PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8682308-B2
Application Number: US-201213487052-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Over-the-air device configuration

Abstract:
Methods, program products, and systems of over-the-air device configuration are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can determine, in an application subsystem of the mobile device, that the mobile device requests an initial setup. The application subsystem can send a request to a baseband subsystem of the mobile device. The request can include an indicator specifying that the baseband subsystem is to operate in a service configuration mode. The mobile device can request the configuration information from a registration server using the baseband subsystem that operates under the service configuration mode. Requesting the configuration information from the server can include connecting to the server over the air using a cellular network, through a specified carrier and under a specified data transfer cap. The mobile device can then configure the mobile device using configuration information received from the server.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by a mobile device, comprising:
 determining, in an application subsystem of the mobile device, that the mobile device seeks configuration information; 
 from the application subsystem, sending a request to a baseband subsystem of the mobile device, the request including an indicator specifying that the baseband subsystem is to operate in a service configuration mode, wherein, when operating in the service confiuration mode, the baseband system connects to a cellular network to access a server on the cellular network for requesting the configuration information, wherein the baseband system connects to the cellular network despite the mobile device being unknown to a carrier that provides the cellular network; 
 requesting the configuration information from the server using the baseband subsystem in the service configuration mode; and 
 configuring the mobile device using configuration information received from the server in response. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the baseband subsystem has not been previously configured to connect to a carrier. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 before determining that the mobile device requests configuration information, automatically determining a language setting of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the language setting of the mobile device includes:
 detecting signals from a wireless access device; 
 identifying a country code from the wireless access device, the country code operable to identify a country in which the wireless access device is located; and 
 determining a default language setting of the mobile device based on the country. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless access device is at least one of a wireless access point or a cell tower. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the mobile device upon receiving the requested configuration information from the server comprises configuring the baseband subsystem to connect to a carrier that is different from the specified carrier. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 requesting the configuration information from the server includes sending an identifier of the mobile device to the server through the specified carrier and a cellular network operated by the specified carrier; and 
 the configuration information requested from the server includes at least one of: 
 a device certificate for validating the mobile device; 
 a push token configuring the mobile device to receive a push from a push server; or 
 an activation ticket specifying a cellular carrier for the baseband subsystem. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein connecting to the server is subject to a time or address limit. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 from the application subsystem, determining that a wired connection or an open connection to a wireless access point is not available for requesting configuration information from a server; 
 upon determining that the wired connection or the open connection to the wireless access point is not available, performing the sending, requesting, and configuring operations. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the baseband system accesses the cellular network under a data transfer limitation. 
     
     
       11. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory storage device, the product configured to cause a mobile device to perform operations comprising:
 determining, in an application subsystem of the mobile device, that the mobile device seeks configuration information; 
 from the application subsystem, sending a request to a baseband subsystem of the mobile device, the request including an indicator specifying that the baseband subsystem is to operate in a service configuration mode, wherein, when operating in the service configuration mode, the baseband system connects to a cellular network to access a server on the cellular network for requesting the configuration information, wherein the baseband system connects to the cellular network despite the mobile device being unknown to a carrier that provides the cellular network; 
 requesting the configuration information from a server using the baseband subsystem in the service configuration mode; and 
 configuring the mobile device using configuration information received from the server in response. 
 
     
     
       12. The product of  claim 11 , wherein the baseband subsystem has not been previously configured to connect to a carrier. 
     
     
       13. The product of  claim 11 , the operations comprising:
 before determining that the mobile device requests configuration information, automatically determining a language setting of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       14. The product of  claim 13 , wherein determining the language setting of the mobile device includes:
 detecting signals from a wireless access device; 
 identifying a country code from the wireless access device, the country code operable to identify a country in which the wireless access device is located; and 
 determining a default language setting of the mobile device based on the country. 
 
     
     
       15. The product of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless access device is at least one of a wireless access point or a cell tower. 
     
     
       16. The product of  claim 11 , wherein configuring the mobile device upon receiving the requested configuration information from the server comprises configuring the baseband subsystem to connect to a carrier that is different from the specified carrier. 
     
