Method for generically handling carrier specific provisioning for computer cellular wireless cards

• US 8,453,140 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Thakkar, Samir, Rogers, John Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): KABIR, MOHAMMAD H
• Application Number:
  US12/431,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 717/170
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/385 of the core network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Methods and systems enable computers to be equipped and provisioned to access any cellular network without the need for carrier-specific inventory or point-of sale provisioning of the cellular network transceiver. Multiple digitally signed provisioning data images for multiple carriers are stored on the computer'"'"'s hard disk memory prior to sale. Upon initialization, provisioning data for a selected carrier are downloaded to random access memory of the cellular network data transceiver from the hard disk. A version number within the provisioning data is compared to a version number of provisioning information stored in the transceiver'"'"'s nonvolatile memory. If the downloaded provisioning data is newer than that stored in nonvolatile memory, the downloaded provisioning data is stored in the nonvolatile memory. The random access memory is cleared of the downloaded provisioning data and initialization of the transceiver is begun. Updated provisioning information can be received and stored to the hard disk.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning a cellular network transceiver installed in a computer system including a hard disk memory, comprising:

downloading from the hard disk memory to random access memory of the cellular network transceiver a provisioning data image associated with a particular cellular carrier;

obtaining a first version number from the downloaded provisioning data image;

comparing the first version number of the downloaded provisioning data image with a second version number of provisioning data stored in non-volatile memory of the cellular network transceiver;

storing the downloaded provisioning data image and the first version number to the nonvolatile memory of the cellular network transceiver if the comparison of the first and second version numbers indicates that the downloaded provisioning data image is newer than the provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory; and

deleting the downloaded provisioning data image from the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of provisioning data images on the hard disk memory prior to delivery of the computer to a consumer.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enabling a user to select the particular cellular carrier from a plurality of cellular carriers; and

storing the user'"'"'s selection on the computer'"'"'s hard disk memory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a replacement provisioning data image from the cellular carrier;

verifying a digital signature associated with the replacement provisioning data image;

storing the replacement provisioning data image on the hard disk if the digital signature is verified; and

reinitializing the cellular network transceiver.

5. A computer system, comprising:

a first processor;

a cellular network transceiver coupled to the first processor, the cellular network transceiver comprising;

a second processor;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuit coupled to the second processor;

a nonvolatile memory coupled to the second processor; and

a random access memory coupled to the second processor; and

a hard disk memory coupled to the first processor, the hard disk memory having stored thereon at least one provisioning data image configured to enable the cellular network transceiver to access a cellular network,

wherein;

the first processor is configured with software instructions to perform operations comprising downloading from the hard disk memory to the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver a provisioning data image associated with a particular cellular carrier; and

the second processor is configured with software instructions to perform operations comprising;

obtaining a first version number from the downloaded provisioning data image;

comparing the first version number of the downloaded provisioning data image with a second version number of provisioning data stored in non-volatile memory of the cellular network transceiver;

storing the downloaded provisioning data image and the first version number to the nonvolatile memory of the cellular network transceiver if the comparison of the first and second version numbers indicates that the downloaded provisioning data image is newer than the provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory; and

deleting the downloaded provisioning data image from the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the hard disk memory has stored thereon a plurality of provisioning data images configured to enable the cellular network transceiver to access cellular networks of a plurality of carriers.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the first processor is configured with software instructions to further perform operations comprising:

enabling a user to select the particular cellular carrier from a plurality of cellular carriers; and

storing the user'"'"'s selection on the computer'"'"'s hard disk memory.

8. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the first processor is configured with software instructions to further perform operations comprising:

downloading a replacement provisioning data image from a cellular carrier;

verifying a digital signature associated with the replacement provisioning data image;

storing the replacement provisioning data image on the hard disk memory if the digital signature is verified; and

reinitializing the cellular network transceiver.

9. A computer system, comprising:

a hard disk memory;

a cellular network transceiver having a random access memory and a nonvolatile memory;

means for downloading from the hard disk memory to the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver a provisioning data image associated with a particular cellular carrier;

means for obtaining a first version number from the downloaded provisioning data image;

means for comparing the first version number of the downloaded provisioning data image with a second version number of provisioning data stored in the non-volatile memory of the cellular network transceiver;

means storing the downloaded provisioning data image and the first version number to the nonvolatile memory of the cellular network transceiver if the comparison of the first and second version numbers indicates that the downloaded provisioning data image is newer than the provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory; and

means for deleting the downloaded provisioning data image from the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver.

10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for storing a plurality of provisioning data images on the hard disk memory prior to delivery of the computer to a consumer.

11. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for enabling a user to select the particular cellular carrier from a plurality of cellular carriers; and

means for storing the user'"'"'s selection on the computer'"'"'s hard disk memory.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for downloading a replacement provisioning data image from the cellular carrier;

means for verifying a digital signature associated with the replacement provisioning data image;

means for storing the replacement provisioning data image on the hard disk if the digital signature is verified; and

means for reinitializing the cellular network transceiver.

13. A cellular network transceiver configured to be installed in a computer, comprising:

a processor;

a radio frequency transceiver circuit couple to the processor and configured to send and receive signals to/from a cellular network;

a random access memory coupled to the processor;

a nonvolatile memory coupled to the processor; and

connectors coupled to the processor and configured to electronically couple the cellular network transceiver to the computer,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform operations comprising;

downloading from a hard disk memory to the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver a provisioning data image associated with a particular cellular carrier;

obtaining a first version number of the downloaded provisioning data image store in the random access memory;

comparing the first version number to a second version number stored in the nonvolatile memory indicative of a version of provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory;

storing provisioning data obtain from the downloaded provisioning data image in the nonvolatile memory if the comparison of the first and second version numbers indicates that the downloaded provisioning data image is of a newer version than the provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory; and

deleting the downloaded provisioning data image from the random access memory.

14. A cellular network transceiver configured to be installed in a computer, comprising:

a processor;

means for sending signals to and receive signals from a cellular network;

a random access memory coupled to the processor;

a nonvolatile memory coupled to the processor;

means for coupling connectors to the processor and electronically configuring the connectors to couple the cellular network transceiver to the computer;

means for downloading from a nonvolatile memory to the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver a provisioning data image associated with a particular cellular carrier;

means for obtaining a first version number of the downloaded provisioning data image stored in the random access memory;

means for comparing the first version number to a second version number stored in the nonvolatile memory indicative of a version of provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory;

means for storing provisioning data obtain from the downloaded provisioning data image in the nonvolatile memory if the comparison of the first and second version numbers indicates that the downloaded provisioning data image is of a newer version than the provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory; and

means for deleting the downloaded provisioning data image from the random access memory.

15. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

downloading from a hard disk memory into random access memory of a cellular network transceiver a provisioning data image associated with a particular cellular carrier;

obtaining a first version number from the downloaded provisioning data image;

comparing the first version number of the downloaded provisioning data image with a second version number of provisioning data stored in non-volatile memory of the cellular network transceiver;

storing the downloaded provisioning data image and the first version number to nonvolatile memory of the cellular network transceiver if the comparison of the first and second version numbers indicates that the downloaded provisioning data image is newer than the provisioning data stored in the nonvolatile memory; and

deleting the downloaded provisioning data image from the random access memory of the cellular network transceiver.