Method for checking the compatibility of a mobile station and a functional unit; a mobile station and a functional unit

• US 6,164,547 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Suhonen, Timo, Raisio, Jukka, Vapaakoski, Simo
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US08/991,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 235/474, 235/476, 235/382, 455/406, 455/411, 379/58, 379/59, 379/62
• US Class Current: 235/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method for checking the compatibility of a mobile station (201) and a functional unit (207); a mobile station (201) and a functional unit (207). A reference code (104, 105) is calculated in the mobile station (201) and the functional unit (207) by using algorithms which use initial numbers given by the mobile station (201), and the results are compared in the mobile station (108, 201). On the basis of the comparison it is concluded, whether the functional unit (207) is compatible with the mobile station (201), and whether it is to be activated (110, 112). In order to carry out the check measures, a check message including preferably name of the mobile station manufacturer/agent (302), IMEI code (303), product code (304), version data (305, 306), and random number (307), is transmitted to the functional unit (207). Then a response message including preferably name of the functional unit manufacturer/agent (402), serial number (403), text message indicated by the functional unit (404), version data (405, 406), and reference code (407), is transmitted from the functional unit (207) to the mobile station (201).

Claims

1. A method for checking compatibility between a mobile station and a functional unit connected to the mobile station, comprising the steps of:

generating, in the mobile station, a check message which comprises a code unique to the mobile station;

transmitting the check message from the mobile station to the functional unit;

calculating a first reference code in the mobile station based on said unique code for the mobile station and a predetermined algorithm;

calculating a second reference code in the functional unit based on said unique code for the mobile station in the check message and said predetermined algorithm;

generating a response message comprising the second reference code in the functional unit;

transmitting the response message to the mobile station;

retrieving the second reference code from the response message in the mobile station;

comparing, in the mobile station, the first and second reference codes; and

determining compatibility between the mobile station and the functional unit based on the comparison of the reference codes.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the check message of the mobile station further comprises a random number.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unique code of the mobile station comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier code.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, based on the compatibility determined, the mobile station is set to a state of standby required by the functional unit for the use of the functional unit with the mobile station.

5. A mobile station having an associated functional unit and means for connecting said functional unit thereto, and having a unique code distinguishing the mobile station from other mobile stations, said mobile station comprising:

means for generating a first reference code based on the mobile station unique code and a predetermined algorithm, and for generating a check message which comprises the mobile station unique code for the functional unit;

data transmission means for transmitting the check message to the functional unit;

means for receiving from the functional unit a response message comprising a second reference code indicative of compatibility of said mobile station and said functional unit;

means for reading the second reference code from the response message; and

means for comparing, in the mobile station, the first and second reference codes for determining compatibility between said mobile station and said functional unit.

6. A mobile station according to claim 5, further comprising means for setting the mobile station to a state of standby in response to determining compatibility for the use of the functional unit with the mobile unit.

7. A mobile station according to claim 5, wherein the check message of the mobile station further comprises a random number.

8. A mobile station according to claim 5, wherein the unique code of the mobile station comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier code.

9. A functional unit which is associated with and having means for connecting to a mobile station, comprising:

means for receiving a check message from the mobile station including a unique code distinguishing the mobile station from other mobile stations;

means for generating a reference code indicative of compatibility of said functional unit and said mobile station based on the unique code in the check message;

means for generating a response message based on said reference code; and

means for transmitting the response message to the mobile station for determining, in the mobile station, compatibility between the functional unit and the mobile station based on said reference code.

10. A functional unit according to claim 9, wherein the check message of the mobile station further comprises a random number.

11. A functional unit according to claim 9, wherein the unique code of the mobile station comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier code.

12. A system comprising a mobile station having a code unique thereto and an associated functional unit and means for connecting said mobile station to said functional unit, wherein said mobile station comprises:

means for generating a first reference code and a check message;

means for transmitting said check message to said functional unit;

means for receiving a second reference code from said functional unit; and

means for comparing, in the mobile station, the first and second reference codes to determine compatibility between the functional unit and the mobile station; and

wherein the functional unit comprises;

means for receiving the check message from the mobile station;

means for generating said second reference code based on the check message;

means for generating a response message based on said second reference code; and

means for transmitting the response message to the mobile station for the determination of compatibility between the functional unit and the mobile station.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the check message comprises a random number and a unique code of the mobile station.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the unique code of the mobile station comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier code.

15. A system according to claim 12, further comprising means for setting the mobile station to a state of standby in response to determining compatibility for the use of the functional unit with the mobile unit.