Wireless provisioning solution for target devices

• US 8,331,923 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/506,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/414.3, 455/445, 455/12.1, 455/450, 370/417, 370/401, 370/338, 709/226, 709/223, 380/2, 380/30, 379/207.02, 379/201.03
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Systems and methods to provision a non-handset target device with wide-area communication service, such as wireless wide area network (WWAN) technology. Identifying information of the target device can be provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a mobile provisioning device over a communication network. The PSP can determine the service carrier associated with the mobile provisioning device and enable the provisioning of the target device with the wide-area communication service to the service carrier via the mobile provisioning device. A billing plan can be instituted for the service of the target non-handset device relating to a billing plan of the mobile provisioning device.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a target device, comprising:

detecting, via a local provisioning interface at a provisioning device, identifying information relating to the target device;

providing, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request across a wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

receiving, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

provisioning, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected identifying information is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected identifying information is provided from the target device to the provisioning device via a communication network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the detected identifying information relating to the target device via the provisioning device comprises:

sending a short message service (SMS) message from the provisioning device to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via the carrier of the provisioning device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the detected identifying information relating to the target device via the provisioning device comprises:

providing the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

51. The method of claim 2, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

8. A provisioning device, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a local provisioning interface; and

a processor, communicating with the wireless interface, the processor being configured to;

detect, via the local provisioning interface, identifying information relating to the target device;

provide a provisioning request across the wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

receive, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

provision, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) by sending an SMS message from the provisioning device to the PSP via the carrier of the provisioning device.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided, with an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device, to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

52. The device of claim 9, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

14. A system for provisioning a target device, comprising:

means for detecting, via a local provisioning interface, identifying information relating to the target device;

means for providing, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request across a wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

means for receiving, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

means for provisioning, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) by sending an SMS message from the provisioning device to the PSP via the carrier of the provisioning device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided, with an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device, to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

53. The system of claim 15, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-tangible computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to detect, via a local provisioning interface, at a provisioning device, identifying information relating to a target device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request across a wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provision, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

24. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) by sending an SMS message from the provisioning device to the PSP via the carrier of the provisioning device.

25. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided, with an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device, to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

54. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

26. A method of provisioning a target device, comprising:

receiving, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

retrieving provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

providing, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

initiating a price plan for a communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is provided from the target device to the provisioning device via a communication network.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

55. The method of claim 27, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

33. A system for provisioning a target device, comprising:

a server being configured to;

receive, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

retrieve provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

providing, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the server is further configured to initiate a price plan for a communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

56. The system of claim 34, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

39. A system for provisioning a target device, comprising:

means for receiving, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

means for retrieving provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

means for providing, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the means for retrieving provisioning information is further configured to initiate a price plan for a communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

57. The system of claim 40, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

45. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to retrieve provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to initiate a price plan for the communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

48. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

49. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

50. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

58. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.