System and method for activating services on a wireless device

• US 8,107,953 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, James P., Ramon, Ricardo, Salzman, Richard B., Kozma, Paul B., Rodriguez, Jesus
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US12/199,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 455/433, 455/552.1, 455/558, 375/267
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A system and method for activating services on a wireless device are provided that improve a user'"'"'s experience and ease of activation/provisioning of services for the wireless device by providing a new provisioning channel for service activations. A user is simply required to input a short activation code(s) into the wireless device which is combined into an activation message along with other device-related information that is automatically retrieved from the wireless device. The generated activation message is then transmitted over the messaging provisioning channel accessible by inactive and/or unprovisioned wireless devices for delivery to a remote site for use in activating services on the wireless device. The services to be activated may include at least one of the following: out of the box activation, device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content.

Claims

1. A method for activating services on an inactive wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving at least one code input into an inactive wireless device to be used for activating services on the wireless device;

automatically retrieving device-related information from the wireless device, wherein the device-related information includes at least one of a serial number for the wireless device and a serial number for a subscriber identity module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device that is automatically retrieved from a SIM card memory;

generating an activation message within the wireless device including the input code and the device-related information; and

transmitting the activation message directly from the wireless device over a provisioning channel not available for subscriber use and accessible by inactive wireless devices for delivery to a remote site for use in activating services on the wireless device, wherein the provisioning channel is selected from a group consisting of a Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel, a Short Message Service (SMS) messaging channel and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messaging channel, wherein the wireless device is initially inactive and the services to be activated include initial activation of the wireless device for the intended use of the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning channel accessible by the inactive wireless devices comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising establishing an activation session over the USSD channel for transmitting the activation message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning channel is selected from a group consisting of a Short Message Service (SMS) messaging channel and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messaging channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input code comprises a short alphanumerical code independent of the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input code is a zip code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically retrieved device-related information includes a serial number for the wireless device and a serial number for a subscriber identity module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device that is automatically retrieved from a SIM card memory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein services requested to be activated include at least one of device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation message comprises a request for the provisioning of services for the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation message is encrypted.

11. A wireless device comprising:

an input device for allowing the input of an activation code used for activating services on the wireless device;

a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having a SIM card memory for storing at least a SIM card serial number;

a memory for storing at least a device serial number;

a processor coupled to the input device, the SIM card and the memory, and configured to collect the activation code, the SIM card serial number and the device serial number, and generate an activation message within the wireless device having at least the activation code, the SIM card serial number and the device serial number; and

a transceiver coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the activation message directly from the wireless device over a provisioning channel not available for subscriber use and available to inactive wireless devices for delivery to a remote site for requesting activation of services on the wireless device, wherein the provisioning channel is selected from a group consisting of a Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel, a Short Message Service (SMS) messaging channel and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messaging channel, wherein the wireless device is initially inactive and the services to be activated include initial activation of the wireless device for the intended use of the wireless device.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the activation code is a zip code.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the activation code comprises a short alphanumerical code independent of the wireless device.

14. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the provisioning channel is an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel.

15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the provisioning channel is selected from a group consisting of a Short Message Service (SMS) messaging channel and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messaging channel.

16. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein services requested to be activated include at least one of device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content.

17. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the activation message comprises a request for the provisioning of services for the wireless device.

18. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the activation message is encrypted.

19. A method for activating a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving an activation message transmitted from an inactive wireless device over a provisioning channel not available for subscriber use and accessible to inactive wireless devices, wherein the provisioning channel is selected from a group consisting of a Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel, a Short Message Service (SMS) messaging channel and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messaging channel,

the activation message received by an operator of the provisioning channel, the activation message further including a user-provided activation code and device-related information automatically collected from the wireless device to be activated, wherein the device-related information includes at least one of a serial number for the wireless device and a serial number for a subscriber identity module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device that is automatically retrieved from a SIM card memory; and

the operator of the provisioning channel forwarding the activation message to a service provider provisioning system to initiate service activation using content of the activation message.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless device is initially inactive and the services to be activated include initial activation of the wireless device for the intended use of the wireless device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the user-provided activation code comprises a short alphanumerical code independent of the wireless device.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the user-provided activation code is a zip code.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the device-related information includes a serial number for the wireless device and a serial number for a subscriber identity module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device that is automatically retrieved from a SIM card memory.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein services requested to be activated include at least one of device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the activation message comprises a request for the provisioning of services for the wireless device.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the activation message is encrypted.