Mobile communication device provisioning and management

• US 8,526,929 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Deborah L., Persson, Carl J., Wilson, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prez-Gutirrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US12/566,757
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider

Abstract

A mobile communication device provisioning and management system is provided. The system comprises a computer system and an application, that when executed on the computer system, receives instructions for provisioning a set of mobile communication devices, the instructions comprising a range of unique identifiers and user roles associated with the set. The system also receives a first message from a first mobile communication device, the first message containing a request for provisioning, a first unique identifier, a first user role, and a first user identifier. The system also matches the first unique identifier embedded in the first message with a unique identifier contained in the instructions. The system also matches the user role received in the first message with a user role specified in the instructions and sends a second message to the first mobile communication device, the second message containing provisioning information. The system also stores a record associating the first unique identifier, the first user role, and the first user identifier.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device provisioning and management system, comprising:

a computer system; and

an application, that when executed on the computer system,

receives instructions for provisioning a set of mobile communication devices, the instructions comprising a plurality of unique identifiers and a plurality of user roles associated with the set of mobile communication devices,

wherein provisioning a mobile communication device of the set of mobile communication devices enables the mobile communication device for a user;

stores the plurality of unique identifiers and the plurality of user roles associated with the set of mobile communication devices in a memory of the computer system;

receives a provisioning request message from the mobile communication device, the provisioning request message containing a request for provisioning, a unique identifier of the mobile communication device, and a user identifier associated with the user;

matches the received unique identifier with a stored unique identifier of the plurality of stored unique identifiers;

matches the received user identifier with a stored user role of the plurality of stored user roles;

identifies provisioning information based at least in part on a combination of the stored user role and the stored unique identifier, wherein the provisioning information comprises the provisioning instructions describing applications and communications services associated with the stored user role to be installed on the mobile communication device associated with the stored unique identifier to enable the user;

locates a provisioning method, wherein the provisioning method is based on the stored user role;

initiates installation of the applications and communications services on the mobile communication device based on the provisioning method, wherein the communications services comprise communications protocols providing new data and voice transmission capabilities to enable the mobile communication device for the user; and

stores a record associating the received unique identifier, the stored user role, and the received user identifier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions define a fixed quantity of mobile communication devices in the set associated with each stored user role.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the application tracks the quantity of mobile communication devices provisioned for each stored user role.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of mobile communication devices is provisioned at one of a work site, a retail location, and a warehouse location.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the set of mobile communication devices is provisioned without any user involvement.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the set of mobile communication devices is provisioned prior to the user taking possession of the mobile communication device of the set of mobile communication devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the application provisions the set of mobile communication devices in accordance with the instructions without initiating action by any of the set of mobile communication devices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the application provides a separate set of provisioning information for each stored user role.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the received unique identifier is permanently associated with the mobile communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored user role is associated with a job classification that describes job responsibilities requiring access to software applications and communications services on the mobile communication device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the application further:

receives an other message, wherein the other message comprises a verification of identity;

associates the verified identity with the stored user role specified in the instructions; and

associates the verified identity and the stored user role with the stored unique identifier;

wherein the application identifies the provisioning information further based, at least in part, on the verified identity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the other message is received at around a same time as the provisioning request message.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the other message is received from an identity verification device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the identity verification device reads an identification card.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the application further tracks usage of the mobile communication device after installation of the applications and communications services through a first time period.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the application further initiates de-provisioning of the mobile communication device at the end of the first time period.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the application further:

receives an other message from the mobile communication device after the end of the first time period, the other message containing an other request for provisioning, the unique identifier, and an other user identifier;

matches the received unique identifier with the stored unique identifier;

matches the received other user identifier with an other stored user role;

identifies the provisioning information based at least in part on the other stored user role and the stored unique identifier, wherein the provisioning information comprises instructions describing an other set of applications and communications services associated with the other stored user role to be installed on the mobile communication device; and

initiates installation of the other set of applications and communications services on the mobile communication device at the beginning of a second time period.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first time period and the second time period are short in duration and are one of one week, two weeks, and four weeks in duration.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the stored user role and the other stored user role are associated with different responsibilities and wherein the applications and communications services installed during the first time period are different than the applications and communications services installed during the second time period.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the installed applications and communications services comprise at least one of voice only, voice and data, direct connect only, direct connect, and push-to-talk with particular groups.