System and associated terminal, method, and computer program product for configuring and updating service access points and providing service content in the mobile domain

• US 8,768,326 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Hannikainen, Ari, Muhonen, Ahti, Salo, Juha, Vainio, Antti-Pentti
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/457,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20120207136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/558, 455436-444, 455418-420, 370259-271, 370/469, 370/369, 379157-158, 37920101-21802, 709/203, 463/62, 463/42, 717168-173
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Various techniques for service access point configuration for mobile terminals of wireless systems are provided. Pre-configured service access point settings may be provided on a multimedia memory card with a client application capable of configuring the service access point settings in the mobile terminal from the pre-configured service access point settings on the multimedia memory card. Over-the-air updating of service access point settings may be performed by communication between a service access point and a mobile terminal or a client application on the mobile terminal for automatically configuring service access point settings on the mobile terminal based upon information provided by the service access point. Service content specific pricing in the mobile domain is also provided. Service content specific pricing content delivery may be provided through a particular service access point configured for the service content specific pricing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, at a mobile terminal, a service via a first service access point to a network;

automatically and periodically initiating, at the mobile terminal, a request to receive, from the first service access point, a service access point setting to access the service via a second service access point;

wirelessly receiving, at the mobile terminal, the service access point setting and at least one instruction via the first service access point; and

replacing, at the mobile terminal, a current setting associated with the first service access point with the received setting based, at least in part, on the at least one instruction,

wherein the first and second service access points operate independently from each other as a data tunnel connecting the mobile terminal to the service via a gateway.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication connection with the second service access point; and

accessing the service through the second service access point using the received setting.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one instruction comprises timing for the initiation of the request, during either a transition of service access point settings, or after the received setting is implemented, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

varying implementation timing of the received setting based, at least in part, on one of a plurality of staggered periods established for a plurality of mobile terminals.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one instruction is associated with an operator of the network, a service provider, a content provider, an enterprise, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile phone.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein either the first service access point and a second service access point are included in one network node, or the first service access point and the second service access point are respectively included in two network nodes.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the network is configured to provide exclusive service access points for specific content.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a switching to the second service access point by the network.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the service access point setting for the second service access point is configured for delivery of content-specific pricing.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein the service access point setting is identified as needed to be updated by the network.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the first and second service access points further operate independently from each other as a data tunnel between a gateway support node and the service, and wherein the gateway support node supports the gateway for digital video broadcasting, digital audio broadcasting, multimedia broadcast/multicast service, enhanced data rates for global evolution, wideband code division multiple access, code division multiple access, wireless local area network, Bluetooth, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

wirelessly receive a service via existing first service access point to a network;

automatically and periodically initiate a request to receive from the first service access point a service access point setting to access the service via a second service access point;

wirelessly receive the service access point setting and at least one instruction via the first service access point; and

replace a current setting associated with the first service access point with the received setting based, at least in part, on the at least one instruction,

wherein the apparatus is embedded in a mobile terminal, and the first and second service access points operate independently from each other as a data tunnel connecting the mobile terminal to the service via a gateway.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

establish a communication connection with the second service access point; and

access the service through the second service access point using the received setting.

15. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one instruction comprises timing for the initiation of the request, during either a transition of service access point settings, or after the received setting is implemented, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

vary implementation timing of the received setting based, at least in part, on one of a plurality of staggered periods established for a plurality of mobile terminals.

17. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one instruction is associated with an operator of the network, a service provider, a content provider, an enterprise, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile phone.

19. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein either the first service access point and a second service access point are included in one network node, or the first service access point and the second service access point are respectively included in two network nodes.

20. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the network is configured to provide exclusive service access points for specific content.

21. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate a switching to the second service access point by the network.

22. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the service access point setting for the second service access point is configured for delivery of content-specific pricing.

23. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the service access point setting is identified as needed to be updated by the network.

24. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second service access points further operate independently from each other as a data tunnel between a gateway support node and the service, and wherein the gateway support node supports the gateway for digital video broadcasting, digital audio broadcasting, multimedia broadcast/multicast service, enhanced data rates for global evolution, wideband code division multiple access, code division multiple access, wireless local area network, Bluetooth, or a combination thereof.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

wirelessly receiving a service via a first service access point to a network;

automatically and periodically initiating a request to receive, from the first service access point, a service access point setting to access the service via a second service access point;

wirelessly receiving, at the mobile terminal, the service access point setting and at least one instruction via the first service access point; and

replacing, at the mobile terminal, a current setting associated with the first service access point with the received setting based, at least in part, on the at least one instruction,

wherein the apparatus is embedded in a mobile terminal, and the first and second service access points operate independently from each other as a data tunnel connecting the mobile terminal to the service via a gateway.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

establishing a communication connection with the second service access point; and

accessing the service through the second service access point using the received setting.