Coding method of mobile user equipment

• US 20050197102A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Min-Gyo
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

An International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) is coded and then stored in a user equipment (UE), wherein an authorized user is allowed to change the existing IMEI. When an IMEI is inputted, the UE generates a security code and stores the IMEI and the generated security code in a memory. Thereafter, if a second security code and IMEI is inputted, the UE determines whether the inputted security code is identical with the pre-stored security code. If the two security codes are identical with each other, the UE generates a third security code and stores the IMEI and the generated third security code. Thus, unauthorized IMEI storage is prevented. Accordingly, the IMEI coding method of the mobile UE can prevent unauthorized use of the UE while allowing the IMEI to be re-coded without hardware alteration.

Claims

1. An equipment identity coding method of a mobile user equipment comprising:

receiving an input command comprising an equipment identity;

generating a security code when the input command is received; and

coding and storing the equipment identity by using the generated security code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the equipment identity comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) for a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) user equipment (UE).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the security code is generated when the input command is an equipment identity write command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated security code is stored in the user equipment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the stored security code is outputted to an equipment identity writing program from which the input command was received.

6. An equipment identity coding method of a mobile user equipment comprising:

receiving a first input command comprising a first equipment identity;

generating a first security code when the first input command is received;

coding and storing the first equipment identity by using the first security code;

receiving a second input command comprising a second equipment identity;

comparing a pre-stored first security code with a second security code when the second input command is received, wherein the second security code is contained in the second input command;

generating a third security code when the first and second security codes are identical with each other; and

coding and storing the second equipment identity by using the third security code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second equipment identities comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the third security code is generated when the input command comprising the second equipment identity is an equipment identity write command.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and third security codes are stored in the user equipment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored first and third security codes are outputted to an equipment identity writing program from which the input command was received.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the outputted first security code is inputted and contained in a second equipment identity inputted after the first equipment identity has been stored in the user equipment.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the outputted third security code is inputted and contained in an equipment identity inputted after the second equipment identity has been stored in the user equipment.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting the stored first and third security codes.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second equipment identity is inputted after the first equipment identity has been stored in the user equipment.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein if the first and second security codes are not identical with each other, no operation related to the second equipment identity is performed.

16. An equipment identity coding method of a mobile user equipment, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment, an input command of a second equipment identity containing a second security code;

checking whether a first security code is stored in the user equipment when the input command is an equipment identity write command;

determining whether the first and second security codes are identical with each other when the first security code is stored in the user equipment; and

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes are identical with each other; and

coding and storing the second equipment identity in the user equipment by using the generated third security code.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second equipment identity contains an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the third security code is generated when the input command of the equipment identity is an equipment identity write command.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the third security code is stored in the user equipment.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising outputting the third security code.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the third security code is outputted to an equipment identity writing program from which the input command was received.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the third security code is inputted and contained in a next equipment identity input command inputted after the second equipment identity.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein if the first and second security codes are not identical with each other, no operation related to the second equipment identity is performed.

24. A software program to allow a processor to read and execute an equipment identity coding method of a mobile user equipment, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment, an input command of a second equipment identity containing a second security code;

checking whether a first security code is stored in the user equipment when the input command is an equipment identity write command;

determining whether the first and second security codes are identical with each other when the first security code is stored in the user equipment; and

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes are identical with each other; and

coding and storing the second equipment identity in the user equipment by using the generated third security code.

25. A processor-readable storage media storing a software program to allow a processor to read and execute a coding method of a mobile user equipment, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment, an input command of a second equipment identity containing a second security code;

checking whether a first security code is stored in the user equipment when the input command is an equipment identity write command;

determining whether the first and second security codes are identical with each other when the first security code is stored in the user equipment; and

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes are identical with each other; and

coding and storing the second equipment identity in the user equipment by using the generated third security code.