Method and apparatus for the activation of services

• US 9,749,979 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Puusaari, Kristian, Davies, Jonathan, Pugsley, Craig, Nieminen, Timo T., Tamminen, Aki, Ylinen, Samuli, Hokkanen, Jyrki
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US15/425,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• Field of Search: 4554351-4353, 455418-420
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

An approach is provided for presenting an activation indicator to a user. A connection with a mobile device is detected. Retrieval is caused, at least in part, of a unique hardware identifier associated with the mobile device. It is determined that the mobile device is eligible for a service based on the unique hardware identifier. Presentation is caused, at least in part, of a visual indicator of the eligibility for the service based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a connection in a computing device with a user equipment;

causing, without user intervention, a retrieval of user information for identifying a user of the user equipment,

wherein the user information was previously stored in the user equipment;

causing a transmission of a request to a service platform for a service status of a service based on the user information;

receiving the service status from the service platform;

determining a status of the computing device or the user equipment for the service based on the service status; and

initiating an indicator of the status for the service based on the determination.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the status for the service, causing an execution of a wizard application for a registration of the user equipment, the computing device, or a combination thereof with the service.

3. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a portion of the user information stored in a memory of the user device; and

causing a pre-filling of one or more user information fields of the wizard application using the portion of the user information available at the user device during the registration.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the computing device queries the user equipment for the portion of the user information stored in the memory of the user device during a process for the registration of the computing device.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the user information includes service-related information, account information, a user identifier, a user password, a personal identification number, user contact information, an email address, a phone number, social network service information, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the status for the service includes licensing information based on characteristics of the user equipment.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the characteristics of the user equipment includes a country location of the user equipment.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the service status includes information indicating a compatibility of the user equipment with the service, information indicating an activation or an association of the user equipment with the service, information indicating that the user equipment has a license for the service, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

detect a connection in a computing device with a user equipment;

cause, without user intervention, a retrieval of user information for identifying a user of the user equipment,

wherein the user information was previously stored in the user equipment;

cause a transmission of a request to a service platform for a service status of a service based on the user information;

receive the service status from the service platform;

determine a status of the computing device or the user equipment for the service based on the service status; and

initiate an indicator of the status for the service based on the determination.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

based on the status for the service, cause an execution of a wizard application for a registration of the user equipment, the computing device, or a combination thereof with the service.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a portion of the user information stored in a memory of the user device; and

cause a pre-filling of one or more user information fields of the wizard application using the portion of the user information available at the user device during the registration.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the computing device queries the user equipment for the portion of the user information stored in the memory of the user device during a process for the registration of the computing device.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user information includes service-related information, account information, a user identifier, a user password, a personal identification number, user contact information, an email address, a phone number, social network service information, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the status for the service includes licensing information based on characteristics of the user equipment.

15. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the characteristics of the user equipment includes a country location of the user equipment.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the service status includes information indicating a compatibility of the user equipment with the service, information indicating an activation or an association of the user equipment with the service, information indicating that the user equipment has a license for the service, or a combination thereof.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

detecting a connection in a computing device with a user equipment;

causing, without user intervention, a retrieval of user information for identifying a user of the user equipment,

wherein the user information was previously stored in the user equipment;

causing a transmission of a request to a service platform for a service status of a service based on the user information;

receiving the service status from the service platform;

determining a status of the computing device or the user equipment for the service based on the service status; and

initiating an indicator of the status for the service based on the determination.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

based on the status for the service, causing an execution of a wizard application for a registration of the user equipment, the computing device, or a combination thereof with the service.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

determining a portion of the user information stored in a memory of the user device; and

causing a pre-filling of one or more user information fields of the wizard application using the portion of the user information available at the user device during the registration.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the computing device queries the user equipment for the portion of the user information stored in the memory of the user device during a process for the registration of the computing device.