Wireless provisioning solution for target devices

• US 8,594,624 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• 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): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/671,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/411, 455/418, 455/403, 455/410, 380/2, 380/30, 379/201.12, 379/335, 379/334, 379/29.01, 725/87, 725/107, 725/25, 725/98, 370/351, 370/522, 370/526, 370/217, 370/476, 370/465, 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/238, 709/231, 709/219, 709/228, 348/E7.075
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 by a provisioning device, comprising:

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

providing, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request comprising the detected identifying information related to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and wherein providing the provisioning request further includes providing a desired price plan;

receiving, 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 a price plan for the communication service on the target device; and

initiating the price plan for the communication service for the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received price plan is based on the desired price plan.

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

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

5. 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.

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:

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.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning device is a mobile device.

7. A provisioning device, comprising:

a wireless interface; and

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

detect identifying information relating to the target device;

provide a provisioning request comprising the detected identifying information related to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and wherein providing the provisioning request further includes providing a desired price plan;

receive, 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 a price plan for the communication service on the target device; and

initiate the price plan for the communication service for the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the received price plan is based on the desired price plan.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

10. The device of claim 7, 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.

11. The device of claim 7, 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.

44. The provisioning device of claim 7, wherein the provisioning device is a mobile device.

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

means for detecting, at a provisioning device, identifying information relating to the target device;

means for providing, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request comprising the detected identifying information related to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and wherein providing the provisioning request further includes providing a desired price plan;

means for receiving, 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 a price plan for the communication service on the target device; and

means for initiating the price plan for the communication service for the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the received price plan is based on the desired price plan.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

15. The system of claim 12, 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.

16. The system of claim 12, 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.

45. The system of claim 12, wherein the provisioning device is a mobile device.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to detect, 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 comprising the detected identifying information related to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and wherein providing the provisioning request further includes providing a desired price plan;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive, 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 a price plan for the communication service on the target device; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to initiate the price plan for the communication service for the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the received price plan is based on the desired price plan.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, 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.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, 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.

46. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the provisioning device is a mobile device.

22. A method of provisioning a target device by a provisioning service provider, comprising:

receiving, from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device, carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and a desired price plan;

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;

initiating the price plan for the communication service on the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device; and

providing, to the provisioning device, the provisioning information and the price plan for a communication service on the target device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the price plan is based on the desired price.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is provided from the target device to the provisioning device via a communication network.

26. The method of claim 22, 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.

27. The method of claim 22, 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.

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

a server being configured to;

receive, from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device, carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and a desired price plan;

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;

initiate the price plan for the communication service on the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device; and

provide, to the provisioning device, the provisioning information and the price plan for a communication service on the target device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the price plan is based on the desired price plan.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

31. The system of claim 28, 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 system of claim 28, 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.

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

means for receiving, from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device, carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device, and a desired price plan;

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;

means for initiating the price plan for the communication service on the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device; and

means for providing, to the provisioning device, the provisioning information and the price plan for a communication service on the target device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the price plan is based on the desired price plan.

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

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

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

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;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to initiate the price plan for the communication service on the target device, wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide, to the provisioning device, the provisioning information and the price plan for a communication service on the target device.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the price plan is based on the desired price plan.

40. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

41. The computer program product of claim 38, 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.

42. The computer program product of claim 38, 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.