Mobile terminal and network unlocking method and system thereof

• US 9,307,404 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Cuirong, Hu, Guangyu, She, Yanjin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/001,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A network unlocking method of a mobile terminal is disclosed in the invention. The method includes: after being used, a mobile terminal whose network is locked transmitting hardware information to a network sever (101); when the mobile terminal needs to unlock the network, it logging in a website providing the download of a network unlocking file, the website obtaining the hardware information of the currently logging-in mobile terminal and performing hardware information matching by the network server (103); when the matching is successful, the mobile terminal downloading the network unlocking file from the website and unlocking the network with an unlocking code in the network unlocking file. A mobile terminal and a network unlocking system thereof are also disclosed in the invention.

Claims

1. A method for a mobile terminal unlocking a network, after said mobile terminal whose network is locked is in use, said method comprising the following steps of:

said mobile terminal sending hardware information to a network server;

said network server pre-recording network unlocking information of said mobile terminal in a database;

said mobile terminal logging in a website which provides download of a network unlocking file when network unlocking is needed, said website acquiring said hardware information of said mobile terminal that is currently logging in, and performing hardware information matching through said network server, if the matching is successful, said mobile terminal downloading said network unlocking file from said website, and unlocking the network with an unlocking code in said downloaded network unlocking file;

wherein after said mobile terminal sends said hardware information to said network server, said network server receiving a short message containing said hardware information sent by said mobile terminal, and searching out a corresponding remaining network locking time length in said network unlocking information according to said hardware information, and in accordance with said remaining network locking time length, starting up a remaining network locking time-length timer for timing a remaining network locking time length corresponding to said hardware information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, said network unlocking information comprises:

user name, password, hardware information, unlocking state, remaining network locking time length and unlocking file name obtained by a user when the user purchases or obtains said mobile terminal for logging in the website to download said network unlocking file.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, said hardware information comprises at least an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of said mobile terminal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the step of performing hardware information matching is:

said network server searching in the database for hardware information consistent with said hardware information acquired from said website that provides the download of said network unlocking file, and the matching being successful when said hardware information is searched out and an unlocking state corresponding to said hardware information is locked and the remaining network locking time length is 0.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, the step of downloading said network unlocking file from said website is:

said network server sending to said website a matching successful instruction carrying an unlocking file name corresponding to said hardware information of said mobile terminal;

after receiving said matching successful instruction, said website providing a web page according to said unlocking file name for said mobile terminal downloading said network unlocking file, and said mobile terminal downloading said network unlocking file from said web page.

6. A system for a mobile terminal unlocking a network, comprising:

a mobile terminal, a network server, and a website providing download of a network unlocking file;

wherein,

said mobile terminal is configured to, after said mobile terminal whose network is locked is in use, send hardware information to said network server;

when network unlocking is needed, log in said website, and after successfully performing hardware information matching through said network server, download a network unlock file from said website, and unlock the network with an unlocking code in said network unlocking file;

said network server is configured to start up a remaining network locking time-length timer for timing a remaining network locking time length corresponding to said hardware information sent by said mobile terminal, and after receiving a notification from said website, perform hardware information matching, and when the matching is successful, notify said website;

said website is configured to, acquire hardware information of currently logging-in mobile terminal and notify said network server, and after receiving a matching successful instruction from said network server, provide download of said network unlocking file for said mobile terminal;

wherein said network server is specifically configured to search for hardware information consistent with the hardware information acquired from said website, and when said hardware information is searched out, and an unlocking state corresponding to said hardware information is locked and the remaining network locking time length is 0, said matching is successful.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, said network server is specifically configured to, after the matching is successful, send to said website a matching successful instruction carrying an unlocking file name corresponding to said hardware information of said mobile terminal.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein, said website comprises:

a user login module, a hardware information acquiring and sending module and an unlocking file downloading module;

wherein,

said user login module is configured to provide a user name and password input mode, and after said mobile terminal logs in successfully, notify said hardware information acquiring and sending module;

said hardware information acquiring and sending module is configured to provide a web page control for testing said hardware information of said logging-in mobile terminal, and use said web page control to acquire said hardware information of said currently logging-in mobile terminal, and send said hardware information to said network server;

said unlocking file downloading module is configured to, after receiving said matching successful instruction, provide a web page for said mobile terminal downloading said network unlocking file according to said unlocking file name carried in said matching successful instruction.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein, said mobile terminal comprises:

an information sending module, a downloading module, and an unlocking module;

wherein,

said information sending module is configured to, after said mobile terminal whose network is locked is in use, send hardware information to the network server;

said downloading module is configured to, when a network needs to be unlocked, log in the website, and after said network server performs hardware information matching and the matching is successful, download the network unlocking file from said website;

said unlocking module is configured to unlock the network with said unlocking code in said network unlocking file.

10. A mobile terminal, comprising:

an information sending module, a downloading module, and an unlocking module;

wherein,

said information sending module is configured to, after said mobile terminal whose network is locked is in use, send hardware information to a network server;

said downloading module is configured to, when a network needs to be unlocked, log in a website, and after said network server performs hardware information matching and the matching is successful, download a network unlocking file from said website;

said unlocking module is configured to unlock the network with an unlocking code in said network unlocking file;

wherein said network server performs hardware information matching and the matching is successful comprises that said network server starts up a remaining network locking time-length timer for timing a remaining network locking time length corresponding to said hardware information sent by said mobile terminal, and searches for hardware information consistent with said hardware information acquired from said website, and when said hardware information is searched out, and an unlocking state corresponding to said hardware information is locked and the remaining network locking time length is 0, said matching is successful.