SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING AND MONITORING PROVISIONING OF WIRELESS DEVICES

• US 20110004549A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Inventors: MOCANU, IULIAN, GRAY, ROSS, MITCHELL, ANDREW, HOYT, RILEY
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for facilitating and monitoring provisioning of wireless communication devices. Wireless devices are provided to an end user in an unconfigured state, capable of being configured for operation using one or more communication protocols. Upon receipt and validation of a provisioning request by the wireless device, for example by a server, the wireless device is securely provisioned for operation with a wireless service provider. Provisioning activities are monitored and information is generated in response to provisioning events, for example via a database. Portions of the information are made available to one or more wireless service providers or parties providing enabling technology of the wireless device. Such reports may be used to facilitate revenue agreements between various parties involved in providing and servicing the wireless device.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating and monitoring provisioning of configurable wireless devices, the system comprising:

a. a provisioning module configured to receive a provisioning request for a wireless device, the provisioning module configured to facilitate a provisioning of the wireless device for operation with a wireless service provider in response to the provisioning request;

b. a monitoring module configured to generate information in response to said provisioning, said information including an indication of identity of a party providing enabling technology of the wireless device; and

c. a reporting module configured to make available at least a first portion of said information generated by the monitoring module to the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning request comprises transmission of a unique identifier of the wireless device to the provisioning module, and wherein the monitoring module generates information based at least in part on the unique identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning request comprises transmission of a unique identifier of the wireless device to the provisioning module, and wherein the configuration module is further configured to facilitate said provisioning subject to validation of the unique identifier.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein validation of the unique identifier comprises determining whether the unique identifier is contained in a list of unique identifiers for which the requested provisioning is authorized.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning request comprises transmission of a unique identifier of the wireless device to the provisioning module, and wherein the unique identifier is involved in at least one transaction with a database accessible by at least the provisioning module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the database is further accessible via the monitoring module, and wherein generating information by the monitoring module includes generating information by querying the database.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device is one of:

a manufacturer of hardware incorporated in the wireless device, a licensor of technology incorporated in the wireless device, a licensor of technology incorporated in the wireless device during provisioning, and a distributor of the wireless device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reporting module is further configured to make available at least a second portion of said information generated by the monitoring module to a second party.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is administered by an agreement provider for facilitating a revenue agreement between at least the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device and the second party.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first portion of information and the second portion of information are used to facilitate triggering of a payment between the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device and the second party.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second party is the wireless service provider.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the second party provides enabling technology of the wireless device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning module comprises a computer server configured to receive the provisioning request via a networked communication link.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning of the wireless device includes providing a set of instructions for configuring the wireless device to operate in accordance with one or more wireless protocols.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions is digitally restricted so as to be operable only with the wireless device for which provisioning is requested.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein provisioning of the wireless device includes configuring one or more general-purpose digital or analog components of the wireless device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is in an unconfigured, partially configured, or locked state prior to provisioning thereof.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein a host device is operatively coupled to the wireless device, the host device operable to facilitate provisioning of the wireless device.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein information generated by the monitoring module further includes one or more indications selected from the group comprising:

indication of identity of the wireless service provider, indication of technology for which the wireless device is provisioned, indication of time or date of provisioning, indication of account information between the wireless device and the wireless service provider, indication of service level preferences associated with the wireless device, indication of number of times the wireless device has previously been provisioned, and indication of identities of one or more further parties providing enabling technology of the wireless device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the reporting module generates reports periodically or interactively.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the reporting module is configured to make portions of information available to an authorized party based on a predetermined authorization profile associated with the authorized party.

22. A method for facilitating and monitoring provisioning of configurable wireless devices, the method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving a provisioning request for a wireless device;

b. facilitating a provisioning of the wireless device for operation with a wireless service provider in response to the provisioning request;

c. generating information in response to said provisioning, said information including an indication of identity of a party providing enabling technology of the wireless device; and

d. making available at least a first portion of said generated information to the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the provisioning request comprises transmission of a unique identifier of the wireless device to the provisioning module, and wherein said information generated in response to said provisioning is based at least in part on the unique identifier.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the provisioning request comprises transmission of a unique identifier of the wireless device to the provisioning module, and wherein facilitating the provisioning is performed subject to validation of the unique identifier.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein validation of the unique identifier comprises determining whether the unique identifier is contained in a list of unique identifiers for which the requested provisioning is authorized.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device is one of:

a manufacturer of hardware incorporated in the wireless device, a licensor of technology incorporated in the wireless device, a licensor of technology incorporated in the wireless device during provisioning, and a distributor of the wireless device.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

making available at least a second portion of said generated information to a second party.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the method is performed by an agreement provider for facilitating a revenue agreement between at least the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device and the second party.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first portion of information and the second portion of information are used to facilitate triggering of a payment between the party providing enabling technology of the wireless device and the second party.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the second party is the wireless service provider.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the second party provides enabling technology of the wireless device.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the provisioning of the wireless device includes providing a set of instructions for configuring the wireless device to operate in accordance with one or more wireless protocols.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the set of instructions is digitally restricted so as to be operable only with the wireless device for which provisioning is requested.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the provisioning of the wireless device includes configuring one or more general-purpose digital or analog components of the wireless device.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein the wireless device is in an unconfigured, partially configured, or locked state prior to provisioning thereof.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein a host device is operatively coupled to the wireless device, the host device operable to facilitate provisioning of the wireless device.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein information generated in response to the provisioning further includes one or more indications selected from the group comprising:

indication of identity of the wireless service provider, indication of technology for which the wireless device is provisioned, indication of time or date of provisioning, indication of account information between the wireless device and the wireless service provider, indication of service level preferences associated with the wireless device, indication of number of times the wireless device has previously been provisioned, and indication of identities of one or more further parties providing enabling technology of the wireless device.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein generated information is made available periodically or interactively.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein generated information is made available to an authorized party based on a predetermined authorization profile associated with the authorized party.