MXPA97005088A - System and method for notification of the automatic registry for activation on the - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, a method and system for automatically activating a mobile station in a wireless communication network is described. The system includes an on-air activation function processor (OTAF) in the network that initiates an activation process in response to receipt of a registration message from a mobile switching center which serves the mobile station that requests the activation. Each mobile station has an information unit stored therein at the time of information to enable it to request activation over the air. That unit of information is either the routing address in the OTAF processor network, or alternatively, it is a value that is translatable at that address, either an OTAF ID number that is the same value for each mobile station or is a fictitious value sequentially transmitted in series for the mobile identification number (a fictitious MIN). When the mobile station is switched on for the first time in the network, it asks for activation over the air by transmitting a registration order to the mobile switching center. The registration order will include a registration order: the registration order will include one of the three alternative forms of the information unit described above, either the routing address of the OTAF processor, or an OTAF ID number or a fictic number

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF THE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION FOR THE ACTIVATION ON THE AIR TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates broadly to the activation over the air of wireless mobile telephones and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for providing the routing information for sending a registration notification from a mobile switching center to an activation processor over the air in the fixed support network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The term "mobile station", as used herein, includes a broad set of mobile, telecommunication units that share the common property of communicating information with a base station in a network by means of electromagnetic waves. Mobile stations include mobile telephone devices such as wireless telephone sets, mobile phones and cellular telephone sets that are designed primarily to exchange voice information with a base station. The term also REF: 25026 includes mobile data communications devices such as paging machines, mobile facsimile machines, and vehicle locating devices of the global positioning system (GPS) that are designed primarily to exchange data. The term "mobile station" also includes hybrid devices such as personal communications service units (PCS), which have both telephony and facsimile communication features. Communications by mobile stations can be by radio waves, as they are used in cellular radio telephony. However, mobile stations can also communicate over electromagnetic links that include satellites orbiting the earth, or alternative electromagnetic links that include optical or infrared radiation. Where the station is connected in a fixed support network to other communication nodes, the network requires routing information so that the mobile station allows the other communication nodes to send information to the mobile station. Registration is the process used by a mobile station to announce its current location and allow the fixed support network to direct incoming calls to the appropriate base station. When a mobile station is placed in the range of operation of a new base station, the mobile station must announce its current location. In order to achieve this, the mobile station must send a message with its mobile identification number (MIN) to the new base station. The MIN is a number assigned to the base station by the fixed support network in order to bill the customer for the services and to allow the network to route the incoming calls. The MIN must be programmed at the base station before the unit is first used by the customer. This process is called activation. For example, normally, a wireless, mobile telephone device does not initiate or terminate radio telephone calls until it is registered with the service provider, and is authorized for service by it. The providers of mobile wireless telephone services require that any new customer bring the mobile telephone device to an authorized service center to program it, so that the telephone device becomes authorized for the service in the network. Information must be entered and stored in the telephone, wireless, mobile device, which is specific to the mobile subscriber and specific to the desired service for the device. In communication services with mobile telephones, cell phones, for example, this information is referred to as parameters for the designation of the number assignment module (NAM). Examples of the NAM parameters that the cell phone service provider now manually enters into the cellular telephone handset include system identification, telephone number, class of general access data, group identification, initial paging channel, security blocking code, local use identifier, A / B system selection, and MIN brand identification. The cell phone customer must present the new cell phone device to the service provider or a representative, so that the NAM module, which constitutes approximately 30 bytes of information, can be manually entered into the cellular telephone han. There are millions of new customers every year for communications services with mobile phone, cell phone. Hundreds of employees of the service provider or representative, located over a wide geographical area, are responsible for manually entering the NAM module in the cellular telephone sets not programmed for new customers. This requires the use of a centralized database to help the service provider coordinate the activation process. The service provider employee typically uses a workstation computer to enter the customer's application data. The workstation is connected away from the central database and sends the new client application data to the database for processing. The centralized database can perform a credit check on the new customer, can keep track of the available services, telephone numbers, network access data, and other information, and then assigns the MIN to the new cellular phone device of the client. The MIN and other NAM parameters are transmitted through the centralized database back to the service provider's workstation to be entered by the employee into the cellular telephone han. This presents a heavy and expensive procedure for both the client as well as the service provider. Thus, there is a need for a method and system to automatically route the activation information sent over the air from the mobile wireless telephone apparatus, through the fixed support network, to an air activation processor in the network, where the activation parameters for the NAM module can be prepared and transferred automatically over the network and sent over the air to the wireless, mobile cellular telephone device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The need discussed above is satisfied by the invention, which allows an activation message on the air to be automatically sent from a non-programmed mobile station to an air activation processor in the fixed support network. The activation message is formatted as an ordinary registration message, but is distinguished in the mobile switching center by including the distinctive information that is translatable at the network address of the on-air activation processor. The electronic serial number of the mobile station is recorded in the associated visitor location recorder by the mobile switching center, and the activation message is routed by the mobile switching center to a signal transfer point in the fixed network of support. The signal transfer point translates the distinctive information of the activation message into the network address of the processor. In contrast, ordinary register messages would be directed by the mobile switching center to the home location registrar for the mobile station. From the signal transfer point, the activation message is routed, together with the identity of the mobile switching center, to the on-air activation processor. There the activation process starts in response to the received activation message. The on-air activation processor then transmits the activation parameters back to the mobile switching center, which then forwards them back to the mobile station, using the electronic serial number stored in the associated digitizing location register. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the distinguishing information in the activation message is an activation function number number on air that is the same for each mobile station. The activation function ID number on air is programmed in the mobile station at the time of its manufacture. During the translation by the signal transfer point, the activation function ID number on the individual value air is translated into the address of the air activation processor network. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the distinguishing information in the activation message is the routing address, itself, the activation processor on air. In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the distinguishing information in the activation message is a fictitious value sequentially transmitted in series by the mobile identification number, abbreviated as "fictitious MIN". A fictional MIN is different for each mobile station. The fictitious MIN is programmed in the mobile station at the time of its manufacture. During the translation by the signal transfer point, each distinctive fictional MIN is translated into the network address of the on-air activation processor. Since there is a small probability that a fictitious MIN will be confused as a valid MIN by the signal transfer point. This mode is less advantageous than the mode where the distinguishing information in the activation message is an activation function number number on the air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a network reference model, according to the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the physical architecture of the activation network over the air.

