Multi-phone programming application

• US 9,509,824 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brightpoint Incorporated (HNA Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Brightpoint Incorporated (HNA Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Overby, Terry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DO, AN H
• Application Number:
  US13/864,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/433, 702/81, 702/82
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

Automated provisioning of radiotelephone handsets at a fulfillment center and automated quality assurance uses a computer database of specifications for authentication and activation from multiple handset manufacturing vendors, radiotelephone service providers, and distributors. A universal interface system is provided to efficiently access diverse makes and models of handsets. The handsets are attached to the interface system in accordance with a build request, checked to see if the attached handset matches the build request, and automatically provisioned via the interface in accordance with the build request.

Claims

1. A production provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform comprising:

an interface having at least one connector adapted for connection to radiotelephone handsets;

a computer operably connected to the interface;

memory storage in communication with the computer containing production provisioning data and instruction data for a specified radiotelephone handset connected via the interface;

software for verifying connection of the specified handset and automatically transferring the production provisioning data to handset memory storage via the interface in accordance with the instruction data; and

a first workstation configured to inspect a plurality of the provisioned handsets and inspection software for an inspection method comprising the steps of;

connecting to the first workstation a provisioned handset selected from the plurality of provisioned handsets;

comparing provisioning information in the memory storage of the provisioned handset to the provisioning data;

determining whether the inspected handset passes or fails based on the instruction data; and

moving the handset based upon the determination of pass or failure.

2. The production provisioning system of claim 1 wherein the first workstation has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the inspected handset passes or fails.

3. The production provisioning system of claim 1, wherein the connector is chosen from the group consisting of male USB Type A connector, male USB Type B connector, male Mini USB connector, male Mini USB 2.0 connector, male 4-pin IEEE-1394 connector, male 6-pin IEEE-1394 connector, female USB Type A connector, female USB Type B connector, female Mini USB connector, female Mini USB 2.0 connector, female 4-pin IEEE-1394 connector, female 6-pin IEEE-1394 connector and combinations thereof.

4. The production provisioning system of claim 1, wherein the interface is operably connected to the computer by one or more operable connections chosen from the group consisting of metallic wire, radiofrequency communication, infrared communication, fiber optic cable and combinations thereof.

5. The production provisioning system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning data comprise number assignment module settings, roaming instructions, or a combination thereof.

6. The production provisioning system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning data comprise number assignment module settings, roaming instructions, browser settings, message settings, or combinations thereof.

7. The production provisioning system of claim 6, wherein the provisioning data further comprise user features, short messaging service settings, phone book entries, date book entries, carrier specific settings, user specific settings, or combinations thereof.

8. The production provisioning system of claim 1, wherein the instruction data comprise quantity of phones to provision, carrier type, customer identification data, starting part number, final part number, handset manufacturer, handset technology type, handset model number, or a combination thereof.

9. A production provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform comprising:

a first workstation configured to inspect a plurality of provisioned handsets and inspection software for an inspection method comprising the steps of;

connecting to the first workstation a provisioned handset selected from the plurality of provisioned handsets;

comparing provisioning information in the memory storage of the provisioned handset to provisioning data;

determining whether the inspected handset passes or fails based on the instruction data; and

moving the provisioned handset based upon the determination of pass or failure.

10. The production provisioning system of claim 9, wherein the first workstation has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the inspected handset passes or fails.

11. The production provisioning system of claim 9, wherein the provisioning data comprise number assignment module settings, roaming instructions, or a combination thereof.

12. The production provisioning system of claim 9, wherein the provisioning data comprise number assignment module settings, roaming instructions, browser settings, message settings, or combinations thereof.

13. The production provisioning system of claim 12, wherein the provisioning data further comprise user features, short messaging service settings, phone book entries, date book entries, carrier specific settings, user specific settings, or combinations thereof.

14. The production provisioning system of claim 9, wherein the instruction data comprise quantity of phones to provision, carrier type, customer identification data, starting part number, final part number, handset manufacturer, handset technology type, handset model number, or a combination thereof.

15. A production provisioning system for radiotelephone handset units of varying model, manufacturer, and platform, comprising:

an interface having at least one connector adapted for connection to radiotelephone handsets having different specifications;

a computer operably connected to the interface;

memory storage in communication with the computer containing production provisioning data and instruction data for a specified radiotelephone handset connected via the interface; and

software for verifying connection of the specified handset and automatically transferring the production provisioning data to handset memory storage via the interface, wherein the software further comprises instructions for;

inspecting the memory storage of the automatically provisioned handset to verify provisioning data integrity;

comparing the provisioning information in the memory storage of the connected handset to the provisioning data;

determining whether the provisioned handset passes or fails based on the instruction data associated; and

moving the provisioned handset based upon the determination of pass or failure.

16. The universal provisioning system of claim 15 wherein the system has access to a database comprising ANSI Quality tables for inspection under ANSI Z 1.4 to determine whether the inspected handset passes or fails.

17. The production provisioning system of claim 15, wherein the provisioning data comprise number assignment module settings, roaming instructions, or a combination thereof.

18. The production provisioning system of claim 15, wherein the provisioning data comprise number assignment module settings, roaming instructions, browser settings, message settings, or combinations thereof.

19. The production provisioning system of claim 18, wherein the provisioning data further comprise user features, short messaging service settings, phone book entries, date book entries, carrier specific settings, user specific settings, or combinations thereof.

20. The production provisioning system of claim 15, wherein the instruction data comprise quantity of phones to provision, carrier type, customer identification data, starting part number, final part number, handset manufacturer, handset technology type, handset model number, or a combination thereof.