Instant activation and provisioning for telecommunication services on a mobile device

• US 9,473,873 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Inventors: Vendrow, Vlad, Shah, Praful, Shmunis, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US14/484,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20140378117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/08 menus for interactive user guidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

Methods and systems for instant activation of virtual PBX services on a mobile device are disclosed. In one aspect, a user request for activating virtual PBX services is received on a mobile device. An available primary identification number for the virtual PBX services is retrieved from a telecommunication service provider (TSP). A user interface is presented on the mobile device including a first interface portion presenting the available primary identification number and a second interface portion configured to receive a user identifier. Upon receiving the user input specifying the user identifier and while the user interface is still presented on the mobile device, a user instruction for activating the virtual PBX services is received. Upon receiving the user instruction, the user identifier is sent to the TSP. Then, a confirmation is received from the TSP.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request for activating a subset of virtual private branch exchange (PBX) services with a telecommunication service provider (TSP) on a mobile device;

receiving a user identifier;

retrieving a plurality of primary identification numbers for the subset of virtual PBX services from the TSP;

receiving a selection of a first primary identification number from the plurality of primary identification numbers;

receiving a selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services;

responsive to receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services, sending an activation request to the TSP including sending the user identifier to the TSP; and

receiving a confirmation from the TSP indicating that the subset of virtual PBX services has been successfully activated on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a user interface on the mobile device, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a first input specifying the user identifier; and

wherein receiving the user identifier comprises receiving the first input through the presented user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services comprises receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services while the user interface is still presented on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a first portion for presenting the first available primary identification number and a second portion configured to receive the first input identifying the user identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first portion presents each of the available primary identification numbers, and the method further comprises receiving a third input selecting the first primary identification number from the presented available primary identification numbers through the user interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the user identifier is an email address, wherein the subset of virtual PBX services includes an operator extension, and wherein the user interface includes a third interface portion configured to receive a telephone number for the operator extension.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the confirmation comprises receiving a confirmation email to the email address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is a telephone number, the subset of virtual PBX services includes an operator extension, and the telephone number is mapped to the operator extension.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the confirmation comprises receiving a call to the telephone number.

10. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for activating a subset of virtual private branch exchange (PBX) services with a telecommunication service provider (TSP) on a mobile device;

receiving a user identifier;

retrieving a plurality of primary identification numbers for the subset of virtual PBX services from the TSP;

receiving a selection of a first primary identification number from the plurality of primary identification numbers;

receiving a selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services;

responsive to receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services, sending an activation request to the TSP including sending the user identifier to the TSP; and

receiving a confirmation from the TSP indicating that the subset of virtual PBX services has been successfully activated on the mobile device.

11. The computer storage medium of claim 10, the operations further comprising:

presenting a user interface on the mobile device, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a first input specifying the user identifier; and

wherein receiving the user identifier comprises receiving the first input through the presented user interface.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services comprises receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services while the user interface is still presented on the mobile device.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises a first portion for presenting the first available primary identification number and a second portion configured to receive the first input identifying the user identifier.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first portion presents each of the available primary identification numbers, and the method further comprises receiving a third input selecting the first primary identification number from the presented available primary identification numbers through the user interface.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the user identifier is an email address, wherein the subset of virtual PBX services includes an operator extension, and wherein the user interface includes a third interface portion configured to receive a telephone number for the operator extension.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 10, wherein the user identifier is a telephone number, the subset of virtual PBX services includes an operator extension, and the telephone number is mapped to the operator extension.

17. A system comprising one or more processors and one or more storage devices storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for activating a subset of virtual private branch exchange (PBX) services with a telecommunication service provider (TSP) on a mobile device;

receiving a user identifier;

retrieving a plurality of primary identification numbers for the subset of virtual PBX services from the TSP;

receiving a selection of a first primary identification number from the plurality of primary identification numbers;

receiving a selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services;

responsive to receiving the selection for activating the subset of virtual PBX services, sending an activation request to the TSP including sending the user identifier to the TSP; and

receiving a confirmation from the TSP indicating that the subset of virtual PBX services has been successfully activated on the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

presenting a user interface on the mobile device, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a first input specifying the user identifier; and

wherein receiving the user identifier comprises receiving the first input through the presented user interface.