Methods and Apparatus of Over-the-Air Programming of a Wireless Unit
First Claim
1. A method for over-the-air (OTA) activation of a wireless unit in a particular communications system, comprising:
- A. causing the wireless unit to include a stored key, the stored key having been generated by using a key algorithm (K-algorithm) with an identifier associated with the wireless unit as an input to the K-algorithm;
B. causing the wireless unit to receive the wireless unit parameters and a verification number over-the-air, the wireless unit parameters including an identification of the particular communications system, i. the verification number having been generated by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) having the wireless unit parameters and a key as A-algorithm inputs, and ii. the key having been generated by the K-algorithm having the identifier associated with the wireless unit as the K-algorithm input;
C. in response to receipt of the wireless unit parameters and the verification number, causing the wireless unit to generate a trial verification number by using the A-algorithm with the wireless unit parameters and the stored key as trial inputs;
D. causing the wireless unit to compare the verification number to the trial verification number for a match; and
E. in response to finding the match, causing the wireless unit to use the wireless unit parameters for activation of the wireless unit in the particular communications system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for secure over-the-air (OTA) programming, and particularly, activation, of a wireless unit in a particular communications system. The unit stores a stored key having been generated by using a key algorithm (K-algorithm) with an identifier associated with the unit as an input to the K-algorithm. The unit may receive information such as parameters and a verification number from a communications system for the purpose of programming the unit. The verification number is generated by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) having the parameters and a key as A-algorithm inputs. They key is generated by the K-algorithm having the identifier associated with the K-algorithm input. In response to the receipt of the parameters and the verification number, the wireless unit generates a trial verification number by using the A-algorithm with the parameters and the stored key as trial inputs. The unit compares the verification number to the trial verification number for a match. When finding the match, the unit uses the parameters for programming of the unit in the particular communications system. When failing to find the match, the unit fails to use the parameters for the programming.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for over-the-air (OTA) activation of a wireless unit in a particular communications system, comprising:
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A. causing the wireless unit to include a stored key, the stored key having been generated by using a key algorithm (K-algorithm) with an identifier associated with the wireless unit as an input to the K-algorithm;
B. causing the wireless unit to receive the wireless unit parameters and a verification number over-the-air, the wireless unit parameters including an identification of the particular communications system, i. the verification number having been generated by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) having the wireless unit parameters and a key as A-algorithm inputs, and ii. the key having been generated by the K-algorithm having the identifier associated with the wireless unit as the K-algorithm input;
C. in response to receipt of the wireless unit parameters and the verification number, causing the wireless unit to generate a trial verification number by using the A-algorithm with the wireless unit parameters and the stored key as trial inputs;
D. causing the wireless unit to compare the verification number to the trial verification number for a match; and
E. in response to finding the match, causing the wireless unit to use the wireless unit parameters for activation of the wireless unit in the particular communications system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method to prevent a wireless unit from being programmed over-the-air (OTA), comprising:
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A. causing the wireless unit to include a stored key, the stored key being generated by using a key algorithm (K-algorithm) with an identifier associated with the wireless unit as an input to the K-algorithm;
B. causing the wireless unit, in response to receipt of information transmitted OTA to the wireless unit, to generate a trial verification number by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) with the stored key and the information as A-algorithm inputs to the A-algorithm;
C. causing the wireless unit to compare the trial verification number with at least a portion of the information for a match; and
D. causing the wireless unit, in response to failing to find the match, to block programming of the wireless unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for secure over-the-air (OTA) programming of a wireless unit, comprising:
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A. causing the wireless unit to include a stored key;
B. causing the wireless unit to receive OTA wireless unit parameters and a verification number;
C in response to receipt of the wireless unit parameters and the verification number, causing the wireless unit to generate a trial verification number;
D. causing the wireless unit to compare the verification number to the trial verification number for a match; and
E. in response to finding the match, causing the wireless unit to use the wireless unit parameters for programming of the wireless unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A wireless unit that can be programmed over-the-air (OTA) by only a particular service provider, the wireless unit comprising:
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a memory for storing a stored key relatively unique to the wireless unit and for storing wireless unit information;
a control for receipt of information OTA from the particular service provider;
a processor being functionally connected to the control and to the memory, and for, in response to the receipt of the information OTA from the particular service provider, effecting generation of a trial verification number, effecting comparison of the trial verification number with at least a portion of the information from the particular service provider for a match, and in response to finding the match, effecting the storing of the information in the memory, whereby the wireless unit can be programmed OTA only by the particular service provider that provides the information that results in the match with the trial verification number. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification