Method and apparatus for network initiated parameter updating

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for initiating an over the air parameter administration (OTAPA) of a mobile station without the need for interacting with a mobile station user. A unique service option number included with the initial page indicates to the mobile station that an update is being requested. The mobile station performs a network validation check (SPASM) before permitting the update to take place. Flags are used in the network to alert the system that an attempted update was not completed because a mobile station was not update accessible for any of several reasons. The flags cause the system to update when the mobile station next becomes update accessible. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/006,577, filed Mar. 25, 2003, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

1. A method of alerting a wireless communication network that an attempt to update operational parameter in a mobile station has failed comprising the steps of:  The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 setting a network based over-the-air parameter administration pending flag;  
 storing a network based over-the-air functional address for reinitiating the update process; and  
 the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag is set in conjunction with home location register data when the location of a mobile station is not available.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag is set in conjunction with MSC based data when an attempted update of a mobile station is not completed.  
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  comprising the additional step of:
 transferring the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag from a mobile switching center (MSC) to a  the home location register (HLR) when it is not possible to update a mobile station due to mobile station inactivity or due to the inability of an MSC to update the mobile station.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  comprising the additional step of:
 transferring the flag indication to an  the home location register (HLR) when a mobile station update is not completed within predetermined parameters.  
 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for alerting a wireless communications network that an attempt to update operational parameters in a mobile station has failed comprising:  The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 means for setting a network based over-the-air parameter administration pending flag;  
 means for storing a network based over-the-air functionality address for reinitiating the update process; and  
 means for setting the over-the-air parameter administration pending flag in conjunction with home location register data when the location of a mobile station is not available.  
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  comprising in addition:
 means for setting the over the air parameter administration pending flag in conjunction with MSC based data when an attempted update of an mobile station is not completed.  
 
     
     
       7. A method of validating a wireless communication network communicating with a mobile station comprising the steps of:
 initiating an over the air mobile station parameter administration session with a mobile station; 
 generating a first secret work, within a  the mobile station, comprising a predetermined combination of a first word stored internal to the mobile station and a second word generated internal to said mobile station;  
 generating a second secret work, derived from data stored at the  a home location  network, comprising a predetermined combination of said second word obtained from said mobile station and a copy of said first word as obtained from a home location network  register;  
 supplying said second secret word to said mobile station; and  
 comparing said first and second secret words within said mobile station to validate the communicating network; and  
   when validation of the wireless communication network is successful, continuing with the over the over the air mobile station parameter administration session .  
 
     
     
       8. Apparatus for validating a wireless communication network communicating with a mobile station comprising:
 means for initiating an over the air mobile station parameter administration session with a mobile station; 
 means for generating a first secret word, within a  the mobile station, comprising a predetermined combination of a first word stored internal to the mobile station and a second word generated internal to said mobile station;  
 means for generating a second secret word, at the  a home location  network, comprising a predetermined combination of said second word received from said mobile station and a copy of said first word as obtained from a home location network  register;  
 means for supplying said second secret word to said mobile station; and  
 means for comparing said first and second secret words within said mobile station to validate the communicating network; and  
   means for, when validation of the wireless communication network is successful, continuing with the over the over the air mobile station parameter administration session .