The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1996
Mark Austin, Atlanta, GA (US);
Bellsouth Intellectual Property Management Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
A method of limiting access to data of a cellular telephone. The method of limiting access may be accomplished by defining in the cellular telephone a subsidy lock code for use in activating the cellular telephone on the designated cellular network. The step of defining occurs before the cellular telephone is activated on a cellular network. The subsidy lock code is defined in manner that prevents the subsidy lock code from being erased using the keypad of the cellular telephone. When procedures are initiated by an entity for activating the cellular telephone on the cellular network, the entity must demonstrate knowledge of the subsidy lock code. Upon demonstration of knowledge of the subsidy lock code, the cellular telephone may be activated on the cellular network by the entity.