System and method for real time self-provisioning for a mobile communication device

• US 8,571,527 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Kruis, David P., Gilhuly, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US12/906,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A system and method of provisioning services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A provisioning request including provisioning information and specifying a provisioning operation and a first communication service is prepared on the mobile communication device and sent to a provisioning system. Processing of the provisioning request is dependent upon whether or not a second communication service has been activated for the mobile communication device. If the mobile communication device is outside a coverage area of a wireless communication network when a provisioning request is prepared, the request is stored at the mobile communication device and sent to the provisioning system when the mobile communication device enters the coverage area. The provisioning system preferably manages service provisioning for multiple services, any of which may be hosted by different service providers.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device configured to operate within a wireless communication network, the mobile communication device comprising:

a processor;

a memory device; and

a provisioning application stored on the memory device and executable by the processor, when executed by the processor the provisioning application being configured to;

generate a provisioning request that identifies a provisioning operation and specifies a first communication service and a second communication service for which the provisioning operation is requested; and

cause the mobile communication device to transmit the provisioning request to a provisioning authority over the wireless communication network, wherein the provisioning authority determines whether the second communication service would be affected by the provisioning of the first communication service before provisioning the first communication service;

wherein the provisioning request is associated with a first communication service, and the provisioning application is further configured to;

receive an indication of whether the first communication service is related to any other mobile communication device communication services; and

complete the provisioning request based on a determination that the first communication service is not related to any other mobile communication device communication services;

wherein the provisioning application is further configured to receive an alert based on a determination that the first communication service is related to any other mobile communication device communication services;

wherein the provisioning application is further configured to receive a response to the alert that includes new provisioning information and add the new provisioning information to the provisioning request;

wherein the provisioning request comprises a modify service request, and the new provisioning information specifies how any other related mobile communication device communication services should be modified.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the provisioning application is further configured to prompt for user information and mobile device information and incorporate the mobile device information and the user information into the provisioning request.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the mobile device information includes a mobile communication device identifier.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the user information includes a user name.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the user information includes billing information.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the provisioning request comprises a service activation request.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the provisioning application is further configured to receive a response to the alert that indicates whether the provisioning operation should be aborted or proceed.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the provisioning request comprises a delete service request, and the new provisioning information specifies a new communication service to replace the first communication service.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the provisioning application is further configured to receive a response to the provisioning request from the provisioning authority, the provisioning response indicating whether the provisioning request was successful.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the provisioning application configures the mobile communication device communication services in accordance with the provisioning response.

11. A mobile communication device configured to operate within a wireless communication network, the mobile communication device comprising:

a processor;

a memory device; and

a provisioning application stored on the memory device and executable by the processor, when executed by the processor the provisioning application being configured to;

receive an indication of whether a first communication service is related to another mobile communication device communication service;

receive an alert based on a determination that the first communication service is related to another mobile communication device communication service;

receive a response to the alert that includes new provisioning information and add the new provisioning information to a provisioning request, wherein the provisioning request includes a modify service request, and the new provisioning information specifies how any other related mobile communication device communication services should be modified;

generate the provisioning request associated with the first communication service that identifies a provisioning operation and specifies the first communication service and a second communication service for which the provisioning operation is requested; and

cause the mobile communication device to transmit the provisioning request to a provisioning authority over the wireless communication network, wherein the provisioning authority determines whether the second communication service is active before provisioning the first communication service, wherein the provisioning request is completed based, at least in part, on a determination that the first communication service is not related to another mobile communication device communication service.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein the provisioning request comprises a delete service request, and the new provisioning information further specifies a new communication service to replace the first communication service.