Provisioning platform for machine-to-machine devices

Abstract

Techniques described herein include a platform and process for provisioning user information onto a machine-to-machine device in order to enable the machine-to-machine device to conduct transactions utilizing the user information. In some embodiments, a user device is used to relay information between a machine-to-machine device and a provisioning service provider computer. In some embodiments, a machine-to-machine device is connected to the provisioning service provider computer via a network connection. Upon receiving a request to provision the machine-to-machine device, the service provider computer may identify the device from a device identifier. The service provider computer may generate an access credential or token for the machine-to-machine device. The access credential, token, and/or one or more policies may be provisioned onto the machine-to-machine device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 an input sensor configured to detect consumption of a resource;   a processor; and   a memory including instructions that, when executed with the processor, cause the system to at least:   receive, from a service provider computer, an access token and a policy;   initiate a transaction in accordance with the policy by:   establishing a communication session with a second electronic device that manages the resource;   requesting access to the resource based at least in part on the consumption of the resource detected by the input sensor; and   providing the access token to the second electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the access token is stored in a secure memory of the electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a primary function of the electronic device is to monitor consumption of the resource. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the policy restricts the transaction to a purchase of the resource. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the policy indicates at least one condition upon which a transaction is to be initiated. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one condition includes liming the transaction to transactions associated with a type of the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one condition includes a data or time condition associated with the transaction. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising;
 storing, by a first electronic device; an access credential in a secure memory in the first electronic device;   determining, by the first electronic device and without human intervention, that a resource associated with the first electronic device needs to be obtained;   in response to determining that the resource needs to be obtained, transmitting the access credential to a second electronic device, the second electronic device operated by a resource provider, wherein the resource provider thereafter conducts a transaction using the access credential and then provides the resource to the first electronic device without human intervention.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the access credential is a token. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the access token is stored in a secure memory of the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a primary function of the electronic device is to monitor consumption of the resource. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving, from a service provider computer, a policy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the policy restricts the transaction to a purchase of the resource. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the policy indicates at least one condition upon which a transaction it to be initiated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one condition includes liming the transaction to transactions associated with a type of the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one condition includes a data or time condition associated with the transaction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the service provider computer previously determined the access credential based on a user device associated with the first electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . A first electronic device comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium comprising code, executable by the processor, for implementing a method comprising   storing an access credential in a secure memory in the first electronic device;   determining, without human intervention, that a resource associated with the first electronic device needs to be obtained;   in response to determining that the resource needs to be obtained, transmitting the access credential to a second electronic device, the second electronic device operated by a resource provider, wherein the resource provider thereafter conducts a transaction using the access credential and then provides the resource to the first electronic device without human intervention.