Abstract:
A system for activating a wireless device comprising a wireless device having an input operable for a user of the wireless device to initiate activation of the wireless device. The system includes a telecommunication network operable to communicate with the wireless device. The system includes an authentication component of the telecommunication network operable to identify the wireless device as not authenticated on the telecommunication networks the telecommunication network allowing access by the wireless device for activation. The system includes an activation system operable based on the activation information received to perform input to activate the wireless device such that the only telecommunication network user input required for activation of the wireless device will be the user of the wireless device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present disclosure is directed to the activation of wireless devices and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to, the architecture and applications to support a device driven system for activating a wireless device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Wireless communication is well known. Sometimes wireless devices need to be activated when sold. There are many techniques used to activate a wireless device. A wireless device may be, but is not limited to, a digital, cellular, and other wireless phones, PDAs, and so on. Activation may include allowing the wireless device to be available for on going use in a telecommunications network. The activation process may include a number of steps such as, but not limited to, enabling the underlying wireless telecommunications network to be able to communicate with the wireless device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment of the disclosure is a system for activating a wireless device comprising of a wireless device having an input operable for a user of the wireless device to initiate activation of the wireless device. The system includes a telecommunication network operable to communicate with the wireless device. The system includes an authentication component of the telecommunication network operable to identify the wireless device as not authenticated on the telecommunication network, the telecommunication network allowing access by the wireless device for activation. The system includes an activation system operable based on the activation information received to perform input to activate the wireless device such that the only telecommunication network user input required for activation of the wireless device will be the user of the wireless device. 
   An alternative embodiment provided is a method for activating a wireless device. The method includes initiating activation of a wireless device by a user using the wireless device where the input activation information is performed via the wireless device where the wireless device is communicating with at least one portion of a telecommunication network. The method includes determining that the wireless device is not authenticated on the telecommunication network, where the telecommunication network is responsible for allowing access by the wireless device activation. The method includes determining by an authorization component of the telecommunication network whether to allow the wireless device to perform activation. The method uses input information to activate the wireless device based on the activation information such that the only telecommunication network input required for activation of the wireless device being the user of the wireless device. 
   Another embodiment provides a telecommunications network architecture for self activation of a wireless device. This embodiment includes a wireless device having an input operable for a user of the wireless device to initiate activation of the wireless device. Since the wireless device may be purchased before it has been activated on the telecommunications network, the wireless device will need to be activated. This architecture includes an authentication component of the telecommunication network operable to identify the wireless device as not authenticated on the telecommunication network, where the telecommunication network allows access by the wireless device for activation. The system includes an authorization component of the telecommunication network operable to allow the wireless device to perform activation. The architecture includes an activation system operable based on activation information to perform input to activate the wireless device such that the only telecommunication network input required for activation of the wireless device is given by the user of the wireless device without the assistance of a third party. In some embodiments, a client application on the device may be operable for communicating with back-office enterprise information technology systems to provide activation information. This information may be sufficient or used in combination with other information provided by or obtained or accessible by the back-office enterprise information technology systems to promote activation of the device. Activation according to this alternate embodiment may occur with minimal or perhaps without any information being directly input by the user. An interactive voice response system (IVR) is operable to promote activation by voice response communication with the user of the wireless device to promote activation by data communication with the wireless device. A gateway component is operable to determine when the wireless device is not activated and promotes communication of the voice signals of the wireless device to the interactive voice response system and promote communication of data signals of the wireless device to the data system. 
   These and other features and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the presentation and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  is an event diagram of a device driven activation system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, which in this case is the activation and authorization performed with the wireless device “in hand” using an Interactive Voice Response component (IVR). 
       FIG. 3  is an event diagram of a device driven activation system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, which in this case is the activation and authorization performed with the wireless device using a web server interface. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a general purpose computer operable for implementing some of the systems disclosed herein. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   It should be understood at the outset that although an exemplary implementation of one embodiment is illustrated below, the present system may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. 
   Activating a wireless device is tedious and time consuming and requires considerable effort by the telecommunication provider systems and personnel. Activation information is processed by personnel associated with the telecommunications provider&#39;s personnel, such as at retail stores or via call centers that process the information from the user to authorize and activate the wireless device. To reduce human resources needed, the present disclosure provides for automatic activation by the user using the wireless device for input, without the assistance of any individuals employed by or associated with the telecommunications provider. When a wireless device needs to be activated where authorization is necessary, various information must be processed before authorization is achieved, including credit report information, credit card information, fraud checking and personal information must be obtained. Information about the wireless device itself also needs to be determined, including the services and features that are available for and will be activated on the wireless device. This may include obtaining the hardware version and software release the wireless device is using. The present disclosure provides a system operable for an individual to activate a wireless device without any assistance from the personnel associated with the telecommunications provider. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a system  5  for activating a wireless device  10  is depicted.  FIG. 1  illustrates a base station  25  which is used as the first point of contact for the wireless device  10  to the telecommunications network. The wireless device  10  communicates wirelessly with the base station  25 , which is a component of a wireless telecommunications system, via communication channel  100  using one of many possible wireless protocols well known to those skilled in the art. The base station  25  will determine whether the call made for activation of the wireless device  10  is data or voice and route the call accordingly. In one embodiment, if the activation information is data, the base station  25  will route that information via communication channel  110  to a packet data serving node  30 . The packet data serving node  30  handles the routing of digital data. The packet data serving node  30  routes the data via communication channel  120  to a gateway  40  component. 
