Method and system for booting, provisioning and activating hardware and software clients

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention relates to hardware and software based customer premise equipment (CPE) for use in interactive user sessions that involve multimedia. The invention further relates to an automated boot process, and to provisioning and activation technologies for these hardware and software clients.

#2. Background Art

#FIG. 1 illustrates the system architecture for implementing the invention in the preferred embodiment;

#FIGS. 2-7 illustrate various provisioning flows in the preferred embodiment;

#FIG. 8 illustrates the provisioning login flow for a soft client device logging in for the first time in the preferred embodiment;

#FIG. 1 provides a high-level view of the functionality that various systems perform in the preferred embodiment.

#1. Billing Systems (10)

#Billing systems 10 perform the following functions: Order Entry: Customer Account Executive (CAE) 12, or Customer Service Representative (CSR), will be able to create new orders in the billing systems 10. Self-provisioning by the customer using a Portal is another mechanism to create new orders. Monthly bill generation: Billing systems 10 interact with the Mediation Server (MS) 14 to generate monthly bills for each subscriber. The monthly bill (one per multiple service subscriptions) has monthly recurring charges (service charges, call features, rental charges, etc.), Call detail records (date, time, place, telephone number (TN), type of rate, number of minutes, and amount of charge), non-recurring charges, regulatory recovery fees (911, Universal connectivity, LNP fee, etc.), surcharge (subscriber line), taxes (federal, state and local). Billing inquiry support: CAE 12 has access to call detail information sent from the MS 14 to handle disputes and to apply credit for calls. Rate Code Management: Service package and rate code information is available for use to the CAE 12 and the order entry Portal. Based on the rate code, individual calls will be rated by time of day, local/long distance/international, etc. Workforce Management functionalities: Technician scheduling, setting up customer appointments based on real-time technician availability information and work assignment are some of the capabilities that billing systems 10 provide. CPE inventory management: The Billing systems 10 provide inventory management and equipment tracking for hard clients (HC) 18. 2. Mediation Server (MS) (14)