US 8,050,705 B2Granted

Subscriber identity module unlocking service portal

AssigneeDell Products L.P.

InventorsAlan E. Sicher, Pratik M. Mehta

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Abstract

An improved method and system for removing operating restrictions associated with a predetermined subscriber identity module (SIM) from a wireless device. A user is allowed to securely log onto a Web site that contains support information on subscription plans, billing, termination, penalties, and device-to-SIM unlocking. After satisfying any outstanding contract terms and payment of termination or device unlock fees, the user initiates a device-to-SIM unlock procedure. A client application on the wireless device securely transfers subscription, system, and SIM information to a device-to-SIM unlock system which uses the information to generate appropriate unlock codes. The unlock codes are then securely transferred to the client application, which processes them to remove operating restrictions associated with the predetermined SIM from the device and allow it to thereafter implement a plurality of SIMs.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system for removing restrictions from the operation of an information handling system having wireless capabilities and operating within a network services environment, comprising:

a predetermined subscriber information module (SIM) comprising a unique electronic identifier and subscriber information, said subscriber information corresponding to said network services operating environment;
an information handling system comprising a unique electronic identifier and operable to implement a plurality of SIMs, said information handling system restricted to implement said predetermined SIM;
a Web service portal, comprising said network services operating environment, operable to receive and process said unique electronic identifiers and subscriber information, said Web services portal providing information handling system users support information on subscription plans, account termination, billing and information handling system-to-SIM unlocking, and;
an information handling system-to-SIM unlock system operable to generate at least one unlock code, said unlock code operable to remove operating restrictions from said information handling system corresponding to said predetermined SIM, said information handling system-to-SIM unlock system generating said unlock code based upon processing said unique electronic identifiers via the Web service portal;
and wherein
said information handling system is operable to implement said predetermined SIM, extract unique electronic identifier and subscriber information therefrom, and establish a communications session with said network services operating environment;
said information handling system is operable to connect with said Web service portal and submit said unique electronic identifiers and subscriber information;
and,
said Web service portal is operable to receive and process said subscriber information and electronic identifiers to determine eligibility of removing said operating restrictions from said information handling system corresponding to said predetermined SIM.

6 more elements

A method for removing restrictions from the operation of an information handling system having wireless capabilities and operating in a network services operating environment, comprising:

providing a subscriber information module (SIM) comprising a unique electronic identifier and subscriber information, said subscriber information corresponding to the network services operating environment;
providing the information handling system with a unique electronic identifier operable to implement a plurality of SIMs, the information handling system being restricted to implement said SIM;
enabling receipt and processing of said unique electronic identifiers and subscriber information via a Web service portal, the Web services portal providing information handling system users support information on subscription plans, account termination, billing and information handling system-to-SIM unlocking, and;
generating at least one unlock code via an unlock system, said unlock code operable to remove operating restrictions from said information handling system corresponding to said SIM, said unlock system generating said unlock code based upon processing said unique electronic identifiers via the Web service portal;
and wherein
said information handling system is operable to implement said SIM, extract unique electronic identifier and subscriber information therefrom, and establish a communications session with said network services operating environment;
said information handling system is operable to connect with said Web service portal and submit said unique electronic identifiers and subscriber information;
and,
said Web service portal is operable to receive and process said subscriber information and electronic identifiers to determine eligibility of removing said operating restrictions from said information handling system corresponding to said SIM.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.