Assisted cellular device activation

• US 9,854,426 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Carl, Robinson, Quentin N., Basu, Shamik
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US15/295,324
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A user device installs a third-party companion application with a primary software development kit (SDK) for cellular service activation on a wearable device, the wearable device including a third-party device application having an embedded SDK for the cellular service activation. The user device receives user input to initiate the cellular service activation for the wearable device and solicits, via the primary SDK, user input for account settings associated with the cellular service activation. The user device obtains, via the primary SDK and from a network device, activation parameters, associated with the wearable device, for the cellular service activation. The user device forwards, via the primary SDK and to the embedded SDK of the wearable device, the activation parameters, which the embedded SDK uses to request cellular activation.

Claims

1. A user device, comprising:

a network interface with a transceiver to communicate with one or more remote devices;

one or more memories to store a third-party companion application with a primary software development kit (SDK) for cellular service activation on a wearable device; and

a processor to execute instructions in the third-party companion application to;

install the third-party companion application,

receive input to initiate the cellular service activation for the wearable device,

solicit, via the primary SDK, user input for account settings associated with the cellular service activation,

obtain, via the primary SDK and from a network device, activation parameters, associated with the wearable device, for the cellular service activation, and

forward, by the primary SDK and to an embedded SDK of the wearable device, the activation parameters.

2. The user device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further to:

determine whether a subscriber identity module (SIM) profile is required for the wearable device;

obtain, from the network device, the SIM profile, when the SIM profile is required for the wearable device; and

forward, to the wearable device, the SIM profile along with the activation parameters, when the SIM profile is required for the wearable device.

3. The user device of claim 2, wherein the activation parameters include an activation code for the cellular service activation.

4. The user device of claim 1, wherein, when forwarding the activation parameters, the processor is further to:

initiate a secure local wireless connection between the user device and the wearable device; and

forward the activation parameters over the secure local wireless connection.

5. The user device of claim 4, wherein the secure local wireless connection comprises a connection using one of a Bluetooth protocol, a Bluetooth Low-Energy protocol, a Wi-Fi protocol, or a Near-Field communication protocol.

6. The user device of claim 1, wherein, when soliciting user input for the account settings, the processor is further to:

provide, via the primary SDK, a webview user interface for the user that is customized to match a look and feel of the third-party companion application.

7. The user device of claim 1, wherein the embedded SDK of the wearable device includes hardware abstraction.

8. The user device of claim 1, wherein the activation parameters are included in an activation request, for cellular activation, submitted to a network device by the wearable device.

9. A method performed by a user device, the method comprising:

installing, by the user device, a third-party companion application with a primary software development kit (SDK) for cellular service activation on a wearable device, the wearable device including a third-party device application having an embedded SDK for the cellular service activation;

receiving, by the user device, input to initiate the cellular service activation for the wearable device;

soliciting, via the primary SDK, user input for account settings associated with the cellular service activation;

obtaining, via the primary SDK and from a network device, activation parameters, associated with the wearable device, for the cellular service activation; and

forwarding, by the primary SDK and to the embedded SDK of the wearable device, the activation parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, by the user device, whether a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) profile is required for the wearable device;

obtaining, by the user device and from the network device, the SIM profile, when the SIM profile is required for the wearable device; and

forwarding, by the user device and to the wearable device, the SIM profile along with the activation parameters, when the SIM profile is required for the wearable device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the activation parameters include an activation code for the cellular service activation of the wearable device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein forwarding the activation parameters further comprises:

initiating a secure local wireless connection between the user device and the wearable device; and

forwarding the activation parameters over the secure local wireless connection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the secure local wireless connection comprises a connection using one of a Bluetooth protocol, a Bluetooth Low-Energy protocol, a Wi-Fi protocol, or a Near-Field communication protocol.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein, when soliciting user input for the account settings, the primary SDK provides a webview user interface for the user that is customized to match a look and feel of the third-party companion application.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the embedded SDK of the wearable device includes hardware abstraction.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the activation parameters are included in an activation request, for cellular activation, submitted to a network device by the wearable device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computational device to:

install a third-party companion application with a primary software development kit (SDK) for cellular service activation on a wearable device, the wearable device including a third-party device application having an embedded SDK for the cellular service activation;

receive input to initiate the cellular service activation for the wearable device;

solicit, via the primary SDK, user input for account settings associated with the cellular service activation;

obtain, via the primary SDK and from a network device, activation parameters, associated with the wearable device, for the cellular service activation; and

forward, by the primary SDK and to the embedded SDK of the wearable device, the activation parameters.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

determine whether a subscriber identity module (SIM) profile is required for the wearable device;

obtain, from the network device, the SIM profile, when the SIM profile is required for the wearable device; and

forward, to the wearable device, the SIM profile along with the activation parameters, when the SIM profile is required for the wearable device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions to forward the activation parameters further comprise instructions to:

forward the activation parameters over a secure local wireless connection.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the activation parameters include an activation code for the cellular service activation.