Apparatus, and associated method, for providing an operation parameter to a mobile station of a radio communication station

• US 7,809,364 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Mittal, Gaurav
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US09/918,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20030022662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,354 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/422.1, 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/517, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for downloading an operational parameter to a mobile station. The operational parameter is stored at a server operated by an operator of a communication system in which the mobile station is operable. When the parameter is to be downloaded to the mobile station, the server instructs a SMS, or other data message, service center to generate a data message to be delivered to the mobile station, instructing the mobile station to initiate a data call connection with the server. When a data call connection is formed, the operational parameter is downloaded to the mobile station, thereafter to be used by the mobile station in subsequent communication operations in the communication system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a network-positioned download parameter initiation signal generator configured to generate an initiation signal that initiates a request for downloading of a first mobile-station operational parameter to a mobile station in a radio communication system having a network part; and

a network-positioned data call connector operable responsive to acceptance of the request initiated by the initiation signal generated by said network-positioned download parameter initiation signal generator, said network-positioned data call connector configured to establish a direct data call connection directly with the mobile station, the direct data call connection, once formed, for downloading the at least the first mobile-station operational parameter, the first mobile-station operational parameter being repeatedly used pursuant to subsequent communications,

wherein the apparatus is further configured to receive device information regarding the mobile station via the direct data call connection and to determine the operations that are to be performed based on the device information prior to downloading the first mobile-station operational parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a download-parameter request signal generator to which the initiation signal is delivered, said download-parameter request generator for generating a data-message request that forms the request for downloading.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio communication system provides for SMS (Short Message Service) message communication, wherein the network part includes a data message service center comprising an SMS service center, and wherein said download-parameter request signal generator is positioned at the SMS service center.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the data-message request generated by said download-parameter request signal generator comprises an SMS message for communication to the mobile station.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus, further comprising:

a data message request detector embodied at the mobile station and adapted to receive indications of the data message request generated by said download-parameter request signal generator, said data message request detector for detecting the data message request requesting the initiating of the downloading.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an operational parameter value provider coupled to said data call connector, said operational parameter value provider for providing the value of the at least the first operational parameter to the mobile station subsequent to completion of the data call between the network node and the mobile station.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said data call initiator further comprises a data call status reporter operable at least responsive to successful downloading of the value of the at least the first mobile-station operational parameter provided to the mobile station by said operational parameter value provider to report the successful downloading of the first mobile-station operational parameter to the mobile station.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said data call status reporter further determines whether the downloading of the first mobile station operational parameter to the mobile station is successful.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said data call connector further terminates the data call connection subsequent to the report made by said data call status reporter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said data call connector further authenticates the mobile station prior to completion of the data call between the node-device and the mobile station.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile station, a request from a network part for downloading of a first mobile-station operational parameter;

establishing a direct data call connection directly between the mobile station and the network part;

downloading at least the first mobile-station operational parameter via the direct call connection at the mobile station, the first mobile-station operational parameter being repeatedly used by the mobile station pursuant to subsequent communications; and

providing device information regarding the mobile station to the network part via the direct call connection to enable the network part to determine the operations that are to be performed based on the device information prior to providing the first mobile-station operational parameter.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the operation of generating a data-message request that forms the request for downloading, the data-message request generated responsive to the initiation signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the radio communication system provides for SMS (Short Message Service) message communication;

wherein the network part comprises a data message service center formed of an SMS service center, and wherein the data-message request generated during said operation of generating the data-message request comprises an SMS message.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the operation of:

detecting the data-message request, once received at a mobile station.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the operation of determining whether the downloading of the first mobile-station operational parameter to the mobile station is successful.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the operation of terminating the data call connection subsequent to determination made during said operation of determining of successful downloading of the first mobile-station operational parameter to the mobile station.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a network part in a radio communication system, the network part comprising;

a download parameter initiation signal generator for generating an initiation signal that initiates a request for downloading of a first mobile-station operational parameter to a mobile terminal; and

a data call connector responsive to acceptance of the request initiated by the initiation signal generated by said download parameter initiation signal generator, said data call connector for establishing a direct data call connection independent of an input from a user of the mobile-station in order to download the at least the first mobile-station operational parameter to the mobile-station for repeated use by the mobile-station during subsequent communications,

wherein the network part is further configured to receive device information regarding the mobile terminal via the direct data call connection and to determine the operations that are to be performed based on the device information prior to downloading the first mobile-station operational parameter; and

a network node comprising a download-parameter request signal generator for receiving the initiation signal, said download-parameter request signal generator for transmitting a data-message request to the mobile-station to notify the mobile-station that at least the first mobile-station operational parameter is available upon request for downloading.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said download-parameter request signal generator is configured to transmit the data-message request as a Short Message Service (SMS) message to the mobile-station.

19. A method comprising:

transmitting an initiation signal from a network part to a network node to direct the network node to send a message to a mobile station to initiate a request for downloading of a first mobile-station operational parameter to the mobile-station, the request notifying the mobile-station that at least the first mobile-station operational parameter is available upon request for downloading;

establishing a direct data call connection directly between the network part and the mobile-station in response to the request for downloading;

downloading at least the first mobile-station operational parameter for repeated use by the mobile-station during subsequent communications, and

receiving device information regarding the mobile station via the direct data call connection and determining the operations that are to be performed based on the device information prior to downloading the first mobile-station operational parameter.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein transmitting the data-message request comprises transmitting the data-message request or a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a data message request detector at a mobile station configured to receive a request from a network part for downloading of a mobile-station operational parameter; and

a data call initiator configured to establish a direct data call connection directly between the mobile station and the network part and download at least the mobile-station operational parameter via the direct call connection, the mobile-station operational parameter being repeatedly used by the mobile station pursuant to subsequent communications,

wherein the apparatus is further configured to communicate device information regarding the mobile station to the network part via the direct call connection to enable the network part to determine the operations that are to be performed based on the device information prior to providing the mobile-station operational parameter.