Wireless service card having machine readable codes and device and process for use therewith

• US 10,326,891 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Vagelos, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US14/964,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 235375, 235487, 235494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/023 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/30 using a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/301 Code input or reading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/307 Code type, e.g. alphanumeric code, bar code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A process for authorizing wireless service includes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface. The process further includes providing a machine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider, receiving the machine-readable activation code in a server, the machine-readable activation code being captured by a wireless device, and provisioning the wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network.

Claims

1. A process for authorizing wireless service, the process comprising:

providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface;

providing a machine-readable wireless service activation code arranged on the first surface of the generally rectangular flat form factor card, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a wireless service provider system, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service;

providing an application executable on a wireless device, the application configured to control the wireless device to capture the machine-readable wireless service activation code on the generally rectangular flat form factor card using a camera associated with the wireless device, and the application further configured to control the wireless device to transmit the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information to the wireless service provider system;

receiving the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information in the wireless service provider system, the machine-readable wireless service activation code being captured by the camera of the wireless device;

provisioning the prepaid amount of wireless service to the wireless device identified by the wireless device identification information from a wireless network when the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information is provided to the wireless service provider system associated with the wireless network;

monitoring and determining an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider and used by the wireless device with an accounting device; and

controlling the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the accounting device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprises a QR code, wherein the QR code is arranged on the generally rectangular flat form factor card with a scratch off panel arranged thereover.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising receiving the machine-readable wireless service activation code from the wireless device over the wireless network to the wireless service provider system.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the wireless service includes one or more of:

wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talk time.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the accounting device comprises an internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device, the process further comprising:

monitoring the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device; and

controlling the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device in response to the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the accounting device comprises a wireless provider backend system, the process further comprising:

monitoring the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the wireless provider backend system; and

controlling the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the wireless provider backend system.

7. The process of claim 1,

wherein the generally rectangular flat form factor card further comprises an alpha numeric wireless service activation code;

and the process further comprising;

generating a graphical user interface on a display of the wireless device in response to execution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input to receive the alpha numeric wireless service activation code from a user; and

generating the graphical user interface on a display of the wireless device in response to execution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input to initiate capturing the machine-readable wireless service activation code in response to the user'"'"'s initiation.

8. A wireless device configured for authorizing wireless service comprising:

a camera configured to capture a machine-readable wireless service activation code, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service;

a processor further configured to store the machine-readable wireless service activation code captured by the camera in a memory, and the memory further configured to store wireless device identification information;

a transceiver configured to transmit the machine-readable wireless service activation code from the memory along with the wireless device identification information to the wireless service provider system;

the transceiver further configured to provide the prepaid amount of wireless service from a wireless network when the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information is provided to the wireless service provider system associated with the wireless network;

an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider and used by the wireless device; and

the accounting device further configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute an application, the application executable by the processor configured to capture the machine-readable wireless service activation code using the camera and further configured to send the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with the wireless device identification information from the wireless device over the wireless network to the wireless service provider system;

wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is arranged on a first surface of a generally rectangular flat form factor card, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to the wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider and the machine-readable wireless service activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service; and

wherein the camera is further configured to capture the machine-readable wireless service activation code from a wireless service card.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprises a QR code, wherein the QR code is arranged on the generally rectangular flat form factor card with a scratch off panel arranged thereover.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the transceiver is further configured to send the machine-readable wireless service activation code over the wireless network to the wireless service provider system.

11. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the wireless service includes one or more of:

wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talk time.

12. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the accounting device comprises an internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device;

wherein the accounting device is configured to monitor the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device; and

wherein the accounting device is configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device.

13. The wireless device of claim 8,

wherein the generally rectangular flat form factor card further comprises an alpha numeric wireless service activation code;

and

wherein the application is further configured to generate a graphical user interface in response to execution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input to receive the alpha numeric wireless service activation code; and

wherein the application is further configured to generate the graphical user interface in response to execution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input to initiate capturing the machine-readable wireless service activation code.

14. A system for authorizing wireless service comprising:

a wireless service provider system configured to store a plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes, wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes is configured to authorize the wireless service associated with a wireless service provider;

the wireless service provider system further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes along with wireless device identification information, one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes being captured by a camera implemented by a wireless device implementing an application, and the machine-readable wireless service activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;

the wireless service provider system further configured to authenticate one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes;

the wireless service provider system further configured to provision the prepaid amount of wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes is determined to be authentic for providing wireless service from the wireless network;

an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

the accounting device further configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device,

wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is arranged on a first surface of a generally rectangular flat form factor card, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to the wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes comprises a QR code, wherein the QR code is arranged on the generally rectangular flat form factor card with a scratch off panel arranged thereover.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless service provider system is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes from the wireless device over the wireless network.

17. The system of claim 14,

wherein the wireless service provider system is further configured to provide for download the application executable on the wireless device,

wherein the application and the wireless device are configured to capture one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes using a camera associated with the wireless device, and

wherein the application and the wireless device are configured to send one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes from the wireless device over the wireless network to the wireless service provider system.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the accounting device comprises a wireless provider backend system;

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to monitor the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device.

19. A system for funding an account comprising:

a wireless service provider system configured to store a plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes, wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes is configured to authorize funding associated with a wireless provider;

the wireless service provider system further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes along with wireless device identification information, one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes being captured by a wireless device and the machine-readable wireless service activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;

the wireless service provider system further configured to authenticate one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes;

the wireless service provider system further configured to provide funding when one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes is determined to be authentic for providing funding;

an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

the accounting device further configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the accounting device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device,

wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is arranged on a first surface of a generally rectangular flat form factor card, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to the wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes comprises a QR code, wherein the QR code is arranged on the generally rectangular flat form factor card with a scratch off panel arranged thereover.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless service provider system is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes that is obtained from a camera associated with the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless service provider system is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes from the wireless device over a wireless network.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the accounting device comprises a wireless provider backend system;

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to monitor the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device.