Network-initiated change of mobile phone parameters

• US 6,047,071 A
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Shah, Bharat
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Callahan, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US08/837,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/433, 455/435, 455/458, 455/551, 455/33.1, 380/247, 380/248, 380/249, 380/271, 380/273
• US Class Current: 380/273
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

The procedure for Over-The-Air Parameter Administration (OTAPA) utilizes the over-the-air programming protocol and procedures which support the Over-The-Air Service Provisioning (OTASP) feature in accordance with established industry standards (TIA/EIA/IS-683). The mobile phone is programmed with a service option for changing the NAM parameters including an identification number for this option. The network base station sends a message to the mobile phone using the identification number and, if the mobile phone has OTAPA capability, it responds indicating support. The base station then transmits message telling the mobile station to proceed to the Traffic Channel and inquires whether the encryption mode is enabled, proceeding with the OTAPA only if the encryption mode is enabled. Once on the Traffic Channel, a Parameter Change Code (PCC) is sent. If the PCC is verified by the mobile unit, the base station proceeds to update the parameters and store the updated parameters into the phone'"'"'s memory. After verification of the programmed data in accordance with OTASP processing, the process is terminated. No user intervention is required to initiate or conduct the OTAPA procedure.

Claims

1. A method for making changes in at least one of a plurality of operating parameters of a mobile phone which operates within a network, the plurality of operating parameters being stored within a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

providing an encryption means for securing communications between the mobile phone and the network;

programming the mobile phone with a parameter change service option and at least one parameter change code for permitting over-the-air changing of operating parameters;

transmitting a page message from a base station within the network to the mobile phone, the page message including an inquiry as to the identity of the mobile phone and the presence of the parameter change service option;

transmitting a page response message from the mobile phone to the base station verifying the identity of the mobile phone and the presence of the parameter change service option;

transmitting instructions from the base station to the mobile phone to enter an over-the-air service provisioning process;

transmitting the at least one parameter change code from the base station to the mobile phone;

transmitting from the mobile phone to the base station a response verifying the at least one parameter change code;

downloading updated operating parameters corresponding to the at least one parameter change code from the base station to the mobile phone;

storing the updated operating parameters in the non-volatile memory; and

transmitting from the base station to the mobile phone a call releasing message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encryption means comprises a programmable encryption mode and the step of programming the mobile phone includes programming the programmable encryption mode to enable message encryption.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the page message includes an inquiry to confirm that the programmable encryption mode is enabled.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the encryption means comprises a permanent encryption code for encrypting all communications between the mobile phone and the base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating parameters are divided into a plurality of parameter groups and wherein said at least one parameter change code comprises a plurality of parameter change codes with one parameter change code corresponding to each parameter group of the plurality of parameter groups.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter change code is an authentication key for the mobile phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the mobile phone is set up for message encryption comprises:

transmitting a channel assignment message from the base station to the mobile phone wherein the channel assignment message has an encryption mode turned on; and

transmitting a response from the mobile phone to the base station verifying that the encryption mode is turned on.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of programming the mobile phone comprises assigning one service option number from a plurality of service option numbers for the parameter service option and setting the value of the one service option number to "1".

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the page response message includes a field containing the one service option number.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter change code has a pre-set value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pre-set value of the at least one parameter change code may be changed to a different value only by intervention of a user of the mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of downloading updated operating parameters includes downloading the updated operating parameters using the over-the-air service provisioning process according to the IS-683 standard.

13. A method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the mobile phone is set up for message encryption further includes transmitting a channel assignment message to the mobile phone.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting instructions to enter an over-the-air service provisioning process includes transmitting data burst messages.

