Downloadable configuring application for a wireless device

• US 9,191,276 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jacobs, Paul E., Sprigg, Stephen A., Lezny, Jan K., Kenagy, Jason B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Application Number:
  US14/268,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20140244811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 4554141-4143, 455/403, 455/466, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and programs for activating a feature on a wireless device includes requesting the feature at the wireless device. A feature includes additional functions and services that add capability to or accessed by the wireless device, such as, but not limited to, voice mail, voice recognition, access to GPS, MPEG functions, and access to a data channel or increased data rates. The wireless device downloads a component from a download server that contains the logic to configure the wireless device as well as a carrier server to activate the feature. An expiration parameter or other licensing term may be associated with the requested feature. Upon expiration, the wireless device and/or carrier server is reconfigured to deactivate the feature.

Claims

1. A method of operating a client device, comprising:

receiving an initial request from a user to execute an application on the client device;

determining that execution of the application requires access to a feature;

generating, by the client device without an explicit command from the user, a supplemental request for activating the feature in response to the determination, the feature associated with one or more feature licensing parameters that specify an activation requirement for the feature;

activating the feature in response to the supplemental request based on the activation requirement being satisfied; and

permitting the feature to remain activated if the activation requirement is satisfied, and deactivating the feature if the activation requirement is no longer satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation requirement includes an expiration parameter that indicates a use period for the feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature is installed but not activated on the client device when the initial request is received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating includes sending a message to a server to configure the server so that the client device can access the feature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating includes:

downloading a component; and

installing the component on the client device in order to access the feature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the deactivating includes removing the component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating includes setting one or more parameters, updating one or more access tables or otherwise indicating to the client device or a platform on the client device that the feature may be accessed by the client device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature includes one or more of a voice recognition feature, a geographic location determination feature, a voicemail feature, data rates associated with network data usage, a caller identification feature, a data exchange-related feature, a video data-related feature, and an audio data-related feature.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the application is a mapping application, and

wherein the feature includes the geographic location determination feature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the geographic location determination feature is GPS.

11. A client device, comprising:

a processor coupled to memory and configured to;

receive an initial request from a user to execute an application on the client device;

determine that execution of the application requires access to a feature;

generate, without an explicit command from the user, a supplemental request for activating the feature in response to the determination, the feature associated with one or more feature licensing parameters that specify an activation requirement for the feature;

activate the feature in response to the supplemental request based on the activation requirement being satisfied; and

permit the feature to remain activated if the activation requirement is satisfied, and deactivate the feature if the activation requirement is no longer satisfied.

12. The client device of claim 11, wherein the activation requirement includes an expiration parameter that indicates a use period for the feature.

13. The client device of claim 11, wherein the feature is installed but not activated on the client device when the initial request is received.

14. The client device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to activate the feature by sending a message to a server to configure the server so that the client device can access the feature.

15. The client device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

download a component; and

install the component on the client device in order to access the feature.

16. The client device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the feature by removing the component.

17. The client device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to activate by setting one or more parameters, updating one or more access tables or otherwise indicating to the client device or a platform on the client device that the feature may be accessed by the client device.

18. The client device of claim 11, wherein the feature includes one or more of a voice recognition feature, a geographic location determination feature, a voicemail feature, data rates associated with network data usage, a caller identification feature, a data exchange-related feature, a video data-related feature, and an audio data-related feature.

19. The client device of claim 18,

wherein the application is a mapping application, and

wherein the feature includes the geographic location determination feature.

20. The client device of claim 19, wherein the geographic location determination feature is GPS.

21. A client device, comprising:

means for receiving an initial request from a user to execute an application on the client device;

means for determining that execution of the application requires access to a feature;

means for generating, without an explicit command from the user, a supplemental request for activating the feature in response to the determination, the feature associated with one or more feature licensing parameters that specify an activation requirement for the feature;

means for activating the feature in response to the supplemental request based on the activation requirement being satisfied; and

means for permitting the feature to remain activated if the activation requirement is satisfied, and for deactivating the feature if the activation requirement is no longer satisfied.

22. The client device of claim 21, wherein the activation requirement includes an expiration parameter that indicates a use period for the feature.

23. The client device of claim 21, wherein the feature is installed but not activated on the client device when the initial request is received.

24. The client device of claim 21, wherein the means for activating activates the feature by setting one or more parameters, updating one or more access tables or otherwise indicating to the client device or a platform on the client device that the feature may be accessed by the client device.

25. The client device of claim 21, wherein the feature includes one or more of a voice recognition feature, a geographic location determination feature, a voicemail feature, data rates associated with network data usage, a caller identification feature, a data exchange-related feature, a video data-related feature, and an audio data-related feature.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a client device, cause the client device to perform operations, the instructions including:

at least one instruction to cause the client device to receive an initial request from a user to execute an application on the client device;

at least one instruction to cause the client device to determine that execution of the application requires access to a feature;

at least one instruction to cause the client device to generate, without an explicit command from the user, a supplemental request for activating the feature in response to the determination, the feature associated with one or more feature licensing parameters that specify an activation requirement for the feature;

at least one instruction to cause the client device to activate the feature in response to the supplemental request based on the activation requirement being satisfied; and

at least one instruction to cause the client device to permit the feature to remain activated if the activation requirement is satisfied, and to deactivate the feature if the activation requirement is no longer satisfied.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the activation requirement includes an expiration parameter that indicates a use period for the feature.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the feature is installed but not activated on the client device when the initial request is received.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the at least one instruction to cause the client device to activate the feature causes the client device to activate the feature by setting one or more parameters, updating one or more access tables or otherwise indicating to the client device or a platform on the client device that the feature may be accessed by the client device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the feature includes one or more of a voice recognition feature, a geographic location determination feature, a voicemail feature, data rates associated with network data usage, a caller identification feature, a data exchange-related feature, a video data-related feature, and an audio data-related feature.