Memory device for a cellular telephone

• US 7,460,854 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffith, Gregory Clyde, Guidotti, Richard Allen, Norman, Daniel P., Saitta, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US10/977,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20050090286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 455/461, 455/410
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

An apparatus for activating a cellular telephone within a cellular telecommunications network. A PCMCIA card interacts with a controller to display required programming information and questions. A user of the cellular telephone inputs responses to questions on a display. The user responses are transmitted to a system administrator at a customer activation center via a mobile telephone switching office in the cellular telecommunications network. The system administrator provides any necessary information for activating the cellular telephone. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a personal computer is connected to cellular telephone and the PCMCIA card is connected to the personal computer. Information for the user may be shown on either the display of the cellular telephone or on a display of the personal computer. The user may input information and responses to questions via a user input device provided as part of the display or as part of the personal computer. User input is provided to the cellular telephone to activate and program the cellular telephone for operation on the cellular telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A memory device for use with a cellular telephone, the cellular telephone having a transmitter and a receiver designed for communicating with a customer activation center (CAC) over a cellular network, the memory device storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a dummy mobile identification number (MIN);

a program for causing the cellular telephone to use the dummy MIN to gain access to the cellular network and to communicate with the CAC and to use the transmitter to send the dummy MIN to the CAC; and

a program for causing the cellular telephone to use the receiver to receive a permanent MIN from the CAC over the cellular network.

2. The memory device of claim 1 further storing preprogrammed information comprising a program for causing the cellular telephone to store the permanent MIN in the cellular telephone.

3. The memory device of claim 1 wherein the memory device comprises a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card.

4. A memory device for use with a communication device, the communication device having a transmitter and a receiver designed for communicating with a customer activation center (CAC) over a network, the memory storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a dummy mobile identification number (MIN); and

a program causing prompts to be displayed to a user of the communication device.

5. The memory device of claim 4 further storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a program for causing the communication device to use the dummy MIN to gain access to the network and to use the transmitter to send the dummy MIN to the CAC; and

a program or causing the communication device to use the receiver to receive a permanent MIN from the CAC over the network.

6. The memory device of claim 4 further storing preprogrammed information comprising a program for causing the communication device to store the permanent MIN in the communication device.

7. The memory device of claim 4 wherein the memory device is a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card.

8. A memory device for use with a cellular telephone, the cellular telephone having a transmitter and a receiver designed for communicating with a customer activation center (CAC) over a cellular network, the memory device storing preprogrammed information comprising:

a dummy mobile identification number (MIN);

a program for causing the cellular telephone to use the dummy MIN and the receiver to gain access to the cellular network and to receive a communication from the CAC; and

a program for causing the cellular telephone to use the receiver to receive a permanent MIN from the CAC over the cellular network.

9. The memory device of claim 8 further storing preprogrammed information comprising a program for causing the cellular telephone to store the permanent MIN in the cellular telephone.

10. The memory device of claim 8 wherein the memory device comprises a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card.