REGISTRATION WITH A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

• US 20110177811A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cassidy, Brian, Padova, Jean-Marc, Heckman, Laura, Mathias, Arun, Klahn, Matthew, Mahe, Isabel
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• 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 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• 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

Abstract

A method performed by a mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider. The mobile device determines that it does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription with the mobile telecommunications service provider. Responsive to that determination, the mobile device connects to a cellular data connection service registration site to allow a user of the mobile device to register for data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider. The mobile device is limited to accessing the data connection service registration site until the user registers for data connection service.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising:

determining that the mobile device does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription with the mobile telecommunications service provider; and

responsive to the determining, connecting to a cellular data connection service registration site to allow a user of the mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider, wherein the mobile device is limited to accessing the cellular data connection service registration site until the user is successfully registered for cellular data connection service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection from the user for cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider;

communicating that selection to the cellular data connection service registration site; and

establishing a cellular data connection with the mobile telecommunications service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an approximate present location of the mobile device, wherein the cellular data connection service registration site is customized for the determined approximate present location of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular data connection service registration site allows the user to perform one or more of, purchase a cellular data connection plan, add minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and add bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the mobile device does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription includes failing to establish a cellular data connection through a first access point name (APN).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein connecting to a cellular data connection service registration site includes establishing a cellular data connection through a second APN, wherein the second APN is limited to the cellular data connection service registration site.

7. A machine-readable storage medium of a mobile device that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor of that mobile device, will cause said processor to perform operations for registering for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising:

determining that the mobile device does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription with the mobile telecommunications service provider; and

responsive to the determining, connecting to a cellular data connection service registration site to allow a user of the mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider, wherein the mobile device is limited to accessing the cellular data connection service registration site until the user is successfully registered for cellular data connection service.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection from the user for cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider;

communicating that selection to the cellular data connection service registration site; and

establishing a cellular data connection with the mobile telecommunications service provider.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

determining an approximate present location of the mobile device, wherein the cellular data connection service registration site is customized for the determined approximate present location of the mobile device.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the cellular data connection service registration site allows the user to perform one or more of, purchase a cellular data connection plan, add minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and add bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining that the mobile device does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription includes failing to establish a cellular data connection through a first access point name (APN).

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein connecting to a cellular data connection service registration site includes establishing a cellular data connection through a second APN, wherein the second APN is limited to the cellular data connection service registration site.

13. A method on a mobile device to register the mobile device for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising:

attempting to establish a cellular data connection through a first access point name (APN) associated with the mobile telecommunications service provider;

responsive to determining that the cellular data connection establishment has failed, establishing a cellular data connection through a second APN, wherein the mobile device is limited to accessing a cellular data connection service registration site through the cellular data connection established through the second APN;

connecting to the cellular data connection service registration site to allow a user of the mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider corresponding to the first APN;

receiving a selection from the user for cellular data connection service corresponding to the first APN and communicating that selection to the cellular data connection service registration site; and

establishing a cellular data connection through the first APN.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first APN identifies a public network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining that the cellular data connection establishment has failed includes receiving a message that indicates that the mobile device does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription for the first APN.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein prior to establishing the cellular data connection through the first APN, receiving a message that indicates that registration for cellular data connection service for the first APN was successful.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining an approximate present location of the mobile device; and

communicating the determined approximate present location to the cellular data connection service registration site to allow that registration site to be customized based on the determined approximate present location of the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the received selection specifies one or more of purchasing a cellular data connection plan, adding minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and adding bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein connecting to the cellular data connection service registration site includes automatically launching a cellular data connection service registration application, the cellular data connection service registration application displaying the content of the cellular data connection service registration site including a set of one or more cellular data connection service registration options to be selected from by the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second APN is common to a plurality of mobile telecommunications service providers, and wherein the cellular data connection service registration site includes a set of one or more cellular data connection service registration options for a plurality of mobile telecommunications service providers.

21. A machine-readable storage medium of a mobile device that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor of that mobile device, will cause said processor to perform operations for registering for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising:

attempting to establish a cellular data connection through a first access point name (APN) associated with the mobile telecommunications service provider;

responsive to determining that the cellular data connection establishment has failed, establishing a cellular data connection through a second APN, wherein the mobile device is limited to accessing a cellular data connection service registration site through the cellular data connection established through the second APN;

connecting to the cellular data connection service registration site to allow a user of the mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by the mobile telecommunications service provider corresponding to the first APN;

receiving a selection from the user for cellular data connection service corresponding to the first APN and communicating that selection to the cellular data connection service registration site; and

establishing a cellular data connection through the first APN.

22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the first APN identifies a public network.

23. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein determining that the cellular data connection establishment has failed includes receiving a message that indicates that the mobile device does not have a valid cellular data connection subscription for the first APN.

24. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein prior to establishing the cellular data connection through the first APN, receiving a message that indicates that registration for cellular data connection service for the first APN was successful.

25. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising determining an approximate present location of the mobile device and communicating the determined approximate present location to the cellular data connection service registration site to allow that registration site to be customized based on the determined approximate present location of the mobile device.

26. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the received selection specifies one or more of purchasing a cellular data connection plan, adding minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and adding bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan.

27. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein connecting to the cellular data connection service registration site includes automatically launching a cellular data connection service registration application, the cellular data connection service registration application displaying the content of the cellular data connection service registration site including a set of one or more cellular data connection service registration options to be selected from by the user.

28. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the second APN is common to a plurality of mobile telecommunications service providers, and wherein the cellular data connection service registration site includes a set of one or more cellular data connection service registration options for a plurality of mobile telecommunications service providers.

29. A method performed on a mobile telecommunications network to allow a user of a mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising:

receiving a first data activation request through a first access point name (APN) from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the mobile device is not authorized for cellular data connection service through the first APN, transmitting an error message to the mobile device;

receiving a second data activation request through a second APN from the mobile device, wherein the second APN identifies a network that is restricted to a cellular data connection registration site; and

responsive to determining that the mobile device is authorized for cellular data connection service through the second APN, transmitting an authorized accept message to the mobile device and establishing a data context for the second APN that allows the mobile device to connect only to the cellular data connection service registration site to allow the user to register for cellular data connection service.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving a message indicating that the user is registered for cellular data connection service corresponding to the first APN;

transmitting a message to the mobile device that indicates that registration for cellular data connection service corresponding to the first APN was successful;

receiving a third data activation request through the first APN from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the mobile device is authorized for the first APN, transmitting an authorized accept message to the mobile device and establishing a data context through the first APN that allows the mobile device to access the network identified by the first APN.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein determining whether the mobile device is authorized for a given APN includes accessing a home location register (HLR) database for a valid record of the mobile device.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining an approximate present location of the mobile device and customizing the cellular data connection registration site based on the determined approximate present location of the mobile device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first APN identifies a public network.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising, prior to receiving the third data activation request, performing the following:

receiving a data deactivation request message from the mobile device to disconnect from the second APN;

responsive to the data deactivation request message, disconnecting the mobile device from the second APN; and

transmitting a data deactivation accept message to the mobile device.

35. A machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a processor, will cause said processor to perform operations for allowing a user of a mobile device to register for cellular data connection service provided by a mobile telecommunications service provider, comprising:

receiving a first data activation request through a first access point name (APN) from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the mobile device is not authorized for cellular data connection service through the first APN, transmitting an error message to the mobile device;

receiving a second data activation request through a second APN from the mobile device, wherein the second APN identifies a network that is restricted to a cellular data connection registration site; and

responsive to determining that the mobile device is authorized for cellular data connection service through the second APN, transmitting an authorized accept message to the mobile device and establishing a data context for the second APN that allows the mobile device to connect only to the cellular data connection service registration site to allow the user to register for cellular data connection service.

36. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving a message indicating that the user is registered for cellular data connection service corresponding to the first APN;

transmitting a message to the mobile device that indicates that registration for cellular data connection service corresponding to the first APN was successful;

receiving a third data activation request through the first APN from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the mobile device is authorized for the first APN, transmitting an authorized accept message to the mobile device and establishing a data context through the first APN that allows the mobile device to access the network identified by the first APN.

37. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein determining whether the mobile device is authorized for a given APN includes accessing a home location register (HLR) database for a valid record of the mobile device.

38. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 35, further comprising determining an approximate present location of the mobile device and customizing the cellular data connection registration site based on the determined approximate present location of the mobile device.

39. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the first APN identifies a public network.

40. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 35, further comprising, prior to receiving the third data activation request, performing the following:

receiving a data deactivation request message from the mobile device to disconnect from the second APN;

responsive to the data deactivation request message, disconnecting the mobile device from the second APN; and

transmitting a data deactivation accept message to the mobile device.

41. A method to allow a user to register a mobile device for cellular data connection service, comprising:

establishing a connection with the mobile device to a first network that is restricted to a cellular data connection service registration site, wherein the connection is established through a cellular data connection to a first APN (access point name) that identifies the first network;

receiving a selection from the user through the cellular data connection service registration site to register for cellular data connection service for a second network identified by a second APN; and

transmitting a service registration update message to one or more network elements in a cellular network providing authorization services for the second APN network to cause the mobile device to be authorized for cellular data connection through the second APN.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving information regarding the approximate location of the mobile device; and

customizing the cellular data connection service registration site based on the approximate location of the mobile device.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the received selection specifies one or more of purchasing a cellular data connection plan, adding minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and adding bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the second APN is a public network and is not accessible to the mobile device unless authorized.

45. A machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a processor, will cause said processor to perform operations for allowing a user to register a mobile device for cellular data connection service, comprising:

establishing a connection with the mobile device to a first network that is restricted to a cellular data connection service registration site, wherein the connection is established through a cellular data connection to a first APN (access point name) that identifies the first network;

receiving a selection from the user through the cellular data connection service registration site to register for cellular data connection service for a second network identified by a second APN; and

transmitting a service registration update message to one or more network elements in a cellular network providing authorization services for the second APN network to cause the mobile device to be authorized for cellular data connection through the second APN.

46. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving information regarding the approximate location of the mobile device; and

customizing the cellular data connection service registration site based on the approximate location of the mobile device.

47. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the received selection specifies one or more of purchasing a cellular data connection plan, adding minutes to a cellular data connection plan, and adding bandwidth to a cellular data connection plan.

48. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the second APN is a public network and is not accessible to the mobile device unless authorized.