Customer activation system for cellular network
AssigneeAT&T Wireless Services, Inc.
InventorDavid William James Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mobile communication terminal device such as a cellular telephone is provided with a preliminary identifier stored in memory. The identifier allows access to a cellular network for verification and provides essentially unique identification by the network, but is insufficient to allow further use of the network. During verification, the identifier is analyzed by a cellular network processor and a determination is made whether the cellular telephone should have restricted access to the network. Upon favorable completion of the identifier analysis, a signal may be transmitted to the cellular telephone that allows the cellular telephone to have less restricted access to the network.
Claims19
A system for controlling access by a wireless terminal to a wireless link comprising:
- means for receiving from a wireless terminal an identifier transmitted, at least in part, on the wireless link, wherein the identifier includes first and second numbers, the first number including a serial number that is permanently associated with the wireless terminal;
- means for analyzing the identifier to determine whether the second number transmitted by the wireless terminal is a preliminary identifier, the preliminary identifier providing the wireless terminal restricted access to the wireless link;
- means for analyzing a customer data record using the first and second numbers to determine whether the wireless terminal should continue to have restricted access to the wireless link;
- and
- means for transmitting, upon favorable completion of the analyzing, a signal to the wireless terminal so that the wireless terminal transmits a replacement identifier the next time the wireless terminal transmits an identifier, the replacement identifier allowing the wireless terminal to have less restricted access to the wireless link than the preliminary identifier.
A method of preparing a wireless terminal for activation by a purchaser, the method comprising:
- assembling a memory, a processor, a receiver, and a transmitter into the wireless terminal;
- storing in the memory an identifier, wherein the identifier includes first and second numbers, the first number including a serial number that is permanently associated with the wireless terminal, and the second number including a preliminary identifier, the preliminary identifier providing restricted access to a wireless link of a communications service provider for determining whether the wireless terminal should continue to have restricted access to the wireless link;
- and
- wherein the processor is adapted to transmit the identifier for comparison with customer data in a customer data record, and wherein the processor is adapted to transmit a replacement identifier the next time the wireless terminal transmits an identifier after a predetermined signal is received by the terminal from the communications service provider, the replacement identifier providing the wireless terminal less-restricted access to the wireless link.
In a wireless cellular communication system, a method of activating a wireless terminal for using a wireless link, the method comprising:
- receiving an identifier from a wireless terminal, the identifier transmitted at least in part on the wireless link, wherein the identifier includes first and second numbers, the first number including a serial number that is permanently associated with the wireless terminal and the second number including a preliminary identifier, the preliminary identifier allowing the wireless terminal to have restricted access to the wireless link;
- based on the received identifier, analyzing the identifier to determine whether the second number transmitted by the wireless terminal is a preliminary identifier, and if the second number is a preliminary identifier, analyzing a customer data record using the first and second numbers to determine whether to grant less restricted access to the wireless link;
- and
- where the determination to grant less restricted access to the wireless link is favorable, allowing less restricted access for the wireless terminal by transmitting a signal to the wireless terminal, the signal containing information for providing the wireless terminal with less restricted access to the wireless link.
An apparatus for use in a wireless communications network, the apparatus configured for activation by a purchaser, the apparatus comprising:
- a memory having stored on it an identifier, wherein the identifier includes first and second numbers, the first number including a serial number that is permanently associated with the apparatus, and the second number including a preliminary identifier, the preliminary identifier providing restricted access to a wireless link of a communications service provider;
- and
- at least one processor coupled with the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured for:
- including the identifier in a transmission by the apparatus to a wireless communications service provider via the wireless link, wherein the second number of the transmitted identifier is for analyzing to determine if it is a preliminary identifier, and wherein the first and second numbers of the transmitted identifier are for comparison with information in a customer data record to determine whether the apparatus should continue to have restricted access to the wireless link;
- and
- converting at least one channel tone signal received from the wireless communications service provider into at least one authorization code, wherein the at least one authorization code includes a replacement identifier for transmission the next time the apparatus transmits an identifier, and wherein the replacement identifier contains information for providing the apparatus with less restricted access to the wireless link than the preliminary identifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.