Method and system for automatic activation of a wireless device

• US 5,956,636 A
• Filed: 07/16/1996
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lipsit, James Mason
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/683,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/414, 455/412, 455/415, 455/435, 455/551, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/406, 455/408, 380/23, 380/25
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for automatic activation of a wireless device in a subscription activation system are provided which use information received from a programmed but non-activated device. In one variation, the subscription activation system determines that the received information satisfies a parameter necessary for activation. In another variation, the subscription activation system verifies that the information received satisfies a previously determined criterion necessary for activation. Based upon the above, the subscription activation system activates the device. In a related manner, a system is constructed which uses an activation unit configured to receive and process information from a programmed non-activated wireless device. Using the information, the activation unit determines if activation criteria necessary for activation of the programmed wireless device in the system are satisfied and, based upon the information and if the criteria are satisfied, the activation unit activates the wireless device in the system.

Claims

1. A method for activating a wireless telecommunication device in a wireless service system comprising the steps of:

receiving information comprising a non number assignment module (NAM) parameter and at least one NAM parameter, transmitted over a wireless channel from a programmed, non-activated, wireless telecommunication device,

identifying an activation database record using said non-NAM parameter information;

populating a field of said activation database record with said NAM parameter information;

verifying that said NAM parameter information populates sufficient fields in said activation database record so as to satisfy a previously determined criterion necessary for activation of said wireless telecommunication device; and

activating said wireless telecommunication device based upon said satisfaction of said criterion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving second information from the wireless device and verifiing credit authorization prior to performing said activating step using said second information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said activating step includes the step of changing an indicator, capable of indicating a non-activated state and an activated state for the wireless device, from said non-activated state to said activated state in the subscription activation system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first information is an Electronic Serial Number.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of prompting for the additional input of a subscriber identification number, capable of being used for credit verification, into said non-activated device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first information is a Mobile Identification Number.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of prompting for the additional input of a subscriber identification number, capable of being used for credit verification, into said non-activated device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing said non-activated device to a selected recipient.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of informing a third party to provide said non-activated device to a recipient capable of supplying said first information.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using said information as data for an automatic wireless service activation program running in an activation unit of the wireless service system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing for delivery of said non-activated wireless telecommunication device to a selected recipient.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of providing said information and said non-activated wireless telecommunication device to said selected recipient via at least one third party.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the providing step comprises the sub-steps of:

providing said non-activated wireless telecommunication device to said selected recipient by a first delivery method; and

providing said information to said selected recipient by a second delivery method.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first delivery method and said second delivery method are the same delivery methods but are removed in time from each other.

15. A system for automatic activation of wireless devices comprising:

an activation unit which receives and processes information said information including data items sent from a fully programmed and non-activated wireless device to determine, using said information, if sufficient information has been received and populated into an activation database record field so as to satisfy an activation criterion necessary for activation of said fully programmed non-activated wireless device in the system, and activates the wireless device based upon satisfaction of said criterion, said activation unit including means for prompting for input of first, second and third data items, said first data item being a non-NAM parameter known to said activation system and for identifying an activation record using said first data item so that said activation record may be populated with said second and third data items, one of said second or third data items being a NAM parameter.

16. The system of claim 15 further including an authorization verification unit configured to compare at least a portion of said information with items of data stored in the system and, if said portion of said information matches said items of data, to issue an authorization signal to said activation unit.

17. The system of claim 15 further including an indicator capable of indicating a non-activated state and an activated state for the wireless device.

18. The system of claim 17 further including a processor which is capable of changing said indicator from said non-activated state to said activated state.

19. A wireless device activation system comprising:

means for receiving information from a fully programmed non-activated wireless device,

a database in said receiving means having activation records, each of said activation records including at least two fields each of said fields being capable of holding at least one number assignment module (NAM) parameter,

means for prompting for input of first, second and third data items, said first data item being a non-NAM parameter known to said activation system and said second and third data items being NAM parameters which are not known to said activation system,

a processor for identifying an activation record using said first data item, populating said two fields of said activation records with said second and third data items, and determining that said second and third data items satisfy all criteria necessary for activating said fully programmed non-activated wireless device; and

means for automatically activating said non-activated wireless device in the system in response to a determination that said all criteria are satisfied.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for verifying credit authorization to activate said non-activated wireless device.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

an indicator capable of indicating an non-activated state and an activated state for said wireless device, and

means for changing said indicator from said inactive state to said active state.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said second data item comprises an Electronic Serial Number.

23. The system of claim, 19 wherein said second data item comprises a Mobile Identification Number.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said second data item comprises a Number Assignment Module parameter other than an Electronic Serial Number and a Mobile Identification Number.

25. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for prompting a user to input said first, second and third data items into said non-active wireless device.

26. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for automatically extracting said second data item from calling line identification information associated with said fully programmed non-activated wireless device.

27. A method for activating a device in a wireless service subscription system comprising the steps of:

dialing a number dedicated to connecting the device to the wireless service subscription system,

sending a non-Number Assignment Module parameter, from a non-activated wireless device to said wireless service subscription system over a wireless channel which, upon receipt by said wireless service subscription system will cause said wireless service subscription system to identify an activation record using said non-Number Assignment Module parameter,

sending a Number Assignment Module parameter, from said non-activated wireless device to said wireless service subscription system over a wireless channel which, upon receipt by said wireless service subscription system will cause said wireless service subscription system to populate an activation record field and activate said non-activated wireless device based upon said population with said Number Assignment Module parameter.