Mobile provisioning tool system

• US 7,239,877 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Climenson, Ernie, Corneille, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/680,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/412, 370/338, 370/352, 705/30, 709/246, 709/206
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A mobile provisioning tool system including a software provisioning tool application. The mobile provisioning tool system includes mobile devices capable of conducting wireless communication with wireless access points. A carrier network is connected with the wireless access points and a customer network that includes at least one business application. A provisioning tool application is located on a provisioning server. The provisioning tool application includes a CRM Rep component and an IT Admin component. A software provisioning tool application allows the provisioning workstation to automatically install mobile business services and configure network configuration settings on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile provisioning tool system, comprising:

a plurality of mobilc devices capable of conducting wireless communication with at least one wireless access point;

a carrier network connected with the at least one wireless access point;

a customer network that includes at least one business application connected with the carrier network;

a provisioning workstation capable of being connected with the mobile devices;

a provisioning server connected with the carrier network and the provisioning workstation;

a provisioning tool application located on the provisioning server, wherein the provisioning tool application includes a CRM Rep component and an IT Admin component, wherein the CRM Rep component is operable to allow a CRM Rep to add and manage a plurality of customer accounts and assign at least one IT Admnin to each respective customer account, wherein the IT Admin component is operable to allow the IT Admin to use the provisioning workstation to add and manage a plurality of end-users for each respective customer account, wherein each of the end-users is assigned to a respective one of the plurality of mobile devices; and

a software provisioning tool application operable to allow the provisioning workstation to automatically install at least one mobile business service and configure at least one network configuration on the mobile devices.

2. The mobile provisionins tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component is operable to generate an add customer page that allows the CRM Rep to enter data about a customer account in a customer information field, an IT Admin field and an email server field.

3. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 2, wherein the customer information field includes a customer name entry field and an internal identification entry field, where data entered in the customer information field is stored in a customer database on the provisioning server.

4. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 2, wherein the IT Admin field includes a user name entry field, a last name entry field and a first name entry field, where data entered in the IT Admin field is stored in a customer database on the provisioning server.

5. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 2, wherein the email server field includes a domain entry field and a port entry field, where data entered in the email server field is stored in a customer database on the provisioning server.

6. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component is operable to generate an add customer business service page that allows the CRM Rep to subscribe a customer account to the at least one mobile business service.

7. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 6, wherein the add customer business service page includes a business service selection field, a business service host entry field, a host name entry field, a port entry field, a mean speed entry field, a peak speed entry field, a scheme entry field and a concurrent connection entry field, where data entered in the add customer business service page is stored in a customer database located on the provisioning server.

8. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim of claim 6, wherein the at least one mobile business service comprises a data synchronization application.

9. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component includes an active customers page that lists all active customer accounts contained on the provisioning server.

10. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component includes an inactive customers page that lists all inactive customer accounts contained on the provisioning server.

11. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component includes an edit customer page that allows the CRM Rep to edit information associated with a respective customer account.

12. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component includes a deactivate customer page that allows the CRM Rep to deactivate a respective customer account.

13. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 12, wherein the CRM Rep component includes a reactivate customer page that allows the CRM Rep to reactivate a respective customer account that has been deactivated from the deactivate customer page.

14. The mobile provisioning tool system at claim 1, further comprising an authorization management component that allows the CRM Rep to manage access rights for the at least one IT Admin that is associated with each respective customer account.

15. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes a list tool users page that lists all unblocked IT Admins authorized to use the mobile provisioning tool system that are associated with a respective CRM Rep.

16. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes a list blocked tool users page that lists all blocked IT Admins not authorized to use the mobile provisioning tool system that are associated with a respective CRM Rep.

17. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes an add tool user page that allows the CRM Rep to create an authorized user that is associated with a respective customer account.

18. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 17, wherein the add tool user page includes a security group selection field that allows the CRM Rep to assign access rights to the authorized user.

19. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes an edit tool user page that allows the CRM Rep to edit information associated with an authorized user of the mobile provisioning tool system.

20. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes a delete tool user page that allows the CRM Rep to delete a respective authorized user from mobile provisioning tool system.

21. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes a block tool user page that allows the CRM Rep to block a previously authorized user from accessing the mobile provisioning tool system.

22. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 21, wherein the authorization management component includes an un-block tool user page that allows the CRM Rep to un-block the blocked previously authorized user.

23. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the authorization management component includes a set password page that allows the CRM Rep to set a password associated with an account of a respective authorized tool user.

24. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component includes a business services page that lists a plurality of mobile business services supported by the mobile provisioning tool system, wherein the business services page allows the CRM Rep to view all active and inactive mobile business services, to add new mobile business services and to deactivate active mobile business services.

25. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the CRM Rep component includes an add business services page tat may includes a general service type selection field, a service number entry field, a service name entry field, a gateway address entry field and a description field.

26. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 25, wherein the gateway address entry field is used to point to a connector gateway for a mobile business service being added in the add business services page, wherein the connector gateway is operable to forward a synchronization request to a corresponding company IP address.

27. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the IT Admin component includes an active users page that lists all active end-users along with an associated mobile connection number that is assigned to each respective mobile device used by a respective end-user.

28. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the IT Admin component includes an add user page tat allows the IT Admin to add new end-users to a respective customer account.

29. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 28, wherein the add user page includes a user information entry field, a customer information field and a domain entry field.

30. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 29, wherein the domain entry field includes an email mailbox entry field and an email domain entry field, wherein the email mailbox entry field designates a mailbox associated with an end-user being added and the email domain entry field designates a domain under which an email application is located that is associated with a customer account.

31. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the IT Admin component includes a view list of users page that is operable to generate a list of active and inactive end-users associated with a customer account.

32. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the IT Admin component includes an edit user page that allows the IT Admin to edit information associated with respective end-users.

33. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the IT Admin component includes a deactivate user page that allows the IT Admin to deactivate a respective end-user.

34. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the IT Admin component includes an activate user page that allows the IT Admin to activate an end-user after being added to the mobile provisioning tool system.

35. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the software provisioning tool application includes a pick device type page that allows the IT Admin to select a type of mobile device being provisioned by the IT Admin.

36. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 35, wherein, responsive to selection of the type of mobile device, the software provisioning tool application is operable to generate a pick supported device page that allows the IT Admin to select a supported device being provisioned by the IT Admin.

37. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 36, wherein, responsive to selection of the supported device, the software provisioning tool application is operable to generate a pick software configuration page that allows the IT Admin to select at least one mobile business service application to be downloaded to a mobile device.

38. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 37, wherein, responsive to the selection of the at least one mobile business service application in the pick software configuration page, the software provisioning tool application is operable to generate a provision device page, wherein the provision device page includes a configure end-user button that is selectable to begin the provisioning process of the mobile device.

39. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the at least one business application comprises a Personal Information Management application.

40. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the at least one business application comprises an email application.

41. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the at least one business application comprises a customer specific database application.

42. The mobile provisioning tool system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile business service comprises a synchronization application operable to synchronize data on at least one of the mobile devices from the at least one business application located on the customer network.

43. A method of setting up a plurality of mobile devices for use in a wireless access environment including a carrier network connected with a customer network, comprising the steps of:

creating a CRM Rep account for a CRM Rep that is stored on a mobile service bureau server connected with the carrier network;

allowing the CRM Rep to create a customer account associated with the customer network;

allowing the CRM Rep to create an IT Admin account for an IT Admin that is associated with the customer account;

allowing the CRM Rep to associate at least one business synchronization service with the customer account;

allowing the CRM Rep to designate at least one network configuration setting associated with the customer network;

allowing the IT Admin to create a plurality of end-user accounts associated with the customer account;

associating a respective one of the plurality of mobile devices with a respective one of the plurality of end-user accounts; and

