Automatically provisioning a WWAN device

• US 20090158148A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sheikh, Ishtiyaq Ahmad, Vellanki, Vivekanand
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

Network connection information is requested by a wireless wide area network device via the internet. Such information may include configuration information, data roaming partner information, and/or cost information regarding roaming partner connection and/or a subscriber plan related to the wireless wide area network. To retrieve the information, the wireless device sends a request to a redirection server, which in turn provides an internet address for a provisioning server, or instructs a provisioning server to provide the network configuration information to the wireless device. A user and/or the wireless device may use the network connection information when deciding whether and/or how to connect to the network. A network provider may use methods disclosed herein to efficiently update wireless devices that subscribe to the network. The network provider may provide selected network connection information based on information regarding the wireless device, such as the user identification.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining network connection information for a wireless wide area network device, the method comprising:

sending a request from a wireless wide area network device to a provisioning server via the internet, the request comprising a user identification and elements defining a request for network connection information related to a wireless wide area network; and

receiving the network connection information from the provisioning server, the network connection information having been selected by the provisioning server based on the information contained in the request sent by the wireless wide area network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to a redirection server for information regarding a URL for a provisioning server;

receiving the information regarding the URL for the provisioning server; and

determining the URL for the provisioning server;

wherein

the act of sending a request from the wireless wide area network device to the provisioning server via the internet comprises sending a request to the determined URL.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the URL for the redirection server from an operating system of the wireless wide area network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification that at least a portion of the network connection information has been changed; and

receiving updated network connection information from the provisioning server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the notification comprises receiving an SMS message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the request from the wireless wide area network device to the provisioning server comprises sending the request to an intermediary device, and the method further comprises the intermediary device forwarding information from the request to the provisioning server, and the provisioning server sending the network connection information to the wireless wide area network device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the intermediary device comprises a redirection server.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the intermediary device comprises a personal computer connected to the internet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the network connection information from the provisioning server comprises receiving the network connection information from an intermediary device that received the network connection information from the provisioning server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network connection information comprises one or more of:

configuration information;

an identification of a wireless data roaming network approved for use; and

cost information regarding the wireless data roaming network approved for use.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network connection information comprises an identification of an wireless data roaming network approved for use, and the method further comprises selectively initiating a connection with the approved wireless data roaming network in response to the network connection information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the network connection information from the provisioning server occurs prior to connection of the wireless wide area network device to the wireless wide area network.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises obtaining the URL for the redirection server from a driver on the data card.

13. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for performing steps of a method of instructing a wireless wide area network device to retrieve network connection information from a provisioning server, the method comprising:

initiating a retrieval of network connection information based on a condition;

sending a request from a wireless wide area network device to a redirection server for information regarding a URL for a provisioning server;

receiving the information regarding the URL for a provisioning server;

determining the URL for the provisioning server;

sending a request from the wireless wide area network device to the determined URL via the internet, the request comprising a user identification and elements defining a request for network connection information;

receiving by the wireless wide area network device the network connection information from the provisioning server via the internet, the network connection information comprising one or more of;

configuration information;

an identification of a wireless data roaming network approved for use; and

cost information regarding a data subscriber plan associated with the wireless wide area network device.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the network connection information comprises cost information regarding a data subscriber plan, and the method further comprises:

displaying the cost information on a user interface; and

requesting user input regarding whether to initiate connection with the wireless wide area network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises obtaining the URL for the redirection server from an operating system of the wireless wide area network device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises obtaining the URL for the redirection server from a computer-readable medium of a wireless wide area network data card.

18. At least one computer-readable medium having a store of information and computer-readable instructions for performing steps of facilitating the provision of network connection information from a provisioning server to a wireless wide area network device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a wireless wide area network device via the internet, the request indicating that the wireless wide area network device desires to retrieve network connection information; and

at least one of (a) or (b);

(a) sending information regarding a URL for a provisioning server to the wireless wide area network device, the provisioning server being configured to receive a request for network connection information from the wireless wide area network device, further being configured to select network connection information from a store of network connection information based on an identification of the wireless device, and further being configured to send the selected network connection information to the wireless wide area network; and

(b) sending, to a provisioning server, information from the request and instructing the provisioning server to select network connection information from a store of network connection information based on an identification of the wireless device, and instructing the provisioning server to send the selected network connection information to the wireless wide area network device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method comprises act (a).

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method comprises act (b).