System and method for activation of a wireless module

• US 7,020,118 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Toyoshima, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US09/972,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/310.1, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 455555-557, 455/435
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A wireless module system and method for activation is provided which includes, in one embodiment a wireless module including a complete electronic serial number and a preliminary internet protocol address. A wireless module account is established with an activation center through a user activation web site. A permanent internet protocol address is created in establishing the wireless module account. The wireless module may be connected to any appropriate peripheral device and may allow for wireless communication of the peripheral devices with any other devices, people, and databases via wireless communication including through an internet or an intranet. In one embodiment, a wireless module activation server includes the user activation web site which is in electronic data communication with at least one wireless module account. The wireless module is removably connected to the peripheral device and provides the peripheral device with portability and accessability.

Claims

1. A method for activation of a wireless module, said method comprising:

providing the wireless module with initialization data including an electronic serial number (ESN) and a preliminary IP address;

establishing a wireless module account with an activation center;

transmitting the initialization data from the wireless module to the activation center;

in response to receiving the initialization data from the wireless module, transmitting operational data to the wireless module from said activation center, the operational data being different from the initialization data and including a permanent IP address; and

storing said operational data.

2. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting said initialization data comprises:

connecting the wireless module to a peripheral device; and

establishing an electronic data connection between the wireless module and said activation center.

3. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein establishing a wireless module account comprises:

supplying a user'"'"'s personal information to said activation center; and

storing said user'"'"'s personal information and said initialization data to said wireless module account.

4. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 1, wherein storing said operational data comprises storing a permanent internet protocol address.

5. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 4, wherein storing a permanent internet protocol address comprises storing said permanent internet protocol address in the wireless module.

6. A method for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 4, wherein storing a permanent internet protocol address comprises storing said permanent internet protocol address in a peripheral unit.

7. A method for activation of a wireless module comprising:

providing the wireless module with initialization data, wherein said initialization data comprises a preliminary internet protocol address and an electronic serial number, the wireless module configured to store said preliminary internet protocol address and said electronic serial number;

establishing a wireless module account with an activation center;

transmitting operational data including a permanent IP address to the wireless module from said activation center once said wireless module account is established; and

providing said permanent internet protocol address for use by the wireless module until the wireless module is reset or deactivated.

8. A system for activation of a wireless module, said system comprising:

a peripheral unit electrically connected to the wireless module, the wireless module configured to transmit initialization data and receive operational data; and

a user activation web site in electronic data communication with the wireless module and said peripheral unit, said user activation web site configured to receive said initialization data and transmit said operational data, the initialization data including an electronic serial number and a preliminary address, the operational data including a permanent address different from the preliminary address, wherein said initialization data comprises a preliminary internet protocol address and an electronic serial number, the wireless module configured to store said preliminary internet protocol address and said electronic serial number.

9. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 8, further comprising a base station in electronic data communication with the wireless module and said user activation web site, said base station configured to receive and transmit said initialization data and said operational data.

10. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 8, wherein said operational data comprises a permanent internet protocol address, said peripheral unit configured to store said permanent internet protocol address.

11. A system for activation of a wireless module as recited in claim 8, wherein said operational data comprises a permanent internet protocol address, the wireless module configured to store said permanent internet protocol address.