System and method for self-serve provisioning of services on a mobile communication device

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for provisioning a mobile communication device on a network. In an embodiment, the method comprises: identifying one or more devices on the network to which a notification of an offer of service, should be sent; pushing the notification of an offer of service to the identified devices over the network; if the offer of service is accepted at the device, then initiating a provisioning request from the device to one or more of a carrier, service provider or management authority; and upon authorization of the provisioning request by the management authority, provisioning the service from the service provider.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 identifying devices on a network corresponding to targets for a service;   checking whether firmware and hardware capabilities of the devices are configured to support the service;   transmitting a notification of an offer of the service to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service; and, in response:
 receiving, from a given device, a request for provisioning of the service; and, 
 upon authorization of the request, provisioning the service for the given device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the notification comprises transmitting one or more of messages, e-mails, and text messages to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the notification occurs using a dedicated device service provisioning module. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying the devices comprises allowing a service provider to access one or more of criteria and rules for identifying the devices corresponding to the targets for the service. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preparing one or more of service parameters, settings or necessary components for provisioning the service; and,   upon receiving, from the given device, the request for provisioning of the service, provisioning the service by executing the one or more of service parameters, settings and necessary components.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is provisioned by one or more of a carrier, a service provider and a management authority, and the method further comprises: notifying the one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the management authority of the provisioning request; and awaiting authorization of the provisioning request by one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the management authority. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rewarding via a billing system one or more of a carrier, a service provider, and a management authority. 
     
     
         8 . A service provider network infrastructure comprising:
 a database storing records of services provisioned for devices on a network; and,   a provisioning system configured to:
 identify, using the database, the devices corresponding to targets for a service; 
 check whether firmware and hardware capabilities of the devices corresponding to the targets for the service are configured to support the service; 
 transmit a notification of an offer of the service to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service; and, in response: 
 receive, from a given device, a request for provisioning of the service; and, 
 upon authorization of the request, provision the service for the given device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The service provider network infrastructure of  claim 8 , wherein the provisioning system is further configured to transmit the notification by transmitting one or more of messages, e-mails, and text messages to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service. 
     
     
         10 . The service provider network infrastructure of  claim 8 , wherein the provisioning system is further configured to transmit the notification using a dedicated device service provisioning module. 
     
     
         11 . The service provider network infrastructure of  claim 8 , wherein the provisioning system is further configured to identify the devices by allowing a service provider to access one or more of criteria and rules for identifying the devices corresponding to the targets for the service. 
     
     
         12 . The service provider network infrastructure of  claim 8 , wherein the provisioning system is further configured to:
 prepare one or more of service parameters, settings or necessary components for provisioning the offer of service;   upon receiving, from the given device, the request for provisioning of the service, provision the service by executing the one or more of service parameters, settings and necessary components.   
     
     
         13 . The service provider network infrastructure of  claim 8 , wherein the service is provisioned by one or more of a carrier, a service provider and a management authority, and wherein the provisioning system is further configured to: notify the one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the management authority of the provisioning request; and await authorization of the provisioning request by one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the management authority. 
     
     
         14 . The service provider network infrastructure of  claim 8 , wherein the provisioning system is further configured to reward via a billing system one or more of the carrier, the service provider, and the management authority, 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising;
 identifying devices on a network corresponding to targets for a service;   checking whether firmware and hardware capabilities of the devices are configured to support the service;   transmitting a notification of an offer of the service to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service; and, in response:
 receiving, from a given device, a request for provisioning of the service; and, 
 upon authorization of the request, provisioning the service for the given device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitting the notification comprises transmitting one or more of messages, e-mails, and text messages to the devices with the firmware and hardware capabilities that support the service. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein he transmitting the notification occurs using a dedicated device service provisioning module 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the identifying the devices comprises allowing a service provider to access one or more of criteria and rules for identifying the devices corresponding to the targets for the service. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 preparing one or more of service parameters, settings or necessary components for provisioning the offer of service;   upon receiving, from the given device, the request for provisioning of the service, provision the service by executing the one or more of service parameters, settings and necessary components.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the service is provisioned by one or more of a carrier, a service provider and a management authority, and the method further comprises: notifying the one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the management authority of the provisioning request; and awaiting authorization of the provisioning request by one or more of the carrier, the service provider and the management authority.