Patent ID: 6188899
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network to program a MIN into the mobile station prior to the first time that it is used, comprising the steps of:receiving at a wireless network node a registration message, said registration message including a received MIN selected from the group consisting of a valid MIN and a dummy MIN, said dummy MIN being translatable into an address for an over the air activation processor in an SS7 network coupled to the wireless network;said registration message further including, in addition to said received MIN, an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station;storing said ESN in a visitor location register (VLR);if said received MIN is a valid MIN, routing said received message to a home location resister (HLR);if said received MIN is a dummy MIN:translating said dummy MIN into said address for said over the air activation processor;routing said registration message to said over the air activation processor;initiating an activation process at said over the air activation processor in response to said received registration message; andtransmitting activation parameters to said mobile station in response to said activation process using said ESN stored in said VLR.