System and method for real time self-provisioning for a mobile communication device

• US 7,817,988 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Kruis, David P., Gilhuly, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Wesley L
• Application Number:
  US10/489,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,961 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/435.1, 455/413, 455/412.1, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A system and method of provisioning services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A provisioning request including provisioning information and specifying a provisioning operation and a first communication service is prepared on the mobile communication device and sent to a provisioning system. Processing of the provisioning request is dependent upon whether or not a second communication service has been activated for the mobile communication device. If the mobile communication device is outside a coverage area of a wireless communication network when a provisioning request is prepared, the request is stored at the mobile communication device and sent to the provisioning system when the mobile communication device enters the coverage area. The provisioning system preferably manages service provisioning for multiple services, any of which may be hosted by different service providers.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning multiple services for a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of:

receiving and processing identity access information;

receiving a provisioning request for managing a service provided by a first communication service and a service provided by a second communication service, the provisioning request including provisioning information and specifying a provisioning operation, the first communication service and a the second communication service;

processing the provisioning information to determine whether the provisioning operation may be performed for the second communication service; and

where the provisioning operation may be performed for the second communication service, then;

performing the provisioning operation for the second communication service;

processing the provisioning information to determine whether the provisioning operation may be performed for the first communication service;

performing the provisioning operation for the first communication service where the provisioning operation may be performed for the first communication service;

preparing a provisioning response indicating that the provisioning operation was successful; and

sending the provisioning response to the mobile communication device; and

where the provisioning operation may not be performed for the second communication service, then;

processing the provisioning information to determine whether the provisioning operation may be performed for the first communication service;

performing the provisioning operation for the first communication service where the provisioning operation may be performed for the first communication service;

preparing a provisioning response indicating that the provisioning operation was unsuccessful for the second communication service but successful for the first communication service; and

sending the provisioning response to the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a provisioning request comprises the step of receiving the provisioning request from the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a further provisioning request including further provisioning information and specifying the provisioning operation for the second communication service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning operation is a service activation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication service is provided by a first service provider.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the second communication service is available from a second service provider where the provisioning operation may not be performed for the second communication service;

wherein the provisioning response indicating that the provisioning operation was unsuccessful for the second communication service but successful for the first communication service further indicates whether the second communication service is available from the second service provider.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of receiving a further provisioning request including further provisioning information and specifying the provisioning operation for the second communication service.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, the further provisioning request specifies the provisioning operation for the second service provider where the second communication service is available from the second service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

where the provisioning operation may not be performed for the second communication service, then;

aborting the provisioning operation;

preparing a provisioning response indicating that the provisioning operation was unsuccessful; and

sending the provisioning response to the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

where the provisioning operation may not be performed for the second communication service, then;

aborting the provisioning operation;

preparing a provisioning response indicating that the provisioning operation was unsuccessful for the first communication service; and

sending the provisioning response to the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the step of aborting the provisioning operation comprises the step of reversing the provisioning operation for the second communication service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication service is an electronic messaging service.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic messaging service is email service.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first communication service is an email redirection service which redirects email received at an email system to the mobile communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of performing the provisioning operation for the first communication service comprises the step of establishing a forwarding rule at the email system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication service is provided by a first service provider.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first service is provided by the first service provider.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first service is provided by a second service provider.