Over the air programming via a broadband access gateway

• US 9,226,177 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Abrams, Marc, Seshadri, Nambirajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/134,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method supporting over-the-air programming of access device such as, for example, a mobile multimedia handset and a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) via a broadband access gateway, is disclosed. The broadband access gateway may receive identifying information from the access device via a personal area network and/or a wireless local area network, and may transfer the identifying information to a wide area network or a third party content provider, via a broadband network. The broadband access gateway may enable the registration of the access device with the wide area network, and may receive firmware/software updates and/or provisioning parameters via the broadband network. The gateway may then transfer the firmware/software update and/or provisioning parameters to the access device via the personal area network and/or wireless local area network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a gateway,

establishing data communication with a broadband network;

establishing a local wireless communication network in an area;

via the local wireless communication network, receiving identification information from an access device, the identification information identifying the access device;

using the received identification information, determining whether the identified access device supports service via a wide area telecommunications network;

if the identified access device supports service via the wide area telecommunications network, communicating a registration query to a wide area service provider via the broadband network to determine if the identified access device is registered for service via the wide area telecommunications network;

if the identified access device is not registered for service via the wide area telecommunications network, communicating a prompt over the local wireless network to elect service registration by the access device;

receiving from the identified access device over the local wireless network registration information;

forwarding the received registration information to a remote destination via the broadband network;

receiving provisioning parameters for the identified access device via the broadband network; and

communicating the provisioning parameters to the identified access device via the local wireless communication network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the provisioning parameters to the identified access device comprises communicating one or more of:

an international mobile station identifier (IMSI), a mobile identification number (MIN), a system identifier (SID);

a security key, a radio frequency operating parameter, an access channel, a control channel, a paging channel, a neighbor list, or access overload class information for the identified access device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing a local wireless communication network in an area comprises establishing a network compliant with one or more of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11 b, 802.11 g or 802.11 n standards.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from the identified access device over the local wireless network information identifying a user of the identified access device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving information identifying a user of the identified access device comprises receiving at least one of a member identifier, a user name, an administrative identifier, and a credit card number of the user of the identified access device.

6. A method comprising:

at a gateway,

establishing data communication with a broadband network;

establishing a local wireless communication network in an area;

via the local wireless communication network, receiving identification information from an access device, the identification information identifying the access device;

using the received identification information, determining whether the identified access device supports service via a wide area telecommunications network;

if the identified access device supports service via the wide area telecommunications network, communicating a registration query to a wide area service provider via the broadband network to determine if the identified access device is registered for service via the wide area telecommunications network;

if the identified access device is not registered for service via the wide area telecommunications network, communicating a prompt over the local wireless network to elect service registration by the access device;

receiving from the identified access device over the local wireless network registration information;

forwarding the received registration information to a remote destination via the broadband network;

receiving provisioning parameters for the identified access device via the broadband network;

communicating the provisioning parameters to the identified access device via the local wireless communication network;

determining whether an update of software or firmware for the identified access device is available;

if an update of software or firmware for the identified access device is available, receiving over the broadband network updating code for the identified access device; and

communicating the updating code to the identified access device over the local wireless network.

7. A method for over the air programming of a new wireless device, the method comprising:

at a gateway device including a wireless interface establishing a wireless local area network and a modem configured to communicate over a broadband network,

wirelessly communicating with wireless devices in a retail location over the wireless local area network serving the retail location;

receiving an initial communication from the new wireless device;

communicating with one of a service provider of a wide area telecommunications network on which the new wireless access device may operate and a manufacturer of the new wireless access device, or both, over the broadband network;

determining whether the new wireless device supports service on the wide area telecommunications network;

determining whether the new wireless device is registered for service on the wide area telecommunications network;

communicating a prompt over the local wireless network to prompt the new wireless device or a user of the new wireless device to elect service registration by the new wireless device;

receiving from the new wireless device over the local wireless network registration information for the new wireless device, the registration information sufficient to begin registration of the new wireless device on the wide area telecommunications network;

forwarding the registration information over the broadband network to the service provider of the wide area telecommunications network;

receiving provisioning parameters for the new wireless device from the service provider of the wide area telecommunications network over the broadband network;

communicating the received provisioning parameters to the new wireless device via the local wireless communication network to register the new wireless device on the wide on the telecommunications network;

determining whether an update of software or firmware for the new wireless device is available;

if an update of software or firmware for the new wireless device is available, receiving over the broadband network updating firmware or software for the identified access device; and

communicating the updating firmware or software to the new wireless device over the local wireless network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein wirelessly communicating with wireless devices comprises communicating with the wireless devices including the new wireless device over a network compliant with one or more of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11n standards.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein communicating the provisioning parameters to the new wireless device comprises communicating one or more of:

an international mobile station identifier (IMSI) for the new wireless device, a mobile identification number (MIN) for the new wireless device, a system identifier (SID) for the wide are telecommunications network;

a security key, a radio frequency operating parameter, an access channel for the wide are telecommunications network, a control channel for the wide are telecommunications network, a paging channel for the wide are telecommunications network, a neighbor list, or access overload class information for the new wireless device.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving an initial communication from the new wireless device comprises receiving identification information for the new wireless device.

11. A system comprising:

a communication device including

circuitry configured for communication with a broadband network and a local wireless communication network,

circuitry configured to receive identification information for an access device over the local wireless communication network,

circuitry configured to cause a user of the access device to be prompted to enter registration information required for service registration of the access device or the user of the access device on the broadband network, and to receive the registration information from the access device over the local wireless communication network,

circuitry configured to forward the received registration information over the broadband network to a service provider of the broadband network, and

circuitry configured to receive provisioning parameters for the access device over the broadband network and to communicate the received provisioning parameters to the access device over the local wireless communication network, including circuitry configured to use at least the identification information to determine whether the access device supports service over a wide area telecommunications network;

circuitry to determine, if the access device does support service via the wide area telecommunications network, if the access device is registered for service on the wide area telecommunications network;

including

circuitry to communicate a registration query to a service provider of the wide area telecommunications network or a manufacturer of the wireless access, or both, to determine if the access device is registered for service over the wide area telecommunications network; and

circuitry to communicate, over the local wireless communication network, to the user of the access device, if the access device is not registered for service over the wide area telecommunications network, a prompt to elect service registration by the access device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a modem circuit configured to communicate broadband data between the communication device and the broadband network; and

a wireless interface circuit configured to communicate local data between the communication device and the local wireless communication network.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the modem comprises one or more of a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem;

a cable modem and a DOCSIS modem configured for data communication over the broadband network, and wherein the wireless interface circuit comprises one or more of circuitry compliant with one or more of;

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11 b, 802.11 g or 802.11 n standards and the Bluetooth standard.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising circuitry to receive over the broadband network one or more of:

an international mobile station identifier (IMSI), a mobile identification number (MIN), a system identifier (SID);

a security key, a radio frequency operating parameter, an access channel, a control channel, a paging channel, a neighbor list, or access overload class information for the access device as the provisioning parameters for the access device.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising circuitry to receive at least one of a member identifier, a user name, an administrative identifier, and a credit card number of the user of the identified access device as the identification information from an access device over the local wireless communication network.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising circuitry to receive over the broadband network updating firmware or software for the access device;

and circuitry to communicate the updating firmware or software to the wireless device over the local wireless communication network.