Demand-based provisioning for a mobile communication device

• US 7,493,111 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Knowles, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US11/371,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for providing demand-based provisioning for a mobile communication device. A provisioning server may be used to receive a provisioning update request from the mobile communication device and in response to the provisioning update request transmit a service update data message to the mobile communication device. The service update data message may include service information for the mobile communication device that is received by the provisioning server from at least one of a plurality of service providers. The mobile communication device may be operable to detect a triggering event and transmit the provisioning update request to the provisioning server in response to the triggering event.

Claims

1. A system for updating service information in a mobile communication device, comprising:

a provisioning server operable to receive a provisioning update request from the mobile communication device and in response to the provisioning update request transmit a service update data message to the mobile communication device;

the service update data message including service information for the mobile communication device that is received by the provisioning server from at least one of a plurality of service providers;

wherein the mobile communication device is operable to detect a triggering event and transmit the provisioning update request to the provisioning server in response to the triggering event;

the triggering event being a wireless communication failure between the mobile communication device and the provisioning server or a communication failure between the mobile communication device and at least one of the service providers;

wherein the wireless communication failure and the communication failure are disruptions in communication other than the mobile communication device roaming between base stations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning update request transmitted by the mobile communication device identifies at least one of the plurality of service providers, and wherein the service update data message transmitted to the mobile communication device from the provisioning server includes service information from the identified service provider.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a service update database coupled to the provisioning server and operable to store service information received by the provisioning server from a plurality of service providers;

wherein the provisioning update request transmitted by the mobile communication device identifies at least one of the plurality of service providers;

wherein the provisioning server is operable to respond to the provisioning update request by determining if service information from the one service provider identified by the provisioning update request is stored in the service update database, and if service information from the identified service provider is stored in the service update database, then transmitting the service information to the mobile communication device in the service update data message.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the service update database is operable to store update information that identifies service information that has been transmitted to the mobile communication device, and wherein the provisioning server is operable to determine from the update information whether the service information from the identified service provider has already been transmitted to the mobile communication device, and if the service information from the identified service provider has already been transmitted to the mobile communication device, then not transmitting the service information in response to the provisioning update request.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is a user request.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of service providers includes a wireless messaging service.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication failure is a failure of a transmission from one of the service providers to the mobile communication device, and the mobile communication device is configured to allow the service provider an attempt to retry the transmission before sending a provisioning update request.

8. In a system for providing demand-based provisioning to a mobile communication device including a provisioning server operable to receive a provisioning update request from the mobile communication device and in response to the provisioning update request transmit a service update packet to the mobile communication device, with the service update packet including service information for the mobile communication device that is received by the provisioning server from at least one of a plurality of service providers, the mobile communication device comprising:

a receiver operable to receive the service update packet from the provisioning server;

a transmitter operable to transmit the provisioning update request to the provisioning server; and

means for detecting a triggering event and generating the provisioning update request in response to a wireless communication failure between the mobile communication device and the provisioning server or a communication failure between the mobile communication device and at least one of the service providers;

wherein the wireless communication failure and the communication failure are disruptions in communication other than the mobile communication device roaming between base stations.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning update request identifies at least one of the plurality of service providers, and wherein the service update data packet includes service information from the identified service providers.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the triggering event is a user generated request.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication failure is a failure of a transmission from one of the service providers to the mobile communication device, and the mobile communication device is configured to allow the service provider an attempt to retry the transmission before sending a provisioning update request.