Mobile wireless communications device enablement and methods therefor

• US 20040102183A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kotzin, Michael, Haub, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for enabling hardware and software features in wireless communications devices including (610) receiving key information and applying it to the communications device. The key information specifies one or more features of the wireless communications device that are to be enabled or disabled. Features of the wireless communications device specified by the key information are enabled (640) or disabled upon applying the key information to the device. In some embodiments, information from multiple keys is required to enable features of the device.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communications device, comprising:

applying key information to the wireless communications device,

the key information specifying at least one feature of a group of disabled features residing on the wireless communications device,

enabling the at least one feature of the wireless communications device specified by the key information upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, the key information is signed and encrypted,

decrypting the signed and encrypted key information,

validating a signature with which the key information is signed,

enabling the at least one feature of the wireless communications device only if the signature is valid.

3. The method of claim 1,

applying key information to the wireless communications device includes manually entering key information at a user input of the wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 1,

receiving the key information at a radio receiver of the wireless communications device in a non-secured communication,

applying key information to the wireless communications device after receiving the key information.

5. The method of claim 1,

applying key information to the wireless communications device by connecting a structural element bearing the key information to the wireless communications device.

6. The method of claim 1,

applying second key information to the wireless communications device,

the second key information different than the first key information, the second key information specifying at least one feature of the wireless communications device,

enabling the at least one feature specified by the second key information upon applying the second key information to the wireless communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, not enabling a radio circuit for a particular wireless communications protocol without applying a second key to the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1,

enabling at least one hardware feature of the wireless communications device upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device.

9. The method of claim 1,

enabling at least two features of a group of disabled software features residing on the wireless communications device upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device.

10. The method of claim 1, applying key information to the wireless communications device includes applying key information that is uniquely associated with the wireless communications device.

23. The method of claim, 1, enabling or disabling the selected features of the wireless communications device by applying the key information to the wireless communications device only upon verifying a user identity.

11. A method for enabling a wireless communications device having a plurality of features, at least some of the features being disabled, the method comprising:

selecting at least some features of the wireless communications device;

generating key information at a location other than at the wireless communications device, the key information specifying the selected features of the wireless communications device;

enabling or disabling the selected features of the wireless communications device by applying the key information to the wireless communications device.

12. The method of claim 11, generating the key information includes uniquely associating the key information with the wireless communications device.

13. The method of claim 11, selecting at least some features of the wireless communications device at a location other than at the wireless communications device.

14. The method of claim 11, selecting at least some of the plurality of features of the wireless communications device over a network.

15. The method of claim 11, not enabling a radio circuit for a particular wireless communications protocol without applying supplemental key information, different than the key information, to the wireless communications device.

16. The method of claim 11,

encrypting the key information specifying the selected features of the wireless communications device,

decrypting the encrypted key information and validating that the key information is from a trusted source at the wireless communications device,

enabling or disabling features of the wireless communications device only if the key information is from a trusted source.

17. The method of claim 11,

applying the key information to the wireless communications device by manually entering key data at a user input of the wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 11,

receiving the key information at a radio receiver of the wireless communications device in a non-secured communication,

applying key information to the wireless communications device upon receiving the key information.

19. The method of claim 11,

applying the key information to the wireless communications device by connecting structure bearing the key information to the wireless communications device.

20. The method of claim 11, generating the key information by combining information from first and second keys.

21. The method of claim 11,

generating the key information specifying the features selected by generating a code indicative of the features selected, digitally signing the code, and encrypting the digitally signed code.

22. The method of claim 21,

receiving the encrypted digitally signed code at the wireless communications device,

decrypting the encrypted digitally signed code at the wireless communications device,

verifying a signature with which the code is digitally signed after decrypting,

enabling or disabling features of the wireless communications device only if the signature is verified.

24. A method in a wireless communications device, comprising:

applying key data to the wireless communications device,

the key data specifying at least one disabled hardware feature of the wireless communications device,

enabling the disabled hardware feature of the wireless communications device specified by the key data upon applying the key data to the wireless communications device.

25. The method of claim 24, the key data specifying at least one disabled software feature residing on the wireless communications device, enabling the disable software feature of the wireless communications device specified by the key data upon applying the key data to the wireless communications device.

26. The method of claim 24,

applying the key data to the wireless communications device by manually entering the key data at a user input of the wireless communications device.

27. The method of claim 24,

receiving the key data at a radio receiver of the wireless communications device,

applying key data to the wireless communications device after receiving the key data.

28. The method of claim 24,

applying the key data to the wireless communications device by connecting structure bearing the key data to the wireless communications device.

29. The method of claim 24,

applying second key data to the wireless communications device,

enabling the disabled hardware feature specified only upon applying the first and second key data to the wireless communications device.

30. A method in a wireless communications device, comprising:

applying key information to the wireless communications device,

the key information specifying at least one features of a group of enabled features of the wireless communications device,

disabling the enabled features of the wireless communications device specified by the key information upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device.