     
       17. The product of  claim 11 , wherein:
 requesting the configuration information from the server includes sending an identifier of the mobile device to the server through the specified carrier and a cellular network operated by the specified carrier; and 
 the configuration information requested from the server includes at least one of: 
 a device certificate for validating the mobile device; 
 a push token configuring the mobile device to receive a push from a push server; or 
 an activation ticket specifying a cellular carrier for the baseband subsystem. 
 
     
     
       18. The product of  claim 11 , wherein connecting to the server is subject to a time or address limit. 
     
     
       19. The product of  claim 11 , wherein the baseband system accesses the cellular network under a data transfer limitation. 
     
     
       20. A system comprising:
 a mobile device configured to perform operations comprising: 
 determining, in an application subsystem of the mobile device, that t e mobile device seeks configuration information; 
 from the application subsystem, sending a request to a baseband subsystem of the mobile device, the request including an indicator specifying that the baseband subsystem is to operate in a service configuration mode, wherein, when operating in the service configuration mode, the baseband system connects to a cellular network to access a server on the cellular network the requesting the configuration information, wherein the baseband system connects to the cellular network despite the mobile device being unknown to a carrier that provides the cellular network; 
 requesting the configuration information from a server using the baseband subsystem in the service configuration mode; and 
 configuring the mobile device using configuration information received from the server in response. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the baseband subsystem has not been previously configured to connect to a carrier. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20 , the operations comprising:
 before determining that the mobile device requests configuration information, automatically determining a language setting of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein determining the language setting of the mobile device includes:
 detecting signals from a wireless access device; 
 identifying a country code from the wireless access device, the country code operable to identify a country in which the wireless access device is located; and 
 determining a default language setting of the mobile device based on the country. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 20 , wherein configuring the mobile device upon receiving the requested configuration information from the server comprises configuring the baseband subsystem to connect to a carrier that is different from the specified carrier. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 requesting the configuration information from the server includes sending an identifier of the mobile device to the server through the specified carrier and a cellular network operated by the specified carrier; and 
 the configuration information requested from the server includes at least one of: 
 a device certificate for validating the mobile device; 
 a push token configuring the mobile device to receive a push from a push server; or 
 an activation ticket specifying a cellular carrier for the baseband subsystem. 
 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 20 , wherein connecting to the server is subject to a time or address limit. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the baseband system accesses the cellular network under a data transfer limitation. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the wireless access device is at least one of a wireless access point or a cell tower.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Under 35 U.S.C. §119, this application claims benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/493,406, filed Jun. 3, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to configuring wireless devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A wireless mobile device, when first sold or after a data purge, may be a raw device without configuration information. A user of the device can perform an initial setup of the device before a first use. The initial setup can include connecting to a registration server and registering the device with the registration server. The device can receive various certificates from the registration server upon registration. Using the certificates, the device can perform various setup tasks such as designating a cellular carrier, creating a network identity, registering at online stores, among others. At setup time, the device may not yet have an account known to a cellular carrier. Accordingly, to connect to the registration server, the device can use a wired connection, for example through a universal serial bus (USB) cable to a wired or wireless device that is connected to the registration server. The device can also attempt to connect to the registration server through an open wireless network 
     SUMMARY 
     Methods, program products, and systems of over-the-air device configuration are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can determine, in an application subsystem of the mobile device, that the mobile device requests an initial setup. The application subsystem can send a request to a baseband subsystem of the mobile device. The request can include an indicator specifying that the baseband subsystem is to operate in a service configuration mode. The mobile device can request the configuration information from a registration server using the baseband subsystem that operates under the service configuration mode. Requesting the configuration information from the server can include connecting to the server over the air using a cellular network, through a specified carrier and under a specified data transfer cap. The mobile device can then configure the mobile device using configuration information received from the server. 
