Patent ID: 7840204

Claim:
A method for unlocking a particular locked wireless communications device, comprising the steps of: identifying a one time subsidy lock code (OTKSL) that is used by the service provider to initially provision the particular locked wireless device, wherein the OTKSL is unique to the particular locked wireless device; obtaining a first backdoor code from a service provider, wherein the backdoor code comprises the OTKSL that is unique to the particular locked wireless device, and the OTKSL is repeatedly used until a pre-determined OTKSL limit is reached; receiving input of a character sequence for entering a backdoor screen; displaying the backdoor screen; prompting input of the first backdoor code on the backdoor screen displayed on the locked wireless device; receiving the first backdoor code at the locked wireless device; comparing the received first backdoor code to a stored OTKSL that is stored on the wireless device; resetting a first unlock code for the wireless communications device if the received first backdoor code matches the stored OTKSL and the device determines that the OTKSL has not reached its limit of use; prompting input for a second backdoor code, if the first backdoor code does not match the stored OTKSL, wherein the second backdoor code is a service programming code (SPC) that is the same for each wireless device associated with the service provider; obtaining the second backdoor code from the service provider; receiving the second backdoor code at the locked wireless device; comparing the received second back door code to a stored SPC associated with the service provider that is stored on the wireless device; and resetting a second unlock code for the wireless communication device if the received second backdoor code matches the stored SPC; wherein the steps of prompting, receiving and comparing are repeated for a plurality of requested backdoor codes.