Mobile device activation

• US 20080167036A1
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schiller, Phillip W., Gautier, Patrice, Jobs, Steve, Robbin, Jeffrey L., De Atley, Dallas, Forstall, Scott, Bush, Jeffrey, Cue, Eddy
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus that facilitate activation of mobile devices, such as communication devices or multi-function devices, via a computer are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a mobile device can be forced into a limited service mode until properly activated with a service provider for a wireless network. According to another aspect of the invention, a mobile device can defer its attempt to send a location update request to a wireless network. According to still another aspect of the invention, a mobile device can be automatically controlled to reset a portion of its internal hardware to initiate a location update request.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a mobile device having at least wireless voice communication capabilities, said method comprising:

powering up the mobile device;

determining whether the mobile device has been activated; and

subsequently initiating a location update request to register the mobile device once it is determined that the mobile device has been activated.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

deferring initiation of the location update request to register the mobile device until it has been determined that the mobile device has been activated.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said initiating comprises:

receiving an external request to initiate the location update request; and

initiating the location update request in response to the external request.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes hardware, and

wherein said initiating of the location update request resets or cycles power to a portion of the hardware within the mobile device.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the portion of the hardware being reset or power cycled is a transmitter.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

7. A method for enabling a mobile multi-function device, said method comprising:

(a) powering up the mobile multi-function device;

(b) determining whether the mobile multi-function device has been activated; and

(c) placing the mobile multi-function device in a limited service mode if said determining (b) determines that the mobile multi-function device has not been activated.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein activation of the mobile multi-function device pertains to activation with respect to a wireless network service provider.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said determining (b) is based on data stored on the mobile multi-function device after the mobile multi-function device has been activated.

10. A method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the mobile multi-function device includes a memory device and a SIM card having an accessible SIM card identifier, and

wherein the data stored on the mobile multi-function device includes an activation identifier stored in the memory device.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory device is a Flash memory.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said determining (b) determines whether the activation identifier retrieved from the memory device of the mobile multi-function device matches the SIM card identifier read from the SIM card being used with the mobile multi-function device.

13. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein when said placing (c) places the mobile multi-function device in the limited service mode, the mobile multi-function device can only permit the user to make emergency calls.

14. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) placing the mobile multi-function device in a full service mode if said determining (b) determines that the mobile multi-function device has been activated.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein when said placing (d) places the mobile multi-function device in the full service mode, the mobile multi-function device is capable of media playback operation and capable of wireless voice communication operations carried by a wireless cellular network.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) requesting registration with a wireless network only when the mobile multi-function device is placed in a full service mode.

17. A method as recited in claim 16,

wherein said requesting (e) of the registration sends a location update request to the wireless network, and

wherein the wireless network is a wireless cellular network.

18. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) receiving data from a personal computing device when the mobile multi-function device has been activated; and

(e) storing the data in the mobile multi-function device.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said receiving (d) receives the data over a wired peripheral bus connection between the mobile multi-function device and the personal computing device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said receiving (d) receives the data over a wireless data connection between the mobile multi-function device and the personal computing device.

21. A method for enabling a mobile multi-function device, said method comprising:

(a) powering up the mobile multi-function device in a restricted operation condition;

(b) receiving an indication that the mobile multi-function device has been activated; and

(c) subsequently enabling the mobile multi-function device for multi-functional operation.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the mobile multi-function device is capable of media playback operation and capable of wireless voice communication operations.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the wireless voice communication operations are carried by a wireless cellular network.

24. A method as recited in claim 21,

wherein the indication is stored locally on the mobile multi-function device, and

wherein the indication is provided by a personal computer operatively connected to the mobile multi-function device.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein, following said power-up (a), said enabling (c) operates to defer a location update request following said power-up until the indication is received from the personal computer.

26. A method as recited in claim 21,

wherein, while in the restricted operation condition, the mobile multi-function device does not request a location update with respect to a wireless cellular network, and

wherein, while in the restricted operation condition, the mobile multi-function device does not request a location update with respect to a wireless cellular network.

27. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for enabling a mobile device having at least wireless voice communication capabilities, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for powering up the mobile device;

computer program code for determining whether the mobile device has been enabled; and

computer program code for subsequently initiating a network registration request to register the mobile device with a wireless network once it is determined that the mobile device has been enabled.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the mobile device further has media playback capabilities.

29. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory for non-volatile storage of data, the stored data including at least a stored indication of whether or not said mobile device is enabled for use;

a wireless transceiver capable of wireless transmission of data and wireless reception of data over a wireless network; and

a processor for controlling operation of said mobile device, said processor operating said mobile device in a limited use mode or a normal use mode depending on the stored indication stored in said memory.

30. A mobile device as recited in claim 29, wherein, when said mobile device is in the limited use mode, said mobile device can provide only limited voice communications over the wireless network.

31. A mobile device as recited in claim 29,

wherein said mobile device is a mobile multi-function device, and wherein the mobile multi-function device supports at least a media playback function and a wireless voice communications function,

wherein in the normal use mode both the media playback function and the wireless voice communication function are fully operable, and

wherein in the limited use mode the wireless voice communication function is operable only to support emergency calls and the media playback function is not operable.