dedicated to mobile device capability change management.

25. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising the assessment unit is adapted to process mobile device capability change information containing a qualitative parameter indicating seriousness of change to the second mobile device profile and a quantitative parameter indicating amount of effective changes to the second mobile device profile.

26. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 25, comprising the assessment unit is adapted to assess the need to update the second mobile device profile through classification of the quantitative parameter and/or the qualitative parameter.

27. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising the mobile device profile updating unit is adapted to notify a service provider providing at least one service to the mobile device and/or an application interacting with the mobile device on a mobile device capability change.

28. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising communication unit is adapted to receive the mobile device capability change information directly from the mobile device.

29. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising communication unit is adapted to receive the mobile device capability change information from a mobile device capability monitoring device.

30. Mobile device capability management device according to claim 20 comprising the communication unit is adapted to receive the mobile device capability change information through circuit switched mobile communication, packet switched mobile communication, and/or through service layer data exchange.

31. Mobile device being enabled for mobile device capability management through a mobile communication network, wherein a mobile device capability state is represented in the mobile device as a mobile device profile, comprising:

a mobile device profile monitoring unit adapted to monitor a change in the mobile device capability;

a profile change information generating unit adapted to generate mobile device capability change information with respect to a mobile device capability change;

32. Mobile device according to claim 31 comprising the profile change information generating unit is adapted to generate the mobile device capability change information with a qualitative parameter indicating seriousness of change to the mobile device profile and a quantitative parameter indicating amount of effective changes to the mobile device profile.

33. Mobile device according to claim 31 comprising the communication unit is adapted to:

receive a request for update of a remote mobile device profile being maintained in the mobile communication network;

establish a mobile device management session with the mobile communication network; and

to forward detailed mobile device capability change information to the mobile communication network.

34. Mobile device according to claim 31 comprising a mobile device profile memory unit adapted to store the mobile device profile as a mobile device management tree structure comprising at least one mobile device management object.

35. Mobile device according to claim 34, comprising the profile change information generating unit is adapted to generate mobile device capability change information as a mobile device capability change object in the mobile device management tree, wherein the mobile device capability change object is a mobile device management object in the mobile device management tree structure dedicated to mobile device capability change management.

36. Mobile device according to claim 31, comprising the communication unit is adapted to forward the mobile device capability change information to a mobile device capability management device in the mobile communication network.

37. Mobile device according to claim 31, comprising the communication unit is adapted to forward the mobile device capability change information to a mobile device capability monitoring device in the mobile communication network, for subsequent conveyance thereof to a mobile device capability management device in the mobile communication network.

38. Mobile device according to claim 31, comprising the communication unit is adapted to exchange mobile device capability change information with the mobile communication network through circuit switched mobile communication, packet switched mobile communication, and/or through service layer data exchange.