Automatic expiration of wireless communication service subscriptions

Patent 6529727 Issued on March 4, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 7, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Wireless telephone service access method
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Inventors

Application

No. 390817 filed on 09/07/1999

US Classes:

455/411, Privacy, lock-out, or authentication455/433, Home location registration (HLR) or visitor location registration (VLR) detail455/435.1Registration

Examiners

Primary: Hunter, Daniel S.
Assistant: Corsaro, Nick

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Coats & Bennett, P.L.L.C.

Foreign Patent References

0869693 EP. 03/13/1998
0977449 EP. 07/13/1999
WO 92/19078 WO. 10/13/1992
WO 97/42783 WO. 11/13/1997

International Class

H04M 001/66

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing over-the-air activation for wireless communications service subscriptions within a wireless communications system. The method includes providing a plurality of subscription modules each having a unique identifier that corresponds to a plurality of non-activated service subscriptions. An activation period is established for each of the non-activated service subscriptions within which the corresponding subscriptions must be activated or deleted from the system. A list of unique identifiers and their associated activation periods is stored in the wireless communications system. To activate the subscription, a subscription module is mated with a mobile equipment device. An over-the-air activation request is transmitted to the wireless communications system that includes the unique identifier associated with said selected subscription module. The service subscription associated with the unique identifier is activated when the unique identifier is stored on the list and the activation period is valid.