Patent Publication Number: US-9408013-B2

Title: Wireless device configured to operate under a plurality of different brands and a plurality of different networks and configured to be customized to one brand and one network

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/057,570, filed Oct. 18, 2013 and now U.S. Pat. No. 9,143,887 issued Sep. 22, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application claims the benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/715,680 filed on Oct. 18, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates generally to a wireless device that is configured to operate under a plurality of different brands and with a plurality different networks. More particularly, the disclosure relates generally to a wireless device that is configured to operate under a plurality of different brands and with a plurality different networks, the brand and network to be utilized being designated at the point-of-sale, during activation, by the seller, and/or by the user. 
     2. Related Art 
     Generally, most wireless devices are sold to users having a configuration to operate as a particular brand and/or on a particular wireless network or wireless virtual network. The configurations can include various software components, system settings, network settings, network and/or operator applications, brand customization features and the like. For example, it is common practice to customize and apply different settings to the same wireless phone (i.e. same manufacturer and model) by the service provider. Phones will be either loaded with software to make such phones both compatible with the network of a specific brand but also, due to the subsidy applied to the cost of phones, to make such phones incompatible with the networks of others, including brands owned by the same entity. 
     This approach requires a wireless device seller to manage an inventory of phones for each type of configuration. In other words, a single type of wireless device will typically have to be configured by the manufacturer for each brand, each network operator or mobile virtual network operator. This results in a much greater inventory of wireless devices. In addition to the greater inventory, this also requires a wireless device seller to be able to anticipate the demands for a particular phone configured for a particular brand, mobile network operator or mobile virtual network operator. Additionally, users of phones will be required to purchase the same phone (again at a cost to the service provider due to the subsidy) to make it work with another brand even with the same service provider. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a wireless device to enable a wireless device seller and/or wireless device purchaser to be able to purchase a single wireless device that may be customized to operate under a desired brand, on a desired mobile network and/or virtual mobile network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the invention, with a wireless device configured to be customized and configured for a particular brand and/or for a particular wireless network at the point-of-sale, during activation, by the seller and/or by the purchaser. In particular, the invention is intended to solve the challenges of inventory management of identical phones that are customized for various incompatible brands. 
     In one aspect, a wireless device is configured to operate under a plurality of different brands and with a plurality different networks, a brand and a network to be utilized being designated one of at a point-of-sale, during activation, by a seller, and by a user, the electronic device includes a processor configured to execute instructions, a display device configured to generate an interface based in part in response to the processor, a memory configured to store the instructions to operate the electronic device, and the processor further configured to execute a customization component to designate the brand and the network to be utilized one of at the point-of-sale, during activation, by the seller, and by the user, wherein designating the brand and the network comprises at least one of designating setting configurations, software components, system settings, network settings, network operator applications, and brand customization features. 
     In another aspect, a process to configure a wireless device under a plurality of different brands and with a plurality different networks, a brand and a network to be utilized being designated one of at a point-of-sale, during activation, by a seller, and by a user, includes executing instructions in a processor, generating an interface on a display based in part in response to the instructions, storing the instructions to operate the wireless device in a memory, and executing a customization component to designate the brand and the network to be utilized one of at the point-of-sale, during activation, by the seller, and by the user, designating the brand and the network comprising at least one of designating setting configurations, software components, system settings, network settings, network operator applications, and brand customization features. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one aspect of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of aspects in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a process of customizing the wireless device in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a process of customizing the wireless device in accordance with another aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows the details of an exemplary wireless device utilizing a customization component in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary wireless device utilizing a customization component to become customized for a particular brand in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference in this specification to an electronic device is intended to encompass devices such as wireless devices, mobile phones, tablet computers, gaming systems, MP3 players and the like. Reference to a “wireless device” is intended to encompass any compatible mobile technology computing device that connects to a wireless communication network, such as mobile phones, mobile equipment, mobile stations, user equipment, cellular phones, smartphones, handsets or the like (e.g., Apple iPhone, iPad, Google Android based devices, BlackBerry based devices, other types of PDAs or smartphones), wireless dongles, or other mobile computing devices. The term “wireless device” may be interchangeably used and referred to herein as “wireless handset,” “handset,” “mobile device,” “device,” “mobile phones,” “mobile equipment,” “mobile station,” “user equipment,” “cellular phone,” “smartphones,” or “phone.” 
     Wireless devices may connect to a “wireless network” or “network” and are intended to encompass any type of wireless network to obtain mobile phone services through the use of a wireless device, such as the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network or the like, that may utilize the teachings of the present application to allow a wireless device to connect to a wireless network. 
