Systems, methods, and apparatus to enable backup wireless devices

• US 7,647,041 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP A Nevada Partnership
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Chen, Zesen, Chou, Peter, Gonsalves, Brian, Pena, Sheri, Perkins, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US11/393,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 445/420, 445/418, 445/456.1, 445/427, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed to enable backup wireless devices. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving a first activation code from a first wireless device, comparing the first activation code associated with the first wireless device with a first activation code in a database, activating the first wireless device when the first activation code associated with the first wireless device matches the first activation code in the database, and when a second wireless device is active, deactivating the second wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code associated with the first wireless device.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to enable backup wireless devices comprising:

receiving a first activation code from a first wireless device;

comparing the first activation code associated with the first wireless device with a first activation code in a database;

activating the first wireless device when the first activation code associated with the first wireless device matches the first activation code in the database;

when a second wireless device is active, deactivating the second wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code associated with the first wireless device;

detecting unauthorized use of the first wireless device by identifying an incorrect first activation code entered at the first wireless device; and

sending an e-mail message indicative of the unauthorized use to an account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first activation code is associated with a first identifier.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein a user interface provides access to the first activation code and the first identifier.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising a server to toggle activation of the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 further comprising assigning an activation status to the first wireless device and the second wireless device in a mutually exclusive manner.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a wireless device configuration screen area to display at least one of a wireless device identification, a wireless device identifier, a wireless device activation status, or a wireless device activation code; and

receiving, via a plurality of user selectable buttons, a selection to at least one of add a wireless device, delete a wireless device, or associate a wireless device identifier with a wireless device activation code.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising sending a voice mail message indicative of the unauthorized use to the account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting unauthorized use of the first wireless device further comprises identifying a threshold number of incorrect first activation code entries at the first wireless device.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising locking-out the first wireless device in response to receiving the threshold number of incorrect first activation code entries.

10. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive a first activation code from a first wireless device;

compare the first activation code associated with the first wireless device with a first activation code in a database;

activate the first wireless device when the first activation code associated with the first wireless device matches the first activation code in the database;

when a second wireless device is active, deactivate the second wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code associated with the first wireless device;

detect unauthorized use of the first wireless device by identifying an incorrect first activation code entered at the first wireless device; and

send an e-mail message indicative of the unauthorized use to an account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to associate the first activation code with the first identifier.

12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 11 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to provide a user interface for access to the first activation code and the first identifier.

13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to toggle activation of the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to assign an activation status to the first wireless device and the second wireless device in a mutually exclusive manner.

15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the machine readable instructions further send a voice mail message indicative of the unauthorized use to the account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

16. A kit comprising:

a first wireless device, the first wireless device comprising a first unique identifier and a first activation code; and

a second wireless device, the second wireless device comprising a second unique identifier and a second activation code, wherein the second wireless device is activated and the first wireless device is deactivated in response to entry of the second activation code on the second wireless device, wherein unauthorized use of the first wireless device is detected by identifying an incorrect first activation code entered at the first wireless device, and wherein an e-mail message is sent indicative of the unauthorized use to an account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

17. A kit as defined in claim 16 wherein activation of the first wireless device and the second wireless device toggle in a mutually exclusive manner.

18. A kit as defined in claim 16 further comprising a product package, the first and second activation codes at least one of inside the product package, printed on the product package, or printed on the wireless devices.

19. A kit as defined in claim 16 wherein the first and second wireless devices are activated and deactivated by a server.

20. A kit as defined in claim 19 wherein the server receives the first and second activation codes and the first and second unique identifiers from the first and second wireless devices.

21. A kit as defined in claim 20 wherein the server compares the received activation code and unique identifier from at least one of the first or second wireless devices with an activation code and a unique identifier combination in a database.

22. A kit as defined in claim 21 wherein the server activates the first wireless device and deactivates the second wireless device when the compared activation code and the unique identifier received from the first wireless device matches the activation code and the unique identifier combination in the database.

23. A kit as defined in claim 21 wherein the server activates the second wireless device and deactivates the first wireless device when the compared activation code and the unique identifier received from the second wireless device matches the activation code and the unique identifier combination in the database.