     In some implementations, a mobile device can automatically set up a default language. During an initial setup, the mobile device can detect one or more wireless access devices (e.g., cellular towers or wireless access points or both). The mobile device can identify a country code of the wireless access devices. The mobile device can identify a language from a language data store using the identified country code of the wireless access devices. The mobile device can designate the identified language as a default language of the mobile device. 
     The techniques described in this specification can be implemented to achieve the following advantages. During an initial setup of a mobile device, the mobile device can access a registration server through a cellular communications network when a wired connection or an open connection to a wireless access point is unavailable. Thus, comparing to a conventional mobile device, a mobile device implementing the techniques described in this specification can have more freedom as to when and where to register. 
     The mobile device can automatically identify a default language. Language selection by a user may be inconvenient when a mobile device is in a foreign country, a user of the device is unfamiliar with the language of the country, or language selection is several menus deep. A device implementing the techniques described in this specification can set a default language using automatically detected wireless or cellular signals without user intervention or with minimum user intervention. Thus, compared to a conventional mobile device, user confusion can be reduced. 
     The details of one or more implementations of over-the-air device configuration are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of over-the-air device configuration will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram providing an overview of exemplary techniques of over-the-air device configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating functional components of an exemplary system of over-the-air device configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary techniques of automatic language selection. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary process of over-the-air device configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an exemplary process of automatic language selection. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary user interface of device configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary device architecture of a mobile device implementing the features and operations of  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram of exemplary network operating environment for mobile devices of  FIG. 1-7 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview of Over-the-Air Device Configuration 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram providing an overview of exemplary techniques of over-the-air device configuration. Mobile device  100  is an exemplary mobile device that is in a raw mode. For example, mobile device  100  can be a new device that has not been activated or a device on which configuration information has been erased. Mobile device  100  can receive a request from a user to activate the device. 
     Mobile device  100  can include application subsystem  102  and baseband subsystem  104 . Application subsystem  102  is a component of mobile device that is configured to perform operations that are conventionally performed by a computer. These operations can include, for example, executing an application program, storing various data, and displaying multimedia content. 
     When mobile device  100  receives the request to activate the device, a configuration program can execute in application subsystem  102 . Execution of the configuration program can cause mobile device  100  to identify registration server  106  and register at registration server  106 . Mobile device  100  can search for a wired connection (e.g., a USB connection) or an open wireless connection (e.g., a Wi-Fi™) that does not require a user name or password. In some implementations, mobile device can connect to registration server  106  using such a connection. In some implementations, mobile device  100  can attempt to establish a connection to registration server  106  using baseband subsystem  104 . 
     Baseband subsystem  104  of mobile device  100  can be a component of mobile device  100  that is configured to perform operations that are conventionally performed by a cellular transceiver. These operations can include, for example, initiating or receiving a telephone call, and transmitting or receiving data through a cellular network. Baseband subsystem  104  of mobile device  100  can be configured to operate in a normal mode or in a service configuration mode. In the normal mode, baseband subsystem  104  can communicate with a cellular network at full capacity. In the service configuration mode, baseband subsystem  104  can communicate with a cellular network under a specified capacity and using a designated cellular carrier. 
     During configuration of mobile device  100 , application subsystem  102  can request baseband subsystem  104  to operate under the service configuration mode. The request can be associated with an identifier of the carrier and a specification of the capacity. In response, baseband subsystem  104  can detect cell tower  108 . Mobile device  100  can connect to the designated cellular carrier using connection A. The designated carrier can be configuration carrier  110 . Through system operating parameters, configuration carrier  110  can allow mobile device  100  to access communications network  112  even when mobile device  100  is unknown to configuration carrier  110  when certain conditions are satisfied. These conditions can include, for example, (1) data transfer between mobile device  100  and servers on communications network  112  does not exceed the specified capacity (by bit rate or by total amount of data), or (2) the data transfer is between mobile device  100  and one or more designated servers, or (3) both (1) and (2) above. 
