Restoring functionality of a mobile device
AssigneeT-Mobile USA, Inc.
InventorsSenthil Kumar Mulluppadi Velusamy, Kevin Lau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system of restoring a functionality of a mobile user device. A lock screen is displayed on the display of the user device. An international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card presently installed in the user device is determined. The IMSI is sent to a Remote Recovery Server (RRS). A message is received from the RRS indicating whether the IMSI is authorized for the user device and whether an account of the user device is replenished at least in part. Upon determining that the IMSI is authorized for the user device and the account of the user device is replenished at least in part, at least one function that was previously restricted is restored.
Claims20
A user device that is restricted in functionality, the user device comprising:
- a processor;
- a display coupled to the processor;
- a network interface coupled to the processor configured to enable communications via a communication network;
- a storage device for content and programming;
- a program stored in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the user device to perform acts comprising:
- displaying a lock screen on the display of the user device;
- determining an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card presently installed in the user device;
- sending the IMSI to a Remote Recovery Server (RRS);
- receiving a message from the RRS indicating whether the IMSI is authorized for the user device and whether an account of the user device is replenished at least in part;
- and
- upon determining that the IMSI is authorized for the user device and the account of the user device is replenished at least in part, restoring at least one function that was previously restricted.
A remote recovery server of a telecommunication carrier, comprising:
- a processor;
- a network interface coupled to the processor configured to enable communications via a communication network;
- a storage device for content and programming;
- a program stored in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the remote recovery server to perform acts comprising:
- receiving a first account status of a user device having an equipment installment plan (EIP) with the telecommunication carrier;
- upon determining, from the received account status, that an account of the user device has not received a payment during a first time period:
- sending a first message to the user device, which includes instructions to a program stored in a memory of the user device, to display a first warning on a display of the user device;
- receiving a second account status of the user device after a second time period;
- upon determining, from the received second account status, that an account of the user device has received a payment during the second time period, restoring at least one function that was previously restricted on the user device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.