24. A wireless device server comprising:

a wireless device receiver to receive a first set of activation credentials;

a wireless device activator to activate a first wireless device and deactivate a second wireless device when the first set of activation credentials match a reference set of activation credentials;

an activity reporter to detect unauthorized use of the first wireless device by identifying an incorrect first activation code entered at the first wireless device; and

a web server to send an e-mail message indicative of the unauthorized use to the second wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

25. A wireless device server as defined in claim 24 wherein the first set of activation credentials are associated with the first wireless device.

26. A wireless device server as defined in claim 25 wherein the first set of activation credentials comprise a first activation code and a first identifier.

27. A wireless device server as defined in claim 24 wherein the reference set of activation credentials comprise a first activation code and a first identifier.

28. A wireless device server as defined in claim 24 wherein the reference set of credentials is stored in a database.

29. A wireless device server as defined in claim 24 wherein the first and second wireless devices further comprise a keypad to receive activation credentials.

30. A wireless device server as defined in claim 29 wherein the first and second wireless devices further comprise a transmitter to transmit the activation credentials to the wireless device server.

31. A wireless device server as defined in claim 24 further comprising a wireless device locator to locate at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device.

32. A wireless device server as defined in claim 31 wherein at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device comprise a global positioning satellite receiver.

33. A wireless device server as defined in claim 32 wherein the at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device transmit location coordinates to the wireless device locator.

34. A backup wireless device server as defined in claim 24, wherein the activity reporter is invoked in response to a threshold number of incorrect first activation code entries at the first wireless device.

35. A system to control wireless devices comprising:

a device database to receive and store wireless device data;

a wireless device network to facilitate communication between wireless devices and the device database;

a wireless device server to activate a first wireless device and deactivate a second wireless device in response to a first activation code;

an activity reporter to detect unauthorized use of the first wireless device by identifying an incorrect first activation code entered at the first wireless device; and

a web server to send an e-mail message indicative of the unauthorized use and a geographic location of the first wireless device to an account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

36. A system as defined in claim 35 wherein the wireless device server activates the first wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code from at least one of the first wireless device, a land-line phone, or a user interface.

37. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising a plurality of backup wireless devices, the wireless device server activating one of the plurality of backup wireless devices in response to receipt of an activation code associated with the one of the plurality of backup wireless devices.

38. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising a user interface to associate a unique identifier of the first and second wireless devices with a first and second activation code.

39. A system as defined in claim 38 wherein the user interface comprises an Internet accessible web-based interface.

40. An apparatus comprising:

a first wireless device, the first wireless device comprising a first input and a first transmitter;

a second wireless device, the second wireless device comprising a second input and a second transmitter, the first wireless device receiving a first activation code from the first input to activate the first wireless device and deactivate the second wireless device;

an activity reporter to detect unauthorized use of the first wireless device by identifying an incorrect first activation code entered at the first wireless device; and

a web server to send an e-mail message indicative of the unauthorized use and a geographic location of the first wireless device to an account owner of the first wireless device in response to identifying the incorrect first activation code.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40 wherein the first and second wireless devices comprise at least one of a wireless phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 40 wherein the first wireless device is inactive when the second wireless device is active, and the second wireless device is inactive when the first wireless device is active.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 40 further comprising a server to receive a first activation credential from the first transmitter, the server comparing the first activation credential with a reference credential.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein the first activation credential comprises the first activation code and a first identifier, the first identifier associated with the first wireless device.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 44 wherein the first identifier is at least one of a unique electronic serial number (ESN) or a unique international mobile equipment identity (IMLI).

46. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein the server activates the first wireless device and deactivates the second wireless device when the first activation credential from the first transmitter matches the reference credential.

47. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 further comprising a database communicatively connected to the server, the database storing the reference credential.

48. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 further comprising a web server communicatively connected to a network, the web server providing a network accessible web page to a user.

49. An apparatus as defined in claim 48 wherein the network comprises at least one of the Internet, an intranet, or a virtual private network.