     Baseband subsystem  104  is configured to connect to configuration carrier  110  and communicate at a capacity under the specified capacity. Accordingly, mobile device  100  receives permission to connect to communications network  112 . Mobile device  100  can access registration server  106  through communications network  112 . Mobile device  100  can provide a device identifier to registration server  106  and receive, through communications network  112  and configuration carrier  110 , one or more certificates  114 . Using the certificates  114  from registration server  106 , mobile device  100  can perform the initial activation. The initial activation can include, for example, attaching mobile device to a cellular carrier. The cellular carrier can be configuration carrier  110  or another carrier (e.g., user carrier  116 ). Baseband subsystem  104  can connect to the cellular carrier using another connection (e.g., connection B) in the normal operating mode. 
     Exemplary System Components 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating functional components of an exemplary system of over-the-air device configuration. The system can include mobile device  100  as described above in reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     Mobile device  100  can include application subsystem  102 . Application subsystem  102  can include application processor  204  and application operating system  206 . Application operating system  206  can include programs and data configured to manage application processor  204  and other resources and provide services to one or more application programs. 
     Configuration program  208  can execute in application operating system  206 . Configuration program  208  can include instructions that, upon execution, can cause application processor  204  to determine whether mobile device  100  is in an activation mode. If mobile device  100  is in an activation mode, configuration program  208  can cause application processor  204  to perform system configuration operations. 
     During the system configuration operations, configuration program  208  can communicate with lockdown daemon  210 . Lockdown daemon  210  can include instructions for determining what device can access mobile device  100  and what device or service mobile device  100  can access. 
     Application subsystem  102  can include network interface  212 . Network interface  212  can include hardware, software, or firmware components configured to enable communication between application subsystem  102  and other subsystems of mobile device  100 . These subsystems can include baseband subsystem  104  and wireless subsystem  214 . 
     Baseband subsystem  104  can include a baseband transceiver  222  and baseband operating system  224 . Baseband transceiver  222  is a component of baseband subsystem  104  that is configured to send or receive a cellular signal from cell tower  108 . Baseband operating system  224  can include programs and data configured to manage baseband transceiver  222  and other resources. For example, baseband operating system  224  can specify which cellular carrier baseband transceiver  222  can connect to, and at what capacity. Baseband subsystem  104  can be implemented at least in part on a baseband processor. The baseband processor can be an integrated circuit (IC) device (e.g., a Large Scale Integrated Circuit (LSI)) that performs communications functions. The baseband processor can include, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) modem. The baseband processor can be can be integrated with application processor  204  in a System-on-Chip (SoC). 
     Wireless subsystem  214  can be a component of mobile device  100  that is configured to send data to or receive data from wireless access point  230 . Wireless access point  230  can be an access point in a Wi-Fi™, WiMAX™, or Bluetooth™ network. Wireless subsystem  214  can be implemented on a Wi-Fi™ chip. Exemplary operations of wireless subsystem  214  in configuring mobile device  100  will be described in further details below in reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     Exemplary Language Configuration 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary techniques of automatic language selection. During activation, mobile device  100  (as described in reference to  FIGS. 1-2  above) can automatically designate a default language setting, or provide a limited number of language settings for a user to choose. 
     During activation, mobile device  100  can detect cell tower  108  using baseband subsystem  104 . Upon detection of cell tower  108 , mobile device  100  can receive mobile country code (MCC)  302  associated with cell tower  108 . MCC  302  can indicate a country in which cell tower  108  is located. 
     Additionally or alternatively, mobile device  100  can detect wireless access devices  230   a  and  230   b . Upon detection of wireless access device  230   a  or  230   b , mobile device  100  can receive access point country code (APCC)  304   a  or  304   b  from wireless access device  230   a  or  230   b , respectively. APCCs  304   a  and  304   b  each can indicate a country in which wireless access device  230   a  or  230   b  is located. 
     Mobile device  100  can use the received MCC or APCC as in index to search language data store  306 . Language data store  306  can store a mapping between each MCC (or APCC) and one or more countries, and each country and one or more languages. For example, language data store can store the information of table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Exemplary Country Code/Language Mapping 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 MCC 
                 Country 
                 Language 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 302 
                 Canada 
                 English, French 
               