   The gateway  40  may be used to perform authentication of the wireless device  10 . The gateway  40  may send information via communication channel  125  to a web server  55 . The web server  55  is used to interface with any web site (e.g., default web site  45 ) or system needed to promote activation of the wireless device  10 . The web server  55  may also be used to gather the information for activation. For example, a home computer  20  associated with a wireless device  10  may communicate with web server  55  via communication channel  155 . Once the web server  55  gathers the information for activation, it is sent via communication channel  130  to an ape server  60 . The ape server  60  may be used to provide the activation information sent from the wireless device  10 , via communication channel  135 , to a customer relationship system  65 , which processes the information to activate the wireless device  10 . 
   A customer relationship system  65  may be any system or systems used by corporations to maintain or manage customer records. In some of the embodiments, the customer relationship system  65  will have customer management software which can process customer information and other information needed for activation, such as credit scores, payment information and personal information about the customers. The customer management software on the customer relationship system  65  may also perform fraud checking to make sure the owner of the wireless device  10  is not previously registered and also to make sure the user is not trying to commit fraud on the telecommunications provider. 
   As mentioned above, the base station  25  routes activation information that is data traffic to the packet data serving node  30 . In another embodiment, if the activation data is voice traffic, the base station  25  may route the communication to an interactive voice response  35  component via communication channel  115 . The interactive voice response  35  component is a system well known to those skilled in the art, to take voice inputs from the wireless device  10  and process them without the help of any personnel of the telecommunications provider, such as call center  70  employees. The interactive voice response  35  component may communicate via communication channel  140  with an ape server  60  which will then route the activation information via communication channel  135  to the customer relationship system  65  for activation of the wireless device  10 . 
   According to one embodiment, a client application  15  may be provided on the wireless device  10  to promote activation of the wireless device  10 . The client application  15  sends information about the wireless device  10 , such as the hardware version and software release, that can be used to determine the features that are available and can be purchased for the wireless device  10 . In some embodiments, the client application  15  may have a user interface with features to simplify the user inputting information needed for activation. The features of the user interface may include predictive typing and other features to assist the user of the wireless device  10  in interfacing with the system  5  for activation. 
   A call center  70  receives activation information which is sent via communication channel  100  from the wireless device  10  to the base station  25 . The base station then sends the activation information via communication channel  145  to the call center  70 . In the event human interaction is necessitated, the activation information is received by employees at the call center  70  to activate the wireless device  10 . The information is then sent via communication channel  150  to the customer relationship management system  65  component for activation processing. The customer relationship management system  65  may communicate via communication channel  160  with a computer  80  in a store  75 , or via communication channel  165  with a computer with no wireless device  50 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an event diagram is depicted that describes a system for authorizing and activating a wireless device  10  via an interactive voice response  35  component. As discussed, the wireless device  10  may be provided with a client application  15  used to promote or initiate activation of the wireless device  10 . 
   The client application  15  on the device  10  may be operable for communicating with back-office enterprise information technology systems (discussed below) to provide activation information. The user may provide this information via the client application  15 , the client application  15  may be operable to obtain this information, such as the device phone number without user input. This information may be sufficient or used in combination with other information provided by or obtained or accessible by the back-office enterprise information technology systems to promote activation of the device  10 . Activation according to this alternate embodiment may occur with minimal or perhaps without any information being directly input by the user, except perhaps by the user initiating the activation process. 
   The client application  15  may be operable to obtain information from or about the wireless device  10  including the Electronic Serial Number (ESN) Mobile Identification Number (MIN), the make and model of the phone or device, information about any hardware and software running on or used by the device  10 , such as version, configuration, settings, parameters, preferences, and so on. 
   The wireless device  10  communicates with the telecommunications network to pass the activation request  200  to a base station  25 . In one of the embodiments, the information is then passed to an interactive voice response system  35  which is used to request the validation information  205 . The validation information  205  is then input by the user  210  of the wireless device  10  and sent to the interactive voice response system  35 . The validation information  205  may include personal information. The client application  15  may also provide the hardware version and software release of the wireless device  10 . 
