Method and system for managing wireless devices using short-range wireless communication

• US 9,559,864 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Kates, Jesse M., Delker, Jason R., Everson, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pasia, Redentor
• Application Number:
  US12/619,317
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/231, 370/248, 370/252, 370/282, 370/353, 370/395.21, 370/401, 370/420, 709/225, 709/226, 709/228, 726 2- 7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/80 Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless device includes a self-activation client that allows a user to activate a communication service for that wireless device and for one or more other wireless devices. The communication service may use a long-range type of wireless communication, such as 1×RTT CDMA, EV-DO, GSM, or IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) communication. During the activation process, the wireless device communicates with a device management server using the long-range type of wireless communication but communicates with the one or more other wireless devices using a short-range type of wireless communication, such as IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), Bluetooth, or infrared communication. After the communication service has been activated, the wireless device may subsequently communicate with the device management server in order to manage the communication service for itself and/or for one or more other wireless devices (e.g., to receive updates or to make changes).

Claims

1. A method for device management, comprising:

establishing a communication session that involves at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device, wherein each of said first and second wireless devices includes a respective short-range transceiver for a short-range type of wireless communication and a respective long-range transceiver for a long-range type of wireless communication that has a longer range than said short-range type of wireless communication, and wherein said communication session uses said short-range type of wireless communication; and

said first wireless device activating at least one communication service for said second wireless device by wirelessly communicating with at least one server using said long-range type of wireless communication, wherein said at least one communication service involves use of said long-range type of wireless communication by said long-range transceiver of said second wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said first wireless device receiving credentials from said second wireless device in said communication session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first wireless device activating at least one communication service for said second wireless device by wirelessly communicating with at least one server comprises:

said first wireless device transmitting said credentials to said at least one server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said first wireless device receiving a response from said device management server; and

said first wireless device transmitting said response to said second wireless device in said communication session, wherein said response enables said second wireless device to use said at least one communication service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said response comprises at least one service parameter.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said response comprises software or firmware.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein activating at least one communication service for said second wireless device comprises:

activating said at least one communication service for subsequent use by said second wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first wireless device is able to use said at least one communication service under a service profile, and wherein activating said at least one communication service for subsequent use by said second wireless device comprises enabling said second wireless device to use said at least one communication service under said service profile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein activating at least one communication service for said second wireless device comprises:

changing said at least one communication service for said second wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first wireless device is able to use said at least one communication service under a first service profile and said second wireless device is able to use said at least one communication service under a second service profile, and wherein changing said at least one communication service for said second wireless device comprises enabling said second wireless device to use said at least one communication service under said first service profile.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said short-range type of wireless communication comprises IEEE 802.16 communication, Bluetooth communication, or infrared communication.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication session further involves a third wireless device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

said first wireless device managing said at least one communication service for said third wireless device by wirelessly communicating with said at least one server using said long-range type of wireless communication.

14. A method for service activation, comprising:

establishing a first communication session among a plurality of wireless devices, said plurality of wireless devices including at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device, wherein each of said first and second wireless devices includes a respective short-range transceiver for a short-range type of wireless communication and a respective long-range transceiver for a long-range type of wireless communication that has a longer range than said short-range type of wireless communication, and wherein said first communication session uses said short-range type of wireless communication;

establishing a second communication session between said first wireless device and at least one server; and

said first wireless device communicating with said at least one server in said second communication session to activate at least one communication service for subsequent use by at least said second wireless device, wherein said at least one communication service involves said long-range transceiver of said at least said second wireless device using said long-range type of wireless communication.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first wireless device communicating with said at least one server in said second communication session to activate at least one communication service for subsequent use by at least said second wireless device comprises:

said first wireless device communicating with said at least one server in said second communication session to activate said at least one communication service for subsequent use by all of said plurality of wireless devices.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

said first wireless device receiving service profile information;

said first wireless device communicating said service profile information to said at least one server in said second communication session.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

creating a service profile based on said service profile information, such that all of said plurality of wireless devices are subsequently able to use said at least one communication service under said service profile.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first wireless device is involved in said second communication session while said first wireless device is involved in said first communication session.