← Back to Patent Explorer
US5835858A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Easy activation of a cellular phone

Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
•
Filing: 1995-11-28
•
Granted: 1998-11-10
•
Expires: 2015-11-28
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An Easy Activation sequence for cellular phones that includes a checking code calculation feature which enables a phone owner or user to safely carry out operator assisted NAM programming activation locally in the phone independent of the support provided by the network. The user need only key in a MIN, SID, and checksum in response to appropriate prompts and obtain an indication of whether the NAM programming has been correct or not. Various other parameters, such as A-key and alphanumeric SID, may also be accomodated.

Inventors

  • 👤 Juha Vaihoja
  • 👤 Mikko Lietsalmi
  • 👤 Jorma Seppanen
  • 👤 Jaakko Vanttila

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 23:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/26; H04W8/265

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 162 words
A method for manually programming the Number Assignment Module (NAM) of a cellular phone, having a locally stored ESN, to activate said phone for operation in a cellular network, comprising the steps of: a) starting a programming/activation sequence by putting a cellular phone in an activation mode wherein the NAM is ready to accept parameter input; b) entering in MIN and SID parameters; c) entering in a checking code I; d) calculating a checking code II from said MIN, said SID, and said locally stored ESN of the phone; e) comparing said checking codes, I and II, and if there is a match continuing the programming/activation sequence with step g); f) otherwise, interrupting the programming/activation sequence, returning to step b), and repeating steps b) to e); g) storing said MIN and SID in said NAM and defaulting any remaining NAM parameters based on said MIN and SID parameters; and h) powering off and rebooting the cellular phone to acquire the network service.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 162 words
A method for manually programming the Number Assignment Module (NAM) of a cellular phone, having a locally stored ESN, to activate said phone for operation in a cellular network, comprising the steps of: a) starting a programming/activation sequence by putting a cellular phone in an activation mode wherein the NAM is ready to accept parameter input; b) entering in MIN and SID parameters; c) entering in a checking code I; d) calculating a checking code II from said MIN, said SID, and said locally stored ESN of the phone; e) comparing said checking codes, I and II, and if there is a match continuing the programming/activation sequence with step g); f) otherwise, interrupting the programming/activation sequence, returning to step b), and repeating steps b) to e); g) storing said MIN and SID in said NAM and defaulting any remaining NAM parameters based on said MIN and SID parameters; and h) powering off and rebooting the cellular phone to acquire the network service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of starting the programming/activation sequence comprises keying in from the cellular phone's keypad a predetermined sequence of characters which start the activation mode locally in the cellular phone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: after starting step a), selecting the NAM element to be programmed with the default being 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: after step b) of entering in the MIN and SID parameters, entering an A-key input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: after step b) of entering in the MIN and SID parameters, entering an alphanumeric SID input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said MIN comprises 10 digits, said SID comprises less than 6 digits, and said ESN comprises 8 digits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of locally storing an MFR in said phone and wherein the step of calculating the checking code II comprises calculating said checking code from said MIN and SID parameters, and said locally stored ESN and MFR of the phone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 67 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: after step b) of entering in the SID and MIN parameters, entering an A-key input; and entering in an alphanumeric SID input; and wherein the step of calculating the checking code II comprises calculating said checking code from said MIN and SID parameters, said A-key and alphanumeric SID inputs, and the locally stored ESN of the phone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 170 words
A cellular phone having a Number Assignment Module (NAM), with a locally stored ESN, that is capable of being manually activated and programmed for operation in a cellular network, comprising: a) means for starting a programming/activation sequence by putting the cellular phone in an activation mode wherein the NAM is ready to accept parameter input; b) means for keying in programming parameters; c) means for accepting MIN, SID, and checking code I parameters entered by said keying means; d) means for calculating a checking code II from said MIN, said SID, and said locally stored ESN of the phone; e) means for comparing said checking codes, I and II for a match; f) means, responsive to a non-match, for indicating that programming parameters should be keyed in; g) means, responsive to a match, for storing said MIN and SID in said NAM and defaulting any remaining NAM parameters based on said MIN and SID; and h) means for powering off and rebooting the cellular phone to acquire the network service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 170 words
