Automated device provisioning and activation

What is this patent about?

’102 is related to the field of wireless network management and device-assisted service control. Specifically, it addresses the technical challenges of managing network capacity and service policy implementation when an end-user device acts as an intermediate networking gateway or hotspot for other devices. The context involves a shift from centralized network control to a distributed model where individual devices assist in enforcing service rules, billing, and access permissions.

The underlying idea behind ’102 is to empower an end-user device to function as a verifiable service intermediary that can bridge traffic between a wide-area network and local devices while remaining under the supervision of network-side policy elements. The invention recognizes that while a device can act as a hotspot, the network operator needs a mechanism to authorize, configure, and monitor this forwarding service dynamically. By using a local service processor, the device can reconcile network-provided configuration rules with direct user input to manage how and when it shares its connection.

The claims of ’102 focus on an end-user device equipped with multiple modems and a service processor architecture designed to manage a forwarding service. The device maintains a dual-layer policy system: a first setting received from the network that authorizes the device to act as a gateway, and a second setting driven by user input through a local interface to enable or disable that service. The claims specifically cover the mechanism of obtaining configuration information from network elements to modify the authorization status and then adjusting local policy settings based on the user’s interaction with the device.

In practice, the system operates by establishing a secure control plane between a network-based service controller and a device-based service processor. The network sends configuration data that essentially 'unlocks' or modifies the device's ability to provide a hotspot service. Once authorized, the device presents the user with options to activate the forwarding service. The device then modifies its internal service policy settings to implement the user's choice, ensuring that the local forwarding behavior aligns with both the user's preferences and the carrier's overarching service plan.

This approach differs from prior solutions by moving the policy enforcement and user interaction logic to the device itself, rather than relying solely on the core network to detect and throttle tethering. By utilizing device-assisted service control, the invention allows for more granular billing—such as 'bill-by-account' for specific types of forwarded traffic—and provides a more responsive user experience. It effectively turns the end-user device into a managed node of the network infrastructure that can verifiably report usage and adhere to complex service profiles even when roaming or using different access technologies.