Figure 3 illustrates the flow of information for the activation record on the air, according to the invention.

Figure 4A is a flow chart of the method for an advantageous embodiment of the invention for activation on air using the ID number of OTAF.

Figure 4B is a variation of the flow chart of Figure 4A, adding steps to provide a simultaneous voice route over the air, to the carrier's business office.

Figure 5 is a flow diagram of the method for an alternative embodiment of the invention where a fictional number sequentially transmitted in series is used in the air activation process.

Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the invention for a previously activated mobile station that searches for registration in the new service area.

Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a signal transfer point of the network, according to the present invention.

Figure 8A is a functional block diagram of a mobile station.

Figure 8B illustrates the plurality of mobile stations, each with the same OTAF ID number stored therein.

Figure 8C illustrates the plurality of mobile stations, each with a different fictitious MIN stored therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is a method and system for activating a mobile station in a wireless communication network. The system includes an on-air activation processor in the network that initiates an activation process in response to the receipt of a registration message from a mobile switching center, which serves the mobile station requesting activation. This activation process is referred to herein as the "OTAF", for its acronym in English for "activation function on air". Each mobile station has an information unit stored therein at the time of its manufacture to enable it to request activation over the air. That unit of information is either the routing address of the OTAF processor network, or alternatively, it is a value that can be translated in that direction. There are two alternatives to express the value that is translatable in the routing direction of the OTAF processor. The first alternative is an OTAF ID number and is stored in each mobile station. The same value of the OTAF ID number is stored in each mobile station. The second alternative is to store a sequentially transmitted fictitious value in series for the mobile identification number or the fictitious MIN. The fictional MIN is different for each mobile station. When the mobile station is first turned on the network, it can not conduct a normal communications session with other subscriber units because it has not been activated in the network. According to the invention, the mobile station requests the activation on the air by transmitting a registration command to the mobile switching center. The registration order will include one of the three alternatives described above, either the routing address of the OTAF processor, or the OTAF ID number, or a fictitious MIN. The local mobile switching center receives the registration commands of the previously activated mobile stations, as well as of new mobile stations. If a previously activated mobile station moves in the coverage area of a mobile, local switching center, the mobile station must become registered in the new area before it can conduct normal communication sessions. A previously activated mobile station will have a valid MIN that it sends in the registration order transmitted to the local mobile switching center. The valid MIN is not distinguished by the mobile switching center, of a fictitious MIN. In both cases, the mobile switching center prepares a registration notification message containing the MIN and forwards it to the signal transfer point (STP) in the network. According to the invention, the translation tables at the signal transfer point (STP) are constructed to correlate all fictitious MINs to the routing address of the OTAF processor network. There, the activation process is initiated for the requesting mobile station in response to the OTAF processor receiving the registration notification message. A record is created in the visitor location recorder (VLR) in the mobile switching center, to allow the activation parameters that result from the activation process to be sent back to the mobile station, using the fictitious MIN value. In contrast, if the MIN in the registration notification message received by the signal transfer point (STP) is a valid MIN, the translation table correlates the registration notification message to the routing address of the registrar network. Home Location (HLR) that is responsible for handling the registration request from your assigned mobile station. This request is only for the registration of a telephone previously programmed in the new service area, local, not for the activation of a new telephone. Further in accordance with the invention, the mobile switching center is able to recognize and distinguish a registration order from a mobile station using the OTAF ID number to request activation. In this case, the mobile switching center inserts the OTAF ID number in the registration notification message, prepares