JP2593599B2 - Method of programming wireless data telephone and programmable wireless data telephone - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the art of programming mobile data telephones and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for remotely downloading number assignment module (NAM) indicating parameters to a mobile data telephone.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the last few years, the market for cellular mobile communications has grown significantly. Accordingly, the growth of cellular customers has forced cellular telephone service providers and cellular telephone service resellers to service a large number of new subscribers seeking a variety of cellular services (voice and / or data communications). . Current cellular subscribers also tend to change subscriptions to other service providers with incentives offered by voice and data service providers to new subscribers.

[0003] Such changes in customer, supplier, and reseller relationships require programming or reprogramming of the cellular data telephone each time a subscriber requests a change. Generally, the prospective customer will purchase a cellular data telephone, bring it to an authorized service center for programming, and make that data telephone an authorized cellular service user data telephone. Required by the supplier.

[0004] In the case of cellular service resellers, the prospective subscriber is often asked to send the data telephone to an authorized distributor for programming after purchasing the data telephone. In either case, the procedure is cumbersome for customers, suppliers, and resellers, and costly due to delays in starting services.

[0005]

Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus that can program a mobile data telephone so that current or new customers can be promptly and reliably and cost effectively provided with telephone services. ing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a pre-activated system between a mobile data telephone and a control center which is also available to non-subscribers (new purchasers of mobile telephones) provided by a remote control center. Forming a two-way voice communication path and a data communication path from the mobile data telephone side via the channel; and activating the mobile data telephone to transmit and receive signals from the control center on the voice communication path; Programming the mobile data telephone by receiving, via a voice communication path, a predetermined set of communication service authorization encoded signals assigned to the mobile data telephone; and storing the reception authorization signal in the mobile data telephone. .

The present invention also provides a non-subscriber (new purchaser of a mobile telephone) provided with a radio transceiver and a modem connected thereto and provided by a remote control center between the mobile data telephone and the control center. Means for forming a two-way wireless voice communication path and data communication path from the mobile data telephone through available pre-activated channels, and activation means for selectively connecting a telephone modem to the voice communication path. Means responsive to the activating means for enabling a modem to receive a predetermined set of service grant signals assigned to the mobile data telephone over a voice communication path; and transmitting the received service grant signal to the mobile data telephone. The means for storing in the telephone constitute a programmable mobile data telephone.

[0008] A method for remotely authorizing a communication service from a control center to a mobile data telephone according to the present invention comprises a method for transmitting and receiving data signals therebetween via a voice communication path between the control center and the mobile data telephone. A two-way radio voice communication path and a data communication path are formed from the mobile data telephone side via a pre-activated channel provided by a non-subscriber (new purchaser of the mobile telephone) provided by the remote control center. Receiving at the control center a predetermined identification indicator assigned to the mobile data telephone, and transmitting, in response to the received identification indicator, a communication service authorization encoded signal assigned to the mobile data telephone to a voice communication path. And transmitting from the control center via

A mobile data telephone for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals over a communication channel according to the present invention comprises a wireless transceiver, a modem connected to the wireless transceiver, and an active connection for selectively connecting the modem to a voice communication channel. Activating means, activating means for responsively activating the modem to a data communication mode via a voice communication channel and transceiver, and means for receiving a service authorization code associated with a mobile data telephone. Means for storing the obtained service authorization code.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a telephone exchange (TSO).
The mobile data telephone 101 is linked to a regional or national telephone communication network. Cellular base station 102 is coupled to telephone exchange 100 via a two-way voice data communication link 103 and is provided for mobile frequency communication with mobile data telephone 101 via radio frequency antenna 104.

The cellular communication service supply center 1
05 is coupled to the central office 100 via a two-way voice data communication link 106. This communication service supply center 105 has a private branch exchange (PBX) 107
And service reception station 108 coupled thereto
Having. The mobile data telephone 101 includes a wireless transceiver 109, a built-in modem 110, and a voice handset 111.
Having.

In the mobile telephone system configured as described above, when purchasing or leasing the mobile data telephone 101, a valid mobile telephone number is assigned by a seller or a lender to a person who is about to subscribe. Generally, this mobile telephone number is composed of a regional code number or a regional code number followed by a station number. In order for the subscriber to be able to use the mobile data telephone 101, the telephone service provider or reseller selected by the subscriber must authorize its use by programming the mobile data telephone 101. That is, the mobile data telephone 101 must be programmed to be identified as a legitimate mobile service subscriber or user in the mobile telephone network.

