U.S. patent application number 13/872241 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-12 for system and method for self-serve provisioning of services on a mobile communication device.
This patent application is currently assigned to RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED. Invention is credited to Baraa EL-KADRI, Axel FERRAZZINI, Janosi LEVENTE, Gaelle MARTIN-COCHER.
Application Number | 20130237206 13/872241 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41011899 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130237206 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
EL-KADRI; Baraa ; et
al. |
September 12, 2013 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF-SERVE PROVISIONING OF SERVICES ON A
MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE
Abstract
There is disclosed a system and method for provisioning a mobile
communication device on a network. In an embodiment, the method
comprises: identifying one or more devices on the network to which
a notification of an offer of service, should be sent; pushing the
notification of an offer of service to the identified devices over
the network; if the offer of service is accepted at the device,
then initiating a provisioning request from the device to one or
more of a carrier, service provider or management authority; and
upon authorization of the provisioning request by the management
authority, provisioning the service from the service provider.
Inventors: |
EL-KADRI; Baraa; (Milton,
CA) ; LEVENTE; Janosi; (Dundas, CA) ;
FERRAZZINI; Axel; (Uccle, BE) ; MARTIN-COCHER;
Gaelle; (Mississauga, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED |
Waterloo |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Waterloo
CA
|
Family ID: |
41011899 |
Appl. No.: |
13/872241 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12475278 |
May 29, 2009 |
8457603 |
|
|
13872241 |
|
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|
61146065 |
Jan 21, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/50 20180201; H04L
67/26 20130101; H04W 4/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/418 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/00 20060101
H04W004/00 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: identifying devices on a network
corresponding to targets for a service; checking whether firmware
and hardware capabilities of the devices are configured to support
the service; transmitting a notification of an offer of the service
to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that
support the service; and, in response: receiving, from a given
device, a request for provisioning of the service; and, upon
authorization of the request, provisioning the service for the
given device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the notification
comprises transmitting one or more of messages, e-mails, and text
messages to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities
that support the service.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the notification
occurs using a dedicated device service provisioning module.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the devices
comprises allowing a service provider to access one or more of
criteria and rules for identifying the devices corresponding to the
targets for the service.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: preparing one or more
of service parameters, settings or necessary components for
provisioning the service; and, upon receiving, from the given
device, the request for provisioning of the service, provisioning
the service by executing the one or more of service parameters,
settings and necessary components.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is provisioned by one
or more of a carrier, a service provider and a management
authority, and the method further comprises: notifying the one or
more of the carrier, the service provider and the management
authority of the provisioning request; and awaiting authorization
of the provisioning request by one or more of the carrier, the
service provider and the management authority.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising rewarding via a
billing system one or more of a carrier, a service provider, and a
management authority.
8. A service provider network infrastructure comprising: a database
storing records of services provisioned for devices on a network;
and, a provisioning system configured to: identify, using the
database, the devices corresponding to targets for a service; check
whether firmware and hardware capabilities of the devices
corresponding to the targets for the service are configured to
support the service; transmit a notification of an offer of the
service to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities
that support the service; and, in response: receive, from a given
device, a request for provisioning of the service; and, upon
authorization of the request, provision the service for the given
device.
9. The service provider network infrastructure of claim 8, wherein
the provisioning system is further configured to transmit the
notification by transmitting one or more of messages, e-mails, and
text messages to the devices with the firmware and hardware
capabilities that support the service.
10. The service provider network infrastructure of claim 8, wherein
the provisioning system is further configured to transmit the
notification using a dedicated device service provisioning
module.
11. The service provider network infrastructure of claim 8, wherein
the provisioning system is further configured to identify the
devices by allowing a service provider to access one or more of
criteria and rules for identifying the devices corresponding to the
targets for the service.
12. The service provider network infrastructure of claim 8, wherein
the provisioning system is further configured to: prepare one or
more of service parameters, settings or necessary components for
provisioning the offer of service; upon receiving, from the given
device, the request for provisioning of the service, provision the
service by executing the one or more of service parameters,
settings and necessary components.
13. The service provider network infrastructure of claim 8, wherein
the service is provisioned by one or more of a carrier, a service
provider and a management authority, and wherein the provisioning
system is further configured to: notify the one or more of the
carrier, the service provider and the management authority of the
provisioning request; and await authorization of the provisioning
request by one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the
management authority.