it to send it to the signal transfer point (STP). Since the OTAF ID number is the same for each mobile station, the electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station, if sent with each registration order, is also included in the mobile message. registration notification sent to the signal transfer point. A register is created in the visitor location recorder (VLR) in the mobile switching center, to allow the activation parameters that result in the activation process to be sent back to the mobile station using the ESN. In accordance with the invention, the translation tables at the signal transfer point (STP) are constructed to correlate the OTAF ID number to the routing address of the OTAF processor. There, the activation process is initiated for the requesting mobile station in response to the OTAF processor receiving the registration notification message. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the information unit stored in the mobile station at the time of its manufacture to enable it to request activation over the air is the routing direction of the network, itself, of the OTAF processor. In this mode, there is no need for an address translation by the signal transfer point (STP). In this embodiment, the mobile switching center forwards the registration notification message directly to the OTAF processor. The identity of the mobile switching center, and the ESN of the mobile station is included in the registration notification message. A register is created in the visitor location recorder (VLR) in the mobile switching center, to allow the activation parameters resulting from the activation process to be sent back to the mobile station using the ESN. In addition, according to the invention, the subscriber of the mobile station can place a simultaneous voice call to an activation center in the network using the mobile station. The subscriber can provide the credit information to the activation center and the subscriber can specify the types of service characteristics needed by the mobile station. The activation center then sends the authorization data to the OTAF processor in response to the information received from the subscriber on the voice channel. The OTAF processor can then finish the activation process in response to the authorization data. Turning now to the figures, Figure 1 shows a network reference model for the activation function on air that controls the distribution of activation messages on the air to the mobile station. The mobile station 100 includes the mobile station (MS) and the short message identity (SME, for its acronym in English). The mobile station 100 communicates over the air with the interworking function of the mobile station, base (BMI) which includes the base station 102 (BS), the mobile switching center, 104 (MSC), and the visitor location recorder 106 (VLR, for its acronym in English) . The base station, BS, is connected via a link A to the mobile switching center, MSC, which in turn is connected via link B to the visitor's location recorder, VLR. Also shown in Figure 1, is the home location recorder, HLR 108, which is assigned to handle the maintenance of the location and business records for the specific mobile phone 100. The home location recorder 108 is typically located at a location geographically far from the BMI that currently serves the communications over the air with the mobile station 100. The HLR is connected via the link D to the VLR 106. Also shown in FIG. Figure 1 is the activation function on the air 110 ', OTAF, which is connected via a link Q2 to the mobile switching center 104 and also connected via the link D2 to the home location recorder 108. The OTAF function 110 'performs activation processing in response to a register command from the mobile station 100 that has not been previously activated, and transfers the activation parameters in the form of NAM parameters to the mobile station 100. The links A , B, D, D2, Q2 and UM shown in Figure 1 are interfaces between the entities of the network, as defined in the TIA IS-41 standard, version ANSI revision C, January 3, 1996. Figure 2 illustrates the physical architecture of activation over air. The mobile station 100 communicates over the air with the base station, local 102, using the IS-136 standard. This standard is documented in revision A of TIA IS-136, March 21, 1996. The base station 102, the mobile switching center, 104, and the visitor location recorder 106, are typically co-located in a local base complex . The MSC 104 communicates over the fixed support network to the signal transfer point, STP 114, which in turn forwards the messages from the MSC 104 to either the home location register, HLR 108, or alternatively to the function processor of activation over the air, OTAF processor 110. The VLR 106 in the base station complex may also directly access the particular HLR 108 in the fixed support network. Also shown in Figure 2 is an activation center 112 that includes the business schemes and billing systems that are connected in the fixed support network, to the OTAF processor 110 and to the HLR 108.

