System and Method for Real Time Self-Provisioning for a Mobile Communication Device

Abstract

A system and method of provisioning services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A provisioning request including provisioning information and specifying a provisioning operation and a first communication service is prepared on the mobile communication device and sent to a provisioning system. Processing of the provisioning request is dependent upon whether or not a second communication service has been activated for the mobile communication device. If the mobile communication device is outside a coverage area of a wireless communication network when a provisioning request is prepared, the request is stored at the mobile communication device and sent to the provisioning system when the mobile communication device enters the coverage area. The provisioning system preferably manages service provisioning for multiple services, any of which may be hosted by different service providers.

1 . A provisioning authority for communication with a service provider system and a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:
 a billing system associated with the provisioning authority;   the provisioning authority provisioning the plurality of mobile communication devices, and communicating provisioning information of the plurality of mobile communication devices to the service provider system.   
     
     
         2 . The provisioning authority of  claim 1  further including a data store configured for storing the provisioning information. 
     
     
         3 . The provisioning authority of  claim 1  further including a provisioning application associated with a respective one of the devices and configured for communication with the provisioning authority, the provisioning application configured for provisioning a service on the respective one of the devices. 
     
     
         4 . The provisioning authority of  claim 3  wherein the provisioning application is a customized application associated with the service provider system. 
     
     
         5 . The provisioning authority of  claim 1  wherein the provisioning authority further includes a data store configured for storing the provisioning information. 
     
     
         6 . A provisioning authority associated with a service provider system and in communication with a plurality of mobile communication devices, comprising:
 a billing system;   a provisioning application associated with a respective one of the mobile communication devices for communication with the provisioning authority;   wherein said provisioning application provisions a service on the respective one of the mobile communication devices, said service associated with the service provider system; and   wherein provisioning information of the plurality of mobile communication devices is communicated from the provisioning authority to the service provider system.   
     
     
         7 . The provisioning authority of  claim 6  wherein the billing system is associated with the provisioning authority and is configured for providing provisioning information. 
     
     
         8 . The provisioning authority of  claim 6  wherein the provisioning application is a customized application associated with the service provider system. 
     
     
         9 . The provisioning authority of  claim 6  wherein the provisioning authority further includes a data store configured for storing the provisioning information. 
     
     
         10 . A provisioning system associated with a service provider system and in communication with a plurality of mobile devices comprising:
 a provisioning application associated with a respective one of the mobile devices for communication with the provisioning system;   wherein said provisioning application provisions a service on the respective one of the mobile devices, said service associated with the service provider system; and   wherein provisioning information of the plurality of mobile devices is communicated from the provisioning system to the service provider system.   
     
     
         11 . The provisioning system of  claim 10  further including a billing system. 
     
     
         12 . The provisioning system of  claim 10  wherein the provisioning application is a customized application associated with the service provider system. 
     
     
         13 . The provisioning system of  claim 10  further comprising a data store configured for storing the provisioning information. 
     
     
         14 . A method of provisioning a plurality of mobile communication devices in communication with a provisioning authority, the provisioning authority being associated with a service provider system, the method comprising:
 associating a billing system with the provisioning authority;   configuring the provisioning authority to provision the plurality of mobile communication devices; and   configuring the provisioning authority to communicate provisioning information of the plurality of mobile communication devices to the service provider system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the provisioning authority is configured to store the provisioning information to a data store. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising configuring the provisioning authority to distribute the provisioning information to a service provider associated with the provisioning authority. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising configuring the provisioning authority to distribute the provisioning information to the billing system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising configuring the provisioning authority to distribute the provisioning information to a mobile communication device warranty tracking system.