System and method for unlocking wireless communications device

• US 20070115091A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Bandaru, Murali
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2131 Lost password, e.g. recovery of lost or forgotten passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

An exemplary method for unlocking a wireless communications device comprises entering a backdoor screen, prompting input of a backdoor code, receiving the backdoor code, comparing the received backdoor code to a service validation code, and resetting an unlock code of the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code. The service validation code may be, for example, a one time subsidy lock code, an operator master subsidy lock code, another service programming code or any other stored code not generally known to the user. The method may further comprise unlocking the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a wireless communications device, comprising the steps of:

prompting input of a backdoor code;

receiving the backdoor code;

comparing the received backdoor code to a service validation code; and

resetting an unlock code of the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of unlocking the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving input of a character sequence for entering a backdoor screen;

displaying the backdoor screen; and

carrying out the prompting of the backdoor code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service validation code is a one time subsidy lock code used for limited programming of the wireless communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the service validation code is a service programming code (SPCn).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the service programming code is an operator master subsidy lock code for programming of the wireless communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a first validation code is a one time subsidy lock code and a second validation code is an operator master subsidy lock code, wherein the step of comparing the received backdoor code to the validation code further comprises the steps of:

determining if the first validation code is available; and

comparing the received backdoor code to the first validation code if the first validation code is available.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the received backdoor code to the second validation code if the first validation code is not available.

9. A method for unlocking a wireless communications device, comprising the steps of:

prompting input of a backdoor code;

receiving the backdoor code;

comparing the received backdoor code to a service validation code; and

unlocking the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code;

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of resetting an unlock code of the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a backdoor input to enter a backdoor screen;

entering the backdoor screen upon receipt of the backdoor input; and

carrying out the prompting of the backdoor code.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the backdoor input to enter a backdoor screen is a pre-determined sequence of characters.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the service validation code is a one time subsidy lock code or a service programming code.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the service programming code is an operator master subsidy lock code.

15. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a transceiver coupled to the processor;

an input device coupled to the processor;

software executable by the processor for carrying out the method of;

receiving a backdoor input to enter a backdoor screen;

prompting input of a backdoor code;

receiving the backdoor code;

comparing the received backdoor code to a service validation code; and

resetting an unlock code of the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.

16. The device of claim 15, the method further comprising the step of unlocking the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the service validation code is a one time subsidy lock code used for limited programming of the wireless communications device.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the service validation code is an operator master subsidy lock code for programming of the wireless communications device.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the steps of prompting, receiving and comparing are repeated for a plurality of requested backdoor codes.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the backdoor input is a sequence of characters input on the input device.