provisioning the plurality of mobile devices by automatically configuring the at least one network configuration setting and installing the at least one business synchronization service on each of the plurality of mobile devices that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of end-user accounts.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the customer account includes a host domain of a customer server to be resolved by a connector gateway application on the carrier network.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of adding the plurality of end-user accounts to an active directory stored on the carrier network.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of allowing the CRM Rep to create the customer account includes the step of generating an add customer page that allows the CRM Rep to enter data associated with the customer account in a customer information field, an IT Admin field and an email server field.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of allowing the CRM Rep to create the customer account includes the step of generating an add customer business service page that allows the CRM Rep to subscribe the customer account to the at least one business synchronization service.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of allowing the CRM Rep to create the customer account includes the step of generating an authorization management page that allows the CRM Rep to manage the IT Admin that is associated with the customer account.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of allowing the IT Admin to create a plurality of end-user accounts includes the step of creating an add end users page that allows the IT Admin to add new end-users to a respective customer account.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of provisioning the plurality of mobile devices includes the step of generating a pick device type page that allows the IT Admin to select a type of mobile device being provisioned by the IT Admin.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein, in response to selection of the type of mobile device, generating a pick supported device page that allows the IT Admin to select a supported device being provisioned by the IT Admin.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein, in response to selection of the supported device, generating a pick software configuration page that allows the IT Admin to select a software configuration for the mobile device.

53. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for provisioning mobile services in a plurality of mobile devices, comprising:

a code segment that creates a CRM Rep account for a CRM Rep that is stored on a mobile service bureau server connected with a carrier network;

a code segment that allows the CRM Rep to create at least one customer account associated with a customer network;

a code segment that allows the CRM Rep to create an IT Admin account for an IT Admin that is associated with the at least one customer account;

a code segment that allows the CRM Rep to associate at least one business synchronization service with the at least one customer account;

a code segment that allows the CRM Rep to designate at least one network configuration setting associated with the customer network;

a code segment that allows the IT Admin to create a plurality of end-user accounts associated with the at least one customer account;

a code segment that associates a respective one of the plurality of mobile devices with a respective one of the plurality of end-user accounts; and

a code segment that provisions the plurality of mobile devices by automatically configuring the at least one network configuration setting in a connection manager and installing the at least one business synchronization service on each of the plurality of mobile devices.

54. The computer program of claim 53, wherein the at least one customer account includes a host domain of a customer server to be resolved by a connector gateway application on a carrier network.

55. The computer program of claim 53, further comprising a code segment that adds the plurality of end-user accounts to an active directory stored on the carrier network.

56. The computer program of claim 53, further comprising a code segment that generates an add customer page that allows the CRM Rep to enter data about the at least one customer account in a customer information field, an IT Admin field and an email server field.

57. The computer program of claim 53, further comprising a code segment that generates an add customer business service page that allows the CRM Rep to subscribe the at least one customer account to the at least one business synchronization service.

58. The computer program of claim 53, further comprising a code segment that generates an authorization management page that allows the CRM Rep to manage access rights for the IT Admin that is associated with the at least one customer account.

59. The computer program of claim 53, further comprising a code segment that generates an add end users page that allows the IT Admin to add an end-user to a respective customer account.

60. The computer program of claim 53, wherein the code segment that provisions the plurality of mobile devices includes a code segment that generates a pick device type page that allows the IT Admin to select a type of mobile device being provisioned by the IT Admin.

61. The computer program of claim 60, wherein, responsive to selection of the type of mobile device, the code segment that generates the pick device type page comprises a code segment that generates a pick supported device page that allows the IT Admin to select a supported device being provisioned by the IT Admin.

62. The computer program of claim 61, wherein, responsive to selection of the supported device, the code segment that generates the pick supported device page comprises a code segment that generates a pick software configuration page that allows the IT Admin to select a software configuration for the mobile devices.

