DEVICE AGENT FOR REMOTE USER CONFIGURATION OF WIRELESS NETWORK ACCESS

• US 20140235230A1
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• 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 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

A method performed by a wireless end-user hardware device that is configured to connect to a wireless access network via associated device circuitry, the method including monitoring at a service interface layer attempts by the plurality of end-user applications to communicate over the wireless access network, determining that connectivity to the wireless access network is available and that a data service plan is not active, communicating with an activation server over the wireless access network and either i) opening an interface through which the end-user may enroll, subscribe or otherwise activate the data service plan and communicating with the activation server to activate the data service plan or ii) executing an application that automatically exchanges previously entered credentials with the activation server to activate the data service plan.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless end-user hardware device that is configured to connect to a wireless access network via associated device circuitry, the method comprising:

providing a service interface layer between a plurality of end-user applications and a networking stack operating on the hardware device, wherein each of the end-user applications connect, in a first operational mode, to one or more first network-side servers over the wireless access network;

monitoring, by the service interface layer, attempts by the plurality of end-user applications to communicate over the wireless access network;

determining, by the hardware device, that connectivity to the wireless access network is available;

determining, based on information stored locally on the hardware device and responsive to at least one of the attempts, that a data service plan is not active, wherein the data service plan permits the end-user applications to communicate over the wireless access network;

notifying, responsive to said determining, an end-user that the data service plan is not active;

querying the end-user regarding activation of the data service plan; and

executing, responsive to an affirmative response to the query, the method including communicating with an activation server over the wireless access network and

i) opening an interface through which the end-user may enroll, subscribe, or otherwise activate the data service plan and communicating with the activation server to activate the data service plan;

or

ii) executing an application that automatically exchanges previously entered credentials with the activation server to activate the data service plan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising blocking an attempt to communicate over the wireless access network by an end-user application responsive to determining that the data service plan is not active before activation is completed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from a second network-side server and at a first device agent, non-executable data to update the locally stored information as to whether the data service plan is active.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one of time of day, location, network busy status, or roaming status in connection with the determination that the data service plan is active.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving, at a first device agent, configuration data describing the time of day, the location, the network busy status, or the roaming status which is used to determine whether the data service plan is active.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating with the activation server further comprises transmitting credentials comprising a hardware identifier associated with the wireless end-user hardware device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the hardware identifier comprises at least one of a SIM IMEI, a SIM ICCID, or a device serial number.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein access to at least the activation server is sponsored.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a portal page to a first device agent user interface to allow the end-user to enter service plan sign-up information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, at a second device agent, a new phone number assigned by the activation server and thereafter receiving, at the first device agent, acknowledgment that the data service plan has been activated.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activating the data service plan comprises allowing general-purpose internet access.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising programming, by the second device agent, the new phone number into device credential records.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the credentials comprising a hardware identifier expire if the device does not attempt activation over a predetermined a period of time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein activating comprises reactivating.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the data service plan permits at least a first end-user application associated with the attempts to communicate over the wireless access network and blocks at least a second end-user application associated with the attempts from communicating over the wireless access network.

16. An end-user hardware device comprising:

device circuitry configured to connect to a wireless access network;

a plurality of end-user applications; and

a first client-side device agent operable to perform the method including

providing a service interface layer between the plurality of end-user applications and a networking stack operating on the hardware device, wherein each of the end-user applications connects, in a first operational mode, to a network-side server over the wireless access network;

monitoring, by the service interface layer, attempts by the plurality of end-user applications to communicate over the wireless access network;

determining, by the hardware device, that connectivity to the wireless access network is available;

determining, based on information stored locally on the hardware device and responsive to at least one of the attempts, that a data service plan is not active, wherein the data service plan permits an end-user to communicate over the wireless access network;

notifying, responsive to said determining, the end-user that the data service plan is not active;

querying the end-user regarding activation of the data service plan; and

executing, responsive to an affirmative response to the query, the method including communicating with an activation server over the wireless access network and

i) opening an interface through which the end-user may enroll, subscribe, or otherwise activate the data service plan and communicating with the activation server to activate the data service plan;

or

ii) executing an application that automatically exchanges previously entered credentials with the activation server to activate the data service plan.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to block an attempt to communicate over the wireless access network by an end-user application responsive to said determining before activation is completed.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to receive from a network-side server non-executable data to update the locally stored information as to whether the data service plan is active.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to determine at least one of time of day, location, network busy status, or roaming status in connection with the determination that the data service plan is active.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to receive configuration data which is used to determine whether the data service plan is active.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein communicating with the activation server further comprises transmitting credentials comprising a hardware identifier associated with the wireless end-user hardware device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the hardware identifier comprises at least one of a SIM IMEI, a SIM ICCID, or a device serial number.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein access to at least the activation server is sponsored.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to provide a portal page to the end-user interface to allow the user to enter service plan sign-up information.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a second device agent which is operable to receive a new phone number assigned by the activation server and wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to thereafter receive acknowledgment that the data service plan has been activated.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein activating the data service plan comprises allowing general-purpose internet access.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the first client-side device agent is operable to program the new phone number into device credential records.

28. The device of claim 21, wherein the credentials comprising a hardware identifier expire if the device does not attempt activation over a predetermined a period of time.

29. The device of claim 16, wherein activating comprises reactivating.

30. The device of claim 16, wherein the data service plan permits at least a first end-user application associated with the attempts to communicate over the wireless access network and blocks at least a second end-user application associated with the attempts from communicating over the wireless access network.