Over-the-air subsidy lock resolution

• US 20040092248A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aerrabotu, Naveen, Kelkar, Uday
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/48 using secure binding, e.g. securely binding identity modules to devices, services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

Methods (100, 200, 300) in a wireless portable communication device and wireless communication network for resolving subsidy lock by transmitting and receiving messages over-the-air are provided. Upon entering a restricted mode of operation (118, 204), the wireless portable communication device transmits a request to the wireless communication network requesting to deactivate the restricted mode of operation (120, 212). In response, the wireless portable communication device receives a message deactivating the restricted mode of operation (122, 214).

Claims

1. A method in a wireless portable communication device having a lockout mode of operation, the method comprising:

activating a restricted use mode, the restricted use mode deactivatable by receiving an access code;

activating the lockout mode upon failing to receive the access code under a predetermined condition;

restricting communications to and from the wireless portable communication device while in the lockout mode;

transmitting a request to deactivate the lockout mode while in the lockout mode; and

receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode.

2. The method of claim 1, activating the restricted use mode upon powering on the wireless portable communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, activating the restricted use mode upon powering on the wireless portable communication device having a removable module containing user information, the removable module having a profile different from a stored profile in the wireless portable communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, activating the restricted use mode upon expiring of a contract between the wireless portable communication device and an associated communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, activating a lockout mode upon failing to receive the access code under a predetermined condition by failing to receive the access code within a predetermined number of attempts.

6. The method of claim 1, activating a lockout mode upon failing to receive the access code under a predetermined condition by failing to receive the access code within a predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 1, restricting communications to and from the wireless portable communication device while in the lockout mode by only allowing to initiate a voice call to an emergency telephone number and a Short Message Service message to a service provider.

8. The method of claim 7, transmitting a request to deactivate the lockout mode while in the lockout mode by transmitting a first Short Message Service message requesting to deactivate the lockout mode to the service provider.

9. The method of claim 8, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving a second Short Message Service message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode.

10. The method of claim 9, deactivating the lockout mode by enabling an application operable in the wireless portable communication device to deactivate the lockout mode upon receiving the second Short Message Service message.

11. The method of claim 8, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode.

12. The method of claim 11, deactivating the lockout mode by enabling an application operable in the wireless portable communication device to deactivate the lockout mode upon receiving the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data.

13. The method of claim 8, transmitting a first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode by providing authentication information in the first Short Message Service message.

14. The method of claim 13, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving a second Short Message Service message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode after the authentication information is verified.

15. The method of claim 13, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode after the authentication information is verified.

16. A method in a wireless portable communication device having a lockout mode that prevents access to a removable module containing user information, the method comprising:

activating a restricted use mode, the restricted use mode deactivatable by receiving an access code;

activating the lockout mode upon failing to receive the access code under a predetermined condition;

restricting communications to and from the wireless portable communication device while in the lockout mode;

transmitting a request to deactivate the lockout mode while in the lockout mode; and

receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode.

17. The method of claim 16, activating the restricted use mode upon powering on the wireless portable communication device having a removable module containing user information, the removable module having a profile different from a stored profile in the wireless portable communication device.

18. The method of claim 16, activating the restricted use mode upon expiring of a contract between the wireless portable communication device and an associated communication network.

19. The method of claim 16, activating the lockout mode upon failing to receive the access code under a predetermined condition by failing to receive the access code within a predetermined number of attempts.

20. The method of claim 16, activating the lockout mode upon failing to receive the access code under a predetermined condition by failing to receive the access code within a predetermined time.

21. The method of claim 16, restricting communications to and from the wireless portable communication device while in the lockout mode by only allowing to initiate a voice call to an emergency telephone number and a Short Message Service message to a service provider.

22. The method of claim 21, transmitting a request to deactivate the lockout mode while in the lockout mode by transmitting a first Short Message Service message requesting to deactivate the lockout mode to the service provider.

23. The method of claim 22, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving a second Short Message Service message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode.

24. The method of claim 23, deactivating the lockout mode by enabling an application operable in the wireless portable communication device to deactivate the lockout mode upon receiving the second Short Message Service message.

25. The method of claim 22, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode.

26. The method of claim 25, deactivating the lockout mode by enabling an application operable in the wireless portable communication device to deactivate the lockout mode upon receiving the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data.

27. The method of claim 22, transmitting a first Short Message Service message requesting to deactivate the lockout mode to the service provider by providing authentication information in the Short Message Service message.

28. The method of claim 27, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving a second Short Message Service message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode after the authentication information is verified.

29. The method of claim 27, receiving a message deactivating the lockout mode by receiving an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message deactivating the lockout mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider requesting to deactivate the lockout mode after the authentication information is verified.

30. A method in a wireless portable communication device having a removable module containing user information, the method comprising:

activating a restricted use mode, the restricted use mode deactivatable by receiving an access code;

restricting communications to and from the wireless portable communication device while in the restricted use mode by only allowing a voice call to be made to an emergency telephone number and a Short Message Service message to be made to and received from an available service provider;

transmitting a first Short Message Service message to the available service provider requesting to deactivate the restricted use mode while in the restricted use mode; and

receiving a message deactivating the restricted use mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider.

31. The method of claim 30, activating the restricted use mode upon powering on the wireless portable communication device having a removable module containing user information, the removable module having a profile different from a stored profile in the wireless portable communication device.

32. The method of claim 30, activating the restricted use mode upon expiring of a contract between the wireless portable communication device and an associated communication network.

33. The method of claim 30, transmitting a first Short Message Service message to the available service provider requesting to deactivate the restricted use mode while in the restricted use mode by providing authentication information in the first Short Message Service message.

34. The method of claim 33, receiving a message deactivating the restricted use mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider after the authentication information is verified.

35. The method of claim 34, receiving a message deactivating the restricted use mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider after the authentication information is verified by receiving a Short Message Service message enabling an application operable in the wireless portable communication device to deactivate the lockout mode.

36. The method of claim 34, receiving a message deactivating the restricted use mode in response to transmitting the first Short Message Service message to the service provider after the authentication information is verified by receiving an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data enabling an application operable in the wireless portable communication device to deactivate the lockout mode.

37. A method in a wireless communication network providing subsidized service to a wireless portable communication device having a removable module containing user information, the method comprising:

receiving a first Short Message Service message from the wireless portable communication device, the wireless portable communication device being in a lockout mode preventing access to the removable module, the first Short Message Service message requesting to deactivate the lockout mode; and

transmitting a message to the wireless communication device deactivating the lockout mode in response to receiving the first Short Message Service.

38. The method of claim 37, receiving a first Short Message Service message from the wireless portable communication device by receiving authentication information in the first Short Message Service message.

39. The method of claim 37, transmitting a second Short Message Service message to the wireless communication device deactivating the lockout mode in response to receiving the first Short Message Service after the authentication information is verified.

40. The method of claim 37, transmitting an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message to the wireless communication device deactivating the lockout mode in response to receiving the first Short Message Service after the authentication information is verified.