Memory Device For A Cellular Telephone

• US 20090075699A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffith, Gregory Clyde, Guidotti, Richard Allen, Norman, Daniel P., Saitta, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/909 Alternatives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/914 Programmable telephone component

Abstract

An apparatus for activating a cellular telephone within a cellular telecommunications network. A PCMCIA card interacts with a controller to display required programming information and questions. A user of the cellular telephone inputs responses to questions on a display. The user responses are transmitted to a system administrator at a customer activation center via a mobile telephone switching office in the cellular telecommunications network. The system administrator provides any necessary information for activating the cellular telephone. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a personal computer is connected to cellular telephone and the PCMCIA card is connected to the personal computer. Information for the user may be shown on either the display of the cellular telephone or on a display of the personal computer. The user may input information and responses to questions via a user input device provided as part of the display or as part of the personal computer. User input is provided to the cellular telephone to activate and program the cellular telephone for operation on the cellular telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A memory device for use with a cellular telephone, said cellular telephone have a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver designed for communicating with a customer activation center (CAC) over a cellular telephone network, said memory device having a connector to adaptively connect inside the cellular telephone, said memory device storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a dummy mobile identification number (MIN);

a program for causing said cellular telephone to use said dummy MIN to gain access to said cellular telephone network and to communicate with the CAC and to use said RF transmitter to send said dummy MIN to said CAC; and

a program for causing said cellular telephone to use said RF receiver to receive a permanent MIN from said CAC over said cellular telephone network.

2. The memory device of claim 1 further storing preprogrammed information comprising a program for causing said cellular telephone to store said permanent MIN in said cellular telephone.

3. The memory device of claim 1 wherein said memory device comprises a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card.

4. A memory device for use with a cellular telephone, said cellular telephone having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver designed for communicating with a customer activation center (CAC) over a cellular telephone network, said memory device having a connector to adaptively connect inside the cellular telephone, said memory storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a dummy mobile identification umber (MIN); and

a program causing prompts to be displayed to a user of said cellular telephone.

5. The memory device of claim 4 further storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a program for causing said cellular telephone to use said dummy MIN to gain access to said cellular telephone network and to use said RF transmitter to send said dummy MIN to said CAC; and

a program or causing said cellular telephone to use said RF receiver to receive a permanent MIN from said CAC over said cellular telephone network.

6. The memory device of claim 4 further storing preprogrammed information comprising a program for causing said cellular telephone to store said permanent MIN in said cellular telephone.

7. The memory device of claim 4 wherein said memory device is a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card.

8. A memory device for use with a cellular telephone, said cellular telephone having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver designed for communicating with a customer activation center (CAC) over a cellular telephone network, said memory device having a connector to adaptively connect inside the cellular telephone, said memory device storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a dummy mobile identification number (MIN);

a program for causing said cellular telephone to use said dummy MIN and said RF receiver to gain access to the cellular telephone network and to receive a communication from said CAC; and

a program for causing said cellular telephone to use said RF receiver to receive a permanent MIN from said CAC over said cellular telephone network.

9. The memory device of claim 8 further storing preprogrammed information comprising a program for causing said cellular telephone to store said permanent MIN in said cellular telephone.

10. The memory device of claim 8 wherein said memory device comprises a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card.