Provisioning a user device for multiple services

• US 7,844,263 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tangoe US, Inc. (Asentinel Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Tangoe Incorporated
• Inventors: Gamble, Charles, Marsh, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh; Nam
• Application Number:
  US11/741,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455/414.1, 455418-419, 455/432.3, 455/432.2, 455/552.1, 455/558, 379/112.05, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider

Abstract

Systems and methods for provisioning an electronic device for multiple services are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment, among others, of a provisioning method includes receiving a first request to procure a user device capable of operating under a plurality of service plans. The method also includes receiving a second request to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan and receiving a third request to provision the user device for operation under a second service plan. Also, the method includes coordinating the first request, second request, and third request to provision the user device under the first service plan and second service plan.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving in a computer system a first request to procure a user device capable of operating under a plurality of service plans;

receiving in the computer system a second request to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan, wherein the first service plan is associated with a wireless local area network (WiLAN) service;

generating in the computer system a list of selectable user devices in response to the second request;

receiving in the computer system a third request to provision the user device for operation under a second service plan;

coordinating in the computer system the first request, second request, and third request to provision the user device under the first service plan and second service plan; and

providing the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator for approval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second service plan is associated with a wireless wide area network (WiWAN) service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating orders in the computer system for the requested user device, first service plan, and second service plan;

sending from the computer system the orders for the requested user device, first service plan, and second service plan to one or more entities capable of fulfilling the orders;

managing the orders to invoke the provisioning of the user device with the first service plan and second service plan at substantially similar times.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering from the computer system the user device provisioned under the first service plan and second service plan to a procurer of the user device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in the computer system one or more additional requests for provisioning the user device for one or more additional service plans; and

coordinating from the computer system the first, second, third, and additional requests to provision the user device under the first, second, and additional service plans.

6. A method comprising providing a provisioning agent that:

receives in a computer system a first request to procure an electronic device, a second request to provision the electronic device for a first communication service, and a third request to provision the electronic device for a second communication service;

provides orders in the computer system to one or more additional agents, the orders including instructions for the additional agents to provision the electronic device for the first communication service and the second communication service;

providing from the computer system the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator for approval; and

providing orders to one or more remote locations by configuring an instructing means located at the one or more remote locations for fulfillment of the orders, to install software onto the electronic device and programming profile information on the electronic device,

wherein the first communication service is associated with a wireless local area network (WiWAN) service and the second communication service is associated with a wide area service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electronic device is a Fixed-Mobile Converged (FMC) device.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

forwarding profile information from the computer system, which is used by the instructing means to provision the electronic device, to an organization for storage on the premises of the organization.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

enabling a procurer to select a first category of options in the computer system prior to receiving the first, second, and third requests;

enabling the procurer to select a second category of options in the computer system prior to receiving the first, second, and third requests; and

enabling the procurer to select a third category of options in the computer system prior to receiving the first, second, and third request;

wherein the categories of options correspond to device options, first communication service options, and second communication service options.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving in the computer system one or more additional requests to provision the electronic device for one or more additional communication services.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the provisioning agent receives request in a centralized facility.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more of the additional agents fulfill the orders in the centralized facility.

13. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store a program executed by the processor for provisioning an electronic device, the program configured to;

receive a first request to procure a user device capable of operating under a plurality of service plans;

receive a second request to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan, wherein the first service plan is associated with a wireless local area network (WiLAN) service;

generate a list of selectable user devices in response to the second request;

receive a third request to provision the user device for operation under a second service plan;

coordinate the first request, second request, and third request to provision the user device under the first service plan and second service plan; and

provide the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator for approval.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the program is further configured to:

generate orders in the computer system for the requested user device, first service plan, and second service plan;

send the orders for the requested user device, first service plan, and second service plan to one or more entities capable of fulfilling the orders;

manage the orders to invoke the provisioning of the user device with the first service plan and second service plan at substantially similar times.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the program is further configured to:

initiate delivery of the user device provisioned under the first service plan and second service plan to a procurer of the user device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the program is further configured to:

receive one or more additional requests for provisioning the user device for one or more additional service plans; and

coordinate the first, second, third, and additional requests to provision the user device under the first, second, and additional service plans.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a stored computer program for execution by a processing device, the computer program comprising:

logic that allows a first request to be received at a centralized location;

logic that allows a second request to be received at the centralized location;

logic that allows a third request to be received at the centralized location;

logic configured to coordinate the first request, second request, and third request;

logic configured to generate a list of selectable user devices in response to the second request; and

logic configured to provide the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator for approval;

wherein the first request is associated with an electronic device, the second request is associated with a first service being assisted by the electronic device, the first service plan being associated with a wireless local area network (WiLAN), and the third request is associated with a second service being assisted by the electronic device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the logic configured to coordinate the requests comprises logic that generates a first order to procure the electronic device and generates second and third orders to provision the electronic device with the first service and second service.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the logic configured to coordinate the requests further comprises logic that tracks the first, second, and third orders.

20. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request in a computer system to procure a user device for a member of an organization, the user device capable of accessing a private network of the organization and a wireless wide area network (WiWAN);

receiving a second request in the computer system to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan for accessing the WiWAN;

receiving a third request in the computer system to provision the user device for accessibility to the private network of the organization

coordinating the first request, second request, and third request in the computer system to provision the user device under the first service plan and for accessibility to the private network of the organization;

providing the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator within the organization for approval; and

delivering the user device provisioned under the first service plan and second service plan to the member.

21. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request to procure a user device capable of operating under a plurality of service plans;

receiving a second request to provision the user device for operation under a first service plan, wherein the first service plan is associated with a wireless local area network (WiLAN) service;

generating a list of selectable user devices in response to the second request;

receiving in the computer system a third request to provision the user device for operation under a second service plan;

coordinating the first request, second request, and third request to provision the user device under the first service plan and second service plan; and

providing the first request, second request, and third request to an administrator for approval;

wherein one or more steps are executed in a computer system.