The programming of the mobile data telephone 101 is performed as follows. First, a data telephone 1
01, a predetermined service center number is dialed, and the communication service supply center 105 is transmitted via the wireless antenna 104, the cellular base station 102, the two-way communication link 103, the telephone exchange 100, and the two-way communication link 106.
A communication path is formed.

When a communication path is established between the mobile data telephone 101 and the communication service supply center 105, the subscriber verbally or dials the data telephone to request the subscriber identification information requested by the operator of the service reception station 108. Can be sent. The mobile data telephone 101 has a programming activation key 1
12 are provided. The programming activation key 112 is for connecting the modem 110 built in the mobile data telephone 101 to the voice communication path formed between the mobile data telephone 101 and the communication service supply center 105.

Next, the operator of the service reception station 108 connects a data signal transmitter at the communication service supply center 105 to this communication path via a modem. Thus, the communication service supply center 1
05 modem to the mobile data telephone 101 modem 110
, The modem operates in data mode. Next, the service operator sets the mobile data telephone 1
01 can be directly input to a memory circuit from a remote place. As described above, the mobile data telephone 101
The information to be entered and stored in is specific to the owner or lessee of the data telephone.

In the case of a cellular mobile communication service, such information is called a number assignment module (NAM) indication parameter. The following list provides examples of NAM indication parameters that are remotely downloaded to mobile data telephone 101. System identification number 00002 Phone number 2013866
366 Access overload class 06 Group identification number 10 Initial paging channel 0334 Security lock code 6366 Local use flag 1 A / B system selection 1 Minimum indicator flag 1

In the example of the NAM indication parameter shown here, the total number of characters to be transmitted is 30 bytes, and each NAM indication entry has a value from 0 to 9. In addition to the special initial character, an end character,
In a 1-byte cyclic redundancy check (CRC) coding segment, the total number of bytes is mostly 3
It is 3 bytes or less. In this embodiment, the 7-bit AS
The CII code is used to transmit NAM indication parameters from the service providing center 105 to the mobile data telephone 101.

The download sequence for the cellular voice channel begins with the start of the download character "STX" (ie, an 8-character ASCII character 002). This character instructs the software controller in the telephone 101 to receive 30 bytes such as a NAM instruction parameter. Last download character "E
TX "(ie, the 8 character ASCII character 0
03) is transferred next, and the transfer of the NAM parameters is completed, all the received CRC checksums are checked, and it is instructed that all the NAM indication parameters in the permanent memory in the telephone set 101 have been stored. A subsequent series of characters "EOT" (ie, 8-code ASCII)
Character 004) indicates that the download has been completed,
The mobile data telephone starts or suspends cellular service operation.

Next, a specific configuration of the mobile data telephone 101 will be described. In FIG. 2, the mobile data telephone 10
1 has a radio transceiver unit 201, which is provided with a radio frequency transceiver 202 coupled to an antenna 203, for mobile base stations such as mobile cell sites or other mobile data. Send and receive signals to and from the phone.

Message processor 205 is coupled to transceiver 202 by a bidirectional message signal line 204. The message processor 205 is for receiving and processing the message type signal of the system. Voice and data signal processor 207 is coupled to transceiver 202 by a bidirectional signal line 206. The audio processor 207 is for processing data signals and voice and data signals generated or received by the mobile data telephone set 101.

The voice, data signal, and data signal on the signal line 206 are signals supplied to the antenna 203 or signals obtained from the antenna 203. A controller 208 is provided in the wireless transceiver unit 201, and is connected to a message processor 205, an audio processor 207, a transceiver 202, a modem and a modem control device 210 via a control bus 209. The handset interface 211 connects the audio processor 207 and the handset 212 to each other.

A mode switch 213 is inserted between the handset interface 210 and the wireless transceiver 201, and the mode switch 213 is also coupled to the modem and the modem controller 210. During remote programming of mobile data telephone 101, ie, downloading of NAM indication parameters, antenna 203
The signal on the signal line 214 received by the audio processor 207 and output from the audio processor 207 is
To the modem circuit 210.

In such a case, such a signal is received and the modem user interface 216 (eg, EIA)
Instead of transmitting to the RS-232 port), the modem controller 210 sends the signal via signal line 209 to the transceiver controller 208 where it is stored in the permanent memory circuit 215.

In the case of the above embodiment, the signal stream has an STX character (about 30 bytes of NAM information), an ETX character, and a checksum character. Upon receiving this information flow, the mobile phone 101 sends an acknowledgment signal “ACK” (ie,
8 code ASCII characters 006) or "NC
K "(ie, the 8 character ASCII character 02
5) is programmed to respond by sending When this “NAK” signal is received, an error occurs during transmission, and the cellular service providing center 105
Operator restarts the download of the NAM information. When the download operation is officially completed, the cellular service providing center transmits a series of EOT characters, and when it is received by the mobile data telephone 101, the modem 210 and the mode switch 213 convert to a voice mode, and the handset 212 And the interface 211 thereof are connected to the mode switch 213. At this point, the operator of the cellular service center 105 verifies to the telephone subscriber that the mobile data telephone 101 is fully programmed and ready for use.

