Activation key for a wireless-enabled device

• US 20070203844A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuhn, Brian Gerald, Skinner, Craig S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/56
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 using cryptographic hash functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A user sets up an account including radio identification, billing information, etc. via a web-based account creation device, or over the telephone with an account representative. An activation key is provided to the user that identifies the radio device and the users account. An activation screen is displayed to a user at the start of wireless activities. The activation screen requires the activation key before continuing with wireless services. Since the key identifies both the radio and user'"'"'s account (which was approved prior to provision of the activation key), rejection traffic is eliminated and non-active account traffic is significantly reduced.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method of providing a mobile computing device access to a wireless network, comprising:

providing an identification associated with the mobile computing device to a server computer;

receiving an activation key from the server computer, wherein the activation key comprises an encryption of the identification;

checking the activation key on the mobile computing device; and

communicating from the mobile computing device to the server computer over the wireless network if the activation key is valid.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification is provided via web page interaction.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification is provided via a telephone call between a user of the device and the wireless service provider.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the identification is provided by punching telephone dial pad digits.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification comprises a serial number of the mobile computing device.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification comprises a user'"'"'s billing information.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the checking comprises generating a second activation key on the mobile computing device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the generating comprises providing an activation screen comprising an entry area for receiving key digits.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of communicating comprises providing a connection request from the mobile computing device to the server computer if the activation key is valid.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving e-mail from the server computer.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein the encryption comprises a hash function.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the mobile computing device is a wireless-enabled personal digital assistant.

41. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a display screen;

a radio frequency device configured to provide wireless connectivity to a network;

a processing circuit configured to provide an identification associated with the mobile computing device to a server computer, to receive an activation key from the server computer, wherein the activation key comprises an encryption of the identification, to check the activation key on the mobile computing device, and to provide the mobile computing device access to the wireless network if the activation key is valid.

42. The mobile computing device of claim 41, wherein the identification is provided via web page interaction.

43. The mobile computing device of claim 41, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive e-mail from the server computer.

44. The mobile computing device of claim 41, wherein the encryption comprises a hash function and wherein the mobile computing device is a wireless-enabled personal digital assistant.

45. A server computer system, comprising:

a processing circuit configured to receive an identification associated with a mobile computing device, to provide an activation key based on an encryption of the identification, to provide the activation key wirelessly to the mobile computing device, and to provide the mobile computing device access to the wireless network if the mobile computing device determines the activation key is valid.

46. The server computer system of claim 45, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive a connection request from the mobile computing device to the server computer if the activation key is valid.

47. The server computer system of claim 45, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to provide e-mail to the remote computing system.

48. The server computer system of claim 45, wherein the encryption comprises a hash function.