System and method for upgrading mobile handset

• US 20020034940A1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Tani, Hiroyuki, Mitsuhashi, Mamoru, Takae, Naohito
• Granted Patent: US 6,795,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A handset upgrading system and method which permit cellular customers to upgrade their handset without visiting a local telephone store, providing a totally automated upgrade service, including application, delivery, and functional verification of new handsets. A requesting customer applies online for handset upgrade service and receives an application filing number from the system. Upon delivery of a new handset with an upgrade password, the customer calls up the system to request switching to the new handset, during which an ID code retrieving unit obtains from the network the identification code of the mobile handset that the customer is currently using. The request is verified by an upgrade request validation unit, based on the application filing number, upgrade password, reservation record, and identification code of the handset. If the request is validated, a switchover command unit directs a telephone exchange to change its setup. To ensure the result of upgrading, a mail and voice function verification units verify the mail and voice functions of the new handset, using a mail server and an interactive voice response (IVR) system, respectively.

Claims

1. A handset upgrading system which executes a handset upgrade from a first mobile handset to a second mobile handset for use in a cellular network, comprising:

upgrade request validation means for validating a handset upgrade request received from a customer by verifying that the customer is sending the handset upgrade request with the first mobile handset, based on an identification code that indicates which handset the customer is currently using, the identification code being transmitted over the cellular network when a call is initiated; and

switchover commanding means for commanding a telephone exchange to deregister the first mobile handset and register the second mobile handset when said upgrade request verification means has successfully validated the handset upgrade request.

2. The handset upgrading system according to claim 1, wherein said upgrade request validation means verifies that the customer is the applicant who applied online for the handset upgrade, as well as that the customer is currently using the first mobile handset to interact with the handset upgrading system, by comparing given information with a reservation record created and saved when the application was made, said given information including:

an application filing number which was generated and supplied to the applicant when the application was made;

a password which was delivered to the applicant, together with the second mobile handset; and

the identification number of the mobile handset that the customer is currently using, which is retrieved from the cellular network.

3. The handset upgrading system according to claim 1, further comprising:

functional verification means for verifying functions that the second mobile handset is supposed to provide; and

another switchover commanding means for commanding the telephone exchange to deregister the second mobile handset and reregister the first mobile handset when said functional verification means has found a problem with the functions of the second mobile handset.

4. The handset upgrading system according to claim 3, wherein said functional verification means comprises:

mail function verification means for verifying mail functions of the second mobile handset by sending an e-mail message to the second mobile handset via a mail server and receiving a reply message from the customer; and

voice function verification means for verifying voice functions of the second mobile handset by sending a voice message to the second mobile handset via an interactive voice response system and receiving a response from the customer.

5. The handset upgrading system according to claim 4, wherein said mail function verification means determines that the second mobile handset has a problem when no reply message is returned from the customer within a predetermined period.

6. The handset upgrading system according to claim 4, wherein said voice function verification means determines that the second mobile handset has a problem when no response is returned from the customer within a predetermined period.

7. The handset upgrading system according to claim 4, wherein said voice function verification means determines that the second mobile handset has a problem when the response returned from the customer is different from what has been expected.

8. The handset upgrading system according to claim 3, wherein said functional verification means comprises:

mail sending means for sending an e-mail message to the second mobile handset via a mail server; and

voice function verification means for sending a voice message to the second mobile handset via an interactive voice response system to ask whether the e-mail message has arrived from the mail sending means, and determining that the second mobile handset is functioning correctly, when a positive response to the voice message is received from the customer.

9. A method of executing a handset upgrade from a first mobile handset to a second mobile handset for use in a cellular network, comprising the steps of:

(a) validating a handset upgrade request received from a customer by verifying that the customer is the applicant who applied online for the handset upgrade, as well as that the customer is currently using the first mobile handset, based on an identification code that indicates which handset the customer is currently using, the identification code being transmitted over the cellular network when a call is initiated;

(b) commanding a telephone exchange to deregister the first mobile handset and register the second mobile handset when said step (a) of validating has successfully validated the handset upgrade request;

(c) verifying functions that the second mobile handset is supposed to provide; and

(d) commanding the telephone exchange to deregister the second mobile handset and reregister the first mobile handset when a problem with the functions of the second mobile handset is found at said step (c) of verifying functions.

10. A computer-readable medium storing a program which executes a handset upgrade from a first mobile handset to a second mobile handset for use in a cellular network, the program causing a computer system to function as:

upgrade request validation means for validating a handset upgrade request received from a customer by verifying that the customer is the applicant who applied online for the handset upgrade, as well as that the customer is currently using the first mobile handset, based on an identification code that indicates which handset the customer is currently using, the identification code being transmitted over the cellular network when a call is initiated;

first switchover commanding means for commanding a telephone exchange to deregister the first mobile handset and register the second mobile handset when said upgrade request verification means has successfully validated the handset upgrade request;

functional verification means for verifying functions that the second mobile handset is supposed to provide; and

second switchover commanding means for commanding the telephone exchange to deregister the second mobile handset and reregister the first mobile handset when a problem with the functions of the second mobile handset is found by said functional verification means.