System and method for automatic registration notification for over-the-air activation

A method for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network to program a MIN into the mobile station prior to the first time that it is used, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at a wireless network node a registration message, said registration message including an address for an over the air activation processor in an SS7 network coupled to the wireless network;
• said registration message further including an electronic serial number (ESN) in addition to said address for said over the air activation processor;
• storing said ESN in a visitor location register (VLR);
• routing said registration message to said over the air activation processor;
• initiating an activation process at said over the air activation processor in response to said received registration message;
• and
• transmitting activation parameters to said mobile station in response to said activation process using said ESN stored in said VLR.

A system for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network to program a MIN into the mobile station prior to the first time that it is used, comprising:

• an over the air activation processor in an SS7 network coupled to the wireless network;
• a mobile switching center at a node in said wireless network, receiving a registration message including a received MIN, said received MIN being selected from the group consisting of a valid MIN and a dummy MIN, said dummy MIN being translatable into an address for said over the air activation processor;
• a visitor location resister (VLR) coupled to said mobile switching center;
• said registration message further including an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station, wherein said ESN is stored in said VLR;
• a signal transfer point coupled to said mobile switching center in said SS7 network;
• a home location register (HLR) coupled to said signal transfer point;
• if said received MIN is a valid MIN, said signal transfer point routing said registration message to said HLR;
• if said received MIN is a dummy MIN, said signal transfer point translating said dummy MIN into said address and routing said registration message to said over the air activation processor in said SS7 network;
• said over the air activation processor initiating an activation process in response to said received registration message and causing transmission of parameters to said mobile station using said ESN stored in said VLR.

A system for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network to program a MIN into the mobile station prior to the first time that it is used, comprising:

• an over the air activation processor in an SS7 network coupled to the wireless network;
• a mobile switching center at a node in said wireless network, receiving a registration message, said registration message including an address for said over the air activation processor and, in addition to said address, an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station;
• a visitor location register (VLR) coupled to said mobile switching center, said ESN being stored in said VLR,
• said mobile switching center causing a routing of said registration message in said SS7 network to said over the air activation processor;
• said over the air activation processor initiating an activation process in response to said received registration message and causing transmission of parameters to said mobile station using said ESN stored in said VLR.

A method for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network coupled to a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network to program a MIN into the mobile station prior to the first time that it is used, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at a mobile switching center in the wireless communications network a registration message, said registration message including a received MIN, said received MIN being selected from the group consisting of a valid MIN and a dummy MIN, said dummy MIN being translatable into an address for an over the air activation processor in the SS7 network;
• said registration message further including an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station;
• storing said ESN of the mobile station in a visitor location register (VLR);
• if said received MIN is a valid MIN, routing said registration message to a home location register (HLR);
• if said received MIN is a dummy MIN:
• translating said dummy MIN into said address at a signal transfer point (STP) in the SS7 network;
• routing said registration message with the STP over said SS7 network to said over the air activation processor;
• initiating an activation process at said over the air activation processor in response to said received registration message;
• and
• transmitting activation parameters over the SS7 network and the wireless communications network to said mobile station in response to said activation process using said ESN stored in said VLR.

A system for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network coupled to a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network to program a MIN into the mobile station prior to the first time that it is used, comprising:

• an over the air activation processor in the SS7 network;
• a mobile switching center receiving a registration message from the mobile station, said registration message including a received MIN, said received MIN including a valid MIN and a dummy MIN, said dummy MIN being translatable into an address for said over the air activation processor;
• a visitor location register (VLR) coupled to said mobile switching center;
• said registration message further including, in addition to said received MIN, an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station;
• a signal transfer point in the SS7 network coupled to said mobile switching center;
• a home location register (HLR) coupled to said signal transfer point;
• if said received MIN is a valid MIN, routing said registration message to said HLR;
• if said received MIN is a dummy MIN, said signal transfer point translating said dummy MIN into said address and routing said registration message over the SS7 network to said over the air activation processor in said network;
• said over the air activation processor initiating an activation process in response to said received registration message and causing transmission of parameters over the SS7 network and the wireless communications network to said mobile station using said ESN.