Wireless terminal and wireless telecommunications system adapted to prevent the theft of wireless service
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a personal identification number;
storing said personal identification number into a memory;
receiving a request from a user to initiate a wireless call based on a telephone number;
initiating a wireless call when said telephone number has been perfected;
receiving a candidate personal identification number when said telephone number has not been perfected; and
perfecting said telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless terminal and wireless telecommunications system are disclosed that prevent a thief of a wireless terminal from using the stolen wireless terminal to steal wireless service. A PIN is stored in the wireless terminal and the wireless terminal itself checks that a candidate PIN matches the stored PIN before the wireless terminal will initiate a call or will establish an incoming call. Thereafter, however, the user is permitted to call that telephone number or to receive a call from that telephone number without having to enter a candidate PIN again.
In the wireless telecommunications system, a PIN is stored in a subscriber database for each user. The subscriber database also contains a history list of the telephone numbers that each user has previously called or received calls from. When the user first attempts to call a telephone number from which a received call has not been established, the wireless telecommunications system requires the user to enter a candidate PIN that matches the stored PIN before the call is established. Thereafter, the user is permitted to call that telephone number or receive a call from that telephone number without having to enter a candidate PIN again. Alternatively, when the user first receives a call from a telephone number that the user has not previously called, the wireless telecommunications system requires the user to enter a candidate PIN that matches the stored PIN before the call is established. Thereafter, the user is permitted to call that telephone number or receive a call from that telephone number without having to enter a candidate PIN again.
32 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a personal identification number; storing said personal identification number into a memory; receiving a request from a user to initiate a wireless call based on a telephone number; initiating a wireless call when said telephone number has been perfected; receiving a candidate personal identification number when said telephone number has not been perfected; and perfecting said telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a personal identification number; storing said personal identification number into a memory; receiving an incoming call that is associated with an incoming telephone number; establishing said incoming call when said incoming telephone number has been perfected; receiving a candidate personal identification number when said incoming telephone number has not been perfected; and perfecting said incoming telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless terminal comprising:
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means for receiving a personal identification number; means for storing said personal identification number into a memory; means for receiving a request from a user to initiate a wireless call based on a telephone number; means for initiating a wireless call when said telephone number has been perfected; means for receiving a candidate personal identification number when said telephone number has not been perfected; and means for perfecting said telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless terminal comprising:
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means for receiving a personal identification number; means for storing said personal identification number into a memory; means for receiving an incoming call that is associated with an incoming telephone number; means for establishing said incoming call when said incoming telephone number has been perfected; means for receiving a candidate personal identification number when said incoming telephone number has not been perfected; and means for perfecting said incoming telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A wireless telecommunication system comprising:
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means for receiving a personal identification number; means for storing said personal identification number into a memory; means for receiving a request from a user to initiate a wireless call based on a telephone number; means for initiating a wireless call when said telephone number has been perfected; means for receiving a candidate personal identification number when said telephone number has not been perfected; and means for perfecting said telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A wireless telecommunication system comprising:
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means for receiving a personal identification number; means for storing said personal identification number into a memory; means for receiving an incoming call that is associated with an incoming telephone number; means for establishing said incoming call when said incoming telephone number has been perfected; means for receiving a candidate personal identification number when said incoming telephone number has not been perfected; and means for perfecting said incoming telephone number when said candidate personal identification number matches said personal identification number. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification