Systems, methods, and apparatus to prepare a mobile device for provisioning

• US 8,712,394 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bos, Jeffrey Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US13/325,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20130157637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/423, 455/425, 455/433, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/517, 455/553.1, 455/573, 455/575.1, 455/575.8, 455/127.5, 455/128, 455/420, 370/346
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to prepare a mobile device for provisioning are disclosed. An example method includes recording information about a mobile device via wireless communications in response to detecting a presence of the mobile device in a first location, determining a software version of the mobile device via wireless communications, and updating the software of the mobile device via wireless communications prior to provisioning the mobile device to a user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording information about a mobile device via wireless communications in response to detecting a presence of the mobile device in a first location;

wirelessly charging the mobile device via a close-proximity communications interface prior to provisioning the mobile device;

sending a first close-proximity communications signal to cause the mobile device to enter a wake state;

determining a software version of the mobile device via wireless communications in response to sending the first close-proximity communications signal;

updating the software of the mobile device via wireless communications prior to provisioning the mobile device to a user;

selecting the mobile device based on determining that the mobile device has at least a threshold battery charge and has software having at least a threshold software version; and

causing the mobile device to distinguish itself from other mobile devices via a perceptible action in response to the selection.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless communications comprises at least one of wireless fidelity (WiFi), near-field communications, or mobile telecommunications.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing a software update to the mobile device via a first wireless communications protocol different from the close-proximity communications.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein updating the software is performed while the mobile device is in a packaging.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting that the mobile device is present in the first location comprises detecting that the mobile device has entered the first location.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising removing a record of the mobile device in response to provisioning the mobile device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein provisioning the mobile device to the user comprises at least one of assigning a phone number to the mobile device, assigning an account number to the mobile device, or enabling wireless communication services on the mobile device.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising not provisioning the mobile device in response to determining that the mobile device has a software version older than an updated software version.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein updating the software of the mobile device is in response to a request from the mobile device.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the perceptible action comprises at least one of making a noise or lighting up the mobile device.

10. A mobile device, comprising:

a battery;

a close-proximity communications interface comprising a wireless charger to charge the battery prior to receiving provisioning information;

an output device;

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, prior to receiving the provisioning information;

enter a wake state in response to a first close-proximity communications signal received via the close-proximity communications interface;

transmit information representative of a software version to a server in response to entering the wake state;

install a software update received via wireless communications; and

cause the output device to generate a perceptible output to distinguish the mobile device from other mobile devices in response to receiving an indication of a selection of the mobile device for provisioning.

11. A mobile device as defined in claim 10, further comprising a wireless interface to receive the software update.

12. A mobile device as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to transmit at least one of the information representative of the software version or identifying information for the mobile device in response to detecting that the mobile device is in a first location.

13. A mobile device as defined in claim 10, wherein installing the software update is in response to receiving a notification associated with a software update.

19. A mobile device as defined in claim 10, wherein the output device comprises at least one of a display device or a speaker, the perceptible output comprising at least one of making a noise via the speaker or lighting up the display.

20. A mobile device as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions are further to cause the processor to delay installing the software update until a time period during which the mobile device will not be provisioned.

14. A system, comprising:

a communications interface to;

provide a signal to a non-provisioned mobile device via a close-proximity communications interface, the signal to cause the non-provisioned mobile device to enter a wake state; and

provide a signal to the non-provisioned mobile device in response to the non-provisioned mobile device being selected for provisioning, the signal to cause the non-provisioned mobile device to distinguish itself from other mobile devices via a perceptible action in response to the selection;

a software version monitor to record information about the non-provisioned mobile device via wireless communications in response to detecting that the mobile device is present in a first location and to receive respective information representative of a software version for the non-provisioned mobile device, the wireless communications being different than the close-proximity communications interface; and

a software updater to send a software update to the non-provisioned mobile device via wireless communications.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, further comprising a mobile device database to store records including the information about the non-provisioned mobile device and to remove a record of the non-provisioned mobile device in response to the mobile device being provisioned.

16. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the communications interface is to request a software version from the non-provisioned mobile device and to receive information representative of the software version from the non-provisioned mobile device.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the software updater is to notify the non-provisioned mobile device via the communications interface when a software update is available.