Patent ID: 6622017
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G06F,H04M

Abstract:
A method, comprising:obtaining programmable wireless communication terminals each having a predetermined minimal set of operational capabilities, a program memory for storing one or more feature modules and a processor for executing one or more of the feature modules to control the operational capabilities, wherein a substantial portion of the program memory is initially blank; establishing a database comprising a plurality of separate plug-in program modules, each plug-in program module comprising program code executable by the processor to enable implementation of a predetermined one or more communication features; distributing one of the programmable wireless communication terminals to a subscriber of a communication service offered by a wireless communication network; receiving from the subscriber a selection of a feature from among a plurality of available features; retrieving one of the executable program modules from the database, the retrieved module corresponding to the selected feature; downloading the retrieved module into the substantial portion of the program memory in the one programmable wireless communication terminal, to enable the one wireless communication terminal to implement the selected feature; and automatically provisioning at least one element of the wireless communication network to activate a subscription service corresponding to the selected feature.