   Once the activation information  205  is received by the interactive voice response system  35 , it is communicated to the ape server  60  which will send the information to a customer relationship system  65 . The customer management software of the customer relationship system  65  processes the information to authorize and activate  215  the wireless device  10 . This may include any provisioning of services and credit checking. The customer relationship system  65  will then activate  220  the wireless device  10 . The customer relationship systems  65  alone or in combination with other enterprise systems for managing the enterprise telecommunication capabilities, and enterprise and customer information may be referred to herein as back-office systems of the enterprise. These back-office systems, including the customer relationship management systems  65 , may be operable alone or in combination with the client application  15  or other systems to initiate and active the device  10 . These back-office systems may have access to information such as names, addresses, credit information, fraud checking, existing account information, and usage information about existing customers and accounts. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an event diagram is depicted that describes a system for authorizing and activating a wireless device  10  via a web server  55 . The wireless device  10  again may have the client application  15  which may be used to initiate an activation request  300  for the wireless device  10 . This information is communicated to the base station  25  of the telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the information is then passed to the packet data serving node  30  which checks to see if the data is sent from a valid and activated wireless device  10 . If the wireless device  10  is not validated and needs activation  305 , an activation request  310  can be directed to the default web site  45  on the web server  55  for this purpose. The web site  45  will be used to request the validation information  315  from the user of the wireless device  10 , including personal information and/or the hardware version and software release of the wireless device  10 . The user of the wireless device  10  provides the validation information  320  to the web site  45 . The web site  45  then communicates with the ape server  60  which sends the information to the customer relationship system  65 . The customer management software processes the information to authorize and activate  325  the wireless device  10 . The customer relationship system  65  then activates  330  the wireless device  10 . 
   In some embodiments, the activation process may only require the user entering the phone number via the client application  15  on the device  10 . In some embodiments, the user may only initiate activation and the client application  15  may be operable to obtain the phone number with input by the user. The client application  15  then obtains any additional information needed for activation from the device  10 . The client application  15  communicates with the back-office systems to activate the device  10 . Some of the information needed for activation may be obtained or provided by the back-office systems. In other embodiments, more or fewer steps may be used. In other embodiments, the client application  15  or other back-office system may provide an activation file in a special directory on the device  10 . A listening component may be responsive to the activation file being placed in the particular directory. The listening component may then initiate activation of the device  10 . 
   It will be appreciated that the activation information, which may include the user or customer&#39;s information and information about the wireless device may be provided by the user, the client application  15  or by combinations of both. Also, this information may be provided by an iterative communication cycle where the client application  15  provides some information and the system  5  then prompts the user to provide additional information, and so on until all the information necessary for activation is obtained. 
   Portions of the system or systems, such as the back-office systems, described above may be implemented on any general-purpose computer with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it.  FIG. 4  illustrates a typical, general-purpose computer system suitable for implementing one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The computer system  380  includes a processor  382  (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memory devices including secondary storage  384 , read only memory (ROM)  386 , random access memory (RAM)  388 , input/output (I/O) devices  390 , and network connectivity devices  392 . The processor may be implemented as one or more CPU chips. 
   The secondary storage  384  is typically comprised of one or more disk drives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data and as an over-flow data storage device if RAM  388  is not large enough to hold all working data. Secondary storage  384  may be used to store programs which are loaded into RAM  388  when such programs are selected for execution. The ROM  386  is used to store instructions and perhaps data which are read during program execution. ROM  386  is a non-volatile memory device which typically has a small memory capacity relative to the larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM  388  is used to store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to both ROM  386  and RAM  388  is typically faster than to secondary storage  384 . 
   I/O devices  390  may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches, dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tape readers, or other well-known input devices. The network connectivity devices  392  may take the form of modems, modem banks, ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards, serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) cards, wireless local area network (WLAN) cards, radio transceiver cards such as code division multiple access (CDMA) and/or global system for mobile communications (GSM) radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network devices. These network connectivity devices  392  may enable the processor  382  to communicate with an Internet or one or more intranets. With such a network connection, it is contemplated that the processor  382  might receive information from the network, or might output information to the network in the course of performing the above-described method steps. Such information, which is often represented as a sequence of instructions to be executed using processor  382 , may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave. 
   Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executed using processor  382  for example, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signal or signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signal embodied in the carrier wave generated by the network connectivity devices  392  may propagate in or on the surface of electrical conductors, in coaxial cables, in waveguides, in optical media, for example optical fiber, or in the air or free space. The information contained in the baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave may be ordered according to different sequences, as may be desirable for either processing or generating the information or transmitting or receiving the information. The baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave, or other types of signals currently used or hereafter developed, referred to herein as the transmission medium, may be generated according to several methods well known to one skilled in the art. 
   The processor  382  executes instructions, codes, computer programs, scripts which it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk (these various disk based systems may all be considered secondary storage  384 ), ROM  386 , RAM  388 , or the network connectivity devices  392 . 
   While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented. 
   Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating with each other may be coupled through some interface or device, such that the items may no longer be considered directly coupled to each other but may still be indirectly coupled and in communication, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise with one another. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.