POINT OF SALES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR FEMTOCELL SERVICE AND EQUIPMENT

• US 20100027469A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brisebois, Arthur Richard, Gurajala, Ravindra Babu, Davis, John Potts, Huber, Kurt Donald, Flynn, Judson John, Seymour, Jefferey Thomas, Mansfield, William Gordon, Lott, Robert Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,743,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

System(s) and method(s) are provided for a femto cell service framework for purchase of femtocell equipment and service and customer support thereof. A point of sale (POS) platform enables purchase of femtocell equipment based on a set of eligibility criteria. POS also allows purchase of add-on services. Direct fulfillment and post-sale transactions such as returns and equipment replacement are also provided. An account management service enables femtocell equipment and service self-care or through customer representatives. Configuration of service account and monitoring of account status is provided. Customer care architecture also enables remote troubleshooting of purchased equipment. Remote troubleshooting includes diagnosis and related manipulation of purchased equipment.

Claims

1. A system that enables customer care of a femtocell service account and associated femtocell equipment, the system comprising:

at least one or more processors; and

computer-readable media that includes code instructions that when executed by the at least one or more processor implement the following components;

an interface that allows secure login to an online-based application layer;

an application layer that supplies an agent with a set of tools that allows configuration of at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment;

a middleware component that supplies and receives signaling to implement a configuration of the at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment;

a troubleshooting component that remotely manipulates the femtocell equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of tools includes at least a tool that enables configuration of an access list that includes a set of mobile device identifiers authorized to exploit femtocell service through the femtocell equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein configuration of the access list includes assigning a relative service priority to a plurality of identified mobile devices in the access list.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of tools includes at least a tool that allows femtocell equipment shutdown.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of tools includes at least a tool that allows femtocell equipment replacement.

6. The system of claim 4, when the femtocell equipment is shutdown, the middleware component disconnect a set of services configured for the femtocell equipment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the troubleshooting component communicates with operational femtocell equipment trough an associated gateway node.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the troubleshooting component include one or more support node(s) that effect one or more tests on the femtocell equipment or provide one or more directives.

9. A method, comprising:

employing at least one or more processors that execute code instructions retained in one or more computer-readable media to implement the following acts;

accessing an application layer that provides a set of tools to configure at least one of a femtocell service account or associated femtocell equipment;

configuring at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment; and

commanding a troubleshooting component that remotely manipulates the femtocell equipment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment includes disconnecting the femtocell equipment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment includes establishing an access list that includes a set of mobile device identifiers authorized to exploit femtocell service through the femtocell equipment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the access list includes assigning a relative service priority to a plurality of identified mobile devices in the access list.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein disconnecting the femtocell equipment includes deactivating at least one of enhanced 911 (E911) service or a security tracking service.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein commanding the troubleshooting component that remotely manipulates the femtocell equipment includes signaling application of a test to the femtocell equipment to diagnose an operational condition.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein commanding the troubleshooting component that remotely manipulates the femtocell equipment includes signaling submission of a directive to configure, at least in part, the femtocell equipment.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein disconnecting the femtocell equipment includes expiring a set of configuration attributes retained in the femtocell service account linked to the femtocell equipment.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment includes relocating the femtocell equipment.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment includes replacing the femtocell equipment.

19. A system, comprising:

a set of one or more processor that execute instructions retained in one or more computer-readable media to effect the following;

means for accessing a set of tools to configure at least one of a femtocell service account or associated femtocell equipment;

means for configuring at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment; and

means remotely manipulating the femtocell equipment.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for implementing a configuration of the at least one of the femtocell service account or the associated femtocell equipment.