Method and apparatus for tracking the programming of a mobile device with multiple service accounts

• US 8,417,234 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanding, Anthony, Vaidyanathan, Balaji, Tugnawat, Yogesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan, Mehmood B
• Application Number:
  US12/467,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20100291910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,423 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-420, 4554321-4323, 455/552.1, 717168-178
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Methods and systems enable mobile devices equipped with software defined radio based chipset modules to seamlessly re-program the mobile device to operate on any of a variety of service provider networks. By re-programming a mobile device equipped with software defined radio based chipset module, the mobile device can support communications over both GSM and CDMA communication networks. The re-programming of the mobile device may commence with the launching of a connection manager supporting a selected service provider. Various embodiment methods and systems are provided to track and monitor a currently activated first connection manager and prevent the launching of a second connection manager while the first connection manager is still active in order to avoid potentially fatal collisions.

Claims

1. A method of preventing simultaneous connection manager activation on a mobile device comprising, a communication module for wireless voice or data communications, the method comprising:

initializing and storing in memory of the mobile device parameter values indicating;

a status of a current wireless connection manager, a status of a software build for the current wireless connection manager, and a status of a last software build used in a wireless communication session by the mobile device;

receiving a request to launch a first wireless connection manager supporting a first wireless service provider account;

determining whether a second wireless connection manager supporting a second wireless service provider account is already active by determining when the parameter value indicating the status of the current wireless connection manager has been changed from its initialized value;

preventing the first wireless connection manager from launching until the second wireless connection manager is closed when the second wireless connection manager is already active;

changing the parameter values stored in memory indicating the current status of the current wireless connection manager and indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager;

comparing the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection;

programming and provisioning the mobile device with a software build for the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager when the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for current wireless connection manager does not match the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection; and

changing the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection stored in memory to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an error message indicating that the first wireless connection manager may not be launched if the parameter value indicating the status of the current wireless connection manager in use has been changed from its initialized value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the error message indicates that the second wireless connection manager must be closed before launching the first wireless connection manager.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to close the second wireless connection manager; and

re-initializing the parameters values indicating;

the status of current wireless connection manager in use,

the status of the software build for current wireless connection manager, and

the status of the last software build used in a wireless connection.

5. A mobile device, comprising:

means for accomplishing wireless voice or data communications;

means for initializing and storing parameter values indicating;

a status of a current wireless connection manager,

a status of a software build for the current wireless connection manager, and

a status of a last software build used in a wireless communication session by the mobile device;

means for receiving a request to launch a first wireless connection manager supporting a first wireless service provider account;

means for determining whether a second wireless connection manager supporting a second wireless service provider account is already active by determining when the parameter value indicating the status of the current wireless connection manager has been changed from its initialized value;

means for preventing the first wireless connection manager from launching until the second wireless connection manager is closed when the second wireless connection manager is already active;

means for changing the parameter values stored in memory indicating the current status of the current wireless connection manager and indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager;

means for comparing the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection;

means for programming and provisioning the mobile device with a software build for the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager when the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for current wireless connection manager does not match the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection; and

means for changing the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection stored in memory to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, further comprising means for displaying an error message indicating that the first wireless connection manager may not be launched if the parameter value indicating the status of the current wireless connection manager in use has been changed from its initialized value.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the means for displaying an error message indicates that the second wireless connection manager must be closed before launching the first wireless connection manager.

8. The mobile device of claim 5, further comprising:

means for receiving a request to close the second wireless connection manager; and

means for re-initializing the parameters values indicating;

the status of the current wireless connection manager in use,

the status of the software build for current wireless connection manager, and

the status of the last software build used in a wireless connection.

9. A mobile device, comprising:

an internal memory unit, the internal memory unit including a provisioning data buffer;

a communication module for wireless voice or data communications; and

a processor coupled to the internal memory unit and to the communication module, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform operations comprising;

initializing and storing in the internal memory parameter values indicating;

a status of a current wireless connection manager, a status of a software build for the current wireless connection manager, and

a status of a last software build used in a wireless communication session by the mobile device;

receiving a request to launch a first wireless connection manager supporting a first wireless service provider account;

determining whether a second wireless connection manager supporting a second wireless service provider account is already active

preventing the first wireless connection manager from launching until the second wireless connection manager is closed when the second wireless connection manager is already active;

changing the parameter values stored in the internal memory indicating the current status of the current wireless connection manager and indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager;

comparing the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection;

programming and provisioning the provisioning data buffer with a software build for the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager when the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for current wireless connection manager does not match the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection; and

changing the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection stored in the internal memory to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further operations comprising displaying an error message indicating that the first wireless connection manager may not be launched if the parameter value indicating the status of the current wireless connection manager in use has been changed from its initialized value.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the error message indicates that the second wireless connection manager must be closed before launching the first wireless connection manager.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further operations comprising:

receiving a request to close the second wireless connection manager; and

re-initializing the parameters values indicating;

the status of current wireless connection manager in use,

the status of the software build for current wireless connection manager, and

the status of the last software build used in a wireless connection.

13. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a mobile device having a communication module for wireless voice or data communications to perform operations comprising:

initializing and storing in memory of the mobile device parameter values indicating;

a status of a current wireless connection manager, a status of a software build for the current wireless connection manager, and a status of a last software build used in a wireless communication session by the mobile device;

receiving a request to launch a first wireless connection manager supporting a first wireless service provider account;

determining whether a second wireless connection manager supporting a second wireless service provider account is already active;

preventing the first wireless connection manager from launching until the second wireless connection manager is closed when the second wireless connection manager is already active;

changing the parameter values stored in memory indicating the current status of the current wireless connection manager and indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager;

comparing the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for the current wireless connection manager to the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection;

programming and provisioning the mobile device with a software build for the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager when the parameter value indicating the current status of the software build for current wireless connection manager does not match the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection; and

changing the parameter value indicating the current status of the last software build used in a wireless connection stored in memory to indicate the wireless service provider supporting the first wireless connection manager.

14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

displaying an error message indicating that the first wireless connection manager may not be launched if the parameter value indicating the status of the current wireless connection manager in use has been changed from its initialized value.

15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein the error message indicates that the second wireless connection manager must be closed before launching the first wireless connection manager.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further operations comprising:

receiving a request to close the second wireless connection manager; and

re-initializing the parameters values indicating;

the status of current wireless connection manager in use,

the status of the software build for current wireless connection manager, and

the status of the last software build used in a wireless connection.