Methods and apparatus of over-the-air programming of a wireless unit

• US 8,380,171 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M., Hardin, Stephen Thomas, Klenzak, Megan Koch
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US13/432,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20120184250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455418-420, 380/247, 380/249, 713168-176
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating secure over-the-air (OTA) programming are presented herein. A device can store a key, which can be based on a key algorithm (K-algorithm) and an identifier associated with the device. The device can receive information such as parameter(s) and a verification number from a communications system. The verification number can be generated by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) based on the parameter(s) and a K-algorithm input. The device can generate a trial verification number by using the A-algorithm with the parameter(s) and the key as trial inputs. The device can compare the verification number to the trial verification number, and in response to the verification number being at least similar to the trial verification number, the device can use the parameter(s) for programming of the device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sending, by a communication system including a processor, an identifier that is associated with the communication system and that is directed to a service provider system via a network;

receiving, by the communication system, a verification number from the service provider system based on the identifier;

generating, by the communication system, a trial verification number based on a key;

and

in response to receiving the verification number from the service provider system and determining that the trial verification number is at least similar to the verification number, modifying, by the communication system, information in a storage element of the communication system to facilitate activating the communication system for use on the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the communication system, the key in the storage element of the communication system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing further comprises generating, by the communication system, the key based on the identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing further comprises generating, by the communication system, the key based on an electronic serial number that is associated with the communication system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending further comprises sending, by the communication system, an electronic serial number that is associated with the communication system and that is directed to the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating further comprises creating, by the communication system, the trial verification number utilizing an authorization algorithm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the creating further comprises deriving, by the communication system, the trial verification number utilizing the authorization algorithm based on a numeric assignment module parameter.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the creating further comprises deriving, by the communication system, the trial verification number utilizing the authorization algorithm based on a checksum.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the creating further comprises deriving, by the communication system, the trial verification number utilizing a hash function.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying further comprises:

storing, by the communication system, a numeric assignment module parameter in the storage element of the communication system, wherein the activating further includes receiving, by the communication system, a communication based on a communications service associated with the service provider system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

resetting, by the communication system, the numeric assignment module parameter in response to the modifying.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the trial verification number is dissimilar from the verification number, disallowing, by the communication system, activation of the communication system on the network.

13. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable components that, in response to execution, cause a computing system including a processor to perform operations, comprising:

sending an identifier associated with a device directed to service equipment;

receiving a verification number from the service equipment based on the identifier;

creating a trial verification number based on a key; and

in response to determining that the trial verification number is at least similar to the verification number, modifying a memory of the device to facilitate activating the device on the network.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

storing the key in a storage element of the device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

creating the key based on the identifier.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

creating the key based on an electronic serial number that is associated with the device.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the sending further comprises sending an electronic serial number that is associated with the device and that is directed to the service equipment.

18. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory, that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to at least;

direct, via a wireless network, a wireless communication including an identifier representing the system towards a service system associated with a wireless service;

receive, via the wireless network based on the identifier, another communication from the service system including a verification number;

create a trial verification number based on a key;

determine whether the verification number is at least similar to the trial verification number; and

in response to a determination that the verification number is at least proximate in value to the trial verification number, modify the memory to facilitate an activation of the system on the wireless network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the identifier comprises an electronic serial number that facilitates identification of the system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the trial verification number is created based on a numeric assignment module parameter.