Method and system for over-the-air (OTA) service programming

• US 6,381,454 B1
• Filed: 10/10/1996
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tiedemann, Edward G. Jr., Holcman, Alejandro R., Khan, Irfan
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US08/728,467
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/419, 455/420, 455/435, 455/575, 455/403, 455/551, 455/418, 455/436, 455/432-433, 455/560, 455/550, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A communications network and method for over the air service programming a mobile station (2), where the mobile station transmits a service programming request to a communications network, which results in the mobile station (2) being connected to a customer service center (26). Customer service center (26) queries the user of mobile station (2) for information in response to which the customer service center (26) selects a home location register (18) and authentication center (22) within the communication network with which the mobile station (2) is to be associated. Service programming information associated with the mobile station (2) is transferred from the home location register (18) and/or the authentication center (22) into mobile station (2).

Claims

1. A method for over-the-air (OTA) programming of a mobile station in a visited wireless communication network, comprising:

generating a transient identifier representative of the mobile station, wherein the transient identifier is generated at a switching center within the visited wireless communication network;

transmitting the transient identifier from the switching center to a home registry through a visitor location registry;

retrieving a mobile station identifier from the switching center by the home registry;

setting up a transparent data link between the home registry and the mobile station; and

programming the mobile station from the home registry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein programming the mobile station comprises changing a service configuration of the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein programming the mobile station comprises authenticating the mobile station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the transient identifier from the switching center to the home registry comprises:

transmitting the transient identifier to an intermediate station;

forwarding the transient identifier from the intermediate station to a final destination, wherein the home registry is located at the final destination.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein generating the transient identifier at the switching center is initiated by a voice call from the mobile station to the intermediate station, wherein the intermediate station is a service center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein setting up the data link between the home registry and the mobile station comprises:

associating the voice call with the data link at the switching center; and

assigning a register to the mobile station at the home registry.

7. A method for remotely programming a mobile station visiting a serving system, comprising:

initiating contact with the serving system by the mobile station;

generating a temporary identification number for the mobile station at the serving system;

forwarding the temporary identification number from the serving system to a customer service center;

establishing the identity of the home system at the customer service center;

establishing a transparent data link between the home system and the mobile station, wherein the serving system acts as a transport medium of the transparent data link;

generating a service programming message at the home system; and

forwarding the service programming message over the transparent data link from the home system to the mobile station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the serving system comprises a base station and a mobile switching center.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the home system comprises a home location registry and an authentication center.

10. A system for remotely programming a roaming mobile station, comprising:

a mobile switching center configured to generate a transient identifier for the roaming mobile station, to decide whether to set up a transparent data link between the roaming mobile station and a home system of the roaming mobile station, and to set up the transparent data link between the roaming mobile station and the home system of the roaming mobile station; and

a home system configured to store a set of instructions for a processor located at the mobile station, and to set up the transparent data link between the roaming mobile station and the home system if the home system receives the transient identifier for the roaming mobile station.

11. A mobile station configured to receive over the air (OTA) programming instructions while traveling in a visited wireless communication system, comprising:

a processing element configured to execute a set of instructions stored upon a memory element, wherein the set of instructions are for;

changing a configuration of the mobile station if an OTA programming code message is received from a user of the mobile station;

passing an electronic serial number to a switching center; and

concurrently facilitating a voice link to a first station and a data link to a second station, wherein the first station and the second station are not stations in the visited wireless communication system.

12. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the OTA programming code message is a specific preamble entered by the user of the mobile station.

13. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein changing the configuration of the mobile stations comprises changing a user identity of the mobile station.

14. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein changing the configuration of the mobile station comprises changing the subscription of the mobile station from the visited wireless communication system to a second wireless communication system.

15. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein changing the configuration of the mobile stations comprises changing the System Identification Number (SID) of a preferred service provider.