System and method for dynamic provisioning

1. A method for dynamically provisioning at least one of a network and a portable electronic device connectable to said network via one or more communication links comprising:

receiving a network state of said network at a provisioning engine connected to said network, said network state indicating an availability for each of said communication links;

accessing a normal profile associated with said portable electronic device at said provisioning engine, said normal profile indicating whether said portable electronic device is permitted to communicate via each of said communication links, and wherein said normal profile comprises an identifier of a first one of said communication links based on a first protocol;

determining, at said provisioning engine, if none of said communication links indicated as being permitted in said normal profile are indicated as being available in said network state, said determining performed by comparing said communication links indicated as being permitted in said normal profile with said communication links indicated as being available in said network state;

when none of said communication links indicated as being permitted in said normal profile are indicated as being available in said network state:

generating a plurality of alternative profiles at said provisioning engine, each alternative profile including a price plan and connection settings;

sending a message identifying each of said alternative profiles from said provisioning engine to said portable electronic device for display at said portable electronic device;

receiving a selection of one of said alternative profiles at said provisioning engine from said portable electronic device; and

provisioning said portable electronic device within said network, by sending updated provisioning data, including said price plan and connection settings contained within said selected alternative profile, from said provisioning engine to at least one network element, according to said selected alternative profile;

wherein said selected alternative profile comprises an identifier of a second one of said communication links, wherein said selected alternative profile includes a modified billing rate associated with said second link, and wherein said modified billing rate is equal to or less than a billing rate associated with said normal profile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifier of said second one of said communication links is based on a different protocol than said first link.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said modified billing rate is associated with usage of said second link.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said billing rate is less than said billing rate associated with said normal profile.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one network element includes a billing server, and wherein sending said updated provisioning data comprises sending said billing rate to said billing server, to modify billing associated with usage of said device according to said alternative profile.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a message to said portable electronic device notifying of said alternative profile.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a device state at said provisioning engine; wherein said determining step further comprises determining if said device state is consistent with said normal profile and said network state.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating said receiving and determining steps and provisioning said device within said network according to said normal profile if said normal profile and said network state are consistent.

9. A provisioning engine comprising:

a processor and a plurality of interfaces interconnected by said processor; said interfaces connectable, via a network, to a plurality of network elements, a network management server, and an electronic device connectable to said network via one or more communication links;

said processor configured to receive data representing a network state of said network via said network management server, said network state indicating an availability for each of said communication links;

said processor configured to maintain a normal profile associated with said electronic device, said normal profile indicating whether said device is permitted to communicate via each of said communication links, and wherein said normal profile comprises an identifier of a first one of said communication links based on a first protocol;

said processor further configured to determine if none of said communication links indicated as being permitted in said normal profile are indicated as being available in said network state, said determining performed by comparing said communication links indicated as being permitted in said normal profile with said communication links indicated as being available in said network state, and when none of said communication links indicated as being permitted in said normal profile are indicated as being available in said network state, to:

generate a plurality of alternative profiles, each alternative profile including a price plan and connection settings;

send a message identifying each of said alternative profiles to said electronic device for display at said electronic device;

receive a selection of one of said alternative profiles from said electronic device; and

provision said electronic device within said network by sending updated provisioning data, including at least one of said price plan and connection settings contained within said selected alternative profile, to at least one of said network elements, according to said selected alternative profile;

wherein said selected alternative profile comprises an identifier of a second one of said communication links, wherein said selected alternative profile includes a modified billing rate associated with said second link, and wherein said modified billing rate is equal to or less than a billing rate associated with said normal profile.

10. The engine of claim 9 wherein said identifier of said second one of said communication links is based on a different protocol than said first link.

11. The engine of claim 9 wherein said modified billing rate is associated with usage of said second link.

12. The engine of claim 9 wherein said billing rate is less than a rate associated with said normal profile.

13. The engine of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of network elements include a billing server; said processor further configured to send said updated provisioning data by sending said billing rate to said billing server, to modify billing associated with usage of said device according to said alternative profile.

14. The engine of claim 9 wherein said processor is further configured to send a message to said portable electronic device notifying of said alternative profile.

15. The engine of claim 9 , wherein said processor is further configured to receive a device state and wherein said processor is further configured to determine if said device state is consistent with said normal profile and said network state.

16. The engine of claim 9 , wherein said processor is further configured to re-provision said device within said network according to said normal profile if said network profile and said network state are consistent.