IP Library Granted Patent US 8,331,923
Granted Patent B2
US 8,331,923 · App. 12/506,142 · Granted Dec 11, 2012

Wireless provisioning solution for target devices

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,331,923
App. No.
12/506,142
Granted
Dec 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods to provision a non-handset target device with wide-area communication service, such as wireless wide area network (WWAN) technology. Identifying information of the target device can be provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a mobile provisioning device over a communication network. The PSP can determine the service carrier associated with the mobile provisioning device and enable the provisioning of the target device with the wide-area communication service to the service carrier via the mobile provisioning device. A billing plan can be instituted for the service of the target non-handset device relating to a billing plan of the mobile provisioning device.

Claims (104)

1. A method of provisioning a target device, comprising:

detecting, via a local provisioning interface at a provisioning device, identifying information relating to the target device;

providing, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request across a wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

receiving, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

provisioning, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

transmitting a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected identifying information is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected identifying information is provided from the target device to the provisioning device via a communication network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the detected identifying information relating to the target device via the provisioning device comprises:

sending a short message service (SMS) message from the provisioning device to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via the carrier of the provisioning device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the detected identifying information relating to the target device via the provisioning device comprises:

providing the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

8. A provisioning device, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a local provisioning interface; and

a processor, communicating with the wireless interface, the processor being configured to:

detect, via the local provisioning interface, identifying information relating to the target device;

provide a provisioning request across the wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

receive, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

provision, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) by sending an SMS message from the provisioning device to the PSP via the carrier of the provisioning device.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided, with an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device, to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

14. A system for provisioning a target device, comprising:

means for detecting, via a local provisioning interface, identifying information relating to the target device;

means for providing, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request across a wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

means for receiving, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

means for provisioning, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

means for receiving a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

transmitting a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) by sending an SMS message from the provisioning device to the PSP via the carrier of the provisioning device.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided, with an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device, to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-tangible computer-readable medium comprising:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to detect, via a local provisioning interface, at a provisioning device, identifying information relating to a target device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide, from the provisioning device, a provisioning request across a wireless interface with a network-based server for provisioning the target device, wherein the provisioning request comprises the detected identifying information and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive, via the wireless interface, in response to the provisioning request, provisioning information that enables a provisioning of communication service on the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provision, via the local provisioning interface, the target device with the provisioning information.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a price plan for the communication service provisioned on the target device.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 , wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit a selection of a desired price plan with the detected identifying information relating to the target device.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided via the carrier of the provisioning device.

24. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided to a provisioning service provider (PSP) by sending an SMS message from the provisioning device to the PSP via the carrier of the provisioning device.

25. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the detected identifying information relating to the target device is provided, with an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device, to a provisioning service provider (PSP) via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

26. A method of provisioning a target device, comprising:

receiving, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

retrieving provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

providing, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:

initiating a price plan for a communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is provided from the target device to the provisioning device via a communication network.

31. The method of claim 26 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

32. The method of claim 26 , wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

33. A system for provisioning a target device, comprising:

a server being configured to:

receive, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

retrieve provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

providing, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the server is further configured to initiate a price plan for a communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

35. The system of claim 34 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

36. The system of claim 33 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

37. The system of claim 33 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

38. The system of claim 33 , wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

39. A system for provisioning a target device, comprising:

means for receiving, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

means for retrieving provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

means for providing, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

40. The system of claim 39 , wherein the means for retrieving provisioning information is further configured to initiate a price plan for a communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

41. The system of claim 40 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

42. The system of claim 39 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

43. The system of claim 39 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

44. The system of claim 39 , wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

45. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive, via a wireless interface from a provisioning device, a provisioning request for provisioning a target device comprising identifying information relating to the target device and carrier information for a carrier of the provisioning device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to retrieve provisioning information for the carrier of the provisioning device, wherein the provisioning information enables the provisioning of the target device to the carrier of the provisioning device via a local provisioning interface between the provisioning device and the target device; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide, via the wireless interface, the provisioning information to the provisioning device.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 , wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to initiate a price plan for the communication service provided by the carrier to the target device.

47. The computer program product of claim 46 , wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a selection of a desired price plan with the identifying information relating to the target device.

48. The computer program product of claim 45 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received via the carrier of the provisioning device.

49. The computer program product of claim 45 , wherein the identifying information relating to the target device is received in an SMS message sent from the provisioning device via the carrier of the provisioning device.

50. The computer program product of claim 45 , wherein the detected information relating to the target device and an indication of the carrier of the provisioning device is received via a communication network other than the carrier of the provisioning device.

51. The method of claim 2 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

52. The device of claim 9 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

53. The system of claim 15 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

54. The computer program product of claim 21 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

55. The method of claim 27 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

56. The system of claim 34 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

57. The system of claim 40 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

58. The computer program product of claim 46 , wherein the price plan is combined with an existing billing account associated with service on the provisioning device.

Assignments (15)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056598 FRAME 0059. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058175/0775 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056601 FRAME 0630. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058174/0907 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056601/0630 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056598/0059 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 045723/0359) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS GRANTEE
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056516/0442 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 053983/0570) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS GRANTEE
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056518/0684 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: OMNITRACS, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 053983/0570 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT OF REEL/FRAME 031765/0877 Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045920/0845 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: OMNITRACS , LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 045723/0359 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT OF REEL/FRAME 031765/0877 Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045727/0398 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: OMNITRACS, LLC
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 041492/0939 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 2, 2014
From: OMNITRACS, INC.
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 032814/0239 →
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2014
From: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
To: OMNITRACS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032785/0834 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 13, 2013
From: OMNITRACS, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 031814/0843 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 5, 2013
From: OMNITRACS, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 031765/0877 →