Method and apparatus for remote activation of wireless device features using short message services (SMS)

A method and apparatus for remote control of software and hardware features of a wireless communication device using Short Message Services (SMS). A wireless communication device with SMS capabilities can be remotely configured by sending specifically configured SMS messages. A manufacturer can configure a wireless device to have control over certain features accessible through SMS messages. A configuring SMS message is constructed using a specific format to inform the wireless device of the presence of a feature control message. Predetermined combinations of characters unlikely to occur in normal messages are used as message start and stop delimiters. A series of fields are defined in the SMS message with the fields separated by delimiters distinct from the message start and stop delimiters. Commands may be sent to the wireless device using point-to-point as well as broadcast SMS messages. The wireless device receives the SMS message and identifies it as a feature control command by noting the presence of a message start delimiter. The message is then parsed according to the field delimiters within the message. The wireless device then configures software and hardware features according to the contents of the SMS message fields.