System and method for over the air provisioning of a mobile communications device

• US 8,090,349 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Munje, Arun, Smith, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Application Number:
  US12/946,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20110058519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/415, 380/258, 380/261
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A method for provisioning a mobile communications device comprises sending a registration request for registration with a registration server, the registration request including a request for a personal information number; receiving a response from the registration server, the response including the personal information number; sending a provisioning request to a network node, the request including the personal information number and at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device; receiving a response from the network node, the response including a URL and a session ID based upon the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device; and launching an application on the mobile communication device to establish a communication session between the mobile communication device and a provisioning system.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

sending a registration request for registration with a registration server, the registration request including at least one device identifier and a request for a personal information number;

receiving a response from the registration server, the response including the personal information number;

sending a provisioning request to a network node, the request including the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device;

receiving a response from the network node, the response including a URL and a session ID based upon the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device; and

launching an application on the mobile communications device to establish a communication session between the mobile communications device and a provisioning system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the application comprises a web browser.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the session ID includes a time frame within which the session ID is valid.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one device identifier comprises an International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI) parameter corresponding to the mobile communications device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one device identifier comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) parameter corresponding to the mobile communications device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one device identifier comprises an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) parameter corresponding to the mobile communications device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one device identifier comprises a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) parameter corresponding to the mobile communications device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one device identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to the mobile communications device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one device identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICCID) parameter corresponding to the mobile communications device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the session ID is generated based on hashing the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device.

11. A mobile communications device comprising:

logic means operable to send a registration request for registration with a registration server, the registration request including at least one device identifier and a request for a personal information number;

logic means operable to receive a response from the registration server, the response including the personal information number;

logic means operable to send a provisioning request to a network node, the request including the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device;

logic means operable to receive a response from the network node, the response including a URL and a session ID based upon the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device; and

logic means operable to launch an application on the mobile communications device to establish a communication session between the mobile communication devices and a provisioning system.

12. A method for provisioning a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

receiving a request by the mobile communications device at a first network node, the request including a personal information number and at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device;

sending a query to a second network node, the query including the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device;

receiving a reply from the second network node, the reply including a URL and a session ID generated at the second network node based upon the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device; and

sending a response to the mobile communications device, the response including the URL and the session ID generated by the second network node for establishing a communication session with the second network node to provision at least one aspect of the mobile communications device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the first network node is operable as part of a relay network.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the second network node is operable as part of a provisioning system.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the session ID includes a time frame within which the session ID is valid.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the session ID is generated based on hashing the personal information number and the at least one device identifier associated with the mobile communications device.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the receiving a request by the mobile communications device at a first network node and the sending a response to the mobile communications device are performed over a wireless packet data service network comprising one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3rd Generation (3G) network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network and a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network.

18. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the first network node is colocated with the second network node.

19. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the first network node is integrated with the second network node.