Mobile device self-provisioning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9729997-B2
Application number	US-201314134826-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for self-provisioning of mobile devices are disclosed. An implementation includes determining whether the SIM of a mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider, sending an attachment request to a wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a coverage area of the wireless data network, receiving an attachment response from the wireless data network of the wireless network provider in response to the attachment request, determining from the attachment response, whether attachment to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider is successful, reviewing an error code provided by the wireless network provider and based on the error code, displaying a user interface allowing a user to provision the SIM for receiving service from the wireless network provider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
detecting power up of a mobile device equipped with a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM);
determining whether the SIM of the mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider;
upon determining the SIM of the mobile device is associated with the wireless network provider, sending an attachment request to a wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a coverage area of the wireless data network;
receiving an attachment response from the wireless data network of the wireless network provider in response to the attachment request;
determining from the attachment response, whether attachment to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider is successful;
upon determining the attachment is not successful, reviewing an error code provided by the wireless network provider;
based on the error code, determining whether the SIM is not provisioned for receiving service from the wireless network provider;
upon determining the SIM is not provisioned for receiving service from the wireless network provider, determining if the mobile device is connected to a Wi-Fi network; and
upon determining the mobile device is connected to the Wi-Fi network, displaying a registration web portal at the mobile device, the registration web portal allowing a user to provision the SIM for receiving service from the wireless network provider.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the mobile device to access the service upon provisioning through the displayed registration web portal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the SIM of the mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider includes determining whether first six digits of an international mobile subscriber identity number (IMSI) of the SIM are associated with the wireless network provider.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the attachment request includes sending an attachment request to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a Long Term Evolution (LTE) coverage area of the wireless data network.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a user interface on the mobile device to obtain user permission to proceed with user registration through the displayed registration web portal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular error code indicates that evolved packet system (EPS) and non-EPS services are unavailable.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing a user to select a data plan for purchase using the registration web portal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: upon determining the mobile device is connected to the Wi-Fi network, obtaining parameters including an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of the mobile device and an international mobile subscriber identity number (IMSI) of the SIM; and
storing the IMSI and the IMEI at a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) upon completion of user registration through the displayed registration web portal.

9. A mobile device, comprising:
a communication interface configured to enable communication via a mobile network;
a processor coupled with the communication interface;
a storage device accessible to the processor; and
an executable program in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
detect power up of a mobile device equipped with a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM);
determine whether the SIM of the mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider;
upon determining the SIM of the mobile device is associated with the wireless network provider, send an attachment request to a wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a coverage area of the wireless data network;
receive an attachment response from the wireless data network of the wireless network provider in response to the attachment request;
determine from the attachment response, whether attachment to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider is successful;
upon determining the attachment is not successful, review an error code provided by the wireless network provider;
based on the error code, determine whether the SIM is not provisioned for receiving service from the wireless network provider;
upon determining the SIM is not provisioned for receiving service from the wireless network provider, determine if the mobile device is connected to a Wi-Fi network; and
upon determining the mobile device is connected to the Wi-Fi network, display a registration web portal at the mobile device, the registration web portal allowing a user to provision the SIM for receiving service from the wireless network provider.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
allow the mobile device to access the service upon provisioning through the displayed registration web portal.

11. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
determine whether first six digits of an international mobile subscriber identity number (IMSI) of the SIM are associated with the wireless network provider.

12. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
send an attachment request to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a Long Term Evolution (LTE) coverage area of the wireless data network.

13. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
display a user interface on the mobile device to obtain user permission to proceed with user registration through the displayed registration web portal.

14. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the particular error code indicates that evolved packet system (EPS) and non-EPS services are unavailable.

15. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
allow a user to select a data plan for purchase using the registration web portal.

16. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the mobile device to perform functions, including functions to:
upon determining the mobile device is connected to the Wi-Fi network, obtain parameters including an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of the mobile device and an international mobile subscriber identity number (IMSI) of the SIM; and
store the IMSI and the IMEI at a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) upon completion of user registration through the displayed registration web portal.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:
detect power up of a mobile device equipped with a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM);
determine whether the SIM of the mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider;
upon determining the SIM of the mobile device is associated with the wireless network provider, send an attachment request to a wireless data network of the wireless net

Assignees

• Cellco Partnership Dba Verizon

Inventors

• Chen Zhengfang
• Khalid Mohammad Raheel
• Kim Ji Hoon
• Rahman Masudur Sm

Classifications

• H04W4/001 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M15/72

  by the user · CPC title

• H04M15/93

  using near field or similar technologies · CPC title

• H04M15/715

  Activating new subscriber or card · CPC title

• H04W4/24

  Accounting or billing · CPC title