Systems and methods for automatically provisioning wireless services on a wireless device

• US 6,628,934 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EarthLink Incorporated
• Inventors: Melnicki, Michael S., Rosenberg, Dave H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/905,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20030013434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/406, 455/407, 455/410, 455/411, 455/420, 455/466, 455/435, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 717/176, 370/338, 370/352-356, 370/401, 370/465, 370/466, 713/168, 713/184
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• 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 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/56 : On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• 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 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically activating wireless services on a wireless device are provided. The systems and methods of the present invention comprise a software and hardware infrastructure that enables a wireless service provider to automatically register a wireless device on a wireless network and a wireless device user to automatically activate wireless services on the wireless device. The wireless services may be part of a wireless service plan provided by the wireless service provider to the wireless device user on a per fee basis.

Claims

1. A method for automatically activating wireless services on a wireless device, the wireless services provided by a wireless service provider on a wireless network, the method comprising:

providing an activation web site for a wireless device user to submit device-specific, personal, and billing information to the wireless service provider;

providing an activation web server to process the information submitted on the activation web site;

assigning an IP address to the wireless device;

creating a data record to store the IP address and the information submitted on the activation web site;

sending the data record to a plurality of wireless application servers;

creating an activation code for activating the wireless services on the wireless device;

sending the activation code to the wireless device user;

providing an activation module on the wireless device to register the activation code on the wireless device; and

billing the wireless device user for accessing the wireless services on the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises one or more wireless devices selected from a group consisting of:

a personal computer;

a portable computer;

a cellular phone;

a personal digital assistant;

an electronic organizer;

a set-top box; and

an entertainment system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless services comprise wireless services offered as part of a wireless service plan provided by the wireless service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless services comprise one or more services selected from a group consisting of:

cellular phone service;

e-mail service;

web access;

financial trading; and

location-based services.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein location-based services comprise wireless services offered to the wireless device user based on the location of the wireless device user on the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation web site comprises on-line forms and buttons for the wireless device user to submit device-specific, personal, and billing information to the activation web server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device-specific information comprises a unique identification code identifying the wireless device for the wireless device user and the wireless service provider.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification code comprises a serial number associated with the wireless device or an equipment identifier associated with a wireless modem of the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal information comprises name and address information associated with the wireless device user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the billing information comprises a credit card number and a billing address associated with the wireless device user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP address comprises an IP address provided by a wireless carrier to the wireless service provider, the wireless carrier operating a wireless network through which the wireless services are accessed.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the IP address to the wireless device comprises selecting the IP address from an IP address database storing a plurality of IP addresses available for use on the wireless network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the data record is stored in a user database.

14. The method of claim 1, further further comprising storing the data record in a billing server.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the billing server generates a financial statement for the wireless user to charge the wireless user for accessing the wireless services on the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the data record to a plurality of wireless application servers comprises providing a messaging server to extract the data record from the user database and send the data record to the plurality of wireless application servers.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation code comprises a secure encoding of the IP address and a side preference associated with the wireless carrier.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the secure encoding comprises a secure hash of the IP address and the side preference.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the activation code to the wireless device user comprises posting the activation code on the activation web site.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sending the activation code to a customer service representative for providing the activation code to the wireless device user.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein providing an activation module on the wireless device to register the activation code on the wireless device comprises providing a software routine on the wireless device for decoding the activation code into the IP address and the side preference.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the software routine further comprises a software routine for registering the IP address and the side preference into the wireless device'"'"'s memory.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein billing the wireless device user for accessing the wireless services on the wireless device comprises charging the credit card number with fees associated with the wireless services.

24. A system for automatically activating wireless services on a wireless device, the wireless services provided by a wireless service provider on a wireless network, the system comprising:

an activation web site for a wireless device user to submit device-specific, personal, and billing information to the wireless service provider;

an activation web server to process the information submitted on the activation web site and create an activation code for activating the wireless services on the wireless device;

an IP address database storing a plurality of IP addresses for use by the wireless device on the wireless network;

a user database to store a data record containing the information submitted on the activation web site;

a plurality of wireless application servers;

a messaging server for sending the data record to the plurality of wireless application servers;

an activation module on the wireless device for registering the activation code on the wireless device; and

a billing server for generating a financial statement to the wireless device user for accessing the wireless services on the wireless device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the wireless device comprises one or more wireless devices selected from a group consisting of:

a personal computer;

a portable computer;

a cellular phone;

a personal digital assistant;

an electronic organizer;

a set-top box; and

an entertainment system.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the wireless services comprise wireless services offered as part of a wireless service plan provided by the wireless service provider.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the wireless services comprise one or more services selected from a group consisting of:

cellular phone service;

e-mail service;

web access;

financial trading; and

location-based services.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein location-based services comprise wireless services offered to the wireless device user based on the location of the wireless device user on the wireless network.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the activation web site comprises on-line forms and buttons for the wireless device user to submit device-specific, personal, and billing information to the activation web server.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the device-specific information comprises a unique identification code identifying the wireless device for the wireless device user and the wireless service provider.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the personal information comprises name and address information associated with the wireless device user.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the billing information comprises a credit card number and a billing address associated with the wireless device user.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the IP address comprises an IP address provided by a wireless carrier to the wireless service provider, the wireless carrier operating a wireless network through which the wireless services are accessed.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the activation code comprises a secure encoding of the IP address and a side preference associated with the wireless carrier.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the secure encoding comprises a secure hash of the IP address and the side preference.

36. The system of claim 24, wherein the activation web server posts the activation code is to the wireless device user on the activation web site.

37. The system of claim 24, wherein the activation code is sent to a customer service representative for providing the activation code to the wireless device user.

38. The system of claim 24, wherein the activation module comprises a software routine on the wireless device for decoding the activation code into the IP address and the side preference.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the software routine further comprises a software routine for registering the IP address and the side preference into the wireless device'"'"'s memory.

40. The system of claim 24, wherein generating a financial statement comprises charging the credit card number with fees associated with the wireless services.