Data plan activation and modification

• US 8,732,808 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Sewall, Patrick, Johnson, David Alan, Wood, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PARTHKUMAR
• Application Number:
  US12/351,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20090172796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.21, 370/389, 370/352, 707/9, 713/169, 709/229
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A method, implemented by a router device, for guiding a user in establishing access privileges for a data exchanger includes causing the data exchanger to establish a remote link with a data service provider. Access content is obtained from the data service provider and presented to a client device. Access data provided in response to the presenting of the access content is received. The access content when presented by the client device enables a user to supply the access data. The access data is useable by the data service provider to set access privileges associated with the data exchanger that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform a desired function. The access data is returned to the data service provider via the remote link. The data exchanger is utilized to implement the desired function.

Claims

1. A method, implemented by a router device, for guiding a user in establishing access privileges for a data exchanger, comprising:

causing the data exchanger to establish a remote link with a data service provider;

obtaining access content from the data service provider, wherein access content comprises content from the data service provider concerning establishing or otherwise modifying access privileges for the data exchanger;

presenting the access content to a client device;

receiving access data provided in response to the presenting of the access content;

the access content when presented by the client device enabling a user to supply the access data, the access data being useable by the data service provider to set access privileges associated with the data exchanger that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform a desired function;

returning the access data to the data service provider via the remote link;

utilizing the data exchanger to implement the desired function; and

wherein the desired function is the routing of data communication between the client device and the internet via the remote link at or above a specified speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired function is the routing of a data communication between the client device and the internet via the remote link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired function is the routing of a data communication of a particular type between the client device and the internet via the remote link.

4. The method of claim 1:

further comprising querying the data service provider as to whether the data exchanger is associated with access privileges that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform the desired function; and

wherein the obtaining, the presenting, the receiving, and the returning are performed only upon a determination that the data exchanger is not associated with access privileges that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform the desired function.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions that when executed by a router device, cause the router device to implement a method for guiding a user in establishing access privileges for a data exchanger, the method comprising:

causing the data exchanger to establish a remote link with a data service provider;

obtaining access content from the data service provider, wherein access content comprises content from the data service provider concerning the establishing or otherwise modifying access privileges for the data exchanger;

presenting the access content to a client device;

receiving access data provided in response to the presenting of the access content;

the access content when presented by the client device enabling a user to supply the access data, the access data being useable by the data service provider to set access privileges associated with the data exchanger that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform a desired function;

returning the access data to the data service provider via the remote link;

utilizing the data exchanger to implement the desired function; and

wherein the desired function is the routing of data communication between the client device and the internet via the remote link at or above a specified speed.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein the desired function is the routing of a data communication between the client device and the internet via the remote link.

7. The medium of claim 5, wherein the desired function is the routing of a data communication of a particular type between the client device and the internet via the remote link.

8. The medium of claim 5:

further the method further comprises querying the data service provider as to whether the data exchanger is associated with access privileges that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform the desired function; and

wherein the obtaining, the presenting, the receiving, and the returning are performed only upon a determination that the data exchanger is not associated with access privileges that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform the desired function.

9. A router device, comprising a data exchanger interface, a router, a connector, and an access manager, wherein:

the data exchanger interface is are configured to provide an interface between the router device and a data exchanger coupled to that data exchanger interface;

the connector is configured to cause the data exchanger to establish a remote link with the data service provider;

the router is configured to route data communications between a client device on a local area network and the wide area network via a remote link established by the data exchanger coupled to the data exchanger interface; and

the access manager is configured to;

obtain access content from the data service provider, wherein access content comprises content from the data service provider concerning the establishing or otherwise modifying access privileges for the data exchanger;

present the access content to the client device;

receive access data provided in response to the presentation of the access content;

the access content when presented by the client device enabling a user to supply the access data, the access data being useable by the data service provider to set access privileges associated with the data exchanger that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform a desired function;

return the access data to the data service provider via the remote link;

cause the router to utilize the data exchanger to implement the desired Function; and

wherein the desired function is the routing of data communication between the client device and the internet via the remote link at or above a specified speed.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired function is the routing of a data communication between the client device and the internet via the remote link.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired function is the routing of a data communication of a particular type between the client device and the internet via the remote link.

12. The system of claim 9:

wherein the access manager is configured to query the data service provider as to whether the data exchanger is associated with access privileges that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform the desired function; and

wherein the access manager the obtains and presents the access content and receives and returns the access data only upon a determination that the data exchanger is not associated with access privileges that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform the desired function.