Systems, devices and methods for provisioning, pairing and activating a newly manufactured device for automatic joining of customer's network

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for providing a unified single-scan user interface for accessing and managing a remotely located device throughout its life cycle, including cellular network provisioning, cloud data provider registration, initialization and activation, as well as providing end users with easy access to the device and its data. The end user simply powers the device on and the device automatically connects with the communication network and the cloud data provider. The device comes to the end user already provisioned and paired and activated with the cloud data provider and the communication network provider. Further, the user account, or accounts, for the use of the device is both active and recorded for billing by the various service providers supporting the device use, i.e., the communication network provider(s).

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method for providing a remote unit, having a network connectivity mechanism, and that automatically joins a communication network and an end user's account when powered up, the method comprising:
 prior to delivery of the remote unit to an end user, associating the remote unit with a communication network;   prior to delivery of the remote unit to the end user, associating the remote unit with a data service provider separate from the communication network, rendering the remote unit pairable with an account of the end user for the data services provider; and   configuring the remote unit so that it automatically joins with the data service provider and the provisioned and activated communication network upon power up;   wherein the remote unit comprises a sensor in operable communication with the network connectivity mechanism, and the remote unit is configured to provide data derived from the sensor for transport across the communication network via the network connectivity mechanism to the data service provider.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the network connectivity mechanism is a radio modem. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the network radio modem is configured to connect with the communication network through a gateway device. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein associating the remote unit with the communication network comprises activating the remote unit for the communication network. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the communication network comprises a wireless cellular network. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein associating the remote unit with the data service provider comprises informing the data services provider of unique identifying information for the remote unit. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising pairing the end user's account for the data services provider with the remote unit by associating the end user's account with the unique identifying information for the remote unit. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the remote unit is further configured to receive data via the network connectivity mechanism and communication network from the data service provider. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising configuring the remote unit such that upon power up of the remote unit, the remote unit receives instructions from the data service provider for further configuration of the remote unit. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising configuring the remote unit such that the remote unit receives instructions from the data service provider for controlling functionality of the remote unit. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising configuring the remote unit such that the remote unit receives instructions from the data service provider for actuating or de-actuating functionality of the remote unit. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensor for sensing at least one of: movement, speed, acceleration, position, temperature, and pressure. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensor for sensing at least one of: vibration, sound, and pressure. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensor for sensing at least one of: voltage, current, tank level, and liquid leakage. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising labeling the remote device with the unique identifying information. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the labeling is in the form of an optically scannable code. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of associating the remote unit with the communication network and associating the remote unit with the data service provider is completed by scanning the optically scannable code. 
     
     
         61 . A system for providing a networked remote unit, the system comprising:
 a remote unit having a network connectivity mechanism and a sensor in operable communication with the network connectivity mechanism, the remote unit, prior to delivery to an end user, being associated with a communication network and a data service provider separate from the communication network, rendering the remote unit network-connected and pairable with an account of the end user for the data services provider;   wherein the remote unit is configured so that it automatically joins with the data service provider and the provisioned and activated communication network upon initial power up by the end user and to provide data derived from the sensor for transport across the communication network via the network connectivity mechanism to the data service provider.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising an optically scannable identification label attached to the remote unit and encoded with unique identification data for the remote unit. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the optically scannable identification label, when scanned, causes completion of at least a portion of at least one of associating the remote unit with the communication network and associating the remote unit with the data service provider. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising a gateway device and the network connectivity mechanism is configured to connect with the communication network through the gateway device. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the communication network comprises a wireless cellular network.