System and method to enable subscriber self-activation of wireless data terminals

• US 20080064367A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mformation Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Kushwaha, Rakesh, Nath, Badri
• Granted Patent: US 8,559,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method to enable subscriber self-activation and configuration of wireless data terminals by means of an activate button provided through the User Interface (UI). This allows for operations to be performed on the device by self-care. Any wireless device, in order to access the network needs credentials. This invention generates temporary credentials to present to the network for service activation. Once access is granted to the network, the device can be activated and configured for using the resources of the network.

Claims

1. A method for generating temporary network credentials for a wireless device, the wireless device operable to send and receive data over a wireless network, the wireless network operable to transmit messages between the wireless device and a management server, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a device identity of the wireless device;

creating a temporary network credentials on the wireless device;

establishing a data session between the wireless device and the management server; and

storing permanent network credentials on the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, where the step of creating temporary network credentials on the wireless device comprises:

calculating the temporary network credentials as a function of the device identity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

programming the network to allow connections by devices with valid temporary credentials.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

redirecting a connection from a wireless device with temporary credentials to a management server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending permanent credentials from the management server to the wireless device which indicate a subscription level of the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

accepting user input on the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, where the step of reading the device identity occurs after user input is accepted on the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 6, where the user input is a button on the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 6, where the user input is the insertion of a media card.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining whether a stored credentials on the wireless device is well formed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the device has previously been activated from the stored credentials.

12. The method of claim 9, where the temporary stored credentials are stored on the media card.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing a function capable of generating a range of valid temporary credentials on the network.

14. The method of claim 11, where the function capable of generating a range of valid temporary credentials is obtained from wireless devices that may be activated on the network.

15. A system for subscribing a wireless device on a network comprising

a processor operable to execute computer program instructions,

an adapter operable for communicating with a network,

an interface capable of accepting user input,

software operational on the wireless device for performing the steps of:

reading a device identity of the wireless device;

creating a temporary network credentials on the wireless device;

establishing a data session between the wireless device and the management server; and

storing permanent network credentials on the wireless device.

16. The system of claim 15, where the step of creating temporary network credentials on the wireless device comprises:

calculating the temporary network credentials as a function of the device identity.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

programming the network to allow connections by devices with valid temporary credentials.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

sending permanent credentials from the management server to the wireless device which indicate a subscription level of the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

accepting user input on the wireless device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

determining whether a stored credentials on the wireless device is well formed.