Mobile device configured to operate on multiple different networks

• US 8,700,089 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tseng, Erick
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US13/589,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20130010764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/432.1, 455/435.2, 455436-444, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An apparatus includes a code division multiple access (CDMA) antenna that is configured to transmit and receive communication signals. The apparatus includes a memory that is configured to store multiple mobile equipment identifiers (MEIDs), multiple activation protocols and instructions, where each MEID includes an identifier that is uniquely recognizable on one of multiple networks and where the activation protocols include protocols for uniquely activating the apparatus on one of multiple different networks each of which have different communication protocols. The apparatus includes a processor that is coupled to the CDMA antenna and to the memory and that is configured to execute the instructions to enable a user to select a network from the multiple different networks on which to activate and operate the apparatus and activate and operate the apparatus on a selected network using an MEID recognizable by the selected network and the activation protocol for the selected network.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a code division multiple access (CDMA) antenna that is capable of transmitting and receiving communication signals on multiple different networks of a first network type, the different networks having different communication protocols;

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) antenna that is capable of transmitting and receiving communication signals on multiple different networks of a second network type, the different networks having different communication protocols, wherein the first network type is different from the second network type;

memory that is configured to store, for each network of the multiple different networks of the first and second types, a respective activation protocol associated with the network, a respective distinct identifier associated with the apparatus that is uniquely recognizable on the network and stored prior to the apparatus being activated on any of the multiple different networks of the first and second types, and a respective configuration information for enabling operation of the apparatus on the network; and

a processor that is operably coupled to the CDMA antenna, the GSM antenna and the memory and that is capable of executing instructions stored on the memory to;

receive a selection of one of the multiple different networks of the first and second types through a user interface, and

operate the apparatus on the selected one of the multiple different networks of the first and second types using the respective activation protocol, the respective distinct identifier, and the respective configuration information stored in the memory and associated with the selected network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of executing instructions stored on the memory to:

receive a new selection of a different one of the different multiple networks of the first and second types by the user through the user interface; and

switch operation of the apparatus to operate on the newly selected network using the respective activation protocol, the respective distinct identifier, and the respective configuration information stored in the memory and associated with the newly selected network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the selected network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network; and

the newly selected network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the selected network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; and

the newly selected network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the selected network is a first code division multiple access (CDMA) network; and

the newly selected network is a second CDMA network, wherein the first CDMA network is different from the second CDMA network.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the selected network is a first global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; and

the newly selected network is a second GSM network, wherein the first GSM network is different from the second GSM network.

7. A recordable storage device having recorded and stored thereon, for each network of a plurality of different networks including networks of a first network type using a code division multiple access (CDMA) antenna and networks of a second network type using a global system for mobile communications (GSM) antenna, a respective activation protocol associated with the network, a respective distinct identifier associated with the apparatus that is uniquely recognizable on the network and stored prior to the apparatus being activated on any of the multiple different networks of the first and second types, and a respective configuration information for enabling operation of an apparatus on the network, and further having recorded and stored thereon instructions that, when executed, perform the actions of:

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of different networks of the first and second types through the user interface, and

operating the apparatus on the selected network using the respective activation protocol, the respective distinct identifier, and the respective configuration information stored in the memory and associated with the selected network.

8. The recordable storage device of claim 7, further comprising instructions that, when executed, perform the actions of:

receiving a new selection of a different one of the plurality of different networks of the first and second types by the user through the user interface; and

switching operation of the apparatus to operate on the newly selected network using the respective activation protocol, the respective distinct identifier, and the respective configuration information stored in the memory and associated with the newly selected network.

9. The recordable storage device of claim 8, wherein:

the selected network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network; and

the newly selected network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network.

10. The recordable storage device of claim 8, wherein:

the selected network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; and

the newly selected network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.

11. The recordable storage device of claim 8, wherein:

the selected network is a first code division multiple access (CDMA) network; and

the newly selected network is a second CDMA network, wherein the first CDMA network is different from the second CDMA network.

12. The recordable storage device of claim 8, wherein:

the selected network is a first global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; and

the newly selected network is a second GSM network, wherein the first GSM network is different from the second GSM network.

13. The recordable storage device of claim 7 wherein the respective distinct identifier includes a mobile equipment identifier (MEID).

21. The recordable storage device of claim 7, wherein the respective configuration information includes an access point network (APN) configuration for uniquely activating the apparatus on the network.

14. A method, comprising:

providing for display, using a processor, a selection of different networks of a first network type and a second network type for selection by a user through a user interface, wherein;

the first network type is different from the second network type,

the different networks of the first network type are accessed by an apparatus using a code division multiple access (CDMA) antenna and the different networks from the second network type are accessed by the apparatus using a global system for mobile communications (GSM) antenna, and

for each network of the different networks of the first and second types, a respective activation protocol associated with the network, a respective distinct identifier associated with the apparatus that is uniquely recognizable on the network and stored prior to the apparatus being activated on any of the different networks of the first and second types, and a respective configuration information for enabling operation of the apparatus on the network are stored in memory of the apparatus;

receiving, using the processor, a selection of one of the different networks of the first and second types through the user interface, and

operating, using the processor, the apparatus on the selected network using the respective activation protocol, the respective distinct identifier, and the respective configuration information stored in the memory and associated with the selected network.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, using the processor, a new selection of a different one of the different networks of the first and second types by the user through the user interface; and

switching, using the processor, operation of the apparatus to operate on the newly selected network using the respective activation protocol, the respective distinct identifier, and the respective configuration information stored in the memory and associated with the newly selected network.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein:

the selected network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network; and

the newly selected network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network.

17. The method as in claim 15, wherein:

the selected network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; and

the newly selected network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.

18. The method as in claim 15, wherein:

the selected network is a first code division multiple access (CDMA) network; and

the newly selected network is a second CDMA network, wherein the first CDMA network is different from the second CDMA network.

19. The method as in claim 15, wherein:

the selected network is a first global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; and

the newly selected network is a second GSM network, wherein the first GSM network is different from the second GSM network.

20. The method as in claim 14, wherein the respective distinct identifier includes a mobile equipment identifier (MEID).