System and method for automatic mobile device activation

• US 7,133,695 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG (Atos Se)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/965,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455418-420, 455/435.1, 455/551, 455/560, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A telecommunications network includes a central service center (112) for maintaining a master system database (122, 124) and propagating to switch databases preactivation information. Local switches (114) include or are operably coupled to switch databases (126, 128) and PIN collection units (130). The central service center (112) is adapted to receive a PIN and preactivation information, and then propagate this information to the local switch databases (128). The local switches (114), associated databases and PIN collection units, are adapted to detect a power on of a cellular telephone, receive and check and PIN, and activate to allow service to the telephone. The local switches (114) are further adapted to transmit the activation information to either the central master database (122, 124) (which will then transmit to other switches) or to propagate the activation information to other switch databases itself.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

a plurality of local switches including one or more databases of preactivation information and adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, access said one or more databases of preactivation information, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch responsive to information contained in said preactivation databases, and forward activation information to said central database and others of said plurality of local switches.

2. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale.

3. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches.

4. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry.

5. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;

wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

6. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;

wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.

7. A telecommunications method, comprising:

providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

providing a plurality of local switches including one or more databases of preactivation information and adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, access said one or more databases of preactivation information, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch responsive to information contained in said preactivation databases, and forward activation information to said central database and others of said plurality of local switches.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a point of sale;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.

13. A telecommunications switch in a telecommunications network, comprising:

a controller;

a database operably coupled to said controller, said database storing preactivation information; and

a password collection unit operably coupled to said controller adapted to receive a password of a detected cellular telephone;

wherein said preactivation information is propagated to said telecommunications switch from a point of sale of said cellular telephone and, responsive to a verification of said password, an activation of said cellular telephone by said controller at said telecommunications switch occurs, said database is updated with activation information and said activation information is forwarded to a central control center and other telecommunication switches in the network.

14. A telecommunications switch in accordance with claim 13, wherein said preactivation information is propagated to said telecommunications switch from said central control center.

15. A telecommunications switch in accordance with claim 14, wherein said activation information is propagated to said central control center responsive to said verification.

16. A telecommunications switch in accordance with claim 14, wherein said activation information is transmitted to said central control center responsive to said verification and said central control center propagates said activation information to other telecommunications switches in said network.

17. A telecommunications method, comprising:

associating a password with a cellular telephone;

providing said password and preactivation information from a distribution center or point of sale to a central control center;

propagating said password and preactivation information from said central control center to one or more local switches;

detecting a power on of said cellular telephone at one of said local switches;

verifying said password at said one of said local switches;

activating said cellular telephone at said local switch responsive to said verifying; and

providing activation information responsive to said activating from said local switch to said central control center and other local switches.

18. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said associating a password comprises associating said password at a point of sale of said cellular telephone.

19. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said providing activation information comprises transmitting said activation information from said local switch to said central control center.

20. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said providing activation information comprises propagating said activation information from said local switch to said other switches.

21. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution center;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

22. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution center;

wherein said central control center is adapted to propagate said preactivation information to said plurality of local switches;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.

23. A method comprising:

providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution point;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is propagated from an activating local switch to other switches.

24. A method, comprising:

providing a central control center maintaining a central database of users and a database of preactivation information; and

providing a plurality of local switches adapted to detect a power-on of a cellular telephone, activate said cellular telephone at a local switch and forward activation information to said central database;

wherein said central control center is adapted to receive said preactivation information from a distribution point;

wherein said activation information comprises a valid password entry;

wherein said activation information is transmitted from an activating local switch to said central control center and propagated from said central control center to other switches.