Method and apparatus for storing activation data in a cellular telephone

• US 20040176133A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lipsit, James Mason
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for programming a cellular telephone with activation parameters. A cellular telephone to be programmed is connected to a computer via a communications interface. A user input device is provided to allow a user to provide programming information, including a cellular telephone type, to the computer. A visual representation of the cellular telephone type is displayed on a display monitor to allow the user to interactively verity the inputted programming information. Upon such user verification, the computer determines activation parameters and transmits the activation parameters to the cellular telephone. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the user provided programming information In one embodiment, the user enters a cellular telephone number to be assigned to the cellular telephone. The computer looks up a system identification associated with the cellular telephone number in a memory unit. Certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the cellular telephone number and system identification.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor to store computer program instructions executable by the processor; and

a communication interface to locally connect to a cellular telephone;

the computer program instructions to generate a graphical user interface to program the cellular telephone via the communication interface, the graphical user interface comprising a field to receive a user input value, the value being modifiable based on a user verification process.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in response to a first user input value, the graphical user interface displays a first image, and in response to a second user input value modifying the first user input value, the graphical user interface displays a second image different from the first image.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first user input is a first cellular telephone type, and the first image corresponds to the first cellular telephone type.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second user input is a second cellular telephone type different from the first, and the second image corresponds to the second cellular telephone type.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the graphical user interface further comprising a field to receive a user input to initiate programming of the cellular telephone.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the graphical user interface further comprising a field to receive a number of the cellular telephone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the graphical user interface further comprising a field to display an electronic serial number of the cellular telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed on a display monitor coupled to the processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user input value relates to an activation parameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the activation parameter identifies a cellular service provider.

11. A machine-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions to generate a user interface to program a cellular telephone via a communication interface to a local computer, the graphical user interface comprising a field to receive a user input value, the value being modifiable based on a user verification process.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein in response to a first user input value, the graphical user interface displays a first image, and in response to a second user input value modifying the first user input value, the graphical user interface displays a second image different from the first image.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first user input is a first cellular telephone type, and the first image corresponds to the first cellular telephone type.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the second user input is a second cellular telephone type different from the first, and the second image corresponds to the second cellular telephone type.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the graphical user interface further comprising a field to receive a user input to initiate programming of the cellular telephone.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the graphical user interface further comprising a field to receive a number of the cellular telephone.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, the graphical user interface further comprising a field to display an electronic serial number of the cellular telephone.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the user input value relates to an activation parameter.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the activation parameter identifies a cellular service provider.