Systems and Methods for Providing Modem Behavior-Based Setup for User Devices

• US 20150341779A1
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Zhengfang, Youtz, Andrew E., Dawson-Haney, Maxine C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,451,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• 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 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for enabling a mobile device to connect with a data network, based on the type of account associated with the mobile device. The system transmits a first signal to the data network and receives one or more network codes in response. The network codes may correspond to a type of SIM card associated with the mobile device. The system may display one or more setup screens on the mobile device based on the received network codes. The setup screens may guide the user of the mobile device to access the data network using an existing account, or setup a new account to access the data network.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor to execute one or more of the instructions to;

transmit a signal to a network device of a network,

the signal including information identifying a hardware component included in the mobile device,

the network being associated with a service provider;

receive a response signal from the network device,

the response signal comprising a network code,

the network code being based on the information identifying the hardware component included in the mobile device,

the network code indicating whether the mobile device is allowed to access the network;

display interactive activation screens based on the network code,

the interactive activation screens including;

 

one or more first interactive activation screens when the network code corresponds to a first network code, or

 

one or more second interactive activation screens when the network code corresponds to a second network code;

receive one or more user inputs for at least one of the interactive activation screens; and

obtain access to the network based on the one or more user inputs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware component is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, and

wherein the SIM card is associated with a type of account that is one of a post-pay account with the service provider, a pre-pay account with a positive account balance with the service provider, a pre-pay account with no account balance with the service provider, a self-activation account with the service provider, or no account with the service provider.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the information identifying the hardware component comprises a unique identifier associated with the SIM card, and

wherein the network code is based on the type of account.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the network code is one of a Protocol Configuration Option (PCO) code or an Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) code,

wherein, if the type of account is one of a post-pay account or a pre-pay account with a positive account balance, the network code comprises a PCO code having a first value,

wherein, if the type of account is a pre-pay account having no account balance, the network code comprises a PCO code having a second value,

wherein, if the type of account is a self-activation account, the network code comprises a PCO code having a third value, and

wherein, if the type of account is no account, the network code comprises an EMM code having a fourth value.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

if the network code comprises a PCO code having the first value, the interactive activation screens comprise one or more interactive screens configured to allow the mobile device unrestricted access to the network, and

if the network code comprises a PCO code having the second value or the third value, the interactive activation screens comprise one or more other interactive screens configured to allow the mobile device to connect to a web portal hosted by the service provider via which a user of the mobile device activates the type of account associated with the SIM card.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further to

connect the mobile device to the network if the network code comprises a PCO code having one of the first value, the second value, or the third value,

the mobile device not being connected to the network if the network code comprises an EMM code having the fourth value.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein, if the network code does not comprise a PCO code having the first value, the second value, or the third value, the interactive screens comprise one or more interactive screens configured to allow the mobile device to connect to another network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive screens include at least one of one or more screens configured to allow the user to set up an email account for the mobile device, allow the user to select a language for the mobile device, or allow the user to connect to another network using the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the first network code is a Protocol Configuration Option (PCO) code, and

wherein the second network code is an Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) code.

10. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a mobile device, a signal to a network device of a network,

the signal including information identifying a hardware component included in the mobile device,

the network being associated with a service provider;

receiving, by the mobile device, a response signal from the network device,

the response signal comprising a network code,

the network code being based on the information identifying the hardware component included in the mobile device,

the network code indicating whether the mobile device is allowed to access the network;

displaying, by the network device interactive activation screens based on the network code,

the interactive activation screens including;

one or more first interactive activation screens when the network code corresponds to a first network code, or

one or more second interactive activation screens when the network code corresponds to a second network code;

receiving, by the mobile device, one or more user inputs for at least one of the interactive activation screens; and

obtaining, by the mobile device, access to the network based on the one or more user inputs.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the hardware component comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, and

wherein the SIM card is associated with a type of account that is one of a post-pay account with the service provider, a pre-pay account with a positive account balance with the service provider, a pre-pay account with no account balance with the service provider, a self-activation account with the service provider, or no account with the service provider.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information identifying the hardware component comprises a unique identifier associated with the SIM card, and

wherein the network code is based on the type of account.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the network code is one of a Protocol Configuration Option (PCO) code or an Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) code,

wherein, if the type of account is one of a post-pay account or a pre-pay account with a positive account balance, the network code comprises a PCO code having a first value,

wherein, if the type of account is a pre-pay account having no account balance, the network code comprises a PCO code having a second value,

wherein, if the type of account is a self-activation account, the network code comprises a PCO code having a third value, and

wherein, if the type of account is no account, the network code comprises an EMM code having a fourth value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

if the network code comprises a PCO code having the first value, the interactive activation screens comprise one or more interactive screens configured to give the mobile device unrestricted access to the network, and

if the network code comprises a PCO code having the second value or the third value, the interactive activation screens comprise one or more interactive screens configured to connect the mobile device to a web portal hosted by the service provider wherein a user, of the mobile device, activates the type of account associated with the SIM card.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, if the network code does not comprise a PCO code having the first value, the second value, or the third value, the interactive activation screens comprise one or more interactive screens configured to connect the mobile device to a another network.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

connecting the mobile device to the network if the network code comprises a PCO code having one of the first value, the second value, or the third value,

wherein the mobile device is not connected to the network if the network code comprises an EMM code having the fourth value.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the interactive activation screens include at least one of one or more screens configured to allow the user to set up an email account for the mobile device, allow the user to select a language for the mobile device, or allow the user to connect to a second network using the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first network code is a Protocol Configuration Option (PCO) code, and

wherein the second network code is an Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) code.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions which, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to;

transmit a signal to a network device of a network,

the signal including information identifying a hardware component included in the mobile device,

the network being associated with a service provider;

receive a response signal from the network device,

the response signal comprising a network code,

the network code being based on the information identifying the hardware component included in the mobile device,

the network code indicating whether the mobile device is allowed to access the network;

display interactive activation screens based on the network code,

the interactive activation screens including;

one or more first interactive activation screens when the network code corresponds to a first network code, or

one or more second interactive activation screens when the network code corresponds to a second network code;

receive one or more user inputs for at least one of the interactive activation screens; and

obtain access to the network based on the one or more user inputs.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the hardware component includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, and

wherein the network code is based on a type of account associated with the SIM card.