System and method for blocking devices from a carrier network

• US 7,917,085 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Huynh, Tran Hoang
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/937,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 455/26.1, 455/411, 455/420, 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/9, 455/515, 455/565, 455/410, 705/14, 705/51, 370/230, 370/235, 370/329, 370/338, 370/352, 370/400, 709/206, 709/207, 709/223, 709/224, 709/229, 726/13, 726/224
• US Class Current: 455/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for blocking a device from a carrier network. In an embodiment, the method comprises defining an unauthorized combination filter including one or more device parameters; attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier; comparing the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter to device parameter values stored in the device; and if the device parameter values stored in the device match the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter, then blocking the device from accessing the carrier network. The device parameter values stored in the device may include one or more of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value, and the method further comprises comparing these one or more values to corresponding device parameter values defined in the unauthorized combination filter. The unauthorized combination filter may be attached to a carrier by providing a carrier identifier.

Claims

1. A method of blocking a mobile handheld device from a carrier network, comprising:

defining an unauthorized combination filter including one or more device parameters;

attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier registration subsystem;

comparing the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter to device parameter values stored in the device; and

if the device parameter values stored in the device match the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter, then blocking the device from accessing the carrier network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device parameter values stored in the device include one or more of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value, and the method further comprises comparing these one or more values to corresponding device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is blocked from accessing the carrier network if a combination of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value is matched.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending an error message to the device upon blocking to explain the reason for the block.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving and storing the ESN or PIN for each blocked device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier comprises providing a carrier identifier and attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier'"'"'s registration subsystem.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detaching the unauthorized combination filter from the carrier registration subsystem; and

permitting any previously blocked devices to access the carrier network.

8. A system for blocking a mobile handheld device from a carrier network, comprising:

processing means adapted to define an unauthorized combination filter including one or more device parameters;

processing means adapted to attach the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier registration subsystem;

processing means adapted to compare the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter to device parameter values stored in the device; and

processing means adapted to compare the device parameter values in the device with one or more device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter, and to block the device from accessing the carrier network if the device parameter values match.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device parameter values stored in the device include one or more of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value, and the system further comprises processing means adapted to compare these one or more values to corresponding device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the device is blocked from accessing the carrier network if a combination of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value is matched.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising processing means adapted to send an error message to the device upon blocking to explain the reason for the block.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising processing means adapted to retrieve and storing the ESN or PIN for each blocked device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing means for attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier comprises processing means adapted to provide a carrier identifier and to attach the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier'"'"'s registration subsystem.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

processing means adapted to detach the unauthorized combination filter from the carrier registration subsystem; and

processing means adapted to permit any previously blocked devices to access the carrier network.

15. A data processor readable medium storing data processor code that when loaded onto a carrier registration subsystem adapts the subsystem to block a mobile handheld device from a carrier network, the data processor readable medium comprising:

code for defining an unauthorized combination filter including one or more device parameters;

code for attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier registration subsystem;

code for comparing the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter to device parameter values stored in the device; and

code for blocking the device from accessing the carrier network if the device parameter values stored in the device match the device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter.

16. The data processor readable medium of claim 15, wherein the device parameter values stored in the device include one or more of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value, and the data processor readable medium further comprises code for comparing these one or more values to corresponding device parameter values in the unauthorized combination filter.

17. The data processor readable medium of claim 16, wherein the data processor readable medium further comprises code for blocking the device from accessing the carrier network if a combination of a device type value, a device operating system version value, and a device application version value is matched.

18. The data processor readable medium of claim 16, further comprising code for sending an error message to the device upon blocking to explain the reason for the block.

19. The data processor readable medium of claim 18, further comprising code for retrieving and storing the ESN or PIN for each blocked device.

20. The data processor readable medium of claim 15, wherein the code for attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier comprises code for providing a carrier identifier and code for attaching the unauthorized combination filter to a carrier'"'"'s registration subsystem.