A cellular phone having a Number Assignment Module (NAM), with a locally stored ESN, that is capable of being manually activated and programmed for operation in a cellular network, comprising: a) means for starting a programming/activation sequence by putting the cellular phone in an activation mode wherein the NAM is ready to accept parameter input; b) means for keying in programming parameters; c) means for accepting MIN, SID, and checking code I parameters entered by said keying means; d) means for calculating a checking code II from said MIN, said SID, and said locally stored ESN of the phone; e) means for comparing said checking codes, I and II for a match; f) means, responsive to a non-match, for indicating that programming parameters should be keyed in; g) means, responsive to a match, for storing said MIN and SID in said NAM and defaulting any remaining NAM parameters based on said MIN and SID; and h) means for powering off and rebooting the cellular phone to acquire the network service.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
A cellular phone as in claim 9, further comprising display means for indicating a match and a non-match.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 43 words
A cellular phone as in claim 9, further comprising means for storing a predetermined sequence of characters which start the activation mode locally in the cellular phone in response to the keying in of said sequence of characters from the cellular phone's keypad.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
A cellular phone as in claim 9, further comprising means for selecting the NAM element to be programmed with the default being 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
A cellular phone as in claim 9 further comprising means for accepting an A-key input.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
A cellular phone as in claim 9 further comprising means for accepting an alphanumeric SID.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
A cellular phone as in claim 9 wherein said keying means comprises key means, responsive to pressing and holding, for actuating said accepting means and prompting the acceptance of said MIN.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 230 words
A method for manually programming the Number Assignment Module (NAM) of a cellular phone, having a locally stored ESN and a display screen, to activate said phone for operation in a cellular network, comprising the steps of: A) starting the programming/activation sequence by keying in from a cellular phone's keypad a predetermined sequence of characters to start the activation program locally in the cellular phone wherein the NAM is put in an activation mode ready to accept parameter input; B) displaying a prompt on the screen requesting the input of a MIN; C) keying in a MIN and pressing the SEND key on the keypad; D) displaying a prompt on the screen requesting the input of checking digits; E) keying in a SID and checking digits and pressing the SEND key; F) displaying an acceptance indication if the keyed in MIN, SID, and checking digits have been correctly entered, otherwise, displaying a repeat prompt on the screen; G) pressing the CLEAR key on the keypad; H) if the repeat prompt has been displayed, again displaying the prompt requesting the input of a MIN; I) if the acceptance prompt has been displayed, storing the programmed information in the NAM ending the activation mode, and displaying an empty idle mode completing the programming of the NAM; and J) powering the cellular phone off and on again, whereupon the network service is acquired.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 230 words
A method for manually programming the Number Assignment Module (NAM) of a cellular phone, having a locally stored ESN and a display screen, to activate said phone for operation in a cellular network, comprising the steps of: A) starting the programming/activation sequence by keying in from a cellular phone's keypad a predetermined sequence of characters to start the activation program locally in the cellular phone wherein the NAM is put in an activation mode ready to accept parameter input; B) displaying a prompt on the screen requesting the input of a MIN; C) keying in a MIN and pressing the SEND key on the keypad; D) displaying a prompt on the screen requesting the input of checking digits; E) keying in a SID and checking digits and pressing the SEND key; F) displaying an acceptance indication if the keyed in MIN, SID, and checking digits have been correctly entered, otherwise, displaying a repeat prompt on the screen; G) pressing the CLEAR key on the keypad; H) if the repeat prompt has been displayed, again displaying the prompt requesting the input of a MIN; I) if the acceptance prompt has been displayed, storing the programmed information in the NAM ending the activation mode, and displaying an empty idle mode completing the programming of the NAM; and J) powering the cellular phone off and on again, whereupon the network service is acquired.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: pressing and holding the Clear or End key at any time during the sequence prior to the display of an acceptance indication, and again displaying the prompt requesting the input of a MIN.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of keying in a SID and checking digits and pressing the SEND key comprises calculating a checking code from said MIN, said SID, and the locally stored ESN of the phone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said checking digits comprise four checking digits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said MIN comprises 10 digits, said SID comprises less than 6 digits, and said ESN comprises 8 digits.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5233656A Cited
US5297191A Cited
US5315638A Cited
US5414753A Cited
US5551073A Cited
US5465288A Cited
US5485505A Cited
US5386455A Cited
US5572571A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-11-09 2002-05-11 2002-11-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-11-09 2006-05-11 2006-11-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-11-09 2010-05-11 2010-11-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag