Associating a particular account configuration during the out of box experience for a mobile device

• US 8,855,605 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Nielsen, Lars Fjeldsoe, Stockwell, Will, Sydell, Alex, Grue, Tony, Consalus, Kyle, Jaswa, Sujay, Ni, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US13/923,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 455406-411, 455/415, 455418-420, 455/435.1, 455/461
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A method of providing particular account configurations to a user of a mobile device based on a predetermined account configuration offering between a mobile device manufacturer and a third-party service provider based on a code stored on the mobile device. During the out-of-box experience (OOBE) when the user is initially configuring the mobile device, the third-party provider receives user information, a code, and a mobile device identification number. The third-party service provider confirms that the mobile device is eligible for the particular account configuration by using the code and mobile device identification number. Once account configuration eligibility is confirmed, the third-party service provider associates the particular account configuration with either an existing user account or with a new user account established during the OOBE.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of associating an account configuration with an account for a user by at least one processor, comprising the steps of:

receiving information from a mobile device, wherein the information comprises;

user information received from a user;

a mobile device identification number; and

a code that is preloaded in memory contained within the mobile device prior to the user receiving the device,

in response to receiving the information from the mobile device, verifying, using the mobile device identification number and the code, that the mobile device qualifies the user for an account configuration; and

in response to verifying that the mobile device qualifies the user for the account configuration, determining whether the user is new or existing, then executing a step that is selected from a group consisting of;

associating the account configuration with an existing user account based on the user information, and

establishing a new account for a user associated with the user information and associating the account configuration with the new account.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user information further comprises a username and a password.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device identification number is unique to the mobile device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a notification to the user of the mobile device that at least one criterion must be satisfied prior to receiving the account configuration.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the account is an account on a synched content management system.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the code is included in a file that is preloaded on the mobile device before the mobile device is shipped to the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the file is a Java Archive file.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the account configuration is associated with free cloud-based storage space.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the free cloud-based storage space is provided to the user for a fixed period of time.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

confirming if the user has satisfied at least one criterion; and

a step selected from the group consisting of;

providing the account configuration to the user if the at least one criterion has been satisfied, and

sending notification to the user that the at least one criterion must be satisfied prior to providing the account configuration to the user.

11. A mobile device comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor;

a code stored in the memory;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to, upon initial activation setup of the mobile device;

receive information from a user;

retrieve the code associated with a service from the memory;

transmit the information, the code and a mobile device identification number to a third-party associated with the code;

receive account configuration information from the third-party confirming that the mobile device qualifies the user for a particular account configuration; and

in response to receiving the account configuration information from the third-party associated with the code, enable setup of the service on the mobile device where the account configuration is associated with an existing account or the account configuration is associated with a new account based on whether the user is determined to be a new user or an existing user.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the code is contained in a Java Archive file.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the information comprises a username and a password.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the code is associated with free cloud-based storage space.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to automatically populate information on the mobile device once the service is set-up.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the code is retrieved in response to receiving the information from the user.

17. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is a handheld device.

18. A system, comprising at least one processor configured to provide a user of a mobile device a particular account configuration for a service based on a code stored on the mobile device and in context of the user initially setting up the mobile device, comprising:

receiving information from the mobile device when the user is initially setting up the mobile device, wherein the information comprises;

a mobile device identification number;

user information received from a user; and

the code;

in response to receiving the information from the mobile device, confirming, using the information, that the user of the mobile device is eligible for the particular account configuration for the service;

in response to confirming that the user is eligible for the particular account configuration, determining whether the user is new or existing; and

executing a step that is selected from a group consisting of;

associating the particular account configuration with an existing user account based on the user information, and

establishing a new account for the user associated with the user information and associating the particular account configuration with the new account.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the account is an account on a synched content management system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the code is included in a file that is preloaded on the mobile device prior to the mobile device being provided to the user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the particular account configuration is associated with free cloud-based storage space on the synched content management system.