Automated device provisioning and activation

• US 8,385,916 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/457,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/389, 370/252, 370/312, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/432.1, 455/436, 455/455, 455/507, 455/519, 455/561, 455/433, 455/437, 455/445, 455/552.1, 705/16, 705/27.1, 705/34, 705/30, 709/556.1, 709/556.2, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/229, 726/1, 726/3, 726/11
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• 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 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for controlling communications over a roaming access network by determining that an end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to the roaming access network and applying a control policy that allows the end-user device to send a first data communication over the roaming access network but prevents the end-user device from sending a second data communication over the roaming access network.

Claims

1. An end-user device, comprising:

one or more modems for enabling the end-user device to connect wirelessly to at least a home access network and a roaming access network;

memory configured to store a first control policy, the first control policy configured to allow the end-user device to send a first data communication over the roaming access network and to block the end-user device from sending a second data communication over the roaming access network; and

one or more processors configured to

determine that the end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to the roaming access network, and

when the end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to the roaming access network, apply the first control policy to the first data communication and to the second data communication.

2. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the first data communication assists the end-user device in acquiring a service from a service provider.

3. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the second data communication comprises an attempt to access a network end point other than a particular network end point that assists the end-user device in acquiring a service from a service provider.

4. The end-user device recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

obtain a service purchase option, and

assist in presenting information associated with the service purchase option through the user interface.

5. The end-user device recited in claim 4, wherein the information associated with the service purchase option comprises information about the roaming access network.

6. The end-user device recited in claim 4, wherein an aspect of the information associated with the service purchase option is based on a device user interface discovery pattern or history, an application discovery pattern or history, or a content discovery pattern or history.

7. The end-user device recited in claim 4, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain, through the user interface, a user response to the information associated with the service purchase option.

8. The end-user device recited in claim 7, wherein the user response comprises a password, a key, a keystroke, or a biometric response.

9. The end-user device recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to assist in sending the user response to a network element.

10. The end-user device recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

assist in establishing, over at least one of the home access network and the roaming access network, a secure service control link between the end-user device and a network element, the secure service control link secured by an encryption protocol and configured to support control-plane communications between the end-user device and the network element, and

assist in sending the user response to the network element over the secure service control link.

11. The end-user device recited in claim 7, wherein the user response comprises an indication of an agreement to purchase a service, and the one or more processors are further configured to apply a second control policy based on the agreement to purchase a service, the second control policy configured to allow the end-user device to send additional communications over the roaming access network.

12. The end-user device recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

assist in presenting, through the user interface, information about a service usage or cost associated with a particular application program on the end-user device, and

obtain, through the user interface, a user input comprising a directive to modify an aspect of a second control policy configured to assist in controlling the service usage associated with the particular application program.

13. The end-user device recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

assist in presenting, through the user interface, information about a service usage or cost, and

obtain, through the user interface, a user input comprising a directive to modify an aspect of a second control policy configured to assist in controlling a particular content type.

14. The end-user device recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to assist in presenting, through the user interface, a notification based on a roaming service usage or cost.

15. The end-user device recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine an estimated roaming cost based on a roaming cost rate and a roaming usage estimate, and

assist in presenting, through the user interface, the estimated roaming cost.

16. The end-user device recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a roaming service usage or cost associated with a particular application program on the end-user device, and

assist in presenting, through the user interface, an indication of the roaming service usage or cost associated with the particular application program.

17. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control a service usage or cost associated with a particular application program on the end-user device when the end-user device is connected to the roaming access network.

18. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to control communications associated with a particular service activity when the end-user device is connected to the roaming access network.

19. The end-user device recited in claim 18, wherein the particular service activity comprises a particular content type.

20. The end-user device recited in claim 18, wherein the particular service activity is associated with a particular application program or a particular network communication end point.

21. The end-user device recited in claim 18, wherein the one or more processors are configured to control communications associated with the particular service activity by restricting, blocking, delaying, or throttling communications associated with the particular service activity.

22. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify one or more available roaming access networks.

23. The end-user device recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to assist in sending information about the one or more available roaming access networks to a network element.

24. The end-user device recited in claim 22, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

obtain a roaming cost, the roaming cost associated with at least one of the one or more available roaming access networks, and

assist in presenting a notification message through the user interface, the notification message providing an indication of the roaming cost.

25. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to refrain from applying the first control policy to one or more data communications when the end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to the home access network.

26. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain at least a portion of the first control policy from a network element.

27. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

assist in establishing, over at least one of the home access network and the roaming access network, a secure service control link between the end-user device and a network element, the secure service control link secured by an encryption protocol and configured to support control-plane communications between the end-user device and the network element, and

obtain at least a portion of the first control policy from the network element over the secure service control link.

28. A method performed by a wireless end-user device capable of connecting to at least a home access network and a roaming access network, the method comprising:

determining that the wireless end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to the roaming access network;

allowing the wireless end-user device to send a first data communication over the roaming access network; and

blocking the wireless end-user device from sending a second data communication over the roaming access network.

29. A wireless end-user device comprising:

means for determining that the wireless end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to a roaming access network;

means for allowing the wireless end-user device to send a first data communication over the roaming access network; and

means for blocking the wireless end-user device from sending a second data communication over the roaming access network.