14. The service provider network infrastructure of claim 8, wherein
the provisioning system is further configured to reward via a
billing system one or more of the carrier, the service provider,
and the management authority,
15. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory
computer usable medium having a computer readable program code
adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising;
identifying devices on a network corresponding to targets for a
service; checking whether firmware and hardware capabilities of the
devices are configured to support the service; transmitting a
notification of an offer of the service to the devices with the
firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service; and,
in response: receiving, from a given device, a request for
provisioning of the service; and, upon authorization of the
request, provisioning the service for the given device.
16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the
transmitting the notification comprises transmitting one or more of
messages, e-mails, and text messages to the devices with the
firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service.
17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein he
transmitting the notification occurs using a dedicated device
service provisioning module
18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the
identifying the devices comprises allowing a service provider to
access one or more of criteria and rules for identifying the
devices corresponding to the targets for the service.
19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method
further comprises: preparing one or more of service parameters,
settings or necessary components for provisioning the offer of
service; upon receiving, from the given device, the request for
provisioning of the service, provision the service by executing the
one or more of service parameters, settings and necessary
components.
20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the service
is provisioned by one or more of a carrier, a service provider and
a management authority, and the method further comprises: notifying
the one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the
management authority of the provisioning request; and awaiting
authorization of the provisioning request by one or more of the
carrier, the service provider and the management authority.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a system and
method for self-serve provisioning of services on a mobile
communication device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] From time-to-time, suppliers of communication services may
introduce or promote new or existing services that may be offered
to subscribers of various carriers. Such services may include, for
example, electronic mail (email), voice communications, instant
text messaging, Internet browsing, multimedia downloading,
accessing applets or games, and various other services that may
become available with the introduction of a new communication
device. Similarly, carriers may want to promote, over time, various
other services (e.g. enhance voice plan, new data plan) to their
subscribers. Today, if a user wants to change her mobile device's
plan and/or subscribe to additional services, she has to contact
her carrier's customer care representative, and potentially have to
go through multiple stopping points. Then, once validated by a
customer care representative, the provisioning of the selected
service(s) may be effected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] In the figures which illustrate exemplary embodiments:
[0004] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a mobile communication device
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a communication
subsystem component the device of FIG. 1;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a system in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 4 is schematic block diagrams of a provisioning
management system in accordance with an embodiment; and
[0008] FIG. 5 is an illustrative flowchart of a method in
accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] As noted above, the present invention relates to a system
and method for self-serve provisioning of services on a mobile
communication device. As noted above, today, if a user wants to
change her mobile device's plan and/or subscribe to additional se
she has to contact her customer care representative and go through
multiple potential stopping points. Then, once validated by the
customer care representative, the provisioning of the
service(s)chosen may be effected by the customer care
representative or intermediary into a provisioning system that may
trigger potential modifications within the network infrastructure
and within the mobile device. This process may be cumbersome or
inconvenient for the user or customer care representative. As will
be described below, a self-serve provisioning system and method is
described which would potentially reduce this hurdle chain of
actions, promote revenue growth for carriers and service providers,
and improve the user experience for users of wireless mobile
communication devices.
[0010] Shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an
illustrative mobile handheld device 100. The handheld device 100
may comprise a number of components, including a main processor 102
which controls the overall operation of device 100. Various
communication functions, including data and voice communications.
Internet browsing, instant text messaging, etc. may be performed
through a communication subsystem 104 via wireless network 200.
[0011] The main processor 102 may also interact with additional
subsystems such as a random access memory (RAM) 106, a flash memory
108, a display 110, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 112,
a data port 114, a keyboard 116, a speaker 118, a microphone 120,
short-range communication 122 and other device subsystems 124. The
device 100 may be a battery-powered device and may include a
battery interface 132 for receiving one or more rechargeable
batteries 130 and for powering the various subsystems described
above.
[0012] Operating system software used by the main processor 102 is
typically stored in a persistent store such as flash memory 108.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system,
specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily
loaded into a volatile store such as the RAM 106.
[0013] Handheld device 100 may also include a read-only memory
(ROM) 107 that may store a non-alterable electronic serial number
or ESN which may be burned into ROM 107 at the time of manufacture
of device 100. In addition, handheld device 100 may have a unique
product identification number (PIN) stored in the ROM 107, or in
another memory store in device 100.
[0014] The main processor 102, in addition to its operating system
functions, enables execution of software applications 134 on the
device 100. The software applications 134 may control various
device features and services, and may be installed on the device
100 during its manufacture, or may be subsequently loaded onto the
device 100 as a software update through one of the wireless network
200, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112, the data port 114, the
short-range communications subsystem 122, or another subsystem
124.
