Automated device provisioning and activation

• US 8,631,102 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/678,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 455405-409, 455/14.1, 455/422.1, 455/431, 455/432.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 726 2- 7, 726/15
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Devices, methods, and computer readable media for communicating with a network system over a wireless access network, the network system comprising one or more network elements, and communicating with one or more other devices over one or more of a wireless local-area network, a personal-area network, and a near-field network; obtaining configuration information from the one or more network elements, the configuration information enabling modification of a first service policy setting for authorizing provision of a forwarding service to the one or more other devices; obtaining a user input associated with enabling or disabling the forwarding service; and modifying a second service policy setting in accordance with the user input, the second service policy setting for assisting in enabling or disabling the forwarding service.

Claims

1. An end-user device, comprising:

one or more modems for

assisting the end-user device in communicating with a network system over a wireless access network, the network system comprising one or more network elements, and

assisting the end-user device in communicating with one or more other devices over a wireless local-area network, a personal-area network, a near-field network, or a combination of these;

memory configured to store a plurality of service policy settings, the plurality of service policy settings including a first service policy setting for authorizing the end-user device to provide a forwarding service to the one or more other devices, the forwarding service for forwarding traffic between the one or more other devices and the network system;

a user interface; and

one or more processors configured to execute one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

at least assist to obtain configuration information from the one or more network elements, the configuration information instructing the one or more processors to modify or to allow modification of the first service policy setting,

at least assist to obtain, through the user interface, a user input associated with enabling or disabling the forwarding service, and

modify a second service policy setting of the plurality of service policy settings in accordance with the user input, the second service policy setting for at least assisting in enabling or disabling the forwarding service.

2. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein forwarding traffic comprises passing, bridging, routing, traffic shaping, or otherwise allowing the traffic.

3. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein obtain configuration information from the one or more network elements comprises obtain the configuration information over a secure control link.

4. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the forwarding service is included in a service plan associated with the end-user device.

5. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to at least assist to obtain a user request, and wherein obtain configuration information is based on the user request.

6. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration information is based on a user preference.

7. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

at least assist to present, through the user interface, a notification associated with the first service policy setting.

8. The end-user device recited in claim 7, wherein the notification comprises information associated with activating the forwarding service.

9. The end-user device recited in claim 7, wherein the notification provides information about a service plan that includes the forwarding service.

10. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to at least assist to present, through the user interface, a notification associated with the forwarding service.

11. The end-user device recited in claim 10, wherein the notification comprises information about a usage or cost associated with the forwarding service.

12. The end-user device recited in claim 10, wherein the notification comprises information about the forwarding service.

13. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to at least assist to control at least an aspect of the forwarding service.

14. The end-user device recited in claim 13, wherein control at least an aspect of the forwarding service comprises limit a number of devices comprising the one or more other devices.

15. The end-user device recited in claim 13, wherein control at least an aspect of the forwarding service comprises restrict, or assist at least one of the one or more other devices to restrict, usage of the forwarding service by the at least one of the one or more other devices.

16. The end-user device recited in claim 13, wherein control at least an aspect of the forwarding service comprises restrict, or assist at least one of the one or more other devices to restrict, usage of the forwarding service by the at least one of the one or more other devices based on one or more of a device type, a modem type, a type of the wireless access network, a state of the wireless access network, an application, or a service activity.

17. The end-user device recited in claim 13, wherein control at least an aspect of the forwarding service comprises authorize or allow usage of the forwarding service by at least one of the one or more other devices based on one or more of a device type, a modem type, a type of the wireless access network, a state of the wireless access network, an application, or a service activity.

18. The end-user device recited in claim 13, wherein at least assist to control the at least an aspect of the forwarding service comprises assist a user to configure one or more aspects of a service usage policy, a warning, or a security aspect.

19. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to authorize or prevent usage of the forwarding service by at least one of the one or more other devices based on a credential.

20. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

apply a first control to traffic between the end-user device and at least one of the one or more other devices, and

apply a second control to traffic between the at least one of the one or more other devices and the network system,

wherein the first control differs from the second control.

21. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

apply a first control to first traffic, the first traffic being between the end-user device and the network system, and

apply a second control to second traffic, the second traffic being between at least one of the one or more other devices and the network system,

wherein the first control differs from the second control.

22. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to account for usage of the forwarding service.

23. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to determine a separate accounting for usage of the forwarding service.

24. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to determine a separate accounting for usage of the forwarding service by a subset of one or more devices of the one or more other devices.

25. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to obtain first information associated with usage of the wireless access network associated with traffic communicated between the end-user device and the network system or second information associated with usage of the wireless access network associated with forwarding service traffic between at least one of the one or more other devices and the network system.

26. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless access network is associated with a cost, and wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to at least assist to provide information associated with the cost to at least one of the one or more other devices.

27. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless access network is associated with a cost, and wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to at least assist to control usage of the forwarding service based on the cost.

28. The end-user device recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless access network is associated with a cost, and wherein, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to obtain the cost based on a user input.

29. The end-user device recited in claim 10, wherein the notification comprises information about a service plan that includes the forwarding service.

30. The end-user device recited in claim 29, wherein the information about the service plan comprises an offer for the service plan.