Automatic population of feature capabilities on a communication device
A communication device, system and service provider for automatically populating feature capabilities. In one illustrative embodiment, the communication device can begin automatic download of service provider features and content by registering with a service provider. When successfully registered, the service provider can determine a set of available features for the communication device. The available features can be dependent on a number of factors including licensing, location, or subscription of the communication device. Available features can also be dependent on whether the communication device is idle or active. The service provider can notify the communication device with the set of available features. The features can be uniquely identified by a feature identification that represents the service provider and the feature. At any time, when the communication device reports that the user has selected a feature on the device, the service provider can take the appropriate actions.
1. On a communication device, a method for populating feature capabilities comprising:
registering with a service provider;
receiving, from said service provider, notification of at least one available feature and corresponding data items comprising an identifier, a label, and a current status, said current status indicating whether said at least one feature is active on said communication device;
populating a menu on said communication device wherein said menu comprises said label and said current status and is limited to said at least one available feature;
displaying said menu;
receiving a selection for a feature from said menu;
providing said identifier corresponding to said selected feature to said service provider to activate or de-activate said feature based on said identifier;
upon said activating or de-activating of said selected feature, updating said menu comprising updating said current status; and
displaying said updated menu.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a notification from said service provider that said selection has been applied to said feature.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a notification from said service provider that said selection has not been applied to said feature.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing said selection to said service provider comprises additional input for applying said feature.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said additional input is a number for forwarding calls.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one available feature is determined by said service provider based a location or license of said communication device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one available feature is dependent on whether said communication device is in or out of a call.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said at least one available feature comprises at least one of transfer, swap, new call, hold, call park and record call when said communication device is in said call.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said at least one available feature comprises at least one of contacts, speed dial, call forward, call pickup, and do not disturb when said communication device is out of said call.
10. A system comprising:
a mobile device having features supported by at least one service provider;
wherein said mobile device receives, from said at least one service provider, notification of said features and corresponding data items comprising an identifier, a label, and a current status, said current status indicating whether said features are active on said mobile device and populates a menu on said mobile device wherein said menu comprises said label and said current status and is limited to said supported features, displays said menu wherein said menu is limited to said supported features, said mobile device receiving an action request for a feature from said menu and transmitting said action request comprising a identifier corresponding to said selected feature to said at least one service provider whereat said action request for said selected feature is activated or de-activated based on said identifier.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said features are provided through an open standard protocol.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said features comprise at least one of call forwarding, do not disturb, and call park.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said call forwarding comprises at least one of always, never, or sometimes.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein said call forwarding comprises receiving an additional number.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein said menu comprises text strings that are provided by said at least one service provider.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein said features are dependent on whether the mobile phone is idle or active.
17. A service provider comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said memory storing program instructions that when executed by said processor, causes said processor to:
register a computing device;
provide notification of available features and corresponding data items comprising an identifier, a label and a current status, said current status indicating whether said at least one feature is active on said computing device to said computing device for populating a menu on said communication device wherein said menu comprises said label and said current status and is limited to said available features;
receive a feature request associated with said available features, said feature request comprising a unique identifier corresponding to one of said available features;
apply said feature request based on said identifier to activate or de-activate said feature based on said unique identifier.
18. The service provider of claim 17 , wherein said memory storing program instructions, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to register said computing device using registration information received by said computing device and send confirmation to said computing device whether said computing device was successfully registered.
19. The service provider of claim 17 , wherein said memory storing program instructions, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to determine said available features based on location or licensing of said computing device.
20. The service provider of claim 17 , wherein said memory storing program instructions, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to apply said feature request with additional data received by said computing device.