               
                 310-316 
                 United States of America 
                 English, Spanish 
               
               
                 334 
                 Mexico 
                 Spanish, Mayan, Nahuatl 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     When a received MCC or APCC matches an entry in the country code/language mapping, mobile device  100  can select one of the languages in the mapping and designate the selected language as a default language setting of mobile device  100 . In some implementations, mobile device  100  can provide for display multiple languages that correspond to a country code as selection items, such that a user can select from a limited number of languages to set up mobile device  100 . 
     Exemplary Over-the-Air Configuration Processes 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of exemplary process  400  of over-the-air device configuration. The exemplary process can be implemented on mobile device as described above in reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     Mobile device  100  can determine ( 402 ), using an application subsystem of mobile device  100 , that mobile device  100  seeks configuration information. Mobile device  100  can determine that mobile device  100  seeks configuration information when mobile device  100  lacks configuration data. For example, when mobile device  100  is activated for a first time, when a baseband subsystem of mobile device  100  has not been previously configured to connect to a carrier. 
     In some implementations, upon or before determining that mobile device  100  requests configuration information, mobile device  100  can automatically determine a language setting of mobile device  100 . Further details of determining the language setting will be described below in reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     Mobile device  100  can send ( 404 ), from the application subsystem, a request to the baseband subsystem of mobile device  100  for the configuration information. The request can include an indicator specifying that the baseband subsystem is to operate in a service configuration mode. 
     Mobile device  100  can request ( 406 ) the configuration information from a server using the baseband subsystem that operates in the service configuration mode. When the baseband subsystem operates in the service configuration mode, mobile device  100  can connect to the server through a specified carrier and under a specified data transfer limit. In some implementations, a time limit can be applied such that mobile device  100  can connect to the server only for a specified duration of time, regardless of amount of data transferred. When a connection has reached the time limit, mobile device  100  or the server can automatically terminate the connection. In some implementations, an address limit can be applied such that a connection is allowed only if an Internet Protocol (IP) address of mobile device  100  is within a specified IP address group. In some implementations, other restriction can be applied such that voice connections or circuit-switched connections are disallowed. 
     Requesting the configuration information from the server can include sending an identifier of mobile device  100  to the server through the specified carrier and a cellular network operated by the specified carrier. The configuration information requested from the server can include at least one of: (1) a device certificate for validating mobile device at various vendors; (2) a push token configuring the mobile device to receive a content push from a push server; or (3) an activation ticket specifying a cellular carrier for the baseband subsystem. 
     Mobile device  100  can configure ( 408 ) mobile device  100  using configuration information received from the server as a response to the request send in stage ( 406 ). Configuring mobile device  100  upon receiving the requested configuration information from the server can include configuring the baseband subsystem of mobile device  100  to connect to a carrier that is different from the specified carrier through which mobile device  100  connected to the registration server. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of exemplary process  500  of automatic language selection. Mobile device  100  (as described above in reference to  FIGS. 1-4 ) can automatically determine a language setting of mobile device  100 . 
     Mobile device  100  can detect ( 502 ) a signal from a wireless access device. The wireless access device can include at least one of a wireless access point or a cell tower. Mobile device  100  can identify ( 504 ) a country code from the wireless access device. The country code can identify a country in which the wireless access device is located. Mobile device can determine ( 506 ) a default language setting of the mobile device based on the country. 
     Exemplary User Interface 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary user interface of device configuration. The user interface will be described in reference to mobile device  100  as described above. 
     Mobile device  100  can include a touch-sensitive display device  602 . Mobile device  100  can display configuration interface  604  of during activation of mobile device  100 . 
     Configuration interface  604  can include language setting interface  610 . Language setting interface  610  can include one or more language selections. The language selections can be determined by mobile device  100  using operations as described above in reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Mobile device  100  can determine that multiple languages (e.g., English and Spanish) can apply. Accordingly, mobile device  100  can provide multiple language selections. 
     Configuration interface  604  can include language settings interface  610 . Language settings interface  610  can include one or more language selections. The language selections can be determined by mobile device  100  using operations as described above in reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Mobile device  100  can determine that multiple languages (e.g., English and Spanish) can apply. Accordingly, mobile device  100  can provide multiple language options in language settings interface  610 . 
