Over-the-air programming of wireless terminal features

• US 6,622,017 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Ted L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMOS FELICIANO, ELISEO
• Application Number:
  US09/556,444
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412-420, 455/551, 455/70, 455/517, 455/186.1, 455/352, 709/219, 709/328, 709/329
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

Terminal devices for a wireless communication network are manufactured and distributed with predetermined communication capabilities and a minimal operation capability. Each unit includes a substantial memory for plug-in feature programming, which initially is empty. A terminal user selects a desired feature or set of features and contacts a service provider. The provider'"'"'s equipment downloads software programming corresponding to the desired feature into the memory of the terminal device. The software takes the form of a plug-in module, written to the program interface specification of the core software of the terminal device. When loaded into memory and interfaced through the core software, the module allows the terminal device to implement the desired feature. Features can be sold in predefined packages or individually. Features can be added, upgraded or replaced at any time by downloading new feature modules into the memory.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining programmable wireless communication terminals each having a predetermined minimal set of operational capabilities, a program memory for storing one or more feature modules and a processor for executing one or more of the feature modules to control the operational capabilities, wherein a substantial portion of the program memory is initially blank;

establishing a database comprising a plurality of separate plug-in program modules, each plug-in program module comprising program code executable by the processor to enable implementation of a predetermined one or more communication features;

distributing one of the programmable wireless communication terminals to a subscriber of a communication service offered by a wireless communication network;

receiving from the subscriber a selection of a feature from among a plurality of available features;

retrieving one of the executable program modules from the database, the retrieved module corresponding to the selected feature;

downloading the retrieved module into the substantial portion of the program memory in the one programmable wireless communication terminal, to enable the one wireless communication terminal to implement the selected feature; and

automatically provisioning at least one element of the wireless communication network to activate a subscription service corresponding to the selected feature.

2. A method as claim 1, further comprising transmitting information relating to the available features over the air-link to the one programmable wireless communication terminal for presentation to the subscriber, to facilitate feature selection by the subscriber.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the subscriber a selection of a second one of the available features

retrieving second one of the executable program modules from the database, the second retrieved module corresponding to the second selected feature; and

downloading the second retrieved module into the substantial portion of the program memory in the one programmable wireless communication terminal, to enable the one wireless communication terminal to implement the second selected feature.

4. A method as claim 3, further comprising automatically provisioning at least one element of the wireless communication network to activate a subscription service corresponding to the second selected feature.

5. A mobile wireless communication network for providing communication services for subscribers using wireless terminal devices, comprising:

a plurality of base stations implementing wireless communications with the wireless terminal devices over a standard air interface;

a mobile switching center coupled to the base stations;

a controller for controlling services provided through the wireless communication network to the wireless terminal devices;

an over-the-air software download server coupled for communication with the wireless terminal devices through the mobile switching center and one or more of the base stations;

a database comprising a plurality of separate plug-in program modules coupled to selectively supply the modules to the download server, each of the plug-in program modules comprising program code executable by a processor of a wireless terminal device to enable implementation of a predetermined one or more terminal features; and

a provisioning system in communication with the controller for supplying provisioning data to the controller for activation of services in the wireless communication network, wherein;

upon identification of a feature selected by one subscriber, the download server receives a program module corresponding to the selected feature from the database and transmits the received program module through the mobile switching center and one of the base stations and over the standard air interface to one wireless terminal device associated with the one subscriber for storage therein, to enable implementation of the selected feature by the associated wireless terminal device, and

upon transmission of the received program module to the one wireless terminal device, the download server causes the provisioning system to supply provisioning data to the controller for activation of a service associated with the selected feature in the wireless communication network with respect to the one wireless terminal device.

6. A mobile wireless communication network as in claim 5, wherein the standard air interface implemented through the base stations supports digital voice and data communication services.

7. A mobile wireless communication network as in claim 5, further comprising a server coupled for data communication through the mobile switching center, for transmitting information describing available features to the wireless terminal devices for presentation to subscribers, to facilitate feature selections.

8. A mobile wireless communication network as in claim 7, wherein the information comprises one or more web pages describing the available features.