Wireless management system and a method for an automated over-the-air managing process for wireless communication device

• US 6,636,489 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Wireless Data LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fingerhut, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US08/963,446
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/410, 455/426, 455/419, 455/31.3, 455/418, 455/420, 455/425, 370/462, 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

In a wireless communication system including a base station, a network and a control unit, a generic network address is initially stored in a communication device, the communication device being activated onto the network utilizing the generic network address. If service is to be provided to the communication device, a control unit of the network provides a unique network address for storage in the communication device for use in subsequent communication between the communication device and the network.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a network including a base station and

a gateway;

wherein the base station forwards an activation request message from a communication device to the gateway via the network, the communication device generating the activation request message for providing a generic network address, the generic network address including a common network address that is the same as another generic network address of at least another communication device, and if service to the communication device is to be provided by the network, the gateway responds to the activation request message and provides an activation response message to the communication device via the network, the activation response message including a unique network address to be stored in the communication device.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the activation request message is encrypted using a first encryption system.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the activation request message is transmitted to the network when an activation process is initiated without a request by the network.

9. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the activation response message is encrypted using a third encryption system.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a tracking device.

21. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the generic network address eliminates the need for allocating the unique network address when the communication device is manufactured.

22. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the generic network address of the communication device is different than a serial number of the communication device.

23. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the generic network address of the communication device is:

a common network address, the common network address being the same as another generic network address of at least another communication device;

used to eliminate the need for allocating the unique network address when the communication device is manufactured; and

different than a serial number of the communication device.

2. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a network including a base station and

a gateway;

wherein the base station forwards a first request message from a communication device to the gateway via the network, the communication device generating the first request message for providing one of a generic network address and a unique network address, and if service to the communication device is to be provided or changed by the network, the gateway responds to the first request message and provides a first response message to the communication device via the network, and

wherein if the first request message includes the generic network address, then the first response message includes the unique network address to be stored in the communication device, and if the first request message includes the unique network address, then the first response message includes the generic network address to be stored in the communication device.

3. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a radio modem including a scanning circuit;

a control circuit coupled to the radio modem;

an input device coupled to the control circuit;

an output device coupled to the control circuit; and

a memory storage unit coupled to the control circuit, the memory storage unit being preprogrammed with a generic network address;

wherein the generic network address comprises a common network address, the common network address being the same as another generic network address of at least another wireless communication device used to eliminate the need for allocating the unique network address when the wireless communication device is manufactured and different than a serial number of the wireless communication device.

14. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device includes one of a beeper, a wireless phone, a wireless modem and a computer.

15. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device is a tracking device, the tracking device including a position location system.

16. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device is a tracking device, the tracking device including a GPS system.

17. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device is contained in a vehicle.

18. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device is contained in a mobile unit.

24. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the control circuit uses the generic network address to form an activation request message for providing the generic network address to a gateway connected to a network.

25. The wireless communication device according to claim 24, wherein the generic network address eliminates the need for allocating the unique network address when the wireless communication device is manufactured.

26. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the generic network address of the wireless communication device is different than a serial number of the communication device.

4. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a network including a base station and

a gateway;

wherein the base station forwards an activation request message from a communication device to the gateway via the network, the communication device generating the activation request message for providing a generic network address, and if service to the communication device is to be provided by the network, the gateway responds to the activation request message and provides an activation response message to the communication device via the network, the activation response message including a unique network address to be stored in the communication device, and

wherein the activation request message includes a manufacturer serial number of the communication device, the generic network address of the communication device, customer information, a node number and a base station number.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the customer information is encrypted using a second encryption system.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the activation response message includes the manufacturer serial number of the communication device, the generic network address of the communication device, the node number, the base station number and the unique network address.

10. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a network including a base station and

a gateway;

wherein the base station forwards an activation request message from a communication device to the gateway via the network, the communication device generating the activation request message for providing a generic network address, and if service to the communication device is to be provided by the network, the gateway responds to the activation request message and provides an activation response message to the communication device via the network, the activation response message including a unique network address to be stored in the communication device, and

wherein the base station adds a base station number and a node number of the activation request message.

11. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a network including a base station and

a gateway;

wherein the base station forwards an activation request message from a communication device to the gateway via the network, the communication device generating the activation request message for providing a generic network address, and if service to the communication device is to be provided by the network, the gateway responds to the activation request message and provides an activation response message to the communication device via the network, the activation response message including a unique network address to be stored in the communication device, and

wherein a manufacturer serial number, a base station number and a node number in the activation request message are copied to the activation response message.

12. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a network including a base station and

a gateway;

wherein the base station forwards an activation request message from a communication device to the gateway via the network, the communication device generating the activation request message for providing a generic network address, and if service to the communication device is to be provided by the network, the gateway responds to the activation request message and provides an activation response message to the communication device via the network, the activation response message including a unique network address to be stored in the communication device, and

wherein the activation response message is transmitted to the communication device as a function of a base station number and a node number.

19. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a radio modem including a scanning circuit;

a control circuit coupled to the radio modem;

an input device coupled to the control circuit;

an output device coupled to the control circuit; and

being a memory storage unit coupled to the control circuit, the memory storage unit being preprogrammed with a generic network address,

wherein the communication device provides, as a first unsolicited step of an activation procedure, an activation request message to a gateway via a network, the activation request message including a manufacturing serial number of the communication device, the generic network address, and customer information, and

wherein, if a service to the communication device is to be provided by the network, the gateway responds to the activation request message and provides an activation response message to the communication device via the network, the activation response message including a unique network address to be store din the memory storage unit.

20. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request message by a gateway from a communication device via a network, the communication device generating the first request message which includes one of a generic network address and a unique network address;

if a service to the communication device is to be provided or changed by the network, responding to the first request message by providing a first response message from the gateway to the communication device via the network;

if the first request message includes the generic network address, inserting the unique network address to be stored in the communication device into the first response message; and

if the first request message includes the unique network address, inserting the generic network address to be stored in the communication device into the first response message.