System for activating and customizing a mobile device via near field communication

• US 9,026,105 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Shipley, Trevor Daniel, Spanel, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/831,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/522, 455/550.1, 455571-574
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for customizing the service for a mobile device via near field communication (NFC). A mobile device may comprise an activation application operable to complete a provisioning process on the mobile device to enable the device for service. The activation application may require provisioning data to be input by a user or operator of the mobile device, where provisioning data may comprise service provider information, service preference information, branding information, technical parameters, user credentials, and/or other parameters needed to customize service enablement of the mobile device, and may be communicated to the mobile device via near field communication.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a mobile device comprising:

prior to the mobile device being provisioned for communication services with a communications network;

powering, by a provisioning platform that includes a non-transitory memory and executes at least one processor, a near field communication transceiver on the mobile device with an energizing radio field from the provisioning platform;

communicating, by the provisioning platform, provisioning data to the mobile device via near field communication, wherein the near field communication transceiver and the mobile device are not powered by any other source during the communication of the provisioning data; and

responsive to communicating the provisioning data, storing the provisioning data in a non-transitory storage on the mobile device, the non-transitory storage being associated with the near field communication transceiver, wherein the provisioning data is used to complete a provisioning process on the mobile device, and wherein the provisioning process provisions the mobile device for communication services with the communications network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

powering on the mobile device using a battery coupled to the mobile device; and

completing a provisioning process using the provisioning data communicated to the mobile device by near field communication.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the provisioning process is completed by an activation application on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-transitory storage comprises a secure element coupled to the near field communication transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a near field communication pad at a retail location provides the energizing radio field and communicates the provisioning data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the retail location comprises a self-service kiosk.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the provisioning data comprises one or more of:

service provider information, service preference information, branding information, technical parameters, and user credentials.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the provisioning data is at least partially compiled from user input preferences or options.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the powering of the near field communication transceiver and communicating the provisioning data is completed by a fulfillment center at a warehouse, manufacturing or storage facility before the mobile device is shipped to a user.

10. A method of provisioning a mobile device comprising:

prior to the mobile device being provisioned for communication services with a communications network;

temporarily powering, by a provisioning platform that includes a non-transitory memory and executes at least one processor, a near field communication transceiver on the mobile device with an energizing radio field, wherein the energizing radio field is provided by the provisioning platform at a retail location;

communicating, by the provisioning platform, provisioning data to the mobile device via near field communication, wherein the communicating is completed while the near field communication transceiver and the mobile device are not powered by a battery coupled to the mobile device;

storing the provisioning data in a secure element on the mobile device, wherein the secure element is a non-transitory storage and is associated with the near field communication transceiver;

after storing the provisioning data in the secure element, powering on the mobile device using at least the battery coupled to the mobile device; and

subsequent to the mobile device being powered by the battery, completing a provisioning process, on the mobile device, using the provisioning data stored in the secure element while the mobile device was not powered by the battery, wherein the provisioning process provisions the mobile device for communication services with the communications network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the provisioning process is completed by an activation application on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the activation application searches the secure element for the provisioning data when the mobile device is powered on.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the secure element is cleared of the provisioning data after the provisioning data has been accessed by the activation application.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the activation application searches the secure element for the provisioning data only if the mobile device is in an un-provisioned state.

15. A method of provisioning or performing maintenance on a plurality of mobile devices comprising:

prior to a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices being provisioned for communication services with a communications network;

powering, by a provisioning platform that includes a non-transitory memory and executes at least one processor, an antenna on the first mobile device with an energizing radio field from the provisioning platform, wherein the first mobile device is not powered by any other source;

communicating, by the provisioning platform, provisioning data to the first mobile device via a communication radio field from the provisioning platform;

storing the provisioning data in a non-transitory storage on the first mobile device, wherein the non-transitory storage is associated with the antenna on the first mobile device, and wherein the provisioning data initiates a provisioning process on the first mobile device for communication services with the communications network;

subsequent to a second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices being provisioned for communication services with the communications network;

powering, by the provisioning platform, an antenna on the second mobile device with an energizing radio field from the provisioning platform, wherein the second mobile device is not powered by any other source;

communicating, by the provisioning platform, maintenance data to the second mobile device via a communication radio field from the provisioning platform; and

storing the maintenance data in a non-transitory storage on the second mobile device, wherein the non-transitory storage is associated with the antenna on the second mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

powering on at least the first mobile device using a battery coupled to the device; and

responsive to the powering on of the first mobile device, completing the provisioning process using the provisioning data stored on the first mobile device while the first mobile device was powered by the energizing radio field.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the antenna of the first mobile device comprises a near field communication antenna.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein powering of the antenna of the first mobile device and communicating of the provisioning data is performed by a field support tool or service unit.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein access to a cellular network is not required to provision or perform maintenance on the device.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the powering and the communicating are performed by a near field communication pad at a retail location, wherein the near field communication pad is the provisioning platform.