Method and system for tailoring device provisioning based on device capability information communicated to network
View Patent ↗Before a WiMAX-equipped device is distributed to an end-user, the manufacturer or distributor of the WiMAX-equipped device will record in the device a set of data that describes characteristics (e.g., type, features, capabilities, and limitations) of the device. When the end-user powers on the device or otherwise brings the device within the coverage of a service provider's WiMAX base station, the device will then acquire radio connectivity, typically with the service provider authenticating the device's WiMAX chipset. Thereafter, the device will engage in a first-time activation/service-provisioning session with a system operated by the service provider, and during that session, the device will provide the system with its device-characteristics data and the service provider will use that device-characteristics data as a basis to customize provisioning of service for the device based on the device's features and capabilities.
1. A method comprising:
a subscription portal receiving an authentication message over an air interface from a device having a wireless communication module for engaging in communication on the air interface;
after receiving the authentication message, the subscription portal authenticating the wireless communication module;
after authenticating the wireless communication module, the subscription portal engaging in a first-time activation session with the device, wherein engaging in the first-time activation session with the device comprises conducting initial provisioning of service for the device, wherein conducting the initial provisioning of service for the device comprises correlating the device with a service account administered by a service provider, for use by the service provider in later serving the device; and
the subscription portal receiving from the device during the first-time activation session with the device a set of data specifying one or more features or capabilities of the device, and using the data as a basis to customize the initial provisioning of service for the device based on the specified one or more features or capabilities of the device,
wherein using the data as a basis to customize the initial provisioning of service for the device based on the specified one or more features or capabilities of the device comprises using the one or more features or capabilities of the device as a basis to establish one or more service parameters for the service account administered by the service provider, wherein establishing the one or more service parameters for the service account administered by the service provider comprises recording the one or more service parameters in the service account administered by the service provider, for use in later serving the device, and
wherein using the data as a basis to customize initial provisioning of service for the device based on the specified one or more features or capabilities of the device comprises, in addition to using the one or more features or capabilities of the device as a basis to establish one or more service parameters for the service account, using the one or more features or capabilities of the device as a basis to establish configuration data to provision on the device, and sending the configuration data to the device for storage on the device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication module comprises a WiMAX chipset.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subscription portal is operated on a network of the service provider.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication message carries an X.509 certificate for the wireless communication module, and wherein authenticating the wireless communication module comprises authenticating the wireless communication module by reference to the X.509 certificate.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the set of data from the device comprises receiving the set of data from the device within a service provisioning request message transmitted from the device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the service provisioning request message comprises an HTTP request message requesting service provisioning.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of data comprises an XML file stored on the device in advance.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the device is operated by an end-user, and wherein the XML file was written to the device before distribution of the device to the end-user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more features or capabilities of the device comprise one or more user interface components possessed by the device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more features or capabilities of the device comprise at least one of (i) one or more hardware components of the device and (ii) one or more software components of the device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more features or capabilities of the device comprise at least one of (i) a generic type of the device, (ii) one or more user interface components if any possessed by the device, (iii) capability of engaging in one or more particular types of communication, (iv) data storage if any possessed by the device, (v) an operating system if any installed on the device, (vi) one or more media codecs if any supported by the device, and (vii) one or more software applications if any installed on the device.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after authenticating the wireless communication module, assigning an IP address to the device.
13. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the conducting the initial provisioning of service for the device comprises sending to the device a prompt for a user of the device to select one or more services to associate with the service account for the device, and
wherein using the data as a basis to customize the initial provisioning of service for the device based on the specified one or more features or capabilities of the device comprises using the one or more features or capabilities of the device as a basis to customize the prompt.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein using the one or more features or capabilities of the device as a basis to customize the prompt comprises:
the subscription portal selecting a mode of communication with the device based on the one or more features or capabilities; and
using the selected mode of communication to send the prompt to the device.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mode comprises VoIP.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration data comprises logic or data selected from the group consisting of (i) at least one application server network address, (ii) at least one identifier or security parameter usable to facilitate access to a network resource, (iii) program logic, (iv) buddy list data, and (v) media.