     Configuration interface  604  can include carrier settings interface  620 . Carrier settings interface  620  can include one or more carrier selections. The carrier selections can be determined, for example, based on one or more carrier identifiers or certificates received from a configuration server. Mobile device  100  can configure a baseband subsystem to communicate with a selected carrier. The selected carrier can be independent from the carrier through which mobile device acquired the carrier identifiers or certificates. 
     Configuration interface  604  can include navigation controls  630 ,  632 , and  634 . Mobile device  100  can navigate to a previous screen in device activation, cancel current selections, or navigate to a next screen when mobile device receives an input from navigation control  630 ,  632 , or  634 , respectively. 
     Exemplary Mobile Device Architecture 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary device architecture  700  of a mobile device implementing the features and operations of  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     The mobile device can include memory interface  702 , one or more data processors, image processors and/or processors  704 , and peripherals interface  706 . Memory interface  702 , one or more processors  704  and/or peripherals interface  706  can be separate components or can be integrated in one or more integrated circuits. Processors  704  can include one or more application processors (APs), one or more baseband processors (BPs), and/or one or more wireless processors. The application processors and baseband processors can be integrated in one single process chip. The various components in mobile device  100 , for example, can be coupled by one or more communication buses or signal lines. 
     Sensors, devices, and subsystems can be coupled to peripherals interface  706  to facilitate multiple functionalities. For example, motion sensor  710 , light sensor  712 , and proximity sensor  714  can be coupled to peripherals interface  706  to facilitate orientation, lighting, and proximity functions of the mobile device. Location processor  715  (e.g., GPS receiver) can be connected to peripherals interface  706  to provide geopositioning. Electronic magnetometer  716  (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) can also be connected to peripherals interface  706  to provide data that can be used to determine the direction of magnetic North. Thus, electronic magnetometer  716  can be used as an electronic compass. 
     Camera subsystem  720  and an optical sensor  722 , e.g., a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor, can be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as recording photographs and video clips. 
     Communication functions can be facilitated through one or more wireless communication subsystems  724 , which can include radio frequency receivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared) receivers and transmitters. The specific design and implementation of the communication subsystem  724  can depend on the communication network(s) over which a mobile device is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device can include communication subsystems  724  designed to operate over a CDMA system, a Wi-Fi™ or WiMAX™ network, and a Bluetooth™ network. In particular, the wireless communication subsystems  724  can include hosting protocols such that the mobile device can be configured as a base station for other wireless devices. 
     Audio subsystem  726  can be coupled to a speaker  728  and a microphone  730  to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as voice recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephony functions. 
     I/O subsystem  740  can include touch screen controller  742  and/or other input controller(s)  744 . Touch-screen controller  742  can be coupled to a touch screen  746  or pad. Touch screen  746  and touch screen controller  742  can, for example, detect contact and movement or break thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen  746 . 
     Other input controller(s)  744  can be coupled to other input/control devices  748 , such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB port, and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. The one or more buttons (not shown) can include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  728  and/or microphone  730 . 
     In one implementation, a pressing of the button for a first duration may disengage a lock of the touch screen  746 ; and a pressing of the button for a second duration that is longer than the first duration may turn power to mobile device  100  on or off. The user may be able to customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen  746  can, for example, also be used to implement virtual or soft buttons and/or a keyboard. 
     In some implementations, mobile device  100  can present recorded audio and/or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG files. In some implementations, mobile device  100  can include the functionality of an MP3 player. Mobile device  100  may, therefore, include a pin connector that is compatible with the MP3 player. Other input/output and control devices can also be used. 
     Memory interface  702  can be coupled to memory  750 . Memory  750  can include high-speed random access memory and/or non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, and/or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). Memory  750  can store operating system  752 , such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks. Operating system  752  may include instructions for handling basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some implementations, operating system  752  can include a kernel (e.g., UNIX kernel). 
