System, apparatus and method for creating service accounts and configuring devices for use therewith

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating creation of service provider accounts and configuration of devices associated therewith. Device parameters are transmitted from a device. In response, a service activation server provides a list of available service providers for that device, where the list is derived using the device parameters to identify the appropriate available service providers. The device enables the user to select a listed service provider(s), and communication is redirected between the device and the selected service provider to enable the creation of the service account. The device can then be configured for use with the established service account. Where a service account already exists for the user, the user can provide a service-related identifier (e.g., e-mail address where the service account is an e-mail account), from which the service activation server can identify an appropriate service account to be configured for use on the device.

1 . A method comprising:
 transmitting one or more parameters associated with a device;   receiving a list of one or more service providers, wherein the list is derived, using one or more of the parameters, from a set of service providers;   facilitating selection of at least one of the service providers in the list; and   facilitating communication with the selected service provider to create a service account with the selected service provider.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting a selectable option to create a new service account or to bypass creation of a new service account and configure an existing service account for use on the device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 recognizing selection of the option to configure an existing service account for use on the device, and in response providing a service account identifier indicative of an existing service provider of the existing service account;   receiving configuration data associated with the existing service provider; and   configuring the device to operate with the existing service provider using the received configuration data.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the existing service account comprises an existing e-mail account, and wherein providing a service account identifier indicative of an existing service provider of the existing service account comprises providing an e-mail address associated with the existing e-mail account. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising redirecting communication to the existing service provider to authenticate a user of the device for the existing service account, and wherein receiving configuration data associated with the existing service provider comprises receiving the configuration data if the user of the device is authenticated for the existing service account. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating a network address with each of the service providers in the list, and wherein facilitating communication with the selected service provider comprises communicating with the selected service provider at the network address of the selected service provider. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating communication with the selected service provider comprises directing a browser application on the device to a network address of the selected service provider to create the service account with the selected service provider. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating communication with the selected service provider comprises:
 presenting one or more web pages provided by the selected service provider;   facilitating entry of account data associated with one or both of the user and the device; and   communicating the account data to the selected service provider to facilitate the creation of the service account.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting one or more parameters associated with the device comprises automatically transmitting the parameters with a request to create the service account in response to an attempt to invoke a client not yet configured for use with the selected service provider. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the device with configuration data obtained in response to the creation of the new service account. 
   
   
       11 . A method comprising:
 receiving one or more first parameters associated with a device;   deriving a list of one or more service providers from a set of service providers using one or more of the first parameters;   providing the list to the device;   receiving second parameters associated with a service account established between the device and a device-selected one of the service providers from the list; and   creating configuration data based on the first and second parameters and providing the configuration data to the device.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 enabling a selectable option for the device to create a new service account or to bypass creation of a new service account and configure an existing service account for use on the device;   in response to selection of an option to configure an existing service account, receiving a service account identifier;   identifying a messaging provider corresponding to the service account identifier;   creating configuration data capable of configuring the device for use with the existing service account; and   transmitting the configuration data to the device.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising directing the device to communicate with the service provider corresponding to the service account identifier to authenticate a user of the device for the existing service account. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the service account identifier comprises a messaging address;   the existing service account comprises an existing messaging account; and   the service provider comprises a messaging provider.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein deriving a list of one or more service providers comprises comparing the first parameters to the set of service providers, and creating the list based on those service providers that correspond to the first parameters. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising associating network addresses for each respective service provider in the list. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising signing the configuration data prior to providing the configuration data to the device. 
   
   
       18 . A communication device comprising:
 a transmitter to transmit one or more parameters associated with the device;   a receiver to receive a list of service providers derived using the one or more transmitted parameters;   a user interface configured to facilitate user selection of at least one of the service providers in the list; and   a processor configured to recognize selection of at least one of the service providers in the list, and to facilitate creation of a service account with the selected service provider.   
   
   
       19 . The communication device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to initiate a browser module directed to a network address of the selected service provider to enable user interaction therewith to create the service account with the selected service provider. 
   
   
       20 . The communication device of  claim 18 , wherein processor is configured to recognize an attempt to invoke a non-configured client module, and in response thereto to direct the transmitter to automatically transmit the one or more parameters associated with the device. 
   
   
       21 . The communication device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to activate the device with configuration data obtained in response to the creation of the new service account. 
   
   
       22 . The communication device of  claim 18 , wherein the communication device comprises any of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, or computing device. 
   
   
       23 . A network element comprising:
 a receiver to receive one or more first parameters associated with a device;   a processor configured to derive a list of one or more service providers from a set of service providers using one or more of the first parameters;   a transmitter to provide the list to the device;   wherein the receiver further receives second parameters associated with a service account established between the device and a selected one of the service providers from the list, and wherein the processor is further configured to create configuration data for the device based on the first and second parameters.   
   
   
       24 . A communication device comprising:
 a transmitter to transmit a service-related identifier associated with an existing service account;   a receiver to receive configuration data associated with a service provider identified by the service-related identifier; and   a processor to configure the communication device to operate with the service provider using the received configuration data.   
   
   
       25 . A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computer system for creating a service account capable of use by a communication device by performing steps comprising:
 identifying one or more device parameters to be transmitted;   presenting a list of one or more service providers, wherein the list is derived, using one or more of the parameters, from a set of service providers;   facilitating user selection of at least one of the service providers in the list; and   communicating with the selected service provider to create a service account with the selected service provider.