Automated device provisioning and activation

A method performed by a network system, the method comprising:

• obtaining, from a device-group management entity, at least a portion of a first device-group service policy applicable to a device group managed at least in part by the device-group management entity, the device-group management entity being different from a network system operator associated with the network system, the device group including a plurality of end-user devices communicatively coupled or capable of being communicatively coupled to the network system over a first wireless network, the plurality of end-user devices including a first end-user device and a second end-user device, the first device-group service policy to be applied when any end-user device in the device group communicates or initiates communication over the first wireless network, the first device-group service policy comprising:
• a first classification policy to assist in identifying traffic associated with one or more available service activities, the one or more available service activities being a subset of all service activities available over the first wireless network, the traffic associated with the one or more available service activities consisting of data traffic, and
• a first control policy to assist in controlling at least a portion of the traffic associated with the one or more available service activities;
• obtaining, from the device-group management entity, at least a portion of a second device-group service policy applicable to the device group, the second device-group service policy comprising a second classification policy and a second control policy, the second device-group service policy being different from the first device-group service policy;
• identifying prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the first wireless network associated with the first end-user device;
• based on at least a portion of the first classification policy, identifying first traffic associated with the one or more available service activities within the prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the first wireless network associated with the first end-user device;
• based on at least a portion of the first control policy, controlling at least a portion of the first traffic associated with the one or more available service activities;
• determining that the first end-user device is connected to a second wireless network;
• identifying prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the second wireless network associated with the first end-user device;
• based on at least a portion of the second classification policy, identifying second traffic associated with the one or more available service activities within the prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the second wireless network associated with the first end-user device;
• and
• based on at least a portion of the second control policy, controlling at least a portion of the second traffic associated with the one or more available service activities.

A network system comprising:

• one or more user interfaces configured to accept, from a device-group management entity, at least a first portion of a device-group service policy applicable to a device group managed at least in part by the device-group management entity, the device-group management entity being different from a network system operator associated with the network system, the device group including a plurality of end-user devices communicatively coupled or capable of being communicatively coupled to the network system over a first wireless network, the plurality of end-user devices including a first end-user device and a second end-user device, the device-group service policy to be applied when any end-user device in the device group communicates or initiates communication over the first wireless network, the device-group service policy comprising:
• a classification policy to assist in identifying traffic associated with one or more available service activities, the one or more available service activities being a subset of all service activities available over the first wireless network, the traffic associated with the one or more available service activities consisting of data traffic, and
• a control policy to assist in controlling at least a portion of the traffic associated with the one or more available service activities;
• and
• one or more network elements configured to:
• identify prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the first wireless network associated with the first end-user device,
• based on at least a portion of the classification policy, identify first traffic associated with the one or more available service activities within the prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the wireless network associated with the first end-user device,
• based on at least a portion of the control policy, control at least a portion of the first traffic associated with the one or more available service activities,
• determine that the first end-user device is connected to a second wireless network,
• identify prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the second wireless network associated with the first end-user device, and
• refrain from applying at least a second portion of the device-group service policy to at least a portion of the prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the second wireless network associated with the first end-user device, the at least a second portion of the device-group service policy being the same as or different from the at least a first portion of the device-group service policy.

A network system comprising:

• one or more user interfaces configured to:
• accept, from a device-group management entity, at least a portion of a first device-group service policy applicable to a device group managed at least in part by the device-group management entity, the device-group management entity being different from a network system operator associated with the network system, the device group including a plurality of end-user devices communicatively coupled or capable of being communicatively coupled to the network system over a first wireless network, the plurality of end-user devices including a first end-user device and a second end-user device, the first device-group service policy to be applied when any end-user device in the device group communicates or initiates communication over the first wireless network, the first device-group service policy comprising:
• a first classification policy to assist in identifying traffic associated with one or more available service activities, the one or more available service activities being a subset of all service activities available over the first wireless network, the traffic associated with the one or more available service activities consisting of data traffic, and
• a first control policy to assist in controlling at least a portion of the traffic associated with the one or more available service activities, and
• accept, from the device-group management entity, at least a portion of a second device-group service policy applicable to the device group, the second device-group service policy comprising a second classification policy and a second control policy, the second device-group service policy being different from the first device-group service policy;
• and
• one or more network elements configured to:
• identify prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the first wireless network associated with the first end-user device,
• based on at least a portion of the first classification policy, identify first traffic associated with the one or more available service activities within the prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the first wireless network associated with the first end-user device,
• based on at least a portion of the first control policy, control at least a portion of the first traffic associated with the one or more available service activities,
• determine that the first end-user device is connected to a second wireless network,
• identify prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the second wireless network associated with the first end-user device,
• based on at least a portion of the second classification policy, identify second traffic associated with the one or more available service activities within the prospective, attempted, or successful data traffic over the second wireless network associated with the first end-user device, and
• based on at least a portion of the second control policy, control at least a portion of the second traffic associated with the one or more available service activities.