     Reference in this specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “other aspects,” “one or more aspects” or the like means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect of the disclosure. The appearances of, for example, the phrase “in one aspect” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect, nor are separate or alternative aspects mutually exclusive of other aspects. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some aspects and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some aspects but not other aspects. 
     Customization Component and Customization Process 
       FIG. 1  shows a process of customizing the wireless device in accordance with aspects of the invention. In particular, the customization process allows a wireless device to be configured to operate under a plurality of different brands and/or operate with a plurality of different networks. The customization process is associated with a customization component  100  that may be stored on a wireless device, such as the electronic device  104 , described with respect to  FIG. 3 . The customization process and component may be implemented a number of different ways. Turning to  FIG. 1 , process step  202  starts the customization process by obtaining, loading, and/or executing the customization component. For example, the customization component may (1) include a software application or the like and the software and settings may reside on the wireless device; (2) the software or settings may be delivered wirelessly to the wireless device; (3) the software may be loaded on the SIM card, and/or (4) the application may be obtained and/or purchased from an application store (e.g., Google Play, iTunes, or the like). 
     Next in process step  204 , the user may be given a choice of a brand and/or a network in which to associate the wireless device. The choice may be a menu of available brands, available networks, and/or the like. Alternatively, executing a particular application may be the manner in which the user makes the choice of a particular brand and/or network. 
     The customization process will allow the user to either select the brand/network or make the phone compatible with a purchased airtime card or product activation code. Another benefit to the network and brand customization is that the customization process can be tailored with specific applications and restrictions (e.g., kid friendly applications and restrictions). 
     It may further be possible to reset the device to allow the user to select different services as desired. In particular, as shown in step  206 , the customization component may include a resetting step. Thereafter, the processor can return to step  202  to allow the user to customize the wireless device. Ultimately, such a customization can allow for ease in controlling applications, experiences, safety, and controls. 
       FIG. 2  shows a process of customizing the wireless device in accordance with another aspect of the invention. In this alternative approach, the customization component may be preloaded or loaded, as described above, to have retail specific applications and/or settings as shown in step  302  of  FIG. 2  for a number of different retailers. For example, wireless devices sold at a number of large retailers can have applications or settings as requested by each retailer in a single customization component. Accordingly, because the customization component contains all of the applications and/or settings for a plurality of retailers, the need to establish difficult inventory management is reduced. 
     As shown in step  304 , during activation, the customization component can be set to customize the wireless device based on the activation thereof. For example, if a wireless device is purchased at a first retail establishment, the phone can be tagged through the point-of-purchase activation to load the wireless device to the specification of the first retailer, which may increase traffic to such first retailer for purpose of purchasing airtime cards or accessories. On the other hand, if the same wireless device is purchased from a second retail establishment, the same wireless device through the point-of-purchase activation may load the wireless device to the specifications of the second retailer. 
     The five main use cases that this would help solve are: 
     Having one device that covers multiple networks (e.g., T-Mobile, AT&amp;T), and a subscription code that is obtained from one of many parameters, one of which being the activation information, POS information, and the like that determines which network configuration the device uses. 
     For devices maintaining billing/customer charging information, a product selection code sent out, which covers which billing platform, or mechanism that the device uses. 
     Brand customization, wherein devices can be branded differently, for the same billing method (For example, differentiate a Net10 device sold by a retailer vs. a Straight Talk device sold at the same retailer). 
     Brand customization, wherein devices can be branded the same, but to different retailers, in a sense providing customization/localization to each retailer. 
     Other market segmentation such as a kid phone, elderly phone, or the like depending on demographics of customers activating the device. 
       FIG. 3  shows the details of an exemplary electronic device in accordance with aspects of the invention. The electronic device  104  includes a processor  114 , memory  116 , display  118 , user interface  122 , and the like. The processor  114  may be a central processing unit configured to execute instructions including instructions related to software programs. The display  118  may be a liquid crystal display having a backlight to illuminate the various color liquid crystals to provide a colorful display. The user interface  122  may be any type of physical input having buttons and further may be implemented as a touchscreen  180 . 
     The electronic device  104  may further include in the memory  116 , an operating system  148 , a communication component  150 , a contact/motion component  152 , a graphics component  154  and the like. The operating system  148  together with the various components providing software functionality for each of the components of the electronic device  104 . 
     Additionally, in one aspect of the invention, the memory  116  may store the customization component  100 . As described below, the customization component  100  may also be stored in other locations of the electronic device  104  and/or locations remote from the electronic device  104 . For example, the customization component may (1) include a software application or the like and the software and settings may reside on the wireless device; (2) the software or settings may be delivered wirelessly to the wireless device; (3) the software may be loaded on the SIM card, and/or (4) the application may be obtained and/or purchased from an application store (e.g., Google Play, iTunes, or the like). 
