Method for self registration and authentication for wireless telephony devices

• US 5,999,812 A
• Filed: 07/01/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Winston E. Himsworth
• Inventors: Himsworth, Winston E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PABLO N
• Application Number:
  US08/886,303
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33, 455/34, 455/54, 455/56, 455/58, 455/410, 455/411, 379/435, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

Additional program logic is provided for wireless devices (or embedded transceivers) and for mobile system providers which permits a wireless device and/or associated application to seek out an authorized wireless service provider, register as an authenticated user on that provider'"'"'s ; system, and initiate conversation, all in a manner transparent to the end user. The search and authentication process alleviates the need to produce, distribute, or stock different devices, transceivers, or program versions of a given product class, in order to correctly register with different wireless providers in different areas of the country.

Claims

1. A method for self registration and authentication for wireless telephony services comprising the steps of:

initiating a system or network identification (SID/NID) seeking routine;

determining whether the device'"'"'s activation state is first time or previously activated;

performing a first time activation routine in response to said first time activation determination;

performing a previously activated routine in response to said previously active determination; and

registering the device for use on the mobile provider'"'"'s system by initiating a registration routine, capturing device identification information, authenticating the validity of the captured information, comparing the captured identification information for prior activity, and registering the device when prior activity has been confirmed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of registering the device when prior activity has been determined further comprises the steps of:

confirming the validity of captured identification information when prior activity is not present;

recording the captured identification information;

activating the device when validity of captured identification information is confirmed;

updating a database with the captured identification information; and

running a standard registration routine for the device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of confirming the validity of captured identification information further comprises the steps of:

determining the potential fraud of the captured identification information; and

denying service to the device.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of transferring the device to a fraud control routine.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of authenticating the validity further comprises the steps of:

determining the potential fraud of the captured identification information; and

denying service to the device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of transferring the device to a fraud control routine.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device identification information comprises electronic serial numbers (ESN), authentication and service option codes from the device.

8. A method for self registration and authentication for wireless telephony devices comprising the steps of:

initiating a system or network identification (SID/NID) seeking routine;

determining whether the device'"'"'s activation state is first time or previously activated by referring to a list of valid and invalid SID/NID data internally stored in the device;

performing a first time activation routine in response to said first time activation determination by searching for SID/NID data within a target frequency range, capturing the SID/NID data found, determining the validity of the SID/NID data, and registering the device for valid communication when SID/NID data is found;

performing a previously activated routine in response to said previously active determination; and

registering the device for use on the mobile provider'"'"'s system.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

adding SID/NID data to an invalid list when registration fails;

disconnecting the device;

restarting the first time activation routine.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

adding SID/NID data to a valid list when registration is successfully completed; and

exiting the SID/NID seeking routine.

11. A method for self registration and authentication for wireless telephony devices comprising the steps of:

initiating a system or network identification (SID/NID) seeking routine;

determining whether the device'"'"'s activation state is first time or previously activated by referring to a list of valid and invalid SID/NID data internally stored in the device;

performing a first time activation routine in response to said first time activation determination;

performing a previously activated routine in response to said previously active determination by searching for valid SID/NID data stored in the device, re-initiating a first activation routine in response to no valid SID/NID data found, and registering the device for communication when valid SID/NID data is found; and

registering the device for use on the mobile provider'"'"'s system.

12. A method for self registration and authentication for wireless telephony devices comprising the steps of:

initiating a system or network identification (SID/NID) seeking routine;

determining whether the device'"'"'s activation state is first time or previously activated by referring to a list of valid and invalid SID/NID data internally stored in the device;

performing a first time activation routine in response to said first time activation determination;

performing a previously activated routine in response to said previously active determination;

registering the device for use on the mobile provider'"'"'s system;

adding SID/NID data to an invalid list if registration fails; and

running said first time activation routine if said registration fails.