[0015] The software applications 134 may include, for example,
various communication service modules 136 (e.g. email, instant text
messaging, Internet browsing, music downloading, etc.), and a
password approval module 138. The software applications 134 may
also include a device service provisioning module 137 for managing
the service applications provisioned for device 100 on a carrier
network.
[0016] The handheld device 100 may further include a device state
module 140, an address book 142, a personal information manager
(PIM) 144, and various other modules 146.
[0017] To identify a user, the communications device 100 may use a
SIM/RUIM/USIM card 126 (i.e. Subscriber identity Module or a
Removable User Identity Module or a Universal Subscriber Identity
Module, etc.), which is inserted into a SIM/RUIM/USIM interface
128, to communicate with a network. The SIM/RUIM/USIM card 126 is
one type of a conventional "smart card" that can be used to
identify a user of the communications device 100 and to personalize
the communications device 100, among other things. By inserting the
SIM/RUIM/USIM card 126 into the SIM/RUIM/USIM interface 128, a user
can access subscribed services. Such subscribed services may
include, for example, web browsing and messaging such as email,
voice mail, SMS, and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS).
[0018] Referring now o FIG, 2, a block diagram of the communication
subsystem component 104 of FIG. 1 is shown. The communication
subsystem 104 may comprise a receiver 210 and a transmitter 212, as
well as associated components such as one or more embedded or
internal antenna elements 214, 216, Local Oscillators (LOs) 218,
and a processing module such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
220.
[0019] Signals received by the antenna 214 through the wireless
network 200 are input to the receiver 210, which can perform such
common receiver functions as signal amplification, frequency down
conversion, filtering, channel selection, and analog-to-digital
(A/D) conversion. AID conversion of a received signal allows more
complex communication functions such as demodulation and decoding
to be performed in the DSP 220. In a similar manner, signals to be
transmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding, by
the DSP 220. These DSP-processed signals are input to the
transmitter 212 for digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, frequency
up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over the
wireless network 200 via the antenna 216.
[0020] Now referring to FIG. 3, shown is an illustrative schematic
block diagram 300 with including a mobile network carrier A 310,
mobile network carrier B 320, and a service provider 330. With the
various components and subsystems described above, device 100 may
be configured to access various services available through wireless
carrier networks 200A and 200B of mobile network carrier A 310 and
mobile network carrier B 320, respectively. As shown, each of the
wireless carrier networks 200A, 200B may have subsystems 314, 324
for provisioning various wireless services for devices 100 on their
respective wireless carrier networks. A service provider 330 may
also offer various external communication services via network
connections to the service provider 330's own network
infrastructure 332. The external communication services offered by
the service provider may include, for example, wireless email,
instant text messaging, downloading of multimedia content, and
various other services made available to subscribers on wireless
carrier networks 200A, 200B.
[0021] The service provider 330's network infrastructure 332 may
connect to a provisioning system 334 maintained by the service
provider 330 and which may be appropriately configured to interact
with subsystems 314, 324 provided on each of the wireless carrier
networks 200A, 200B. In an embodiment, via provisioning system 334,
service provider 330 may maintain a database 336 of services that
have been provisioned for each of the mobile communication devices
100 on the wireless carrier networks 200A, 200B of mobile network
carrier A 310, and mobile network carrier B 320. In the database
336 of provisioning system 334, each of the devices 100 may be
uniquely identified, for example, by the unique ESN burned into the
ROM 107 of each device 100. Alternatively, each device 100 may be
uniquely identified by the unique PIN identifier stored in ROM 107,
or in another memory store in device 100. Records in database 336
may contain the unique ESN or PIN retrieved from ROM 107 or another
memory store on each device 100. Each device 100 may thus be
uniquely recognized by the supplier's provisioning system 334.
Records in database 336 may also store information for the owning
mobile carrier (e.g. mobile network carrier A 310, or mobile
network carrier B 320), and this information may be linked to the
unique ESN or PIN of device 100.
[0022] In an embodiment, each of the mobile communication devices
100 may be associated with a unique billing identification (BID)
based on the ESN, PIN, a phone number, or SIM card. This
information may be stored for example in the subsystems 314, 324 of
mobile network carrier A 310, or mobile network carrier B 320, and
in the database 336 of provisioning system 334 as may be
appropriate. The subsystems 314, 324 and database 336 of
provisioning system 334 may also store for each device 100
information on various services that have been provisioned for that
device (e.g. email, voice, Internet access, music downloading,
etc.). Use of the various services which are subscribed to may be
monitored by a subscriber's unique BID, and billed directly or
indirectly to the subscriber by one of the carriers 310, 320 or the
service provider 330.
