Device assisted services install

• US 8,634,821 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ItsOn, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/674,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-409, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/431, 455/419, 709/203, 709/217, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8094 Trial service, i.e. free of charge service for trial purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A device and computer-readable medium are disclosed. The device comprises one or more modems for enabling the device to communicate over one or more wireless access networks, including a particular wireless access network, and one or more service processors configured to execute one or more instructions that cause the one or more processors to: based on a criterion, establish communication with one or more network elements available to the device, the one or more network elements associated with one or more service providers, including a particular service provider, the criterion comprising an association of at least an aspect of a credential of the device with the particular service provider or a user selection indicating the particular service provider; and update the device to include a branding, the branding for providing a user interface characteristic that is specific to the particular service provider.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

one or more modems for enabling the wireless device to communicate over one or more wireless access networks, the one or more wireless access networks including a particular wireless access network; and

one or more processors configured to execute one or more machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

based on a criterion, establish communication with one or more network elements available to the wireless device, the one or more network elements associated with one or more service providers, the one or more service providers including a particular service provider, the criterion comprising one of

an association of at least an aspect of a credential of the wireless device with the particular service provider, or

a user selection indicating the particular service provider, and

update the wireless device to include a branding, the branding for providing a user interface characteristic that is specific to the particular service provider.

2. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein update the wireless device to include a branding comprises download a software update or download additional software.

3. The wireless device recited in claim 2, wherein the software update or the additional software is based on an identity of the particular service provider or a service provider partner, or includes the branding, or includes a feature or a functionality for the particular service provider or the service provider partner.

4. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the criterion is the association of the at least an aspect of the credential of the wireless device with the particular service provider, and wherein the at least an aspect of the credential comprises information derived from a subscriber information module (SIM), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), an electronic serial number (ESN), a media access control (MAC) address, a unique device identifier, or user information.

5. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein update the wireless device to include a branding comprises obtain the branding from the one or more network elements.

6. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to update the wireless device to include a policy setting for assisting the wireless device in connecting to the particular wireless access network.

7. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to update the wireless device to include a policy setting for assisting in:

presenting a notification, obtaining or presenting service usage information, obtaining an acknowledgment, obtaining or implementing a user preference, or obtaining or implementing a privacy setting.

8. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to update the wireless device to include a policy setting comprising an authentication setting, an admission control setting, or a network or device management communication setting.

9. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to update the wireless device to include a policy setting comprising an application access setting, a content access setting, or a transaction setting.

10. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to update the wireless device to include a policy setting, the policy setting at least to assist in directing or controlling traffic or billing for a service.

11. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the criterion is the association of the at least an aspect of the credential of the wireless device with the particular service provider, and wherein establish communication with one or more network elements available to the wireless device comprises obtain the credential.

12. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to communicate with the one or more network elements to:

obtain a service selection option comprising an option to select a service offering providing for service access over the particular wireless access network, and

obtain a user preference in response to the service selection option.

13. The wireless device recited in claim 12, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to limit communications over at least one of the one or more wireless access networks unless the user preference indicates selection of the service offering.

14. The wireless device recited in claim 1, further comprising memory for storing information to assist the wireless device in establishing communication with the one or more network elements.

15. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein establish communication with one or more network elements available to the wireless device comprises establish a secure channel with the one or more network elements.

16. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein update the wireless device to include a branding comprises update or install software.

17. The wireless device recited in claim 12, wherein the service offering comprises a service plan offer.

18. The wireless device recited in claim 12, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to assist in sending the user preference to at least one of the one or more network elements.

19. The wireless device recited in claim 2, wherein the software update or the additional software includes an additional feature or additional functionality.

20. The wireless device recited in claim 2, wherein the software update or the additional software comprises:

a version based on a device type, a version based on a device group, a version based on a service type, an encrypted version, a version that includes a service plan setting or capability associated with a device group, a version that includes marketing material a version for offering a service plan option, a version with an ambient service setting, a version with an ambient service option, or a version with a service plan setting.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing machine-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless device, cause the one or more processors to:

based on a criterion, establish communication with one or more network elements available to the wireless device, the one or more network elements associated with one or more service providers, the one or more service providers including a particular service provider, the criterion comprising one of

an association of at least an aspect of a credential of the wireless device with the particular service provider, or

a user selection indicating the particular service provider; and

update the wireless device to include a branding, the branding for providing a user interface characteristic that is specific to the particular service provider.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 21, wherein establish communication with one or more network elements available to the wireless device comprises provide a credential to the one or more network elements.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 21, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, the machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

obtain a service selection option comprising an option to select a service offering providing for service access over the particular wireless access network, and

obtain a user preference in response to the service selection option.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 23, wherein the service offering comprises a service plan offer.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 21, wherein update the wireless device to include a branding comprises download a software update or download additional software.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 25, wherein the software update or the additional software is based on an identity of the particular service provider or a service provider partner, or includes the branding, or includes a feature or a functionality for the particular service provider or the service provider partner.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 25, wherein the software update or the additional software comprises:

a version based on a device type, a version based on a device group, a version based on a service type, an encrypted version, a version that includes a service plan setting or capability associated with a device group, a version that includes marketing material for encouraging a user to try or buy a service or a transaction, a version for offering a different set of one or more options for service plan choices, a version with an ambient service setting, a version with an ambient service option, or a version with a service plan setting.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 25, wherein the software update or the additional software includes an additional feature or additional functionality.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 21, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, the machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

obtain, from memory, information to assist the wireless device in establishing communication with the one or more network elements.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 21, wherein update the wireless device to include the branding comprises obtain the branding from the one or more network elements.