Method and apparatus for network initiated parameter updating

• US 6,195,546 B1
• Filed: 03/13/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Wambsganz, Kevin, Leung, Yau-Fan, Denman, Robert E., Chang, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/039,010
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/420, 455/411, 455/418, 455/415, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/551, 455/552, 455/560, 455/561, 455/433, 455/435, 455/422, 455/436, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/410, 340/825.34, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for initiating an over the air parameter administration (OTAPA) of a mobile station without the need for interacting with a mobile station user. A unique service option number included with the initial page indicates to the mobile station that an update is being requested. The mobile station performs a network validation check (SPASM) before permitting the update to take place. Flags are used in the network to alert the system that an attempted update was not completed because a mobile station was not update accessible for any of several reasons. The flags cause the system to update when the mobile station next becomes update accessible.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a wireless communications network that an attempt to update operational parameters in a mobile station has failed comprising the steps of:

setting a network based over-the-air parameter administration pending flag;

storing a network based over-the-air functional address for reinitiating the update process; and

the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag is set in conjunction with home location register data when the location of a mobile station is not available.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag is set in conjunction with MSC based data when an attempted update of a mobile station is not completed.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of:

transferring the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag from a mobile switching center (MSC) to a home location register (HLR) when it is not possible to update a mobile station due to mobile station inactivity or due to the inability of an MSC to update the mobile station.

4. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of:

transferring the flag indication to an HLR when a mobile station update is not completed within predetermined parameters.

5. Apparatus for alerting a wireless communications network that an attempt to update operational parameters in a mobile station has failed comprising:

means for setting a network based over-the-air parameter administration pending flag;

means for storing a network based over-the-air functionality address for reinitiating the update process; and

means for setting the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag in conjunction with home location register data when the location of a mobile station is not available.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising in addition:

means for setting the over the air parameter administration pending flag in conjunction with MSC based data when an attempted update of an mobile station is not completed.

7. A method of validating a wireless communication network communicating with a mobile station comprising the steps of:

generating a first secret word, within a mobile station, comprising a predetermined combination of a first word stored internal to the mobile station and a second word generated internal to said mobile station;

generating a second secret word, derived from data stored at the home location network, comprising a predetermined combination of said second word obtained from said mobile station and a copy of said first word as obtained from a home location network register;

supplying said second secret word to said mobile station; and

comparing said first and second secret words within said mobile station to validate the communicating network.

8. Apparatus for validating a wireless communication network communicating with a mobile station comprising:

means for generating a first secret word, within a mobile station, comprising a predetermined combination of a first word stored internal to the mobile station and a second word generated internal to said mobile station;

means for generating a second secret word, at the home location network, comprising a predetermined combination of said second word received from said mobile station and a copy of said first word as obtained from a home location network register;

means for supplying said second secret word to said mobile station; and

means for comparing said first and second secret words within said mobile station to validate the communicating network.