Network operator controlled locking and unlocking mechanism for mobile telephones
US6321079A · kind A · utility
70Cited by
4References
32Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W12/48
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Network operator controlled locking and unlocking mechanism for mobile telephones is disclosed. A method and means for enabling the locking of a mobile telephone to a specified network by the network operator. Locking may be implemented at the point of sale of the mobile telephone. A secret number is embedded in the mobile telephone through the SIM (subscriber identity module) interface in the locking process and the secret number is used subsequently in combination with a random number to allow network unlock. The secret numbers may be indexed and administered in relation to the SIM rather than the mobile telephone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.