Mobile wireless communications device enablement and methods therefor

• US 7,373,138 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haub, David, Kotzin, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/301,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/419, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/566, 455/412, 455/413, 455/466, 379/142.02, 713/163
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for enabling hardware and software features in wireless communications devices including (610) receiving key information and applying it to the communications device. The key information specifies one or more features of the wireless communications device that are to be enabled or disabled. Features of the wireless communications device specified by the key information are enabled (640) or disabled upon applying the key information to the device. In some embodiments, information from multiple keys is required to enable features of the device.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communications device, comprising:

applying key information to the wireless communications device by connecting a structural element bearing the key information to the wireless communications device,

the key information specifying at least one feature of a group of de-activated features residing on the wireless communications device, the de-activated features are not user-accessible,

activating the at least one feature of the wireless communications device specified by the key information upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device,

wherein the at least one feature becomes user-accessible upon activation.

2. The method of claim 1,

applying key information to the wireless communications device includes manually entering key information at a user input of the wireless communications device.

3. The method of claim 1,

applying second key information to the wireless communications device,

the second key information different than the first key information, the second key information specifying at least one feature of the wireless communications device,

activating the at least one feature specified by the second key information upon applying the second key information to the wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, not activating a radio circuit for a particular wireless communications protocol without applying a second key to the wireless communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, activating at least one hardware feature of the wireless communications device upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, activating at least two features of a group of de-activated software features residing on the wireless communications device upon applying the key information to the wireless communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, applying key information to the wireless communications device includes applying key information that is uniquely associated with the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim, 1, enabling or disabling the selected features of the wireless communications device by applying the key information to the wireless communications device only upon verifying a user identity.