PROVISIONING APPLICATIONS FOR A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120077482A1
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ari Backholm
• Inventors: Backholm, Ari
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment

Abstract

Methods and systems for provisioning an application for a mobile device are provided. A user may request an application. A request concerning the application is sent to a provisioning device. The request includes information concerning the mobile device and/or the user of the mobile device. The information is used to determine the requirements for operating the requested application on the mobile device. A hyperlink for downloading the requirements information is sent to the user of the mobile device via text messaging and/or email. The requirements information may be provided directly to the mobile device, to a personal computing device associated with the user of the mobile device, or a combination.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning an application for a mobile device, the method comprising:

requesting, from a network server, the requirement information for operating the application on the mobile device;

receiving the requirement information from the network server; and

provisioning the application on the mobile device based on the required information;

wherein, the requirement information of the mobile device, specifies components to be installed to provision the application on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

identifying, from the mobile device, user information the mobile device information of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

wherein, the user information and mobile device information of the mobile device are also used by the network server in further determining required information for accessing the application on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the requirement information for operating the application includes, one or more of, a setting or a network service to be implemented for the mobile device to operate the application

5. A method for provisioning an application for a mobile device, the method comprising:

sending a communication accessible on a computing device based on a request for the application;

determining configuration information for the mobile device to operate the application based on information provided by a user using the computing device in response to the communication sent to the computing device; and

providing the configuration information to the mobile device for use in provisioning the application;

wherein, the configuration information of the mobile device, specifies components to be installed on the computing device to provision the application on the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the request is initiated via mobile device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration information includes a setting to be implemented for the mobile device to operate the application.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration information includes a network service to be implemented for the mobile device to operate the application.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration information includes, one or more of, executing or installing a downloadable component for the mobile device to operate the application.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein, the communication accessible on the computing device, includes an information request from a user of the mobile device, the user being able to respond to the information request in a response email.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein, the communication accessible on the computing device, includes an information request from a user of the mobile device, the user being able to respond to the information request via a website.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising, generating a hyperlink for downloading the configuration information, the hyperlink provided to the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hyperlink is provided in a text message to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the hyperlink is provided in an email to the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving confirmation that the application is provisioned for the mobile device and limiting operation of the application on the mobile device until confirmation.

16. A system for provisioning an application for a mobile device, the system comprising:

means for, responsive to detecting selection of the application made at the mobile device, identifying, from the mobile device, user information and the mobile device information of the mobile device;

wherein, the user information and mobile device information concerning the mobile device are provided to a server for use in determining requirements for operating the application on the mobile device;

wherein, the user information is stored in device memory or on a SIM card of the mobile device;

means for, provisioning the application on the mobile device based on the requirements for operating the application;

wherein, the requirements for operating the application, specifies components to be installed to provision the application on the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, the user information and the mobile device information are sent in an SMS text message to the network server.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein, the requirements for operating the application are received in a hyperlink at the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein, the hyperlink is received in an SMS text message or in an email message.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein, the requirement information for operating the application includes, one or more of, a setting or a network service to be implemented for the mobile device to operate the application.