Policy distribution point for setting up network-based services

A method comprising:

• (a) adding a service driver to a running policy distribution point;
• (b) while the policy distribution point is still running, receiving a first activation and using the added service driver to translate the first activation into first device-specific instructions, wherein the first activation includes both a first configuration parameter related to a network-based service and a second configuration parameter related to a first user;
• (c) sending the first device-specific instructions to a device, the first device-specific instructions configuring the device to set up the network-based service for the first user;
• (d) while the policy distribution point is still running, receiving a second activation and using the added service driver to translate the second activation into second device-specific instructions, wherein the second activation includes both the first configuration parameter related to the network-based service and a third configuration parameter related to a second user;
• and
• (e) sending the second device-specific instructions to the device, the second device-specific instructions configuring the device to set up the network-based service for the second user.

A method for setting up a service, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a first configuration parameter related to providing a network-based service on a device;
• (b) receiving a second configuration parameter related to a first user;
• (c) generating a first activation, the first activation including information from the first configuration parameter as well as information from the second configuration parameter;
• (d) sending the first activation to a policy distribution point such that a service driver installed on the policy distribution point translates the first activation into first device-specific instructions;
• and
• (e) sending the first device-specific instructions from the policy distribution point to the device such that the first device-specific instructions configure the device to set up the service for the first user.