Patent Application
20080057957
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts.
Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for an activation system and method for activating a wireless modem card or like device installed in a handset or other wireless device in order to provide access to a public network, such as the Internet. For example, one method as disclosed herein allows for activation of an Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) PC card on a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.
After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
In the embodiment of
The host device or handset 20 can be any of a variety of portable wireless communication devices, including a cell phone, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), laptop computer, handheld computer, or any combination of these and other devices capable of being carried by a user for wireless voice and data communication purposes when the user is away from his or her home or place of work. An example general purpose wireless device is later described with respect to
In the embodiment of
Referring to
The processor module 60 of the wireless modem card 22 is configured to automatically transmit identification information to the cellular tower station or access point every time a cellular call is placed or a request for access to the second network is made. The actual ESN is normally not transmitted over the air, but instead industry-standard techniques are used to securely identify a card at the cellular network without directly transmitting an ESN.
In this embodiment, the activation status stored in the subscriber database will include a second network or Internet activation status as a component of the carrier network 25. If the card has not yet been activated, the network activation status stored in the subscriber database for that card is “not activated”.
In
The handset is directed to a network application at the authorization server which provides an “activation page” on the user's network browser (step 48). This will prompt the user to enter any required information on the activation page (step 50), such as their identification, the electronic serial number (ESN) of the handset or card, or the like, as determined by the cellular carrier. The authorization server 26 then carries out a network activation procedure (step 52) and activates the handset or card for wireless access to the Internet over the carrier network 25 (step 54). The carrier authorization server uses the parameters of the terminal or PC card 22 to which it is connected, and after validating that an activation page is necessary, initiates an over the air service provisioning (OTASP) or similar activation and provisioning procedure to activate the card. After this procedure is completed, the status of the ESN associated with the card in the network subscriber database will be changed to “activated”, and the network will recognize the card as an activated card. This will change the network parameters to regular Domain Name System (DNS), Internet Protocol (IP), and gateway addresses allowing access to the full extent of the network, through dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) or a similar mechanism (step 55). At the same time, the activation status stored on the card 22 will be changed to “activated”.
In the embodiment of
This method and system for activating a wireless modem card for use over a cellular carrier network is easier for the customer, because they do not have to install any software and the activation process is automatically initiated simply by launching a web browser on the user's handset. It is also easier for the carrier, since they do not need to have someone signing up the customer for their wireless Internet service. Instead, the carrier network determines the activation status by checking the subscriber database for the connecting wireless modem card, and will direct any non-activated cards to the carrier's authorization server, which will then automatically initiate a service provisioning procedure and obtain any necessary information from the customer on an activation page which opens on their browser.
The system and method of
In the illustrated embodiment, wireless communication device 450 comprises an antenna system 455, a radio system 460, a baseband system 465, a speaker 470, a microphone 480, a central processing unit (“CPU”) 485, a data storage area 490, and a hardware interface 495. In the wireless communication device 450, radio frequency (“RF”) signals are transmitted and received over the air by the antenna system 455 under the management of the radio system 460.
In one embodiment, the antenna system 455 may comprise one or more antennae and one or more multiplexors (not shown) that perform a switching function to provide the antenna system 455 with transmit and receive signal paths. In the receive path, received RF signals can be coupled from a multiplexor to a low noise amplifier (not shown) that amplifies the received RF signal and sends the amplified signal to the radio system 460.
In alternative embodiments, the radio system 460 may comprise one or more radios that are configured to communication over various frequencies. In one embodiment, the radio system 460 may combine a demodulator (not shown) and modulator (not shown) in one integrated circuit (“IC”). The demodulator and modulator can also be separate components. In the incoming path, the demodulator strips away the RF carrier signal leaving a baseband receive audio signal, which is sent from the radio system 460 to the baseband system 465.
If the received signal contains audio information, then baseband system 465 decodes the signal and converts it to an analog signal. Then the signal is amplified and sent to the speaker 470. The baseband system 465 also receives analog audio signals from the microphone 480. These analog audio signals are converted to digital signals and encoded by the baseband system 465. The baseband system 465 also codes the digital signals for transmission and generates a baseband transmit audio signal that is routed to the modulator portion of the radio system 460. The modulator mixes the baseband transmit audio signal with an RF carrier signal generating an RF transmit signal that is routed to the antenna system and may pass through a power amplifier (not shown). The power amplifier amplifies the RF transmit signal and routes it to the antenna system 455 where the signal is switched to the antenna port for transmission.
The baseband system 465 is also communicatively coupled with the central processing unit 485. The central processing unit 485 has access to a data storage area 490. The central processing unit 485 is preferably configured to execute instructions (i.e., computer programs or software) that can be stored in the data storage area 490. Computer programs can also be received from the baseband processor 465 and stored in the data storage area 490 or executed upon receipt. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the wireless communication device 450 to perform the various functions of the handset as previously described.
In this description, the term “computer readable medium” is used to refer to any media used to provide executable instructions (e.g., software and computer programs) to the wireless communication device 450 for execution by the central processing unit 485. Examples of these media include the data storage area 490, microphone 480 (via the baseband system 465), antenna system 455 (also via the baseband system 465), and hardware interface 495. These computer readable mediums are means for providing executable code, programming instructions, and software to the wireless communication device 450. The executable code, programming instructions, and software, when executed by the central processing unit 485, preferably cause the central processing unit 485 to perform the features and functions of the handset previously described herein.
The central processing unit 485 is also preferably configured to receive notifications from the hardware interface 495 when new devices are detected by the hardware interface. Hardware interface 495 can be a combination electromechanical detector with controlling software that communicates with the CPU 485 and interacts with new devices. The hardware interface 495 may be a firewire port, a USB port, a Bluetooth or infrared wireless unit, or any of a variety of wired or wireless access mechanisms. Examples of hardware that may be linked with the device 450 include data storage devices, computing devices, headphones, microphones, and the like.
Various embodiments may also be implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, components such as application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), or field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”). Implementation of a hardware state machine capable of performing the functions described herein will also be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art. Various embodiments may also be implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.
Furthermore, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and method steps described in connection with the above described figures and the embodiments disclosed herein can often be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled persons can implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the invention. In addition, the grouping of functions within a module, block, circuit or step is for ease of description. Specific functions or steps can be moved from one module, block or circuit to another without departing from the invention.
Moreover, the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and methods described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (“DSP”), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
Additionally, the steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium including a network storage medium. An exemplary storage medium can be coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can also reside in an ASIC.
The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.
