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System, apparatus and method for creating service accounts and configuring devices for use therewithSystem, apparatus and method for creating service accounts and configuring devices for use therewith description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080096507, System, apparatus and method for creating service accounts and configuring devices for use therewith. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention relates in general to mobile communications, and more particularly to systems, apparatuses and methods for facilitating creation of service provider accounts and configuration of devices associated therewith. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Advances in communication infrastructures and devices have turned standard communication devices into versatile communication tools. People communicate with each other, and with other electronic devices, over networks ranging from Local Area Networks (LANs) to wide reaching Global Area Networks (GANs) such as the Internet. Wireless communications devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like are often designed to interface with such networks as well as with their local surroundings using short-range wireless technologies. [0003]Today, such wireless devices are being used for a variety of different types of communication. For example, current and anticipated mobile phone technologies have transformed wireless devices into powerful tools capable of capturing and communicating voice, data, images, video, and other multimedia content. Mobile phones, at one time solely a voice communication tool, now often typically include data messaging capabilities such as text messaging such as short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), etc. [0004]However, these messaging capabilities often require corresponding messaging accounts. For example, a mobile phone user who wants to send and/or receive e-mails via his/her mobile phone must establish some e-mail account in order to engage in e-mail communication. However, there are a high number of individuals who do not have a prior e-mail account, or who do not have a personal computer whereby an existing e-mail account/address would be likely. This is particularly true in developing markets. Also, there are individuals who may already have an e-mail account(s) established, but do not want to use that e-mail account on a mobile device and therefore want to have another e-mail box with the mobile device. Thus, these people have to take action to determine with whom an account can be created, and how to configure any such account. There are also security concerns with current configuration methodologies, as a malicious configuration package may arrive at the device, and the user faces a potentially serious risk. [0005]Another problem primarily affects mobile device users, where user interface mechanisms may be more difficult to manipulate. For example, many mobile phones do not have a standard keyboard (e.g., QWERTY keyboard), but rather have a numeric keypad with alpha character capabilities. It can be difficult and time-consuming to enter the information required to establish a new service account or configure an account via such a limited UI device. These limitations can also complicate activating an existing e-mail account on such a device. [0006]Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for a manner of efficiently and easily establishing and/or configuring service accounts on communication devices. The present invention fulfills these and other needs, and offers other advantages over the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]To overcome limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses systems, apparatuses and methods for facilitating creation of service provider accounts and configuration of devices associated therewith. [0008]A method according to one embodiment of the invention involves transmitting one or more parameters associated with a device, and in response, receiving a list of service providers. The list is derived, using the transmitted parameters, from a set of service providers. Selection of a service provider(s) is enabled, and communication with the selected service provider is then facilitated in order to create a service account with the selected service provider. [0009]In a more particular embodiment of such a method, a selectable option is presented to create a new service account or to bypass creation of a new service account and configure an existing service account for use on the device. In one embodiment, selection of the option to configure an existing service account is recognized, and in response a service account identifier is provided that is indicative of an existing service provider of the existing service account. Configuration data associated with the existing service provider is received, and the device is configured to operate with the existing service provider using the received configuration data. In another particular embodiment, the existing service account is an existing e-mail account. In such case, providing a service account identifier indicative of an existing service provider of the existing service account involves providing an e-mail address associated with the existing e-mail account. In yet another embodiment, communication is redirected to the existing service provider to authenticate a user of the device for the existing service account. In such case, receiving configuration data associated with the existing service provider involves receiving the configuration data if the user of the device is authenticated for the existing service account. [0010]In other particular embodiments of the method, a network address is associated with each of the service providers in the list, where facilitating communication with the selected service provider involves communicating with the selected service provider at the network address of the selected service provider. In another embodiment, facilitating communication with the selected service provider involves directing a browser application on the device to a network address of the selected service provider to create the service account with the selected service provider. In yet another embodiment, facilitating communication with the selected service provider involves presenting a web page(s) provided by the selected service provider, enabling entry of account data associated with the user/device, and communicating the account data to the selected service provider to facilitate the creation of the service account. [0011]Still other embodiments of the method involve automatically transmitting parameters associated with the device with a request to create the service account in response to an attempt to invoke a client not yet configured for use with the selected service provider. Another embodiment further involves configuring the device with configuration data obtained in response to the creation of the new service account. [0012]In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided that involves receiving first parameters associated with a device, and in response deriving a list of service providers from a set of service providers. The list is provided to the device. Second parameters are received, where these second parameters are associated with a service account established between the device and a device-selected one of the service providers from the list. Configuration data is created based on the first and second parameters, and the configuration data is provided to the device. [0013]In a more particular embodiment, the method further involves enabling a selectable option for the device to create a new service account or to bypass creation of a new service account and configure an existing service account for use on the device. In response to selection of an option to configure an existing service account, a service account identifier is received. A messaging provider corresponding to the service account identifier is identified. Configuration data capable of configuring the device for use with the existing service account is created, and transmitted to the device. [0014]A more particular embodiment of such a method further involves directing the device to communicate with the service provider corresponding to the service account identifier to authenticate a user of the device for the existing service account. In yet another embodiment, the service account identifier includes a messaging address, the existing service account includes an existing messaging account, and the service provider includes a messaging provider. [0015]In other embodiments of such a method, deriving a list of service providers involves comparing the first parameters to the set of service providers, and creating the list based on those service providers that correspond to the first parameters. Another embodiment further involves associating network addresses for each respective service provider in the list. Still another embodiment involves signing the configuration data prior to providing the configuration data to the device. [0016]In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a communication device is provided. The device includes a transmitter to transmit parameters associated with the device, and a receiver to receive a list of service providers derived using the transmitted parameters. A user interface is configured to enable user selection of a service provider(s) in the list. A processor is configured to recognize selection of at least one of the service providers in the list, and to facilitate creation of a service account with the selected service provider. [0017]In more particular embodiments, the processor is further configured to initiate a browser module directed to a network address of the selected service provider to enable user interaction therewith to create the service account with the selected service provider. In another embodiment, the processor is configured to recognize an attempt to invoke a non-configured client module, and in response direct the transmitter to automatically transmit the one or more parameters associated with the device. Another embodiment involves the processor being configured to activate the device with configuration data obtained in response to the creation of the new service account. The communication device may be any type of device capable of communicating, such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, computing device, etc. [0018]In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a network element is provided. The network element, such as a server, includes a receiver to receive first parameters associated with a device. A processor is configured to derive a list of service providers from a set of service providers using the first parameters. A transmitter is used to provide the list to the device. The receiver further receives second parameters associated with a service account established between the device and a selected one of the service providers from the list. The processor is further configured to create configuration data for the device based on the first and second parameters. [0019]In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a communication device is provided that includes a transmitter to transmit a service-related identifier associated with an existing service account, and a receiver to receive configuration data associated with a service provider identified by the service-related identifier. A processor configures the communication device to operate with the service provider using the received configuration data. [0020]In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a computer-readable medium is provided, having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computer system for creating a service account capable of use by a communication device. The computer-executable instructions enable the identification of one or more device parameters to be transmitted, and the presentation of a list of service providers, where the list is derived from a set of service providers, the derivation being performed using one or more of the parameters. The instructions further enable user selection of a service provider(s) in the list, and facilitate communication with the selected service provider to create a service account with the selected service provider. [0021]The above summary of the invention is not intended to describe every embodiment or implementation of the present invention. Rather, attention is directed to the following figures and description which sets forth representative embodiments of the invention. Continue reading about System, apparatus and method for creating service accounts and configuring devices for use therewith... 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