The activation on air feature requires that a notification be sent from the MSC 104 to the OTAF processor 110. This registration notification is via an IS-41 message in the network of the signal transmission system 7 (SS7). The fixed support network requires that the routing information be capable of sending the registration notification from the MSC 104 to the appropriate network node, which in this case is the OTAF processor 110. According to the invention, the mobile stations 100 are preprogrammed with the information at the time of their manufacture to allow them to request activation on the air. The programmed information unit is either the routing address of the network of the OTAF processor 110 or alternatively it is a value that is translatable in that direction. When the inactivated mobile station 100 is operated in the network, the mobile station requests activation over the air by transmitting to the mobile switching center 104 a registration order that includes one of the three alternatives for the preprogrammed information, either the chaining address of the OTAF processor 110, or the OTAF ID number, or a fictitious MIN value. The MSC 104 then sends this information through the network to the air activation function processor 110. In a mobile station 100, previously activated, this is a mobile station 100 which has been programmed with a valid mobile identification number MIN, the registration order transmitted over the air contains the MIN of the mobile station, coded in an ID of the mobile station. mobile station IS-136 (MSID). (See TIA IS-136 revision A, March 21, 1996). The IS-136 standard specifies the rules for coding the MIN in the MSID. The MSID is sent in layer 2 of the registration order that is described in the IS-41 standard. Typically, this operation takes place for a pre-activated mobile station 100 that moves in the coverage area of the switching center, mobile, local and must become registered in the new area before it can conduct normal communication sessions. The registration notification is transported in the layer of the mobile application part (MAP) of the SS7 transport, as specified in the IS-41 standard. The cell phone networks use the global title translation (GTT) in the MIN at the signal transfer point 114 in a fixed support network, to route the IS-41 messages to the home location recorder, HLR 108, in sessions normal communication. The global title translation (GTT) is described in the ASNI standard TI.112-1992, SS7, Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP). The global title indicator type 2 is used, with a translation type value of 3 to specify the translation from "MIN to HLR" in STP 114. The information field of the global title address contains the ten digit MIN (BCD encoded). For example, the MSC 104 and the VLR 106 will send the registration notification to the signal transfer point 114, which performs the GTT translation in the MIN to obtain the routing information in the form of a point code and the number of the subsystem in the fixed support network, to the HLR 108. Thus, in normal communication sessions, the registration notification is routed from the MSC 104 and the VLR 106 to the HLR 108 which is responsible for the specified MIN of the mobile station Petition 100. When a mobile station 100 has not been previously activated, the NAM parameters have not been uploaded to the mobile station and there is no corresponding HLR register in any HLR 108, the fixed support network for that mobile station. The inactivated mobile station 100 does not have a valid MIN stored therein. If the inactivated mobile station attempts to register 100, there is no corresponding HLR 108 associated with that mobile station. Since there is no valid MIN in the mobile station 100, the global title translation can not be performed at the signal transfer point 114 in the fixed support network. This would normally prevent activation over air since it would be impossible in the prior art to communicate the activation requests on the air from the mobile station 100 to an OTAF processor 110 in the fixed support network. Correspondingly, it would not be possible to transfer the NAM activation parameters from the OTAF processor 110 to the mobile station 100. During the activation process over the air, the OTAF processor 110 must distribute the NAM parameters to the mobile station 100. A In order to do this, the air activation function processor 110 must have an address of the service MSC 104 plus the mobile station must have the registration information in the VLR 106 of the service MSC 104. According to the invention, the mobile stations 100 will be pre-programmed with the information at the time of their manufacture to enable them to