15. A wireless communications network having a base station with a service administrator, and a mobile station, the mobile station having a plurality of operating parameters stored within a non-volatile memory, at least a portion of the plurality of operating parameters which may be changed by the service administrator, the network comprising:

message encryption means for securing communications between the base station and the mobile station;

means for programming the memory of the mobile station wherein the mobile station has programmable options for over-the-air parameter changes, the mobile station being set to enable the programmable options;

means for initiating a call from the base station to the mobile station when the mobile station is in an idle mode, the call comprising a paging message for interrogating the mobile station to confirm a mobile station identity and that the programmable options for over-the-air parameter changes are enabled;

means for terminating the call if the programmable options for over-the-air parameter changes are not enabled;

means for instructing the mobile phone to enter into an over-the-air service provisioning process;

means for enabling a download of updated operating parameters from the base station to the mobile station including transmitting a parameter change code portion within the programmable options for over-the-air parameter changes;

means for storing the updated operating parameters in the non-volatile memory; and

means for terminating the call.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein the message encryption means comprises a programmable encryption mode and the means for programming the memory of the mobile station includes means for programming the programmable encryption mode to enable message encryption.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the paging message includes an inquiry to confirm that the programmable encryption mode is enabled.

18. The network of claim 15, wherein the message encryption means includes a permanent encryption code for encrypting all communications between the mobile station and the base station.

19. The network of claim 15, wherein the over-the-air service provisioning process is in accordance with the IS-683 standard.

20. The network of claim 15, wherein the plurality of operating parameters are divided into a plurality of parameter groups and each parameter group of the plurality has a corresponding parameter change code.

21. The network of claim 15, wherein the parameter change code is an Authentication key for changing a Shared Secret Data set of the mobile station.

22. The network of claim 15, wherein the paging message includes a channel assignment message from the base station to the mobile phone wherein the channel assignment message has an encryption mode turned on and a response message from the mobile phone to the base station verifying that the encryption mode is turned on.

23. The network of claim 15, wherein the means for programming includes a data field having a plurality of service option numbers including one service option number corresponding to a parameter service option for over-the-air parameter changes and setting the value of the one service option number to "1".

24. The network of claim 15, wherein the parameter change code portion has a pre-set value.

25. The network of claim 24, wherein the pre-set value of the parameter change code portion may be changed to a different value only by intervention of a user of the mobile station.

26. A method for administering a wireless communications network comprising a base station and a plurality of mobile phones, each mobile phone having an identity and a plurality of operating parameters stored in a non-volatile memory, at least a portion of the operating parameters which require updating, wherein a user of the mobile phone is not required to initiate a procedure for updating the operating parameters, the method comprising:

programming the mobile phone with a parameter change service option and at least one parameter change code for permitting over-the-air changing of operating parameters;

when an update to the operating parameters is required, transmitting a General Page Message from a base station to the mobile phone in an Idle Mode, the General Page Message including a request to verify the identity of the mobile phone and a first data field for the parameter change service option;

receiving a Page Response Message from the mobile phone to the base station including the identity of the mobile phone and the first data field for the parameter change service option;

transmitting a Channel Assignment Message from the base station to the mobile phone, the Channel Assignment Message including a second data field for message encryption and instructing the mobile phone to set up a traffic channel;

receiving a response from the mobile phone including the second data field to verify message encryption;

terminating the transmission from the base station if message encryption is not verified;

transmitting a Data Burst Message from the base station to the mobile phone instructing the mobile phone to enter an over-the-air service provisioning process;

transmitting a Protocol Capability Request Message from the base station to the mobile phone, the Protocol Capability Request Message including a third data field for feature capability of the mobile phone;

receiving a Protocol Capability Response Message from the mobile phone indicating the third data field;

transmitting the at least one parameter change code from the base station to the mobile phone;

transmitting from the mobile phone to the base station a response verifying the at least one parameter change code;

downloading updated operating parameters corresponding to the at least one parameter change code from the base station to the mobile phone; and

transmitting a Data Commit Message from the base station to the mobile phone for storing the updated operating parameters in the non-volatile memory and for releasing the call.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one parameter change code has a pre-set value.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pre-set value of the at least one parameter change code may be changed to a different value only by intervention of a user of the mobile phone.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of downloading updated operating parameters includes downloading the updated operating parameters using the over-the-air service provisioning process according to the IS-683 standard.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one parameter change code is an A-key for changing a set of Shared Secret Data for the mobile phone.