Automatically provisioning a WWAN device

Abstract

Network connection information is requested by a wireless wide area network device via the internet. Such information may include configuration information, data roaming partner information, and/or cost information regarding roaming partner connection and/or a subscriber plan related to the wireless wide area network. To retrieve the information, the wireless device sends a request to a redirection server, which in turn provides an internet address for a provisioning server, or instructs a provisioning server to provide the network configuration information to the wireless device. A user and/or the wireless device may use the network connection information when deciding whether and/or how to connect to the network. A network provider may use methods disclosed herein to efficiently update wireless devices that subscribe to the network. The network provider may provide selected network connection information based on information regarding the wireless device, such as the user identification.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising a client computing device and at least one software module that are together configured for performing actions, where the client computing device includes at least one processor and memory, the actions comprising:
 sending, by the client computing device, a request for network connection information that is configured for facilitating a connection between the client computing device and a wireless wide area network; and   receiving, in response to the sent request, the network connection information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where the received network connection information identifies at least one roaming network approved for use. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  where the received network connection information includes information associated with a cost of connecting to at least one roaming network approved for use. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the actions further comprising:
 requesting, by the client computing device, a Universal Resource Locator (“URL”) Internet address of a provisioning server; and   receiving, by the client computing device, the requested URL Internet address of the provisioning server, where the sending is to the provisioning server at the URL Internet address.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , the actions further comprising:
 presenting, by the client computing device, a user interface comprising information that identifies a plurality of roaming networks approved for use and that indicates a cost of connecting to each of the plurality of roaming networks, where the received network connection information compromises the information; and   receiving, by the client computing device, a selection of one of the plurality of roaming networks.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , the actions further comprising: selecting, by the client computing device, one of a plurality of roaming networks approved for use, where the plurality of roaming networks are identified in the received network connection information. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  where the selecting is based on a set of rules. 
     
     
         8 . A method performed on a client computing device that includes at least one processor and memory, the method comprising:
 sending, by the client computing device, a request for network connection information that is configured for facilitating a connection between the client computing device and a wireless wide area network; and   receiving, in response to the sent request, the network connection information.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  where the received network connection information identifies at least one roaming network approved for use. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  where the received network connection information includes information associated with a cost of connecting to at least one roaming network approved for use. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 requesting, by the client computing device, a Universal Resource Locator (“URL”) Internet address of a provisioning server; and 
 receiving, by the client computing device, the requested URL Internet address of the provisioning server, where the sending is to the provisioning server at the URL Internet address. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 presenting, by the client computing device, a user interface comprising information that identifies a plurality of roaming networks approved for use and that indicates a cost of connecting to each of the plurality of roaming networks, where the received network connection information compromises the information; and 
 receiving, by the client computing device, a selection of one of the plurality of roaming networks. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: selecting, by the client computing device, one of a plurality of roaming networks approved for use, where the plurality of roaming networks are identified in the received network connection information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  where the selecting is based on a set of rules. 
     
     
         15 . At least one computer-readable storage device storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a client computing device that includes at least one processor and memory, cause the computing device to perform actions comprising:
 sending, by the client computing device, a request for network connection information that is configured for facilitating a connection between the client computing device and a wireless wide area network; and   receiving, in response to the sent request, the network connection information.   
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer-readable storage device of  claim 15  where the received network connection information identifies at least one roaming network approved for use. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer-readable storage device of  claim 15  where the received network connection information includes information associated with a cost of connecting to at least one roaming network approved for use. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , the actions further comprising:
 requesting, by the client computing device, a Universal Resource Locator (“URL”) Internet address of a provisioning server; and   receiving, by the client computing device, the requested URL Internet address of the provisioning server, where the sending is to the provisioning server at the URL Internet address.   
     
     
         19 . The at least one computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , the actions further comprising:
 presenting, by the client computing device, a user interface comprising information that identifies a plurality of roaming networks approved for use and that indicates a cost of connecting to each of the plurality of roaming networks, where the received network connection information compromises the information; and   receiving, by the client computing device, a selection of one of the plurality of roaming networks.   
     
     
         20 . The at least one computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , the actions further comprising: selecting, by the client computing device, one of a plurality of roaming networks approved for use, where the plurality of roaming networks are identified in the received network connection information.