[0023] Now referring to FIG. 4, shown in a schematic block diagram
of various roles that may be played within an illustrative
provisioning management system 400 in accordance with an
embodiment. As shown, the various roles played may include a
management authority 402, and one or more external service
providers 404, 406. The provisioning management system may include
one or more mobile network carriers 310, 320 providing mobile
network communication services to various devices 100. As shown,
devices 100 may be connected to one or the other mobile network
carrier 310 or 320, which may in turn be connected to one or more
external service providers 404, 406, and one or more management
authorities 402. In an embodiment, the service provider and
management authority 404, 402 may be one and the same, and may be
the service provider 330 from FIG. 3 for example. It is also
possible that the external service provider 406 may be a third
party service provider that must look to another entity as the
management authority 402. It is also possible that the mobile
network carriers 310, 312 themselves are service providers,
management authorities, or both. Thus, it will be appreciated that
the roles of service providers, and management authorities, may be
potentially played by any of the entities within the provisioning
management system 400 linking all of these entities.
[0024] In an embodiment, new services available from service
providers 404, 406 may be offered and promoted by using a
notification mechanism on the devices 100. Notifications required
by the service providers 404, 406, are pushed either directly to
the device 100 or using an intermediary. The notification mechanism
may be, for example, an e-mail module, text messaging module, or a
dedicated module for notification of available services, such as
device service provisioning module 137 mentioned earlier.
[0025] In an embodiment, notification of the new service may be
pushed by service providers 404, 406, or by the carriers 310, 320
as a promotional push to their end users on devices 100. The
service providers 404, 406 or carriers 310, 320 may be provided by
the provisioning management system 400 with a set of filters and
search criteria to obtain a specific target audience who may
welcome receiving the notification/promotional offer. For example,
the set of filters or search criteria could include a check of
whether or not the user already subscribes to a mobile device plan
including the feature, and also checking whether a particular
device 100 is configured to support the feature with its firmware
and hardware capabilities. This may be done by searching one of the
provisioning databases, for example. The set of filters and search
criteria may also check other user information, if available, such
that the particular feature or service may be pushed to a specific
target marketing group. As will be appreciated, for any given
service, the provisioning management system 400 will be under the
corresponding management authority control.
[0026] Alternatively, for those users who would prefer not to
receive unsolicited advertising or promotion or new services,
device service provisioning module 137 may be configured to
periodically check for any new features that may be available for
the device 100 by activating a polling feature in the device
service provisioning module 137. Again, the same filters could be
used to selectively allow offers or promotions to be pulled by
device service provisioning module 137. In this case, rather than
receiving unsolicited offers and promotions pushed to the device,
the end user may be given the option of checking for availability.
In either case, if a user accepts an offer, modifications may be
applied to the various applications and services that are impacted
by the user choice.
[0027] In an embodiment, in order to avoid the need for complex
provisioning policies and carrier staff training, devices 100 may
be provisioned by the user upon initial device setup when they
first try to access the network of a mobile network carrier,
Suppose that a mobile communication device 100 is turned on for the
first time with new SIM card, or a new SIM card is inserted. Based
on the SIM card, the device 100 tries to access mobile network
carrier A 310, and mobile network carrier A 310 determines that no
data plan is set up. In an embodiment, the device service
provisioning module 137 may provide an initial device setup icon
which the end user can select from a display on device 100, and be
presented with a list of available data plans and associated
services available on mobile network carrier A 310. The user may
select one data plan that will trigger the provisioning of the
corresponding service(s) on the device 100, and modify the
necessary infrastructure and IT system settings to allow the user
to enjoy her new service(s).
[0028] For example, the first infrastructure service that m y be
set up in this manner is a billing service, which may set up a
unique billing identification (BID) based on an inserted SIM, ESN
or PIN of the device 100, or some other unique identification
information provided by the user (e.g. valid credit card on file
used to purchase the device 100).
[0029] With the self-serve provisioning and set up of billing
identification for the device 100, the user may select from one of
a number of available services. For example, the user may select a
basic service to perform basic functions on the mobile
communication device, such as enabling telephony functions and
basic email only. Alternatively, the end user may select an upgrade
of his existing data plan to also perform text messaging, or select
another level to also access Internet browsing.
