Patent ID: 8190141

Claim:
A method for reactivating a then-currently deactivated mobile unit, comprising: submitting a request to a call center to reactivate the then-currently deactivated mobile unit; upon receiving the request, submitting an other request to a cellular service provider from the call center, the other request including a request to broadcast a message having contained therein a mobile unit identifier and a reactivation protocol; broadcasting the message from the cellular service provider to a plurality of mobile units each having stored therein an identical inactive dialing number; via a processor operatively associated with the then-currently deactivated mobile unit, recognizing the mobile unit identifier contained in the broadcasted message; and upon recognizing the mobile unit identifier, via the processor associated with the then-currently deactivated mobile unit, applying the reactivation protocol contained in the broadcasted message to initiate reactivation of the then-currently deactivated mobile unit.