Method for storing and informing properties of a wireless communication device

• US 7,200,384 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tervo, Vesa, Makela, Satu
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/560,380
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/410, 455/435, 455/422, 455/439, 455/560, 455/432, 455/561, 455/432.2, 455/517, 455/462, 455/411, 455/412.2, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/422.1, 455/435.1, 455/446, 455/507, 455/511, 455/432.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for storing and informing at least one property of a wireless communication device (MS1–MS4) to a mobile communication network (PLMN). Parameter data of said at least one property of said wireless communication device (MS1–MS4) is stored in said wireless communication device (MS1–MS4), and transmitted from said wireless communication device (MS1–MS4) to the mobile communication network (PLMN).

Claims

1. A method for storing and informing at least one property of a wireless communication device to a mobile communication network, the method comprising:

defining an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity for the wireless communication device, the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprising a non-modifiable part and a modifiable part and being arranged to store both information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network and information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device;

storing at least part of said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device in said modifiable part of the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity; and

storing the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity in a memory of the wireless communication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network in connection with registration of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network prior to a call being set-up with the wireless communication device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device is checked in the mobile communication network during call set-up with the wireless communication device to determine if the wireless communication device is able to receive and handle the call.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network in connection with a handover.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to a mobile services switching center of the mobile communication network, or a serving GPRS support node.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprises at least one field for storing the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, and the length of said field is fixed.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprises at least one field for storing the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, and the length of said field is variable.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising storing the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity in the memory of the wireless communication device in connection with manufacturing of the wireless communication device.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising updating the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity in connection with a change in the properties of the wireless communication device or when a peripheral device is connected to the wireless communication device.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network and storing it in a mobile services switching center of the mobile communication network.

12. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising establishing a call for transmitting information from another communication device to said wireless communication device, wherein the information to be transmitted from said other communication device is optimized for use by the wireless communication device in the mobile communication network by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the information to be transmitted is converted in the mobile communication network into a format suitable for the wireless communication device.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising performing communication between the mobile communication network and another communication device, wherein information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device is transmitted to said other communication device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising establishing a call for transmitting information from said other communication device to the wireless communication device, wherein said other communication device optimizes the information to be transmitted to correspond with the properties of the wireless communication device by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted to said other communication device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the information to be transmitted is converted in said other communication device into a format suitable for the wireless communication device.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said other communication device is located in a communication network other than the mobile communication network.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising performing communication between the mobile communication network and another communication network, wherein information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device is transmitted to said other communication network.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising establishing a call for transmitting information to the wireless communication device from a communication device in said other communication network, wherein the information to be transmitted from said communication device in the other communication network is optimized for use by the wireless communication device by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted to said other communication network.

21. The method according to claim 12, further comprising establishing a call for transmitting information from another communication device to said wireless communication device, wherein the mobile communication network optimizes a communication connection for the call by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile phone.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device has the combined properties of a cellular mobile telephone and a personal digital assistant.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a radio card.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device contains information about at least one hardware property of the wireless communication device.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device contains information about at least one software property of the wireless communication device.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device contains information about at least one preference of a user of the wireless communication device.

28. The method according to claim 1, wherein modification of the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device by a user of the wireless communication device is prevented.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is further arranged to store information about peripheral devices connected to the wireless communication device.

30. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is in the form of number series.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is modifiable by one of a group comprising:

a manufacturer of the wireless communication device, a service person, a sales person, or a user of the wireless communication device.

32. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

defining an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity for the wireless communication device, the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprising a non-modifiable part and a modifiable part and being arranged to store both information for identifying the wireless communication device to a mobile communication network and information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device;

storing at least part of said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device in said modifiable part of the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity; and

storing the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity in a memory of the wireless communication device.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is in the form of number series.

34. A wireless communication device comprising:

a memory;

a radio part comprising a transmitter for transmitting information to a mobile communication network and a receiver for receiving information from the mobile communication network;

wherein the wireless communication device further comprises an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity defined for the wireless communication device and stored in the memory of the wireless communication device, the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprising a non-modifiable part and a modifiable part and being arranged to store both information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network and information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, at least part of said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device being stored in said modifiable part of the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity.

35. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, further arranged to transmit said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network in connection with registration of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

36. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, further arranged to transmit said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network prior to a call being set-up with the wireless communication device.

37. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, further arranged to transmit said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network in connection with a handover.

38. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprises at least one field for storing the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, the length of said field being fixed.

39. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprises at least one field for storing the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, said field being of a variable length.

40. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is stored in the memory of the wireless communication device in connection with manufacturing of the wireless communication device.

41. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is updated in connection with a change in the properties of the wireless communication device or when a peripheral device is connected to the wireless communication device.

42. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the device comprises a mobile phone.

43. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the device has the combined properties of a cellular mobile telephone and a personal digital assistant.

44. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the device comprises a radio card.

45. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, further arranged to convert information to be transmitted from the wireless communication device to another wireless communication device into a format suitable for the other wireless communication device, based on information relating to at least one property of the other wireless communication device received from the other wireless communication device.

46. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is further arranged to store information about peripheral devices connected to the wireless communication device.

47. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity contains information about at least one hardware property of the wireless communication device.

48. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity contains information about at least one software property of the wireless communication device.

49. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity contains information about at least one preference of a user of the wireless communication device.

50. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein modification of the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device by a user of the wireless communication device is prevented.

51. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, further arranged to optimize information to be transmitted from said wireless communication device to another wireless communication device to correspond with the properties of the other wireless communication device by using information relating to at least one property of the other wireless communication device received from the other wireless communication device.

52. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is in the form of number series.

53. The wireless communication device according to claim 34, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is modifiable by one of a group comprising:

a manufacturer of the wireless communication device, a service person, a sales person, or a user of the wireless communication device.

54. A wireless communication system comprising:

a mobile communication network;

a wireless communication device;

the wireless communication device comprising;

a memory;

a radio part comprising a transmitter for transmitting information to the mobile communication network and a receiver for receiving information from the mobile communication network;

wherein the wireless communication device further comprises an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity defined for the wireless communication device and stored in the memory of the wireless communication device, the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprising a non-modifiable part and a modifiable part and being arranged to store both information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network and information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, at least part of said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device being stored in said modifiable part of the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity.

55. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to transmit said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network in connection with registration of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

56. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to transmit said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network prior to a call being set-up with the mobile communication network.

57. The wireless communication system according to claim 56, wherein the mobile communication network is arranged to check said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device during call set-up with the wireless communication device to determine if the wireless communication device is able to receive and handle the call.

58. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to transmit said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network in connection with a handover.

59. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, wherein the mobile communication network comprises means for storing information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted from said wireless communication device.

60. The wireless communication system according to claim 59, comprising a mobile services switching center, wherein information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted to the mobile communication network from the wireless communication device is stored in said mobile services switching center.

61. The wireless communication system according to claim 59, comprising a register and wherein information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted to the mobile communication network from the wireless communication device is stored in said register.

62. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, further comprising means for communication between the mobile communication network and another communication device, and wherein the mobile communication network comprises means for transmitting information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to said other communication device.

63. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, further comprising means for communication between the mobile communication network and another communication network, and wherein the mobile communication network comprises means for transmitting information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to said other communication network.

64. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, further comprising means for establishing a call for communication between the wireless communication device and another communication device, wherein the communication is optimized by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device.

65. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, further comprising means for establishing a call for transmitting and receiving information between the wireless communication device and another communication device, and wherein the information is optimized for use by the receiving communication device, by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device.

66. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, comprising means for establishing a call for transmitting information from another communication device to said wireless communication device, wherein the mobile communication network is arranged to optimize the information to be transmitted from said other communication device for use by the wireless communication device by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

67. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, comprising means for establishing a call for transmitting information from another communication device to said wireless communication device, wherein the mobile communication network is arranged to optimize a communication connection for the call by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted from the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network.

68. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, comprising means for performing communication between the mobile communication network and another communication device, wherein the mobile communication network is arranged to transmit information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device to said other communication device.

69. The wireless communication system according to claim 68, wherein said other communication device is located in a communication network other than the mobile communication network.

70. The wireless communication system according to claim 68, wherein said other communication device is arranged to convert the information to be transmitted into a format suitable for the wireless communication device.

71. The wireless communication system according to claim 68, wherein mobile communication network is arranged to convert the information to be transmitted into a format suitable for the wireless communication device.

72. The wireless communication system according to claim 68, further comprising means for establishing a call for transmitting information from said other communication device to the wireless communication device, wherein said other communication device is arranged to optimize the information to be transmitted to correspond with the properties of the wireless communication device by using the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device transmitted to said other communication device.

73. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, wherein the information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network stored the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is in the form of number series.

74. The wireless communication system according to claim 54, wherein the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is modifiable by one of a group comprising:

a manufacturer of the wireless communication device, a service person, a sales person, or a user of the wireless communication device.

75. An International Mobile Station Equipment Identity for a wireless communication device, the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprising a non-modifiable part and a modifiable part and being arranged to store both information for identifying the wireless communication device to a mobile communication network and information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, at least part of said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device being stored in said modifiable part of the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity.

76. The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity according to claim 75, wherein the information for identifying the wireless communication device to the mobile communication network stored in the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is in the form of number series.

77. The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity according to claim 75, comprising at least one field for storing the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, the length of said field being fixed.

78. The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity according to claim 75, comprising at least one field for storing the information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device, said field being of a variable length.

79. The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity according to claim 75, arranged to be modifiable by one of a group comprising:

a manufacturer of the wireless communication device, a service person, a sales person, or a user of the wireless communication device.

80. The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity according to claim 75, arranged to be modifiable in connection with updating of the software of the wireless communication device or connection of a peripheral device to the wireless communication device.

81. A method for storing information for identifying a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

defining an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity for the wireless communication device, the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity comprising a non-modifiable part and a modifiable part;

storing at least part of said information relating to at least one property of the wireless communication device in said modifiable part of the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity; and

storing the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity in a memory of the wireless communication device.