In the above embodiment, the mobile data telephone 10
One remote programming has been described using a cellular analog FM channel as an example, but a time division multiple access (TDM)
The remote download of the NAM instruction parameter of A) can be easily implemented from the above example. A method of performing such download is to transmit NAM information such as user data. This is essentially equivalent to transmitting data to the public switched telephone network host computer via the digital cellular system. Another way to perform the NAM download is to first employ a proprietary signaling message (similar to handoff request, radio frequency power adjustment, blank / burst, etc.) and add this signaling message to the mobile data telephone. Responds and then receives the message defined and sent at the cell site at the request of the mobile switching center. Once the data path is established, the remaining operations and steps are similar to analog cellular systems.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, a programming method of a mobile data telephone and a programmable mobile data which enable a new subscriber's mobile data telephone to be quickly and simply programmed and used. Telephone can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile telephone communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of the mobile data telephone in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Telephone exchange (TSO) 101 Mobile data telephone 102 Base station 103 Two-way communication link 104 Mobile frequency antenna 105 Communication service supply center 106 Two-way communication link 107 Private branch exchange (PBX) 108 Service reception station 109 Wireless transceiver 110 Modem 111 Handset 112 Programming activation key 202 RF (radio frequency) transceiver 203 Antenna 204 Signal line 205 Message processor 206 Signal line 207 Audio processor 208 Transceiver controller 211 Handset interface 210 Modem and modem controller 213 Mode switch 212 Handset 214 Signal Line 215 permanent memory 216 user interface

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mobile data terminal provided by a remote control center between a mobile data telephone and a control center.
A pre-activated channel that is also available to new buyers of the handset
Two-way wireless voice from the mobile data telephone
Forming a communication path and a data communication path ; activating a mobile data telephone to transmit and receive data from the control center via the voice communication path; and Receiving a set of assigned predetermined communication service authorization encoded signals; and storing the received service authorization encoded signals in the mobile data telephone to enable use of the mobile data telephone. A method for programming a mobile data telephone, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to the receiving step, transmitting a predetermined identification mark given to the mobile data telephone from the mobile data telephone via the voice communication path. . 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing step comprises the step of permanently storing the communication service authorization encoded signal in a ROM. 4. A mobile data service provided by a remote control center between a mobile data telephone and a control center for transmitting and receiving data signals via the voice communication path.
Pre-activated channels that are also available to new buyers of
Two-way voice from mobile data telephone via channel
Forming a communication path and a data communication path ; receiving a predetermined identification signal assigned to the mobile data telephone at the control center; and receiving the identification data to enable use of the mobile data telephone. Transmitting a service authorization coded signal assigned to the mobile data telephone from the control center via the voice communication path in response to the beacon. A method for programming a remotely licensed mobile data telephone. 5. The mobile data telephone of claim 4, further comprising: receiving a communication service authorization encoded signal at the mobile data telephone; and permanently storing the communication service authorization signal at the mobile data telephone. Method. 6. A mobile data terminal provided by a remote control center between a mobile data telephone and a control center having a wireless transceiver and a modem connected thereto.
A pre-activated channel that is also available to new buyers of the handset
Two-way voice communication from the mobile data telephone via
Means for forming a path and a data communication path ; activating means for selectively connecting a modem of a mobile data telephone to the voice communication path; and responsive to the activating means, the modem is connected via the voice communication path. Enabling means for receiving a predetermined set of service authorization signals assigned to the mobile data telephone, and transmitting the received service authorization signal to the mobile data telephone so that the mobile data telephone can be used. Means for storing, remotely programmable programmable mobile data telephone. 7. The telephone according to claim 6, wherein the storage means is a ROM. 8. A mobile data telephone provided by a remote control center between the control center and the mobile data telephone.
A pre-activated channel that is also available to new buyers of the handset
Two-way voice communication from the mobile data telephone via
Forming a path and a data communication path ; activating the mobile data telephone to enable transmission and reception of data between the control center and the mobile data telephone via the voice communication path; Receiving at the control center a predetermined identification mark given to the telephone, transmitting a service authorization code assigned to the mobile data telephone from the control center via a voice communication path in response to the received identification mark; Step and mobile data telephone
Storing the authorization code in the mobile data telephone to enable the use of the mobile data telephone from a control center.