System and associated terminal, method, and computer program product for configuring and updating service access points and providing service content in the mobile domain

• US 8,184,602 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Hännikäinen, Ari, Muhonen, Ahti, Salo, Juha, Vainio, Antti-Pentti
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/833,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/558, 455/414, 455418-420, 379157-158, 37920101-21802, 370259-271, 709/202, 709/203, 709/208, 709217-219, 709/221, 709/228, 348 1401- 1416
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Various techniques for service access point configuration for mobile terminals of wireless systems are provided. Pre-configured service access point settings may be provided on a multimedia memory card with a client application capable of configuring the service access point settings in the mobile terminal from the pre-configured service access point settings on the multimedia memory card. Over-the-air updating of service access point settings may be performed by communication between a service access point and a mobile terminal or a client application on the mobile terminal for automatically configuring service access point settings on the mobile terminal based upon information provided by the service access point. Service content specific pricing in the mobile domain is also provided. Service content specific pricing content delivery may be provided through a particular service access point configured for the service content specific pricing.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mobile terminal configured to communicate with a wireless network, wherein said wireless network comprises at least one pre-configured service access point setting, and wherein said mobile terminal comprises at least one configured service access point setting configured to cause said mobile terminal to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through an existing service access point of said wireless network, wherein said at least one configured service access point setting matches at least one of said at least one pre-configured service access point setting; and

a client application configured to operate on said mobile terminal using said at least one configured service access point setting to access said service through said service access point of said wireless network,

wherein said mobile terminal is configured;

to automatically and periodically request to receive from the existing service access point at least one pre-defined service access point setting to access the service via a new service access point,

to wirelessly receive from the existing service access point the at least one pre-configured service access point setting through said wireless network to automatically replace said at least one configured service access point setting when said one configured service access point setting is known by said wireless network to be changed on said wireless network for providing said service, and

wherein said client application is configured to operate on said mobile terminal using said the at least one pre-configured service access point setting as said at least one configured service access point setting to access said service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pre-configured access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured access point setting, comprises at least one of:

a service access point name;

a service access point address;

a service access point user name; and

a service access point password.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one pre-configured service access point setting, which replaces said at least one configured service access point setting, further comprises at least one of:

a service access point authentication setting,

a service access point maximum data speed setting,

a service access point session type setting,

a service access point security setting, and

at least one service access point alternate server address.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said existing service access point of said wireless network is configured to (i) permit said mobile terminal to connect to said existing service access point using said at least one configured service access point setting, (ii) identify that said mobile terminal has connected to said existing service access point using said at least one configured service access point setting, rather than said another pre-configured service access point setting, and (iii) after providing said another pre-configured service access point setting to said mobile terminal to automatically replace said at least one configured service access point setting, re-establish a connection with said mobile terminal using said another pre-configured service access point setting.

5. A mobile terminal, comprising:

at least one defined service access point setting configured to cause said mobile terminal to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through an existing service access point of a wireless network; and

a client application that operates on said mobile terminal using at least one of said at least one defined service access point setting to access said service through said existing service access point of said wireless network and wherein said client application is configured to automatically and periodically request to wirelessly receive from the existing service access point at least one pre-defined service access point setting to access said service via a new service access point,

wherein said mobile terminal is configured to wirelessly receive said at least one pre-defined service access point setting from the existing service access point to automatically replace said at least one defined service access point setting, and

wherein said client application is configured to operate on said mobile terminal using said at least one pre-defined service access point setting as said at least one defined service access point setting to access said service.

6. A method comprising:

automatically and periodically requesting by a mobile terminal to receive from an existing service access point at least one pre-defined service access point setting to access a service via a new service access point, the mobile terminal receiving the service via a wireless network from the existing service access point;

causing, at least in part, wireless reception of the at least one pre-defined service access point setting via the wireless network at the mobile terminal, wherein said pre-defined service access point setting is configured to cause said mobile terminal to access the service from the wireless communication access point and then through the new service access point of said wireless network; and

automatically replacing at least one defined service access point setting on said mobile terminal with said at least one pre-defined service access point setting wirelessly received from said existing service access point, wherein wirelessly receiving at least one pre-defined service access point setting is initiated by said wireless network when said defined service access point setting used by said mobile terminal is known by said wireless network to be changed on said wireless network for providing said service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the service access point setting defines where and how an IP address of the mobile terminal is allocated, or what tunneling mechanism is used between the service access point and a server hosting the service accessed through the service access point.