request information about the air. This information unit is either the routing address of the network of the OTAF processor 110, or alternatively it is a value that is translatable in that direction. There are two alternatives for-- expressing the value that is translatable in the routing address to the OTAF processor 110, the first being an OTAF ID number that is stored in each mobile station 100. The same ID number value of OTAF is stored in each mobile station 100. The second alternative is to store a fictitious value sequentially transmitted in series for the mobile identification number, called a fictitious MIN. The dummy MIN is different for each mobile station 100. In the advantageous embodiment of the invention, an OTAF ID number is stored in each mobile station 100. The OTAF ID number is a ten digit E.164 telephone number, using the BCD coding. The format follows the normal IS-41 digit encoding (as used in the IS-41 sender identification number). This normal format is further described in the CCITT Blue Book, Volume II-Fascicle II.2, Numbering, Routing and Mobile Operation of Telephone Networks and ISDN, Recommendation E.164; Numbering Plan for ISDN Era. The OTAF ID number is an address that appears as a directory number for the OTAF processor 110, but is used only for routing and is only a non-dialing number that does not support voice circuits. The registration order in the IS-136 standard is modified to carry the OTAF ID number in the interface message by air. In addition, the mobile station 100 must supply an MSID value in the message to uniquely identify the mobile station sending the message. This MSID value is constructed using the electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile station 100, as specified in the IS-136 standard. This rule specifies how and the MSID must be built if a mobile station does not have a valid MIN. On receipt of the air interface registration command, the MSC 104 and the VLR 106 construct an IS-41 registration notification message using the information supplied in the air interface registration command from the mobile station 100. The MSC 104 recognizes that the mobile station 100 supplied an OTAF ID number, and in this way the MIN field is not inhabited in the registration notification message. The OTAF ID number is included in the layer of the signal transmission connection control part (SCCP) of the mobile application part (MAP) of the IS-41 message. The SCCP layer is described in the signal transmission system No. 7 (SS7) of the published ANSI TI.112 standard, Signal Connection Connection Control Point (SCCP). The MSC 104 and the VLR 106 then send the registration notification message to the signal transfer point 114 in the fixed support network. The VLR 106 also creates a register of the mobile station 100 using the ESN and the MSID for the mobile station 100. The STP 114 receives the registration notification message and recognizes that it is to perform the global title translation (GTT) in the OTAF ID number, in order to obtain the address of the fixed support network of the OTAF processor 110. A new type of translation has to be used for the translation of the "OTAF ID number to the OTAF processor". The STP 114 translates the OTAF ID number into the routing information and address (PC / SSN) for the OTAF processor 110 in the fixed support network, and a registration notification message is forwarded to the OTAF processor 110. This routing mechanism, according to the invention, allows a registration notification message to be routed without the need of having a mobile identification number MIN pre-programmed in the mobile station 100. The information flow diagram of Figure 3 illustrates the activation record flow over the air for the activation record using the global title translation in the OTAF ID number. The figure is organized with the vertical axis representing the time and the horizontal axis representing the messages that pass between the mobile station 100 (labeled MS), the mobile switching center, 104 (labeled MSC), the signal transfer point 114 (labeled STP), and OTAF processor 110 (labeled OTAF). When a subscriber activates a mobile station MS, the mobile station is coupled in an acquisition phase to obtain a channel assignment from the base station, which is identified in Figure 3 as the general system data. Then the mobile station MS sends an IS-136 registration order (message A) to the MSC 104 which contains the OTAF ID number (designated OTAF ID in Figure 3). Then, the MSC 104 receives the registration command (message A) from the air interface and formats a registration notification IS-41 (message B) identified as "REGNOT" in Figure 3. MSC 104 sends the REGNOT to the STP 114 for routing.