     Memory  750  may also store communication instructions  754  to facilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one or more computers and/or one or more servers. Memory  750  may include graphical user interface instructions  756  to facilitate graphic user interface processing; sensor processing instructions  758  to facilitate sensor-related processing and functions; phone instructions  760  to facilitate phone-related processes and functions; electronic messaging instructions  762  to facilitate electronic-messaging related processes and functions; web browsing instructions  764  to facilitate web browsing-related processes and functions; media processing instructions  766  to facilitate media processing-related processes and functions; GPS/Navigation instructions  768  to facilitate GPS and navigation-related processes and instructions; camera instructions  770  to facilitate camera-related processes and functions; magnetometer data  772  and calibration instructions  774  to facilitate magnetometer calibration. The memory  750  may also store other software instructions (not shown), such as security instructions, web video instructions to facilitate web video-related processes and functions, and/or web shopping instructions to facilitate web shopping-related processes and functions. In some implementations, the media processing instructions  766  can be divided into audio processing instructions and video processing instructions to facilitate audio processing-related processes and functions and video processing-related processes and functions, respectively. An activation record and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) or similar hardware identifier can also be stored in memory  750 . Memory  750  can include activation instructions  776 . Activation instructions  776  can be a computer program product that is configured to cause the mobile device to set a baseband subsystem to operate in a service configuration mode and request configuration information from a registration server through a specified carrier. Activation instructions  776  can cause the mobile device to configure the mobile device using the configuration information, and to automatically determine a language setting. 
     Each of the above identified instructions and applications can correspond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functions described above. These instructions need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules. Memory  750  can include additional instructions or fewer instructions. Furthermore, various functions of the mobile device may be implemented in hardware and/or in software, including in one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
     Exemplary Operating Environment 
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram of exemplary network operating environment  800  for the mobile devices of  FIG. 1-6 . Mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b  can, for example, communicate over one or more wired and/or wireless networks  810  in data communication. For example, a wireless network  812 , e.g., a cellular network, can communicate with a wide area network (WAN)  814 , such as the Internet, by use of a gateway  816 . Likewise, an access device  818 , such as an 802.11g wireless access device, can provide communication access to the wide area network  814 . 
     In some implementations, both voice and data communications can be established over wireless network  812  and the access device  818 . For example, mobile device  802   a  can place and receive phone calls (e.g., using voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) protocols), send and receive e-mail messages (e.g., using Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)), and retrieve electronic documents and/or streams, such as web pages, photographs, and videos, over wireless network  812 , gateway  816 , and wide area network  814  (e.g., using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP)). Likewise, in some implementations, the mobile device  802   b  can place and receive phone calls, send and receive e-mail messages, and retrieve electronic documents over the access device  818  and the wide area network  814 . In some implementations, mobile device  802   a  or  802   b  can be physically connected to the access device  818  using one or more cables and the access device  818  can be a personal computer. In this configuration, mobile device  802   a  or  802   b  can be referred to as a “tethered” device. 
     Mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b  can also establish communications by other means. For example, wireless mobile device  802   a  can communicate with other wireless devices, e.g., other mobile devices  802   a  or  802   b , cell phones, etc., over the wireless network  812 . Likewise, mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b  can establish peer-to-peer communications  820 , e.g., a personal area network, by use of one or more communication subsystems, such as the Bluetooth™ communication devices. Other communication protocols and topologies can also be implemented. 
     The mobile device  802   a  or  802   b  can, for example, communicate with one or more services  830  and  840  over the one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, one or more registration services  830  can be used to receive registration requests from mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b . The requests can include identifiers of mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b . In response, registration services  830  can provide configuration information to mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b , including one or more certificates. Content services  840  can be configured to receive authentication requests from mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b  and authenticate mobile devices  802   a  and  802   b  using one or more certificates (e.g., the certificates received from registration services  830 ). 
     Mobile device  802   a  or  802   b  can also access other data and content over the one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, content publishers, such as news sites, Rally Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, web sites, blogs, social networking sites, developer networks, etc., can be accessed by mobile device  802   a  or  802   b . Such access can be provided by invocation of a web browsing function or application (e.g., a browser) in response to a user touching, for example, a Web object. 
     A number of implementations of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120601
Publication Date: 20140325
Grant Date: 20140325
Priority Date: 20110603
Inventors: DE ATLEY DALLAS
MATHIAS ARUN G.
DICKER GEORGE R.
HAUCK JERRY
JAZRA CHERIF
BOULE ANDRE
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W8/245", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W8/245", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46246234