System and method for using a temporary electronic serial number for over-the-air activation of a mobile device

• US 20080171532A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Greg A., Shieh, Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A system and method for activating a subscriber identification module (SIM) based mobile device in a PCS/ANSI type wireless network. The method comprises pre-programming the SIM card of the mobile device with temporary activation identifiers, such as an international mobile station identity (IMSI) and/or a mobile identification number (MIN), and a temporary electronic serial number. The temporary electronic serial number, rather than the mobile device actual electronic serial number, is used to identify the mobile device during registration and activation. The network identifies the temporary electronic serial number associated with the SIM vendor and invokes an over-the-air activation procedure especially for the SIM card mobile devices. A SIM-over-the-air-activation processor is notified to perform the activation for that mobile device on the PCS wireless network. Authentication of the mobile device may be bypassed and the mobile device is instructed to transmit its actual electronic serial number for future registrations. Once the activation process is completed, the temporary activation identifiers are overwritten.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of over-the-air activation of a wireless device comprising a device electronic serial number and a temporary electronic serial number different from the device electronic serial number, the method comprising:

receiving the temporary electronic serial number from the wireless device wherein the temporary electronic serial number is preprogrammed onto a removable identification card coupled to the wireless device;

selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activation processes based on the temporary electronic serial number; and

activating the wireless device according to the selected over-the-air activation process.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the over-the-air activation process is determined by association of the temporary electronic serial number with a vendor.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein a home location register determines the over-the-air activation process.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining that the wireless device is a third generation wireless device.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein a message center determines the over-the-air activation process.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the over-the-air activation process comprises setting a usage indicator located at the wireless device so the wireless device transmits the device electronic serial number subsequent to activation.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining that the temporary electronic serial number is associated with an identity of a removable identification card vendor.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein a network node performing the selected over-the-air activation process is associated with the removable identification card vendor.

38. A method for achieving wireless device over-the-air activation, the method comprising:

transmitting a temporary electronic serial number from a wireless device, wherein the temporary electronic serial number is preprogrammed onto a removable SIM card coupled to the wireless device, and the wireless device comprises a device electronic serial number different from the temporary electronic serial number;

receiving the temporary electronic serial number at a first network node and relaying the temporary electronic serial number to a second network node;

receiving the temporary electronic serial number at the second network node;

the second network node selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activation processors, the selected activation processor being associated with the temporary electronic serial number; and

invoking the selected over-the-air activation processor to activate the wireless device.

39. The of method of claim 38, wherein the selected over-the-air activation processor executes at the second network node.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the selected over-the-air activation processor executes at a third network node.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the second network node is a home location register.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the second network node is a message center.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the wireless device communicates via an ANSI-136/41 protocol.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the wireless device communicates via a PCS protocol.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the temporary electronic serial number is a SIM-electronic serial number.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the removable SIM card is further preprogrammed with a temporary activation identifier.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the SIM-electronic serial number identifies the SIM card.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the SIM-electronic serial number is associated with a SIM card vendor.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the removable SIM card is further preprogrammed with usage indicators, and the method further comprises determining, based on the usage indicators, whether to transmit the temporary electronic serial number or the device electronic serial number during authentication.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the removable SIM card is further preprogrammed with usage indicators, and the method further comprises determining, based on the usage indicators, whether to transmit the temporary electronic serial number or the device electronic serial number for reporting.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the removable SIM card is further preprogrammed with usage indicators, and the method further comprises determining, based on the usage indicators, whether to transmit the temporary electronic serial number or the device electronic serial number for activation.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the wireless device initiates activation by transmitting the temporary activation identifier.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising receiving the temporary activation identifier and creating a temporary subscriber profile for over-the-air activation.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising determining whether the wireless device is second or third generation device based on whether a SIM-electronic serial number is reported by the mobile device.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the over-the-air activation processor is determined based on whether the SIM-electronic serial number was reported by the mobile device.

56. An activation method for a wireless device comprising a device electronic serial number and a temporary electronic serial number different from the device electronic serial number, the temporary electronic serial number being preprogrammed onto a SIM card, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic serial number from the wireless device;

determining that the electronic serial number received is the temporary electronic serial number preprogrammed onto the SIM card;

selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activation processes based on the temporary electronic serial number received; and

invoking the selected over-the-air activation process.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the method is performed at one or more network nodes.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the method is performed by an ANSI-136/41 network.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the method is performed by a GSM network.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein the invoked procedure is associated with a service provider identifiable based on the temporary electronic serial number.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein invoking the procedure comprises sending a communication to another network node to perform the over-the-air-activation.

60. (canceled)

63-64. -64. (canceled)

65. An activation method performed by one or more network nodes, the method comprising:

receiving a temporary electronic serial number from a mobile device having a device electronic serial number that is different from the temporary electronic serial number;

selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activation procedures based on the temporary electronic serial number; and

invoking the selected over-the-air activation procedure.