[0030] In an embodiment, in response to an offer or promotion
notification, the end user may launch an application on her device
100 (e.g. browser) to access a service she is not currently
subscribed to (e.g. web-browsing). Upon access, the device 100 may
display a message inviting her to trial and/or to subscribe to the
service or to another action (cancel for instance). Alternatively,
when the user clicks on the offer or promotion notification, the
service provider is notified of the action, and in response the end
user will receive a message explaining how she can enjoy the
service (legal explanation, pricing, etc.).
[0031] If the user accepts, the device 100 will request the
provisioning of the service to the service provider 404, 406, its
intermediary or the management authority 402. The device 100 will
be provisioned, the infrastructure and IT system updated
accordingly. Alternatively, the end user will select an upgrade of
his existing application (Voice over Internet Protocol functions of
an Instant Messaging (IM) service), or new services running from
the same application (other IM services from the same service
provider).
[0032] In another embodiment, if the service provider wants to
promote a new service, the service provider may push (to selected
devices with or without using an intermediary) a notification (new
icon, blinking existing icon and/or message for instance), and the
service parameters/settings/necessary components may be provisioned
and the IT system and infrastructure updated accordingly. Then when
the user accepts the promotion, the device 100 is already set and
ready to provide the service.
[0033] In an embodiment, the system may be structured differently
depending on the roles that the service provider or carrier may
play. For example, if the service provider/management authority and
the mobile network carrier are different, the service may be
provisioned separately by the service provider. In this case, the
service provider may notify the mobile network carrier, and the
mobile network carrier may make the necessary network,
infrastructure, and billing modification. An appropriate billing
system may be set up to suitably reward both the mobile network
carrier and the service provider, based for example on a license
fee sharing arrangement or provisioning service fee
arrangement.
[0034] In another embodiment, if the management authority and the
service provider are different, before any action taken, the
service provider must notify the management authority, as the
management authority is in charge of the IT policy management, and
may or may not modify it to authorize the service provider to
provision the device.
[0035] In another embodiment, the service provider may be allowed
to access criteria and rules to select the appropriate target
audience for a service. For example, the management authority may
apply different rules according to various criteria to provision
devices.
[0036] In another embodiment, the provisioning management system
may provide to a service provider means (i.e. search capabilities)
to select the targeted audience based on the management rules and
criteria (e.g.: user having data plan A, device type B, having
accepted trial X etc.). The provisioning management system may also
provide means to select the type of notification (e.g.: new
message, new icon, visual indication on existing icon,
advertisement of the offer on the ribbon or task bar, etc.), and
means to define when the notification is to be delivered. The
provisioning management system may also provide means to provide
the notification package to the user for review and acceptance or
refusal.
[0037] Now referring to FIG. 5, shown is an illustrative method for
managing services for carrier subscribers in accordance with an
embodiment. As shown, method 500 begins at block 502, where method
500 identifies a device service to offer and promote.
[0038] Method 500 then proceeds to black 504, where method 500
identifies which devices the notification of offer of
service/promotion should be sent to. As described earlier, this may
be done by using selective filters or search criteria to identify a
target market for the offer/promotion.
[0039] Method 500 then proceeds to block 506, where method 500
pushes the notification of an offer of service/promotion to
selected devices. At decision block 508, method 500 waits to
receive user acceptance of the service offer/promotion. This may be
an acceptance to start normal service with a fee, or it may be a
trial offer for the user to try the service for a limited time. If
the user does not accept the service, method 500 simply ends.
However, if the user accepts the service, whether normal service or
a trial service, method 500 proceeds to block 510.
[0040] At block 510, method 500 initiates a provisioning request
from the device to provision the accepted service by notifying a
service provider and management authority of the user acceptance
and provisioning request. As described above, if the service
provider and management authority are different entities, the
service provider will require authorization from the management
authority before provisioning can proceed.
[0041] Method 500 then proceeds to block 512, where method 500 can
then bill appropriately for services and for a provisioning fee if
applicable.
[0042] Thus, in accordance with an aspect, there is provided a
method of provisioning a mobile communication device on a network,
comprising: identifying one or more devices on the network to which
a notification of an offer of service should be sent; pushing the
notification of an offer of service to the identified devices over
the network; if the offer of service is accepted at the device,
then initiating a provisioning request from the device to one or
more of a carrier, service provider or management authority; and
upon authorization of the provisioning request by the management
authority, provisioning the service from the service provider.
[0043] In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing as
a notification mechanism an indication or message to one or more of
an e-mail module, text messaging module, or a dedicated device
service provisioning module for pushing the notification of an
offer of service to the identified devices over the network.
