General purpose automated activation and provisioning technologies

• US 7,957,728 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalke, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US12/466,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141- 3, 455/411, 455/435, 455/1, 455418-420, 4554351- 2
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/39 Arrangements for preventing metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/28 SMS billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Automated activation and provisioning technologies can be applied in a variety of scenarios. For example, an automated activation and provisioning server can translate user desired features into associated provisioning directives. The directives can then be sent to elements of a wireless communications network support system. Activation and provisioning for a rich set of features can thus be achieved without manual intervention or reaction to the user'"'"'s choices. Receipt of the user'"'"'s choices can be accomplished in real time via a user interface of a mobile wireless device or a web-based user interface.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions to achieve automated provisioning for a mobile wireless device in a wireless communications network support system, comprising:

receiving an indication of one or more subscriber-desired services, wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services are selected by a subscriber via an electronic user interface;

translating the indication of the one or more subscriber-desired services into associated provisioning directives; and

sending the associated provisioning directives to provisioning elements within the wireless communications network support system to achieve provisioning for the one or more subscriber-desired services.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the electronic user interface comprises a web browsing user interface.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein:

a wireless communication network is supported by the wireless communications network support system; and

the associated provisioning directives are sent to the provisioning elements behind the wireless communication network from a perspective of the mobile wireless device.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the electronic user interface comprises a user interface presented by the mobile wireless device.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein the mobile wireless device is unactivated.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise an enhanced service.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise a ring tone feature.

8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise enrolling in a transactional electronic payment system for premium services.

9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise subscribing to an online office.

10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise subscribing to an image center.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise a game functionality.

12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise a text messaging functionality.

13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise a unified messaging functionality.

14. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise subscribing to a subscription-based assistance program.

15. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise purchasing an equipment insurance.

16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise enrolling in a mobile to mobile minutes plan.

17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprise a voice activated dialing.

18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services comprises purchasing accessories.

19. A method of automated provisioning for a mobile wireless device in a wireless communications network support system, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of one or more subscriber-desired services, wherein the one or more subscriber-desired services are selected by the a subscriber via an electronic user interface;

translating the indication of the one or more subscriber-desired services into associated provisioning directives; and

sending the associated provisioning directives to provisioning elements within the wireless communications network support system to achieve provisioning for the one or more subscriber-desired services.

20. An automated activation and provisioning server computer system for achieving automated activation and provisioning in a wireless communications network support system, the server computer system comprising:

a translation engine operable to translate an indication of one or more subscriber-desired services into associated provisioning directives; and

a real time provisioning engine operable to send the associated, provisioning directives within the wireless communications network support system, the real time provisioning engine being operable to achieve automated provisioning for the one or more subscriber-desired services.