Method and apparatus for storing activation data in a cellular telephone

• US 5,974,311 A
• Filed: 07/28/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• 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): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/901,827
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/77, 455/347, 455/345, 455/168, 455/89, 455/411, 455/409, 379/91.01, 379/111, 379/130, 379/387, 379/200, 379/91, 364/514, 380/23, 395/701, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for programming a cellular telephone with activation parameters. A cellular telephone to be programmed is connected to a computer via a communications interface. A user input device is provided to allow a user to provide programming information, including a cellular telephone type, to the computer. A visual representation of the cellular telephone type is displayed on a display monitor to allow the user to interactively verify the inputted programming information. Upon such user verification, the computer determines activation parameters and transmits the activation parameters to the cellular telephone. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the user provided programming information. In one embodiment, the user enters a cellular telephone number to be assigned to the cellular telephone. The computer looks up a system identification associated with the cellular telephone number in a memory unit. Certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the cellular telephone number and system identification.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing activation parameters in a memory of a cellular telephone, wherein said cellular telephone is one of a plurality of cellular telephone types, the apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit for executing stored computer program instructions and operating in accordance with said computer program instructions;

a first machine readable memory unit connected to said central processing unit containing said stored computer program instructions and activation parameters;

a communications interface for connecting said cellular telephone to said central processing unit;

an input device connected to said central processing unit, said input device for receiving user input including the cellular telephone type of said cellular telephone;

a display unit connected to said central processing unit and located proximate to said input device for displaying a graphical image representation of said inputted cellular telephone type for allowing user verification of said user input;

said central processing unit operating according to said stored computer program instructions for performing the functions of;

a) retrieving at least one activation parameter from said memory unit based upon said user input,

b) transferring said at least one retrieved activation parameter to said cellular telephone,

c) retrieving a software version of operating software from said cellular telephone. and

d) displaying the software version on said display unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein only a portion of said activation parameters required to activate the cellular telephone are stored in said memory unit, said central processing unit further performing the function of:

dynamically generating at least one activation parameter based on said user input; and

transferring said at least one dynamically generated activation parameter to said cellular telephone.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said user input further includes a cellular telephone number and wherein said step of transferring further comprises the step of transferring said cellular telephone number to said cellular telephone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a programming log stored in a second machine readable memory unit, wherein said first and second machine readable memory units are the same unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a programming log stored in a second machine readable memory unit.

5. A method for storing activation parameters in a memory of a cellular telephone, wherein said cellular telephone is one of a plurality of cellular telephone types, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting said telephone to a processing unit via a communications interface;

providing user input to said processing unit, said user input including the cellular telephone type of said cellular telephone;

displaying a graphical image representation of the inputted cellular telephone type on a display unit connected to said processing unit such that a user can verify said user input;

retrieving from a memory unit connected to said processing unit at least one activation parameter based upon said user input, and transferring said at least one activation parameter to said cellular telephone via said communications interface;

reading information stored in a memory of said cellular telephone; and

displaying said information on said display unit, wherein said information is the software version of operating software contained in said cellular telephone.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein only a portion of said activation parameters required to activate the cellular telephone are stored in said memory unit, said method further comprising the steps of:

dynamically generating at least one activation parameter based on said user input; and

transferring said at least one dynamically generated activation parameter to said cellular telephone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said user input further includes a cellular telephone number and wherein said step of transferring further comprises the step of transferring said cellular telephone number to said cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said information further comprises the electronic serial number of the cellular telephone.

9. An apparatus for storing activation parameters in a memory of a cellular telephone, said apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit for executing stored computer program instructions and operating in accordance with said computer program instructions;

a machine readable memory unit connected to said central processing unit containing said stored computer program instructions;

a communications interface for locally connecting said cellular telephone to said central processing unit;

an input device connected to said central processing unit for receiving user input;

a display unit connected to said central processing unit;

said central processing unit operating according to said stored computer program instructions for performing the steps of;

dynamically generating at least one activation parameter;

transferring said at least one dynamically generated activation parameter to said cellular telephone;

reading information stored in a memory of said cellular telephone; and

displaying said information on said display unit, wherein said information is the software version of operating software contained in said cellular telephone.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said activation parameters include a cellular telephone number and a cellular system identification, wherein:

said machine readable memory further comprises a system identification data table comprising a plurality of area code and prefix combinations and a cellular system identification associated with each of said combinations;

said user input includes a cellular telephone number having an area code and prefix combination;

said stored computer program instructions further comprising instructions executed by the central processing unit for performing the steps of;

retrieving from said system identification data table a cellular system identification associated with the area code and prefix combination of said user inputted cellular telephone number; and

transferring said cellular telephone number and said cellular system identification to said cellular telephone.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said information further comprises the electronic serial number of the cellular telephone.

12. A method for storing activation parameters in a memory of a cellular telephone, said method comprising the steps of:

locally connecting said cellular telephone to a processing unit via a communications interface;

providing user input to said processing unit;

dynamically generating in said processing unit at least one activation parameter;

transferring said at least one dynamically generated activation parameter to said cellular telephone via said communications interface;

retrieving a software version of operating software from said cellular telephone; and

displaying the software version on a display unit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said activation parameters include a system identification, said method further comprising the steps of:

retrieving from a memory unit connected to said processing unit a cellular system identification, said step of retrieving based on said user input; and

transferring said cellular telephone number and said cellular system identification to said cellular telephone.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

displaying on a display unit connected to said processing unit instructions for verifying the stored activation parameters in said cellular telephone.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

storing programming information in a programming log.