[0044] In another embodiment, the method further comprises allowing
a service provider to access criteria and rules for selecting
identified devices corresponding to a target audience for a
service.
[0045] In another embodiment, the method further comprises
displaying on the device the notification of an offer of service as
one or more of a new message, a new icon, a visual indication on an
existing icon, or an advertisement on a ribbon or task bar.
[0046] In another embodiment, the method further comprises:
preparing one or more of service parameters, settings or necessary
components for provisioning the offer of service; and upon
acceptance of the offer of service at the device, executing the one
or more of service parameters, settings or necessary components and
provisioning the network infrastructure and device to provide the
service.
[0047] In another embodiment, the carrier, service provider and
management authority comprise one or more entities, and the method
further comprises; notifying the management authority of the
provisioning request; and awaiting authorization of the
provisioning request by the management authority.
[0048] In another embodiment, the method further comprises
rewarding via a billing system one or more of the carrier, service
provider or management authority.
[0049] In another aspect, there is provided a provisioning
management system for provisioning a mobile communication device on
a network, the provisioning management system being adapted to:
identify one or more devices on the network to which a notification
of an offer of service should be sent; push the notification of an
offer of service to the identified devices over the network; if the
offer of service is accepted at the device, then initiate a
provisioning request from the device to one or more of a carrier,
service provider or management authority; and upon authorization of
the provisioning request by the management authority, provision the
service from the service provider.
[0050] In an embodiment, the system is further adapted to provide
as a notification mechanism an indication or message to one or more
of an e-mail module, text messaging module, or a dedicated device
service provisioning module for pushing the notification of an
offer of service to the identified devices over the network.
[0051] In another embodiment, the system is further adapted to
allow a service provider to access criteria and rules for selecting
identified devices corresponding to a target audience for a
service.
[0052] In another embodiment, the system is further adapted to
display on the device the notification of an offer of service as
one or more of a new message, a new icon, a visual indication on an
existing icon, or an advertisement on a ribbon or task bar.
[0053] In another embodiment, the system is further adapted to:
prepare one or more of service parameters, settings or necessary
components for provisioning the offer of service; and upon
acceptance of the offer of service at the device, execute the one
or more of service parameters, settings or necessary components and
provisioning the network infrastructure and device to provide the
service.
[0054] In another embodiment, the carrier, service provider and
management authority comprise one or more entities, and the system
is further adapted to: notify the management authority of the
provisioning request; and await authorization of the provisioning
request by the management authority.
[0055] In another embodiment, the system is further comprises a
billing system to reward one or more of the carrier, service
provider or management authority.
[0056] In another aspect, there is provided a data processor
readable medium storing data processor code that when loaded into
one or more components of a system adapts the system to provision a
mobile communication device on a network, the data processor medium
comprising: code for identifying one or more devices on the network
to which a notification of an offer of service should be sent; code
for pushing the notification of an offer of service to the
identified devices over the network; code for initiating, if the
offer of service is accepted at the device, a provisioning request
from the device to one or more of a carrier, service provider or
management authority; and code for provisioning the service from
the service provider upon authorization of the provisioning request
by the management authority.
[0057] In an embodiment, the data processor readable medium further
comprises code for providing as a notification mechanism an
indication or message to one or more of an e-mail module, text
messaging module, or a dedicated device service provisioning module
for pushing the notification of an offer of service to the
identified devices over the network.
[0058] In another embodiment, the data processor readable medium
further comprises code for allowing a service provider to access
criteria and rules for selecting identified devices corresponding
to a target audience for a service.
[0059] In another embodiment, the data processor readable medium
further comprises code for displaying on the device the
notification of an offer of service as one or more of a new
message, a new icon, a visual indication on an existing icon, or an
advertisement on a ribbon or task bar.
[0060] In another embodiment, the data processor readable medium
further comprises: code for preparing one or more of service
parameters, settings or necessary components for provisioning the
offer of service; and code for executing, upon acceptance of the
offer of service at the device, the one or more of service
parameters, settings or necessary components and provisioning the
network infrastructure and device to provide the service.
[0061] In another embodiment, the carrier, service provider and
management authority comprise one or more entities, and the data
processor readable medium further comprises: code for notifying the
management authority of the provisioning request; and code for
awaiting authorization of the provisioning request by the
management authority.
[0062] While illustrative embodiments have been described above, it
will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be
made. More generally, the scope of the invention is defined by the
following claims.
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