Method and apparatus for secure downloading of operational information into a wireless communications device

• US 5,524,135 A
• Filed: 02/14/1994
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mizikovsky, Semyon, Akahane, Masaaki, Douma, Peter, Anderson, Geoffrey, Wahl, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/195,800
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/61, 379/62, 379/63, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 380/21, 380/23
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for secure and prompt distribution of critical operational information to a wireless cellular or PCS subscriber station via wireless interface which includes the steps of generating operational information, storing the operational information into a first memory of a wireless base station, and transmitting at least a portion of the operational information stored in the first memory to a wireless subscriber station via a wireless interface at random times during an active conversation state of the wireless subscriber station. The operational information stored in a second memory register in the subscriber station is updated with the operational information transmitted from the first memory. Where at least a portion of new operational information is received by the subscriber station, a first update counter is incremented to reflect the number of operational information updates received by the subscriber station. The value of the contents of the first update counter is then reported to the wireless base station via a wireless interface. Where the value of the contents of the first update counter is different from the value of the contents of a second update counter in the base station, the base station will synchronize the second counter to be the same as the first counter, and will re-transmit a portion of the operational information.

Claims

1. A method for downloading operational information into a wireless subscriber station comprising the steps of:

generating operational information;

storing said generated operational information into a first memory of a wireless base station;

transmitting a portion of said operational information stored in said first memory, to a wireless subscriber station via a wireless interface at random times during an active conversation state of said wireless subscriber station so as to update operational information stored in a second memory in said subscriber station;

updating a first update counter in said base station to reflect the number of times a portion of operational information has been transferred by said base station;

transferring said operational information received from said wireless base station into said second memory;

updating the value of a second update counter in said subscriber station when a portion of said operational information is received by said communications subscriber station;

reporting the updated value of said second update counter to said wireless base station via wireless interface;

synchronizing said first update counter with said reported value of said second update counter where the value of said first update counter is different from said reported value of said second update counter; and

,

where said first update counter has been synchronized with said reported value of said second update counter, transmitting a portion of said operational information to said subscriber station.

2. A method for downloading operational information into a wireless subscriber station according to claim 1 wherein said wireless subscriber station is a cellular telephone.

3. A method for downloading operational information into a wireless subscriber station according to claim 2 wherein said operational information is A-Key value information.

4. A method of updating operational information stored in a storage memory of a subscriber station comprising the steps of:

generating operational information;

storing said operational information in a storage memory in a base station;

transmitting a portion of said operational information stored in said storage memory to a subscriber station via a wireless interface during an active conversation state of said subscriber station;

incrementing a first counter in said base station to reflect the number of times a portion of said operational information has been transmitted;

receiving information reflecting the contents of a second counter in said subscriber station which represents the number of times a portion of said operational information has been received by said subscriber station;

comparing the contents of said first counter with said information reflecting the contents of said second counter;

where said contents of said first counter do not match said information reflecting said contents of said second counter, synchronizing the contents of said first counter to match said information reflecting said contents of said second counter and retransmitting said portion of said operational information; and

,

where said contents of said first counter do match said information reflecting said contents of said second counter, transmitting a remaining portion of said operational information to said subscriber station via wireless interface during an active conversation state of said subscriber station.

5. A wireless base station comprising:

generating means for generating operational information for assignment to a wireless subscriber station;

storage memory for storing said generated operational information;

transmitter for transmitting a portion of said operational information stored in said storage memory to a subscriber station during an active conversation state via a Fast Associated Control Channel of a Cellular communications system;

update counter for maintaining count of the number of times a portion of said operational information is transmitted to said subscriber station; and

,

receiver for receiving update information from said subscriber station which represents that number of times said subscriber station has received a portion of said operational information transmitted via said transmitter.

6. A wireless base station comprising:

generating means for generating operational information for assignment to a wireless subscriber station;

storage memory for storing said generated operational information;

transmitter for transmitting a portion of said operational information stored in said storage memory to a subscriber station during an active conversation state via a Forward Analog Control Channel of a Cellular communications system;

update counter for maintaining count of the number of times a portion of said operational information is transmitted to said subscriber station; and

,

receiver for receiving update information from said subscriber station which represents that number of times said subscriber station has received a portion of said operational information transmitted via said transmitter.