System and Method of Storing Service Brand Packages on a Mobile Device

• US 20140228012A1
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Annan, Brandon C., Belser, John E., Schempp, Dale S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method of providing wireless communication service to a mobile device is provided. The method comprises providing a system memory partition and a carrier memory partition on the mobile device. The method further comprising protecting two or more service brand packages from deletion by a mobile device reset. The method further comprises provisioning the mobile device with a first service brand network. The method further comprising resetting the mobile device, wherein resetting the mobile device comprises removing the mobile device from the first service brand network and deleting unprotected data stored on the mobile device. The method further comprising provisioning the mobile device with a second service brand network without re-installing previously installed data associated with the second service brand package.

Claims

1. A method of branding a mobile device, comprising:

providing a system memory partition and a carrier memory partition on the mobile device, wherein the carrier memory partition is a partitioned segment of a mobile device operating system with a set of carrier memory partition rules comprising immunity from deletion of data stored on the carrier memory partition during a mobile device reset;

protecting two or more service brand packages from deletion by a mobile device reset, wherein service brand packages are employed by service brands and wherein service brand packages are configured to provision the mobile device with service brand networks, and wherein protecting two or more service brand packages comprises storing the two or more service brand packages on the carrier memory partition;

provisioning the mobile device with a first service brand network, wherein provisioning the mobile device with the first service brand network comprises activating the first service brand package and receiving mobile service on the mobile device using the first service brand network;

resetting the mobile device, wherein resetting the mobile device comprises removing the mobile device from the first service brand network and deleting unprotected data stored on the mobile device; and

provisioning the mobile device with a second service brand network without re-installing previously installed data associated with the second service brand package, wherein provisioning the mobile device with the second service brand network comprises activating the second service brand package and receiving mobile service on the mobile device using the second service brand network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein provisioning comprises accessing a service brand package stored on the carrier memory partition without accessing the system memory partition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system memory partition comprises a partitioned segment of the mobile device operating system distinct from the carrier partition and a set of system memory partition rules.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing a user memory partition on the mobile device, wherein the user memory partition is governed by a set of user memory partition rules.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of system partition rules comprise providing control over access to the system memory partition to the manufacturer of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of carrier memory partition rules comprise providing control over access to the carrier partition to the one or more carriers with service brand packages stored on the carrier memory partition.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising updating the first service brand package on the carrier memory partition while the mobile device is provisioned on the first service brand network, wherein updates on the carrier memory partition are installed independently of any other updates.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising installing logic instructions comprising flags on the carrier memory partition, wherein the flags are modulated to activate the first service brand package.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier memory partition rules further comprise permitting a vendor to access the carrier memory partition to install vendor packages on the carrier memory partition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier memory partition rules further comprise permitting a vendor to access the carrier memory partition to install vendor package updates to vendor packages on the carrier memory partition.

11. A method of branding a mobile device, comprising:

providing a system memory partition and a carrier memory partition on the mobile device, wherein the carrier memory partition is a partitioned segment of a mobile device operating system with a set of carrier memory partition rules comprising immunity from deletion of data stored on the carrier memory partition during a mobile device reset;

storing one or more applications on the carrier memory partition, wherein applications are configured to execute one or more functions on the mobile device, and wherein storing one or more applications comprise protecting one or more applications from deletion during a mobile device reset;

installing one or more applications updates on the carrier memory partition without accessing the system memory partition;

resetting the mobile device, wherein resetting the mobile device comprises deleting unprotected data stored on the mobile device; and

executing one or more applications stored on the carrier partition without re-installing application updates previously installed with the one or more applications on the carrier partition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the system memory partition comprises a set of system memory partition access rules different from the carrier memory partition rules and an operating system package.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein resetting the mobile device further comprises deactivating a first service brand package on the carrier memory partition without deleting provisioning data installed with the first service brand package.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein installing the one or more application updates comprises installing application updates associated with at least an activated service brand package.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein installing the one or more application updates comprises installing application updates associated with at least a deactivated service brand package.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein resetting the mobile device comprises protecting data stored on at least the carrier memory partition that is at least associated with a previously activated service brand package or at least a previously deactivated service brand package.

17. A mobile device, comprising:

a radio transceiver;

an at least one processor;

a mobile device operating system;

a carrier memory partition comprising a set of carrier partition rules, wherein the carrier memory partition rules comprise;

providing control over access to the carrier partition to the carrier with service brand packages stored on the carrier memory partition, and

protecting at least a first service brand package and a second service brand package stored on the carrier memory partition during a reset of the mobile device; and

a system memory partition comprising a set of system memory partition rules, wherein the system memory partition rules comprise;

providing control over access to the system partition to the manufacturer of the mobile device, and

protecting data stored on the system memory partition during a reset of the mobile device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the mobile device comprises two or more carrier memory partitions, wherein each of the carrier memory partitions is designated for a particular service brand package.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the two or more carrier memory partitions comprise at least a first carrier memory partition and a second carrier memory partition, wherein the first carrier memory partition protects the first service brand package and access to the first carrier memory partition is controlled by the first service brand and the second carrier memory partition protects the second service brand package and access to the second carrier memory partition is controlled by the second service brand.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the carrier memory partition further comprises one or more sub-partitions.