Method and apparatus for storing activation data in a cellular telephone

• US 6,650,893 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lipsit, James Mason
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/219,872
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/186.1, 455/403, 455/411, 455/422, 455/558, 379/358, 379/355
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• 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

A method and apparatus for programming a cellular telephone with activation parameters. A cellular telephone to be programmed is connected to a computer via a communications interface. A user input device is provided to allow a user to provide programming information, including a cellular telephone type, to the computer. A visual representation of the cellular telephone type is displayed on a display monitor to allow the user to interactively verity the inputted programming information. Upon such user verification, the computer determines activation parameters and transmits the activation parameters to the cellular telephone. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the user provided programming information. In one embodiment, the user enters a cellular telephone number to be assigned to the cellular telephone. The computer looks up a system identification associated with the cellular telephone number in a memory unit. Certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the cellular telephone number and system identification.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit;

a first machine readable memory unit connected to said central processing unit containing activation parameters;

a communications interface for connecting a cellular telephone to said central processing unit;

an input device connected to said central processing unit, said input device for receiving user input identifying a select one of a plurality of manufacturing types to which the cellular telephone belongs;

a display unit connected to said central processing unit and located proximate to said input device for displaying an image of said identified cellular telephone type for allowing user verification of said user input;

said central processing unit for performing the functions of;

a) retrieving at least one activation parameter from said memory unit based upon said user input, and

b) transferring said at least one retrieved activation parameter to said cellular telephone via the communications interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein only a portion of said activation parameters required to activate the cellular telephone are stored in said memory unit, said central processing unit further performing the function of:

dynamically generating at least one activation parameter based on said user input; and

transferring said at least one dynamically generated activation parameter to said cellular telephone via said communications interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said user input further includes a cellular telephone number and wherein said transferring further comprises transferring said cellular telephone number to said cellular telephone via said communications interface.

4. A method for storing activation parameters in a memory of a cellular telephone, the method comprising:

providing user input to a processing unit, said user input identifying a select one of a plurality of manufacturing types to which the cellular telephone belongs;

displaying an image of the identified cellular telephone type on a display unit connected to said processing unit such that a user can verify said user input;

retrieving from a memory unit connected to said processing unit at least one activation parameter based upon said user input, and transferring said at least one activation parameter to said cellular telephone via said communications interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein only a portion of said activation parameters required to activate the cellular telephone are stored in said memory unit, said method further comprising:

dynamically generating at least one activation parameter based on said user input; and

transferring said at least one dynamically generated activation parameter to said cellular telephone via said communications interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said user input further includes a cellular telephone number and wherein said step of transferring further comprises:

transferring said cellular telephone number to said cellular telephone.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

reading information stored in a memory of said cellular telephone; and

display said information on said display unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said information is the electronic serial number of the cellular telephone.