8. A method comprising:

automatically and periodically requesting by a mobile terminal to receive from an existing service access point at least one pre-defined service access point setting to access a service via a new service access point, the mobile terminal receiving the service via a wireless network from the existing service access point;

causing, at least in part, wireless reception of the at least one pre-defined service access point setting via the wireless network at the mobile terminal, wherein said pre-defined service access point setting is configured to cause said mobile terminal to access the service from a wireless communication access point and then through the new service access point of said wireless network; and

automatically replacing at least one defined service access point setting on said mobile terminal with said at least one pre-defined service access point setting wirelessly received from said existing service access point, wherein wirelessly receiving at least one pre-defined service access point setting is initiated by said mobile terminal automatically and periodically requesting to wirelessly receive from said wireless network said at least one pre-defined service access point setting for said service.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said initiation by said mobile terminal is controlled by a client application on said mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the client application automatically and periodically polls the wireless network.

11. A method, comprising:

establishing a communication connection by an existing service access point with a mobile terminal using a first service access point setting to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through said existing service access point of a wireless network;

identifying by said existing service access point that the mobile terminal is using the first service access point setting to access said service;

causing, at least in part, wireless reception of automatic and periodic requests at said existing service access point from the mobile terminal;

when known by said existing service access point that said first service access point setting used by said mobile terminal is to be changed on said wireless network for providing said service, causing, at least in part, wireless transmission of a second service access point setting from the existing service access point to the mobile terminal for automatically replacing the first service access point setting with the second service access point setting to access said service from a new service access point of said wireless network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising initiating the update of the first existing service access point setting at the service access point by adding the second existing service access point setting to the service access point and allowing the service access point to establish communication connections using either of the first service access point setting and the second service access point setting.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising completing the update of the first existing service access point setting at the service access point by deleting the first access point setting at the existing service access point and allowing the service access point to establish communication connections using the second service access point setting but not first service access point setting.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing a communication connection by a service access point with a mobile terminal using a first service access point setting comprises receiving an automatic and periodic polling of the service access point from a client application of the mobile terminal.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting an instruction from the service access point to the mobile terminal to automatically replace the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising causing, at least in part, transmission of an instruction from the existing service access point to the mobile terminal including a buffer time period or a transitional period during which the mobile terminal is to not attempt to connect to the new service access point.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, transmission to a plurality of mobile terminals that include the mobile terminal from the existing service access point instructions including a time point for a rolling implementation of respective pre-defined service access point settings, said rolling implementation initiates for different sets of the mobile terminals respective service access point settings at staggered time periods, for connecting the sets of the mobile terminals to the new service access point with the respective pre-defined service access point settings after the time point for the rolling implementation.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically identifying by the existing service access point changes to service access point settings to be updated with the mobile terminal.

19. A method, comprising:

automatically and periodically polling an existing service access point with a client application on a mobile terminal using a first service access point setting to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through said existing service access point, wherein automatically and periodically polling comprises automatically requesting to wirelessly receive from the existing service access point a second service access point setting for said service and instructions to automatically replace the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting to access the service via a new service access point; and

causing, at least in part, wireless reception from the existing service access point said second service access point setting and said instructions to automatically replace the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising establishing a communication connection with the existing service access point and accessing said service through said existing service access point by the client application on the mobile terminal using the second service access point setting.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving from the existing service access point instructions indicating to the mobile terminal to automatically replace the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting; and

automatically replacing the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting received from the existing service access point according to the instructions received from the existing service access point.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the instructions comprise a time relative to the automatic and periodic polling by the client application when the mobile terminal is to automatically replace the first service access point setting with the second service access point setting.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the instructions comprise an absolute time when the mobile terminal is to automatically replace the first service access point setting with the second service access point setting.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the instructions comprise a buffer time for a transitional period during which the mobile terminal is instructed to not attempt to connect to the service access point.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

use at least one defined service access point setting to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through an existing service access point of a wireless network,

wirelessly receive at least one pre-defined service access point setting from the existing service access point,

automatically replace said at least one defined service access point setting with said at least one pre-defined service access point setting, and operate a client application on the apparatus using said pre-defined service access point setting to access said service via a new service access point.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said apparatus is further caused to operate the client application to automatically and periodically request to wirelessly receive from the wireless network at least one pre-defined service access point setting for said service, and to cause at least in part downloading said pre-defined service access point setting from said wireless network.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

use a defined service access point setting to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through an existing service access point,

automatically and periodically poll the existing service access point to request to wirelessly receive from the existing service access point a pre-defined service access point setting to access the service through a new service access point of said wireless network and an instruction to automatically replace the defined service access point setting on the apparatus with the pre-defined service access point setting; and

