Methods and apparatus for service provisioning in wireless communication networks

• US 9,204,292 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shi, Guangming Carl, Lee, Kuo-Chun, Cheng, Steven, Siu, Isaac Ta-yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sabouri, Mazda
• Application Number:
  US12/254,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20100098035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,598 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/435.3, 455/435.2, 455/410, 455/411, 370/342, 370/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

An open service provisioning method may be implemented by a terminal. The method may include receiving a customer'"'"'s selection of a first-time network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP). The method may also include establishing a connection with the first-time NAP/NSP. The method may also include receiving information about possible other NAPs/NSPs while connected to the first-time NAP/NSP. The method may also include receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a home NAP/NSP. The method may also include assisting the customer to sign up for service with the home NAP/NSP. The method may further include establishing a connection with the home NAP/NSP.

Claims

1. An open service provisioning method, the method being implemented by a terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a customer'"'"'s selection of a first-time network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP);

establishing an over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP, wherein connecting to the first-time NAP/NSP comprises providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the first-time NAP/NSP to bypass authentication;

receiving information about possible NAPs/NSPs via the over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP and before signing up for service with one of the possible NAPs/NSPs;

receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a home NAP/NSP from the possible NAPs/NSPs;

assisting the customer to sign up for service with the home NAP/NSP; and

establishing a connection with the home NAP/NSP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed the first time that the customer uses the terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating user-controlled NAP/NSP record lists based on customer input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading operator-controlled NAP/NSP record lists from the home NAP/NSP.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving authentication credentials and payment information from the customer for the home NAP/NSP.

6. A terminal configured for open service provisioning, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive a customer'"'"'s selection of a first-time network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP);

establish an over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP, wherein connecting to the first-time NAP/NSP comprises providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the first-time NAP/NSP to bypass authentication;

receive information about possible NAPs/NSPs via the over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP and before signing up for service with one of the possible NAPs/NSPs;

receive the customer'"'"'s selection of a home NAP/NSP from the possible NAPs/NSPs;

assist the customer to sign up for service with the home NAP/NSP; and

establish a connection with the home NAP/NSP.

7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the recited acts are performed the first time that the customer uses the terminal.

8. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the instructions are also executable to create user-controlled NAP/NSP record lists based on customer input.

9. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the instructions are also executable to download operator-controlled NAP/NSP record lists from the home NAP/NSP.

10. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the instructions are also executable to receive authentication credentials and payment information from the customer for the home NAP/NSP.

11. A terminal configured for open service provisioning, comprising:

means for receiving a customer'"'"'s selection of a first-time network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP);

means for establishing an over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP, wherein connecting to the first-time NAP/NSP comprises means for providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the first-time NAP/NSP to bypass authentication;

means for receiving information about possible NAPs/NSPs via the over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP and before signing up for service with one of the possible NAPs/NSPs;

means for receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a home NAP/NSP from the possible other NAPs/NSPs;

means for assisting the customer to sign up for service with the home NAP/NSP; and

means for establishing a connection with the home NAP/NSP.

12. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising means for creating user-controlled NAP/NSP record lists based on customer input.

13. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising means for downloading operator-controlled NAP/NSP record lists from the home NAP/NSP.

14. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising means for receiving authentication credentials and payment information from the customer for the home NAP/NSP.

15. A computer-program product for open service provisioning by a terminal, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for receiving a customer'"'"'s selection of a first-time network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP);

code for establishing an over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP, wherein connecting to the first-time NAP/NSP comprises code for providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the first-time NAP/NSP to bypass authentication;

code for receiving information about possible NAPs/NSPs via the over the air connection with the first-time NAP/NSP and before signing up for service with one of the possible NAPs/NSPs;

code for receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a home NAP/NSP from the possible NAPs/NSPs;

code for assisting the customer to sign up for service with the home NAP/NSP; and

code for establishing a connection with the home NAP/NSP.

16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions also comprise code for creating user-controlled NAP/NSP record lists based on customer input.

17. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions also comprise code for downloading operator-controlled NAP/NSP record lists from the home NAP/NSP.

18. The computer-program product of claim 15, further comprising code for receiving authentication credentials and payment information from the customer for the home NAP/NSP.

19. An over-the-air service provisioning method, the method being implemented by a terminal, the method comprising:

selecting from a list of possible network access providers and network service providers in a coverage area of the terminal, a network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP), other than a home NAP/NSP, for over-the-air service provisioning;

performing initial network entry procedures with the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, wherein the initial entry procedures comprise providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning to bypass authentication;

receiving, over the air and from the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, service provisioning information that comprises NAP/NSP record lists;

receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address;

using the service provisioning information to create a service flow; and

using the IP address to establish IP data communication;

wherein the method is performed the first time that a customer uses the terminal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein after the service flow is created, the method further comprises:

receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a username; and

notifying the home NAP/NSP about the selected username.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the IP address is received from a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the service provisioning information is received from a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server.

23. A terminal configured for over-the-air service provisioning, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

select from a list of possible network access providers and network service providers in a coverage area of the terminal, a network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP), other than a home NAP/NSP, for over-the-air service provisioning;

perform initial network entry procedures with the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, wherein the initial entry procedures comprise providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning to bypass authentication;

receive, over the air and from the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, service provisioning information that comprises NAP/NSP record lists;

receive an Internet Protocol (IP) address;

use the service provisioning information to create a service flow; and

use the IP address to establish IP data communication;

wherein the recited acts are performed the first time that a customer uses the terminal.

24. The terminal of claim 23, wherein after the service flow is created, the instructions are also executable to:

receive the customer'"'"'s selection of a username; and

notify the home NAP/NSP about the selected username.

25. The terminal of claim 23, wherein the IP address is received from a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server.

26. The terminal of claim 23, wherein the service provisioning information is received from a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server.

27. A terminal configured for over-the-air service provisioning, comprising:

means for selecting from a list of possible network access providers and network service providers in a coverage area of the terminal, a network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP), other than a home NAP/NSP, for over-the-air service provisioning;

means for performing initial network entry procedures with the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, wherein the initial entry procedures comprise providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning to bypass authentication;

means for receiving, over the air and from the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, service provisioning information that comprises NAP/NSP record lists;

means for receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address;

means for using the service provisioning information to create a service flow; and

means for using the IP address to establish IP data communication;

wherein the recited acts are performed the first time that a customer uses the terminal.

28. The terminal of claim 27, further comprising:

means for receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a username after the service flow is created; and

means for notifying the home NAP/NSP about the selected username.

29. A computer-program product for over-the-air service provisioning by a terminal, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for selecting from a list of possible network access providers and network service providers in a coverage area of the terminal, a network access provider and network service provider (NAP/NSP), other than a home NAP/NSP, for over-the-air service provisioning;

code for performing initial network entry procedures with the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, wherein the initial entry procedures comprise providing an identifier having a reserved domain name and a top-level domain name, wherein the reserved domain name causes the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning to bypass authentication;

code for receiving, over the air and from the NAP/NSP selected for over-the-air service provisioning, service provisioning information that comprises NAP/NSP record lists;

code for receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address;

code for using the service provisioning information to create a service flow; and

code for using the IP address to establish IP data communication;

wherein the recited acts are performed the first time that a customer uses the terminal.

30. The computer-program product of claim 29, wherein the instructions further comprise:

code for receiving the customer'"'"'s selection of a username after the service flow is created; and

code for notifying the home NAP/NSP about the selected username.