Remote programming/activation of SIM enabled ATA device

• US 20060105810A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gnuschke, Jerald J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/247 Knowledge-based maintenance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for programming and/or activating a subscriber identity module (SIM) enabled analog telephone adapter (ATA) device. A component activates and/or programs a SIM-enabled ATA module. Additionally, a component is provided that communicates with a network, such that the activation/programming component enables functionality of the SIM-ATA device by programming and/or activating the SIM-enabled module via the network. Separate components can effectuate activating and programming the SIM-ATA module.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates activating and/or programming of a subscriber identity module (SIM) enabled analog telephone adapter (ATA) device, comprising:

an input/output component that communicates data via a network;

a first component that programs a SIM-enabled ATA module by utilizing at least data received via the network; and

a second component that activates the SIM-enabled ATA module via the network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is an Internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is a cellular network.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a token transceiver that receives a token from a cellular network, the token enables at least one of the first component to program the module and the second component to activate the module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the token is obtained by the token transceiver from a subscriber'"'"'s mobile communication device, the mobile communication device receives the token from the cellular network.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the token is transmitted by the cellular network at least one of upon a subscriber'"'"'s request, automatically when the mobile communication device has a concurrent connection to the network, and when the SIM-enabled ATA module is coupled to the mobile communication device.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the token is received by the token transceiver via a short range radio frequency (RF) signal.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the token has a limited validity period.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the validity period is determined based on at least one of a time stamp associated with the token and data included in the token that is related to an expiration time.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface component that communicates with the SIM-enabled ATA module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface component includes a plurality of SIM sockets coupled to a mobile communication device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a SIM card of the mobile communication device is engaged with one of the SIM sockets and the SIM-enabled ATA module is engaged with another of the SIM sockets.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein data is transferred from a memory of the SIM card of the mobile communication device to a memory of the SIM enabled ATA module.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface component is a SIM socket of a mobile communications device and the SIM card of the mobile communications device is replaced with the SIM-enabled ATA module.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein software stored on the network programs the SIM-enabled ATA module.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein software stored on the first component programs the SIM-enabled ATA module.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises at least one of a token, a user name, a phone number, a unique identification number, an account number, an IP address, an equipment number, instructions, ring tones, skins, phonebook information, billing information, and address book information.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising an information component that obtains additional data that is utilized for at least one of activation and programming.

19. A method that facilitates activating a SIM-enabled ATA device, comprising:

providing a SIM-enabled ATA module that is pre-programmed with device specific data;

inserting the SIM-enabled ATA module into the SIM-enabled ATA device; and

activating the SIM-enabled ATA device by transmitting the pre-programmed data to an activation center.

20. A method of activating and/or programming of a SIM-enabled ATA device, comprising:

connecting a mobile device to a wireless system;

downloading a token from the wireless system via the mobile device;

communicating the token to the SIM-enabled ATA device; and

activating the SIM-enabled ATA device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising programming the SIM-enabled ATA device in response to the mobile device obtaining the token.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising utilizing a pre-programmed SIM-enabled ATA device.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the token is expired.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising preventing activation if the token has expired.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising activating the SIM-enabled ATA device if the token is valid.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the token is conveyed to the SIM-enabled ATA device via a short range RF technique.

27. A method of activating and/or programming of a SIM-enabled ATA device, comprising:

providing a mobile device that includes multiple SIM sockets and a SIM card that is coupled to one of the SIM sockets;

coupling a SIM-enabled ATA module with another of the SIM sockets, and

activating the SIM-enabled ATA module via a network over which the mobile device communicates.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising programming the SIM-enabled ATA module while coupled to the SIM socket.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising programming the SIM-enabled ATA module with data stored on the SIM card of the mobile device.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising programming the SIM-enabled ATA utilizing software that resides on the network.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

removing the SIM-enabled ATA module from the SIM socket; and

coupling the SIM-enabled ATA module with the SIM-enabled ATA device to facilitate utilization of the SIM-enabled ATA device.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising extracting data from the SIM-enabled ATA device to facilitate activating the module.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising removing the SIM-enabled ATA module from the SIM socket and coupling it to the SIM-enabled ATA device.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising determining whether at least one of programming and activation is incomplete with the SIM-enabled ATA device.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing additional data to a cellular network if it is determined that at least one of programming and activation is incomplete.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the additional information comprises at least one of an IP address and a SIM-enabled ATA device equipment number.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising verifying the SIM-enabled ATA module prior to programming.

33. A method that facilitates activating and/or programming of a SIM-enabled ATA device, comprising:

providing a mobile device with a single SIM socket;

replacing a SIM of the mobile device with a SIM-enabled ATA module;

programming the SIM-enabled ATA module via data downloaded from a network; and

activating the SIM-enabled ATA module utilizing the mobile device and the network.

39. A system that facilitates activating and/or programming of a SIM-enabled ATA device, comprising:

means for programming a SIM-enabled ATA module; and

means for activating the SIM-enabled ATA module.