REGISTRATION OF A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE FOR A DATA SERVICE ON A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20100165938A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• 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 9,524,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• 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 system and method for registering a mobile computing device for a data service on a wireless network is described. The method comprises receiving a request from a user to initiate a program on the mobile computing device which requires a network connection for a data service. The method comprises checking if a wireless account for the data service has been activated for the mobile computing device, and, if a wireless account for the data service has not been activated, transmitting to a network node a serial number of the mobile computing device and a key which is based on an encryption of the serial number. The method further comprises receiving a message indicating a wireless network connection is granted.

Claims

1. A method for registering a mobile computing device for a data service on a wireless network, comprising:

receiving a request from a user to initiate a program on the mobile computing device which requires a network connection for a data service;

checking if a wireless account for the data service has been activated for the mobile computing device;

if a wireless account for the data service has not been activated, transmitting to a network node a serial number of the mobile computing device and a key which is based on an encryption of the serial number; and

receiving a message indicating a wireless network connection is granted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encryption comprises a hash function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is an internet browser program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is an e-mail program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting over a cellular network to the network node.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a subsequent network connection request for a data service to the network node; and

if the network connection request is granted, communicating data using a data service provided by the network node.

7. A method for registering a mobile computing device for a data service on a wireless network, comprising:

displaying a screen which prompts a user to register the mobile computing device;

receiving a user request to register the mobile computing device;

checking if a wireless account for a data service has been activated for the mobile computing device;

if a wireless account for the data service has not been activated, transmitting to a network node a serial number of the mobile computing device and a key which is based on an encryption of the serial number; and

receiving a message indicating a wireless network connection is granted.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the encryption comprises a hash function.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data service comprises an internet browsing data service.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the data service comprises an e-mail service.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting over a cellular network to the network node.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting a subsequent network connection request for a data service to the network node; and

if the network connection request is granted, communicating data using a data service provided by the network node.