Then, the STP 114 performs a global title translation in the OTAF ID number (OTAF ID) and routes the REGNOT (message C) to the OTAF processor 110. The OTAF processor 110 processes the REGNOT and returns a result of REGNOT return (message D) to the MSC 104. Figure 3 also shows an MS origination attempt where the mobile station MS attempts to originate or form a voice connection to the fixed support network. The attempt to form simultaneous voice and record order will take place in the four-step sequence of the messages E, F, G and H shown in Figure 3, which is the same as the four-step sequence of the A messages, B, C, and D previously described for Figure 3. Figure 4A illustrates a flow diagram of a sequence of operation steps for carrying out activation on air using an OTAF ID number. Step 402 begins by programming the function ID number over the air in a new mobile station 100 at the time of manufacture. Step 404 in Figure 4A allows the mobile station 100 to turn on the power of the unit for the first time in the network. Then in step 406, the mobile station 100 prepares the registration order message to include the OTAF ID number and the ESN.

Then, in step 408, the mobile station 100 transmits from the mobile station 100 a registration order on the air to the base station and the mobile switching center,. In step 410 of Figure 4A, the mobile switching center 104 detects the OTAF ID number and inserts it into the registration notification message together with the ESN, which then sends it to the STP 114 in the SS7 network. The MSC 104 also places the ESN in a VLR register in the VLR 106. Then step 412 of Figure 4A allows the STP 114 to translate the OTAF ID number in a routing address to the OTAF processor 110.

The STP sends the registration notification message to the OTAF processor 110 in the network. In step 414 of Figure 4A the OTAF processor 110 is allowed to initiate the activation process for the mobile station 100. In step 406, the OTAF processor 110 sends the activation parameters in the form of NAM parameters, for the mobile station, back to the mobile switching center, 104.

Then, step 418 of Figure 4A allows the mobile switching center, 104 and the base station 102 to transmit the activation parameters over the air to the mobile station 100 using the VLR register in the VLR 106 to identify which mobile station 100. it is proposed that you receive the activation parameters. Figure 4B illustrates a flowchart and a variation in the method shown in Figure 4A, wherein step 414 'allows OTAF processor 110 to initiate the activation process for mobile station 100 and then awaits authorization from the center of activation of the business office 112, shown in Figure 2. The step 415 of Figure 4B allows a voice route over the air to be established by the subscriber of the mobile station. The subscriber of the mobile station places a simultaneous over-the-air call to the activation center 112 of the carrier's business office, using a special, dialed number such as "1-800-ACTIVATE". The subscriber can provide the business office activation center 112 with credit information and the subscriber can specify the types of service characteristics needed for the mobile service. The activation center 112 of the business office then sends the authorization data to the OTAF processor 110. Step 416 'of Figure 4B then allows the OTAF processor 110 to complete the activation process and send the activation parameters for the mobile station back to the mobile switching center 104. Then step 418 of Figure 4B allows the mobile switching center 104 and the base station 102 to transmit the activation parameters on the air to the mobile station 100. Figure 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a sequence of the steps of operation for an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein each new mobile station 100 is programmed at the time of manufacture with a mobile ID number of the fictitious MIN sequentially transmitted in series. This is shown in step 502 of Figure 5. Step 504 allows mobile station 100 to turn on the power of the unit for the first time in the network. Step 506 allows mobile station 100 to prepare the registration order message to include the fictitious MIN. Step 508 allows the mobile station 100 to transmit the air registration command to the base station and the mobile switching center 104.

