Secure interlink receiver for remote programming of wireless telephones

• US 6,424,827 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Inventors: McGregor, Travis Melchin, McGregor, Donald Scott, Watler, Theodore W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/695,617
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/410, 455/411, 455/418, 455/419, 455/550, 455/557, 455/558, 455/559, 455/564, 455/566, 380/247, 380/248, 380/271
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

An interlink receiver system and receiver unit for remote encoding wireless phone units including a host computer that communicates with the interlink receiver unit over telephone lines or airways to encode wireless phone units with the key code for authentication of the phone unit and encryption of communications from the phone unit during use, the interlink receiver unit connecting to the host computer for data exchange and controlling the encoding of a connected phone unit.

Claims

1. An interlink receiver system for encoding wireless phone units with security codes comprising:

a host computer;

an interlink receiver unit remote from the host computer having a communication system secure from a user of the interlink receiver system that communicates with the host computer, wherein the host computer has a communication system that is adapted to communicate with the interlink receiver unit, and a computer program for effecting the exchange of data between the host computer and the interlink receiver unit wherein the interlink receiver unit has a secure memory with stored security code data including an authentication code identifying the interlink receiver unit;

a communication pathway between the interlink receiver unit to a wireless phone unit to be encoded; and

,

authentication means in the interlink receiver unit that authenticates the interlink receiver unit using the stored authentication code of the interlink receiver unit before encoding the connected wireless phone unit, and, cooperative authentication means in the host computer secure from a user of the interlink receiver unit for authenticating the interlink receiver unit and authorizing exchange of data between the host computer and the interlink receiver unit, and a wireless phone unit in communication with the interlink receiver unit.

2. The interlink receiver system of claim 1 wherein the host computer has data in the form of security codes and program means for transferring data in the form of at least one security code to the wireless phone unit when the interlink receiver unit is in communication with the host computer and the wireless phone unit is in communication with the interlink receiver unit.

3. An interlink receiver unit for activating security codes in wireless phone units under control of a remote host computer wherein the wireless phone units have internal encryption circuitry, the interlink receiver unit comprising:

a housing having data entry means and data display means;

internal electronic control circuitry means contained within the housing and secure from a user of the interlink receiver unit for controlling the operation of the interlink receiver unit;

a protected memory chip in the internal electronic control circuitry means with stored security code data secure from a user of the interlink receiver unit wherein the stored security code data includes data to identify and authenticate the interlink receiver unit;

communication means operable by the control circuitry for exchanging data between the interlink receiver unit and the host computer;

communication means operable by the control circuitry for exchanging data between the interlink receiver unit and a wireless phone unit in communication with the interlink receiver unit after authentication of the interlink receiver unit by the host computer; and

,

data transfer means for transferring activation commands to the wireless phone unit in communication with the interlink receiver unit on command by the host computer wherein an A-key is internally generated in the wireless phone unit.