IP Library Granted Patent US 8,989,731
Granted Patent B1
US 8,989,731 · App. 13/855,677 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Detection and self-healing of a mobile communication device network access failure

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,989,731
App. No.
13/855,677
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of responding to a network connection failure in a mobile communication device. The method comprises receiving an error message indicating a data connection failure, activating an application configured to attempt to access the network using a first identifier on the mobile communication device in response to receiving the error message, sending an SMS message from the mobile communication device over an SMS control channel in an attempt to access the network, receiving information indicating a failure to access the network through the SMS control channel, determining that the failure to access the network is based on the first identifier, performing a limited reset of the mobile communication device to replace the first identifier with a factory default identifier, confirming through use of the factory default identifier that the first identifier is inactive, and establishing the factory default identifier such that the mobile communication device is configured for activation.

Claims (34)

1. A method of responding to a network connection failure in a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile communication device, an error message indicating a data connection failure;

activating an application on the mobile communication device in response to receiving the error message, wherein the application is configured to attempt to access the network using a first identifier;

sending, by the application, an SMS message from the mobile communication device over an SMS control channel in an attempt to access the network;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, information indicating a failure to access the network through the SMS control channel;

determining, by the mobile communication device, that the failure to access the network is based on the first identifier;

performing a limited reset of the mobile communication device, wherein the first identifier on the mobile communication device is replaced with a factory default identifier, and wherein performing the limited reset comprises performing a DSP modem reset configured to allow the application execution to continue after the first identifier has been replaced by the factory default identifier;

confirming, through use of the factory default identifier, that the first identifier is inactive; and

establishing the factory default identifier such that the mobile communication device is configured for activation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the factory default identifier is a first time identifier applied by a manufacturer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application is configured to attempt to access the network by sending the SMS message.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the application occurs in response to at least one of receipt of the error message or receipt of an input from a user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the factory default identifier comprises establishing a factory default setting configured to limit the mobile communication device from attempting to access the network in the factory default state without first receiving activation instructions from an authorized activation application.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the first identifier in a persistent data store in response to determining that the failure to access the network is based on the first identifier.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

deleting the stored first identifier from the persistent data store in response to confirming that the first identifier is inactive.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the factory default identifier such that the mobile communication device is configured for activation comprises establishing the mobile communication device as a cold device.

9. A method of responding to a network connection failure in a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile communication device, an error message indicating a network connection failure;

activating an application on the mobile communication device, wherein the application is configured to attempt to access the network;

determining, at the mobile communication device, that a first identifier failed to access the network based on the first identifier;

storing the first identifier in a persistent data store;

performing a limited reset, wherein the first identifier on the mobile communication device is replaced with a factory default identifier, and wherein performing the limited reset comprises performing a DSP modem reset configured to allow the application execution to continue after the user identifier has been replaced with the factory default identifier;

attempting to access the network with the factory default identifier;

obtaining access to the network using the factory default identifier;

verifying that the first identifier is active based on obtaining access to the network; and

re-establishing the first identifier from the persistent data store.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the error message indicates a data connection failure.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

attempting, by the application, to access the network via SMS over a voice channel.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

preventing the application from re-executing once the first identifier has been re-established.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first identifier is a user MEID.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2013
From: ABOU-EL-ELLA, HASSAN; SUMLER, JOHN D.; URBANEK, ROBERT E.
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 030138/0220 →