Step 510 of Figure 5 allows the MSC 104 to prepare the registration notification message with the fictitious MIN. This operation is the same as if the mobile station 100 were requesting a normal registration for a previously activated mobile station, the mobile switching center 104 which is unable to distinguish between a fictitious MIN and a valid MIN. The mobile switching center 104 then sends the registration notification message to the STP 114 in the SS7 network. The MSC 104 places the dummy MIN in a VLR register in the VLR 106. In step 512, the STP 114 translates all the fictitious MINs into the routing address of the OTAF processor 110. All the plurality of fictitious MIN values sequentially transmitted in series are translated by the STP 114 in an individual address of the OTAF processor in the fixed support network. Then, the STP 114 sends the registration notification message to the OTAF processor 110. Then, step 514 of Figure 5 allows the OTAF processor 110 to initiate the activation process for the mobile station 100. In step 516, the OTAF processor 110 sends the activation parameters for the mobile station back to the MSC. 104 Then in step 518 of Figure 5, the MSC 104 and the base station 102 transmit the activation parameters over the air to the mobile station 100 using the VLR register in the VLR 106 to identify with the fictitious MIN that the mobile station 100 is the proposed receiver for the activation parameters. Figure 6 is a flow diagram of the sequence of operation steps for a previously activated mobile station 100 having a valid MIN, which searches for registration in a new service area. In step 602, the previously activated mobile station 100 searches for the registration in the new service area. In step 604, the mobile station 100 turns on the power of the unit in the network. In step 606 the mobile station 100 prepares a registration order message to include the mobile, valid identification number (MIN). In step 608, the mobile station 100 transmits the air registration order to the base station 102 and the MSC 104. In step 610, the MSC 104 prepares the registration notification message with the valid MIN and sends it to the STP 114 on the SS7 network. The MSC also places the valid MIN in a VLR register in the VLR 106. In step 612, the STP-114 translates the valid MIN into the routing address of the HLR 108 assigned to the mobile station 100. The STP 114 sends the registration notification message to HLR 108. In step 614, HLR 108 initiates the registration process for the mobile station for the new service area. In step 616, the HLR 108 sends the new registration information for the MS 100 back to the MSC 104. In step 618, the VLR 106 updates the new registration information and starts the local service for the mobile station 100 using the VLR record. Figure 7 illustrates the STP 114 and its translation table 700 and shows how a plurality of fictitious MINs having different values sequentially transmitted in series are translated into the translation 702 in a single OTAF address. Figure 7 shows several example translations of input expressions in the dialed number format to the network addresses of the output signaling system 7 (SS7). For example, the number marked "911" entered into the translation table 700, is translated into the address of the SS7 network of emergency services. As another example, the number marked "1-800-ACTIVATE" entered in the translation table 700 is translated into the address of the SS7 network of the activation center of the business office shown in Figure 2. As another example , the format of the number marked for the valid MIN "MIN-5 VALID" entered in the translation table 7Ó0, results in the translation of the SS7 network of the home location recorder HLR-5 for that MIN. As another example, the number format dialed for the MIN "MIN-6 VALID" introduced to table 700 of translation, it is translated in the SS7 network address of the different home location recorder HLR-6 for that different valid MIN. In accordance with the invention, all fictitious MINs are translated by translation 702 into translation table 700 at the network address of OTAF processor 110. Still further, according to the invention, the OTAF ID number is translated by the translation table 700 in the SS7 network address of the OTAF processor 110. Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile station 100 with a pre-programmed OTAF ID number 810 or alternatively with a pre-programmed fictitious MIN 832. The mobile station 100 includes transmit and receive RF circuits, digital circuits and voice circuits. The mobile station 100 also includes the RAM 806 which stores the NAM parameters in the NAM recorder after they are transferred over the air from the OTAF processor 110. The mobile station 100 also includes the read only memory (ROM) 808 programmable which is programmed at the time of manufacture with the ESN and with the ID number 810 of OTAF. In the alternative embodiment of the invention, the mobile station 100 alternatively includes the programmable ROM 830 (shown in dashed line in Figure 8A), which is programmed at the time of manufacture with the ESN and with a fictional MIN 832 sequentially transmitted in series . Figure 8B shows how a plurality of mobile stations 100, 100 'and 100"are all pre-programmed with the identical OTAF ID number 810, in the advantageous embodiment. Figure 8C shows how a plurality of mobile stations 100, 100 'and 100' 'in the alternate mode, are pre-programmed with mutually different fictitious MIN values 832, 832', and 832 '' It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (20)

