System and method for activation of a wireless module

• US 20020085530A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Toyoshima, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A wireless module system and method for activation is provided which includes, in one embodiment a wireless module including a complete electronic serial number and a preliminary internet protocol address. A wireless module account is established with an activation center through a user activation web site. A permanent internet protocol address is created in establishing the wireless module account. The wireless module may be connected to any appropriate peripheral device and may allow for wireless communication of the peripheral devices with any other devices, people, and databases via wireless communication including through an internet or an intranet. In one embodiment, a wireless module activation server includes the user activation web site which is in electronic data communication with at least one wireless module account. The wireless module is removably connected to the peripheral device and provides the peripheral device with portability and accessability.

Claims

1. A method for activation of a wireless module, said method comprising:

providing the wireless module with initialization data;

establishing a wireless module account with an activation center;

transmitting operational data to the wireless module from said activation center; and

storing said operational data.

2. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the wireless module with initialization data comprises providing the wireless module with a preliminary internet protocol address and an electronic serial number.

3. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, further comprising transmitting said initialization data from the wireless module to said activation center.

4. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 3, wherein transmitting said initialization data comprises:

connecting the wireless module to a peripheral device; and

establishing an electronic data connection between the wireless module and said activation center.

5. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein establishing a wireless module account comprises:

supplying a user'"'"'s personal information to said activation center; and

storing said user'"'"'s personal information and said initialization data to said wireless module account.

6. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting operational data comprises transmitting a permanent internet protocol address.

7. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein storing said operational data comprises storing a permanent internet protocol address.

8. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 6, wherein transmitting a permanent internet protocol address comprises:

providing said permanent internet protocol address once said wireless module account is established; and

providing said permanent internet protocol address for use by the wireless module until the wireless module is reset or deactivated.

9. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 7, wherein storing a permanent internet protocol address comprises storing said permanent internet protocol address in the wireless module.

10. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 7, wherein storing a permanent internet protocol address comprises storing said permanent internet protocol address in a peripheral unit.

11. A system for activation of a wireless module, said system comprising:

a peripheral unit electrically connected to the wireless module, the wireless module configured to transmit initialization data and receive operational data; and

a user activation web site in electronic data communication with the wireless module and said peripheral unit, said user activation web site configured to receive said initialization data and transmit said operational data.

12. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 11, further comprising a base station in electronic data communication with the wireless module and said user activation web site, said base station configured to receive and transmit said initialization data and said operational data.

13. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 11, wherein said initialization data comprises a preliminary internet protocol address and an electronic serial number, the wireless module configured to store said preliminary internet protocol address and said electronic serial number.

14. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 11, wherein said operational data comprises a permanent internet protocol address, said peripheral unit configured to store said permanent internet protocol address.

15. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 11, wherein said operational data comprises a permanent internet protocol address, the wireless module configured to store said permanent internet protocol address.

17. A wireless module activation server as recited in claim 16, wherein said user activation web site is configured to activate and deactivate a wireless module.

18. A wireless module activation server as recited in claim 16, wherein said user activation web site is configured to be in data communication with a wireless module configured to store said initialization data.

19. A wireless module activation server as recited in claim 16, wherein said user activation web site is configured to be in data communication with a wireless module configured to store said operational data.

20. A wireless module activation server as recited in claim 16, wherein said user activation web site is in electronic data communication with at least one wireless module account.

16. A wireless module activation server comprising at least one user activation web site configured to receive initialization data and transmit operational data.

21. A wireless module comprising an electronic serial number, said wireless module configured to be removably connected to at least one peripheral device.

22. A wireless module as recited in claim 21, further comprising a preliminary internet protocol address.

23. A wireless module as recited in claim 21, further comprising a permanent internet protocol address.

24. A wireless module as recited in claim 21, wherein said electronic serial number is stored within said removably connected peripheral device.