63. A method for provisioning a plurality of mobile devices for use in a wireless access environment, comprising the steps of:

generating an add customer web page that allows a CRM Rep to create a customer account associated with a customer network, wherein the CRM Rep is able to associate an IT Admin with the customer account, wherein the CRM Rep is able to associate an email server with the customer account;

generating an add business synchronization service web page that allows the CRM Rep to select at least one business synchronization service to associate with the customer network;

generating an add end-user web page that allows the IT Admin to create a plurality of end-users associated with the customer account; and

generating a provision device web page that allows the IT Admin to provision each of the plurality of mobile devices to access an email account on the email server of the customer network that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of end-users and installs the at least one business synchronization service on each of the plurality of mobile devices that is associated with the customer network.

64. A mobile provisioning tool system, comprising:

means for creating a CRM Rep account for a CRM Rep that is stored on a mobile service bureau saver connected with a carrier network;

means for allowing the CRM Rep to create a customer account associated with a customer network;

means for allowing the CRM Rep to create an IT Admin account for an IT Admin that is associated with the customer account;

means for allowing the CRM Rep to associate at least one business synchronization service with the customer account;

means for allowing the CRM Rep to designate at least one network configuration setting associated with the customer network;

means for allowing the IT Admin to create a plurality of end-user accounts associated with the customer account;

means for associating a respective one of a plurality of mobile devices with a respective one of the plurality of end-user accounts; and

means for provisioning the plurality of mobile devices by automatically configuring the at least one network configuration setting and installing the at least one business synchronization service on each of the plurality of mobile devices that is associated with a respective one of the plurality of end-user accounts as a function of a respective end-user assigned to each one of the plurality of mobile devices.

65. A software provisioning tool system, comprising:

a stats check application installed on a provisioning workstation that is configured to ensure that a mobile device is connected with the provisioning workstation;

a download management application configured to automatically download a self-extracting installation file to the provisioning workstation, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a processor-specific installation file associated with a respective processor type used by the mobile device, wherein the self-extracting installation file includes at least one mobile device application;

a duplication application that is configured to automatically copy the self-extracting installation file from the provisioning workstation to the mobile device;

an installation initiation application located on the provisioning workstation that is configured to automatically execute the self-extracting installation tile on the mobile device; and

a registry update component included as part of the self-extracting installation file that is configured to create at least one registry update in a registry on the mobile device after the at least one mobile device application has been installed on the mobile device.

66. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, further comprising an application management application that is configured to initiate automatic provisioning of the mobile device in response to selection of a configuration button generated on the provisioning workstation.

67. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a processor-specific installation file associated with a respective processor type used by the mobile device.

68. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a CAB file.

69. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the status check application is configured to generate a message instructing a provisioner to connect the mobile device to the provisioning workstation if the mobile device is not connected to the provisioning workstation.

70. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the download management application is configured to determine a processor type used by the mobile device by querying an end-user database that contains information indicative of the processor type used by the mobile device.

71. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the download management application is configured to download the self-extracting installation file from a mobile service bureau server connected with the provisioning workstation.

72. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the download management application is configured to search a storage medium on the provisioning workstation to determine if the self-extracting installation file already exists on the provisioning workstation, wherein if the self-extracting installation file already exists, the download management application is configured to initiate the duplication application.

73. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the duplication application is configured to use a remote application programming interface to copy the self-extracting installation file over to the mobile device.

74. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the installation initiation application is configured to use a remote application programming interface to initiate installation of the self-extracting installation file on the mobile device.

75. The software provisioning tool system of claim 65, wherein the at least one registry update in the registry on the mobile device includes a user mailbox setting, an email server domain setting and an email server name setting.

76. A method of provisioning software on a plurality of mobile devices, comprising the steps of:

initiating an automatic provisioning process by selection of a configuration initiation icon generated on a provisioning workstation;

ensuring a mobile device is connected with the provisioning workstation;

determining a processor type used by the mobile device by querying an end-user database that contains information indicative of the processor type used by the mobile device;

downloading a self-extracting installation file to the provisioning workstation;

copying the self-extracting installation file to the mobile device;

triggering the self-extracting installation file to install at least one business service application on the mobile device; and

updating a registry on the mobile device after the at least one business service application is installed on the mobile device.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a processor-specific installation file associated with the respective processor type used by the mobile device.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a CAB file.

79. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of generating a message instructing a provisioner to correct the mobile device to the provisioning workstation if the mobile device is not connected to the provisioning workstation.

80. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of downloading the self-extracting installation file from a mobile service bureau server connected with the provisioning workstation.

81. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of searching a storage medium on the provisioning workstation to determine if the self-extracting installation file already exists on the provisioning workstation, wherein if the self-extracting installation file already exists the download management application is configured initiate the step of copying the self-extracting installation file to the mobile device.

82. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of using a remote application programming interface to copy the self-extracting installation file to the mobile device.

83. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of using a remote application programming interface to initiate installation of the self-extracting installation file on the mobile device.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein the registry on the mobile device is updated to include a user mailbox setting, an email server domain setting and an email server name setting.

85. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for provisioning software on mobile devices, comprising:

a code segment that initiates an automatic provisioning process by selection of a provisioning initiation icon generated on a provisioning workstation;

a code segment that ensures a mobile device is connected with the provisioning workstation;

a code segment that searches a storage medium on the provisioning workstation to determine if a self-extracting installation file already exists on the provisioning workstation and downloads the self-extracting installation file to the provisioning workstation if the self-extracting instruction file does not already exist in the storage medium;

a code segment that copies the self-extracting installation file to the mobile device;

a code segment that triggers the self-extracting installation file to install at least one business service application on the mobile device; and

a code segment tat updates a registry on the mobile device after the at least one business service application is installed on the mobile device.

86. The computer program of claim 85, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a processor-specific installation file associated with a respective processor type used by the mobile device.

87. The computer program of claim 85, wherein the self-extracting installation file is a CAB file.

88. The computer program of claim 85, wherein a message is generated instructing a provisioner to connect the mobile device to the provisioning workstation if the mobile device is not connected to the provisioning workstation.

89. The computer program of claim 85, further comprising a code segment that determines a processor type used by the mobile device by querying an end-user database that contains information indicative of the processor type used by the mobile device.

90. The computer program of claim 85, further comprising a code segment that downloads the self-extracting installation file from a mobile service bureau server connected with the provisioning workstation.

91. The computer program of claim 85, further comprising a code segment that uses a remote application programming interface to copy the self-extracting installation file over to the mobile device.

92. The computer program of claim 85, further comprising a code segment that uses a remote application programming interface to initiate installation of the self-extracting installation file on the mobile device.

93. The computer program of claim 85, wherein the registry on the mobile device is updated to include a user mailbox setting, an email server domain setting and an email server name setting.

94. A software provisioning tool system, comprising:

means for ensuring a mobile device is connected with the provisioning workstation;

means for downloading a self-extracting installation file to a provisioning workstation;

means for copying the self-extracting installation file to the mobile device;

means for triggering the self-extracting installation file to install at least one business service application on the mobile device; and

means for updating a registry on the mobile device after the at least one business service application is installed on the mobile device, wherein the registry on the mobile device is updated to include a user mailbox setting, an email server domain setting and an email server name setting.

95. A method of provisioning software on a plurality of mobile devices, comprising the steps of:

initiating an automatic provisioning process in response to selection of a configuration initiation button, wherein the configuration button is included in an application manager active server page generated on a provisioning workstation, wherein the application manager active server page includes a status field;

ensuring a mobile device is connected with the provisioning workstation;

downloading a self-extracting installation file to the provisioning workstation, wherein the status field is continuously updated to indicate a download status;

copying the self-extracting installation file to the mobile device, wherein the status field is continuously updated to indicate a copying status;

triggering the self-extracting installation file to install at least one business service application on the mobile device, wherein the status field is continuously updated to indicate an installation status; and

updating a registry on the mobile device alter the at least one business service application is installed on the mobile device, wherein the status field is continuously updated to indicate a registry update status.