cause the pre-defined service access point setting and the instruction to automatically replace the defined service access point setting on the apparatus with the pre-defined service access point setting.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is further caused to automatically replace the defined service access point setting with the pre-defined service access point setting, and to operate the client application on the apparatus using the pre-defined service access point setting to access the service through the existing service access point.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus is further caused to operate the client application on the apparatus using the pre-defined service access point setting to access the service through the existing service access point by establishing a communication connection through the existing service access point by the client application using the pre-defined service access point setting.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is further caused to automatically replace the defined service access point setting with the pre-defined service access point setting at a time specified by the instruction to automatically replace the defined service access point setting on the apparatus with the pre-defined service access point setting.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following,

identify that a mobile terminal is using a defined service access point setting to access a service of the apparatus from a wireless communication access point and then through an existing service access point,

wirelessly transmit a pre-defined service access point setting via the wireless communication access point to the mobile terminal, in response to automatic and periodic requests for the pre-defined service access point setting for accessing the service via a new service access point sent from the mobile terminal to the existing service access point, for establishing a wireless communication session between a new wireless communication access point and the mobile terminal.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is further caused to permit the mobile terminal to use either of the defined service access point setting and the pre-defined service access point setting to access the service of the apparatus.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is further caused to cause an instruction for the mobile terminal to automatically replace the defined service access point setting with the pre-defined service access point setting to be wirelessly transmitted from the apparatus to the mobile terminal

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is further caused to cause an instruction for the mobile terminal to automatically replace the defined service access point setting with the pre-defined service access point setting at a specific time and to not attempt to establish a connection with the apparatus using the pre-defined service access point setting before the specific time to be wirelessly transmitted from the apparatus to the mobile terminal.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is further caused to cause an instruction for the mobile terminal to automatically replace the defined service access point setting with the pre-defined service access point setting after a specific period of time to be wirelessly transmitted from the apparatus to the mobile terminal.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is further caused to cause an instruction for the mobile terminal to automatically replace the defined service access point setting with the pre-defined service access point setting after a specific period of time and to not attempt to establish a connection with the apparatus using the pre-defined service access point setting before the specific period of time to be wirelessly transmitted from the apparatus to the mobile terminal.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

causing, at least in part, wireless reception of at least one pre-defined service access point setting from a wireless network at a mobile terminal, wherein said at least one pre-defined service access point setting is configured to cause access to a service from a wireless communication access point and then through an existing service access point of said wireless network;

automatically and periodically requesting to wirelessly receive from said existing service access point said at least one pre-defined service access point setting to access said service via a new service access point; and

automatically replacing the at least one defined service access point setting on said mobile terminal with said at least one pre-defined service access point setting wirelessly received from said existing service access point.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the wireless reception of the at least one pre-defined service access point setting from the wireless network at the mobile terminal is caused at least in part by said wireless network.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the wireless reception of the at least one pre-defined service access point setting from the wireless network at the mobile terminal is caused at least in part by said mobile terminal.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the wireless reception of the at least one pre-defined service access point setting from the wireless network at the mobile terminal is caused at least in part by a client application on said mobile terminal.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

establishing a communication connection through an existing service access point to a mobile terminal using a first service access point setting to access a service from a wireless communication access point and then through said existing service access point of a wireless network;

identifying by said existing service access point that the mobile terminal is using the first service access point setting;

causing, at least in part, wireless reception of automatic and periodic requests at said existing service access point from the mobile terminal;

causing, at least in part, wireless transmission of a second service access point setting from the existing service access point to the mobile terminal for automatically replacing the first service access point setting with the second service access point setting to access said service through a new service access point of said wireless network, when known by said existing service access point that said first service access point setting used by said mobile terminal is to be changed on said wireless network for providing said service.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

deleting the first access point setting at the existing service access point, thereby preventing the existing service access point to establish communication connections using the first service access point setting.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

causing an instruction for the mobile terminal to automatically replace the first service access point setting with the second service access point setting to be wirelessly transmitted from the service access point to the mobile terminal.

44. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

automatically and periodically polling an existing service access point with a client application on a mobile terminal using a first service access point setting to access a service from the wireless communication access point and then through said existing service access point, by requesting to wirelessly receive from the existing service access point a second service access point setting to access said service via a new service access point; and

causing, at least in part, wireless reception from the wireless communication access point and then through the existing service access point said second service access point setting.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

automatically and periodically polling by requesting to wirelessly receive from the existing service

access point an instruction to automatically replace the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting received from the existing service access point,

wirelessly receiving said instruction to automatically replace the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting received from the service access point; and

automatically replacing the first service access point setting on the mobile terminal with the second service access point setting received from the existing service access point.