METHODS AND APPARATUS OF OVER-THE-AIR PROGRAMMING OF A WIRELESS UNIT

• US 20120184250A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II, Hardin, Stephen Thomas, Klenzak, Megan Koch
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating secure over-the-air (OTA) programming are presented herein. A device can store a key, which can be based on a key algorithm (K-algorithm) and an identifier associated with the device. The device can receive information such as parameter(s) and a verification number from a communications system. The verification number can be generated by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) based on the parameter(s) and a K-algorithm input. The device can generate a trial verification number by using the A-algorithm with the parameter(s) and the key as trial inputs. The device can compare the verification number to the trial verification number, and in response to the verification number being at least similar to the trial verification number, the device can use the parameter(s) for programming of the device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sending, by a system including at least one processor, an identifier that is associated with the system and that is directed to a service provider system via a network;

receiving, by the system, a verification number from the network based on the identifier;

generating, by the system, a trial verification number based on a key;

determining, by the system, whether the trial verification number is at least substantially equal to the verification number; and

in response to the trial verification number being at least substantially equal to the verification number, modifying, by the system, information in at least one storage element of the system to facilitate activating the system on the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the system, the key in a storage element of the system;

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing further comprises generating, by the system, the key based on the identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing further comprises generating, by the system, the key based on an electronic serial number that is associated with the system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending further comprises sending, by the system, an electronic serial number that is associated with the system and that is directed to the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating further comprises creating, by the system, the trial verification number utilizing an authorization algorithm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the creating further comprises deriving, by the system, the trial verification number utilizing the authorization algorithm based on a numeric assignment module parameter.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the creating further comprises deriving, by the system, the trial verification number utilizing the authorization algorithm based on a checksum.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the creating further comprises deriving, by the system, the trial verification number utilizing a hash function.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying further comprises:

storing, by the system, a numeric assignment module parameter in a storage element of the system; and

modifying the information based on the numeric assignment parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

resetting, by the system, the numeric assignment module parameter in response to the modifying.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the trial verification number not being at least substantially equal to the verification number, disallowing, by the system, activation of the system on the network.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer executable components that, in response to execution, cause a computing system including at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:

sending an identifier associated with a device directed to service equipment via a network;

receiving a verification number from the network based on the identifier;

creating a trial verification number based on a key; and

in response to the trial verification number being at least substantially equal to the verification number, activating the device on the network.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

storing the key in a storage element of the device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

creating the key based on the identifier.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

creating the key based on an electronic serial number that is associated with the device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the sending further comprises sending an electronic serial number that is associated with the device and that is directed to the network.

18. A system, comprising:

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to at least;

direct a communication towards a service system associated with a service via a network, the communication including an identifier that facilitates identification of the system;

receive, based on the identifier, another communication from the network including a verification number;

create a trial verification number based on a key;

determine whether the verification number is at least similar to the trial verification number; and

modify the at least one memory to facilitate activation of the system on the network in response to the verification number being at least substantially equal to the trial verification number.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the identifier comprises an electronic serial number that facilitates the identification of the system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor further facilitates the execution of the computer-executable instructions to at least:

create the trial verification number based on a numeric assignment module parameter.