1. A method for activating a mobile station in a wireless communication network, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving in a network node a registration message that includes the translatable information in one direction for an air activation processor; translate the information in the address; in walking the registration message to the activation processor over the air; initiate an activation process in the on-air activation processor in response to the received registration message; and transmitting the activation parameters to the mobile station in response to the activation process.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the network node receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages including the same information translatable in the address.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the translatable information in the address is an OTAF ID number.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the network node receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages including mutually different information translatable in the address.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the information translatable in the address is a fictitious MIN.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: establishing a voice channel between the mobile station and an activation center; sending authorization data from the activation center to the on-air activation processor in response to information received from the voice channel; and finish the activation process in response to the authorization data.

7. A method for activating a mobile station in a communications network, wireless, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving in a network node a registration message including an address for an activation processor on the air; routing the registration message to the activation processor over the air; initiating an activation processor in the on-air activation processor in response to the received registration message; and transmitting the activation parameters to the mobile station in response to the activation process.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the network node receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages that includes the same address.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the network node receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages including mutually different values of the address.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: establishing a voice channel between the mobile station and an activation center; send the authorization data from the activation center to the on-air activation processor in response to the information received from the voice channel; and finish the activation process in response to the authorization data.

11. A system for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network, characterized in that it comprises: an on-air activation processor in a network; a mobile switching center, at a node in the network, that receives a registration message that includes the translatable information in one direction for the on-air activation processor; and a signal transfer point coupled to the mobile switching center, in the network, which translates the information into the address. the signal transfer point that routes the registration message to the activation processor over the air in the network; the on-air activation processor that initiates an activation process in response to the received registration message that causes the transmission of the parameters to the mobile station.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that the mobile switching center receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages that includes the same translatable information in the address.

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the translatable information in the address is an OTAF ID number.

14. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that the mobile switching center receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages that include mutually different information translatable into the direction.

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the information translatable in the address is a fictitious MIN.

16. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises: an activation center in the network having a voice channel established with the mobile station; the activation center that sends the authorization data to the on-air activation processor in response to the information received from the voice channel; and the air activation processor that completes the activation process in response to the authorization data.

17. A system for activating a mobile station in a wireless communications network, characterized in that it comprises: an on-air activation processor in a network; and a mobile switching center, at a node in the network, that receives a registration message that includes an address for the activation processor on air; the mobile switching center, which causes a routing of the registration message in the network to the activation processor over the air; the on-air activation processor that initiates an activation process in response to the received registration message and that causes the transmission of the parameters to that mobile station.

18. The system according to claim 17, characterized in that the mobile switching center receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages that includes the same address.

19. The system according to claim 17, characterized in that the mobile switching center receives a plurality of registration messages from a plurality of mobile stations, each of the plurality of registration messages including mutually different values of the address .

20. The system according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises: an activation center in the network having a voice channel established with the mobile station; the activation center that sends the authorization data to the on-air activation processor in response to the information received from the voice channel; and the air activation processor that completes the activation process in response to the authorization data. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a method and system for automatically activating a mobile station in a wireless communication network is described. The system includes an on-air activation function processor (OTAF) in the network that initiates an activation process in response to receipt of a registration message from a mobile switching center which serves the mobile station that requests the activation. Each mobile station has an information unit stored therein at the time of its manufacture to enable it to request activation over the air. That unit of information is either the routing address in the OTAF processor network, or alternatively, it is a value that is translatable at that address, either an OTAF ID number that is the same value for each mobile station or is a fictitious value sequentially transmitted in series for the mobile identification number (a fictitious MIN). When the mobile station is turned on for the first time in the network, requests the activation on the air when transmitting a registration order to the mobile switching center. The registration order will include one of the three alternative forms of the information unit described above, either the routing address of the OTAF processor, or an OTAF ID number or a fictitious number.