     The memory  116  may include a high-speed random-access memory. Also, the memory  116  may be a non-volatile memory, such as magnetic fixed disk storage, flash memory or the like. These various components may be connected through various communication lines including a data bus  170 . 
     Additionally, the electronic device  104  may include an audio input/output device  156 . The audio input/output device  156  may include speakers, speaker outputs, and the like, providing sound output; and may include microphones, microphone inputs, and the like, for receiving sound inputs. The audio input/output device  156  may include and analog to digital converter and a digital to audio converter for audio input and output functions respectively. 
     When implemented as a wireless device, the electronic device  104  may include a transceiver  120  and the like. The electronic device  104  may provide radio and signal processing as needed to access a network for services. The processor  114  may be configured to process call functions, data transfer, and the like and provide other services to the user. 
     The touchscreen  180  of the invention may be implemented in the display  118  and may detect a presence and location of a touch of a user within the display area. For example, touching the display  118  of the electronic device  104  with a finger or hand. The Touchscreen  180  may also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus. 
     In operation, the display  118  may display various objects  190  associated with applications for execution by the processor  114 . In this regard, a user may touch the display  118 , and in particular the touchscreen  180 , to interact with the objects  190 . For example touching an object  190  may execute an application in the processor  114  associated with the object  190  that is stored in memory  116 . Additionally or alternatively, touching an object  190  may open a menu of options to be selected by the user. The display  118  may include a plurality of the objects  190  for the user to interact with. Moreover the display  118  may include a plurality of screens. The display  118  showing one screen at a time. The user may interact with the display  118  to move a screen into view on the display  118 . Various objects  190  may be located in the each of the screens. 
     One of the objects  190  may be the customization component  100 . In this regard, selecting the object  190  implementing customization component  100  may implement the process associated with  FIG. 1  or the process associated with  FIG. 2 . Selecting the object  190  implementing customization component  100  again may reset the customization process as shown in step  206  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary wireless device utilizing a customization component to become customized for a particular brand in accordance with aspects of the invention. More specifically, wireless device  104  may initially be a non-branded wireless device  402  and include the customization component  100  described above. Consistent with process step  204  described with respect to  FIG. 1  or process step  306  described with respect to  FIG. 2 , the non-branded wireless device  402  may be customized for Brand A as shown by arrow  408 ; or the non-branded wireless device  402  may be customized for Brand B as shown by arrow  410 . Accordingly, the resulting wireless device  104  may be customized to a Brand A wireless device  404  as shown in  FIG. 4 ; or the resulting wireless device  104  may be customized to a Brand B wireless device  406  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Accordingly, the system and process described above relates generally to a wireless device that is configured to operate under a plurality of different brands and with a plurality different networks, the brand and network to be utilized being designated at the point-of-sale, during activation, by the seller, and/or by the user. The result is that a user has a more positive experience with the wireless device. Moreover, inventory issues are reduced greatly. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure a computer readable medium stores computer data, which data can include computer program code that is executable by a processor of the SIM or mobile device, in machine readable form. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer readable medium may include computer readable storage media, for tangible or fixed storage of data, or communication media for transient interpretation of code-containing signals. Computer readable storage media, as used herein, refers to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to signals) and includes without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable and nonremovable storage media implemented in any method or technology for the tangible storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, optical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other physical or material medium which can be used to tangibly store the desired information or data or instructions and which can be accessed by a processor or computing device. In one or more aspects, the actions and/or events of a method, algorithm or module may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a computer readable medium or machine readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product. 
     The invention may include communication channels that may be any type of wired or wireless electronic communications network, such as, e.g., a wired/wireless local area network (LAN), a wired/wireless personal area network (PAN), a wired/wireless home area network (HAN), a wired/wireless wide area network (WAN), a campus network, a metropolitan network, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network (VPN), an internetwork, a backbone network (BBN), a global area network (GAN), the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, an overlay network, a cellular telephone network, a Personal Communications Service (PCS), using known protocols such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access), W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, and/or the like, and/or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the invention may be implemented in any type of mobile smartphones that are operated by any type of advanced mobile data processing and communication operating system, such as, e.g., an Apple iOS operating system, a Google Android operating system, a RIM Blackberry operating system, a Nokia Symbian operating system, a Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, a Microsoft Windows Phone operating system, a Linux operating system or the like. 
     Further in accordance with various aspects of the invention, the methods described herein are intended for operation with dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, microprocessors, PCs, PDAs, SIM cards, semiconductors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic arrays, cloud computing devices, and other hardware devices constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     While the system and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be specific aspects, the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed aspects. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all aspects of the following claims.