Mobile phone with internal accounting

• US 20040097220A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telemac Cellular Corporation, TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telemac Cellular Corporation
• Inventors: McGregor, Gregory M., McGregor, Donald Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,245,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/92 Autonomous calculations of charges in terminal, i.e. meter not controlled from exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile phone system with a mobile phone having internal accounting capabilities for real time call debiting to account for the billing parameters of a mobile phone unit that is operated in a multi zone communication network with a complex rate structure, the mobile phone unit having an internal processor with accessible internal memory for storing the accounting program and call data for each call, a clock and circuit means for activating and deactivating the phone, the accounting program including an updatable rate table and a complex billing algorithm for calculating the account status on the fly including multiple rate structure factors such as long distance calls, international calls with country independent local charges, charges for roaming per day and/or roaming per minute, and call surcharges, where the account status of the mobile phone is calculated in real time for decrementing a debit account or calculating an account charge on demand, the mobile debit phone having a signal for alerting the user of account status which is preferably a display of real time account status, the mobile phone system including a communication system for activating and programming a new phone unit over the airways and upgrading the account status in rate table in the phone unit over the airways.

Claims

1. A method for remote activation and programming of a mobile phone unit by a mobile phone system provider comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a communication link between the system provider and a new mobile phone unit programmed to enable transmission of at least one discrete phone call connecting the phone unit to the system provider;

b) switching the mobile phone unit from voice communication to paging mode;

c) connecting the host processor of the system provider to the phone unit;

d) programming the phone unit with NAM parameters using DTMF signals sent from the host processor of the system provider to the phone unit in paging mode;

e) activating the mobile phone unit for use.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the phone unit is programmed with the phone number of the system provider and the discrete phone call directly connects the phone unit to the system provider.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the phone unit has an RF transceiver and the communication link is established through the RF transceiver of the phone unit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of programming the phone unit with NAM parameters includes programming the phone with code for a command set for communication of an accounting and tracking protocol with the host processor.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the accounting and tracking protocol includes program means for real time accounting of call charges in the phone unit.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the program means includes a complex billing algorithm for calculating charges in the phone using multiple factors.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the program means includes a rate table retained in the phone unit for calculating current rate charges.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the program means includes means for communicating with the host processor, and transmitting an updated rate table from the host processor to the phone unit.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the phone unit includes means for storing a debit account and decrementing the debit account with call charges in real time.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the phone unit includes a display and circuit means for displaying the current account balance of the debit account in the display.

11. A mobile phone system comprising a system provider having a host processor unit and a plurality of system users each having at least one mobile phone unit wherein:

the host processor unit has means for selectively establishing a communication link with each mobile phone unit; and

,

each phone unit includes a processor, memory associated with the processor, program means including a complex billing algorithm and rate data for internally calculating call charges as calls are made and storing call charges as record data in the memory, and communication means for communicating the record data of call charges to the host processor.

12. The mobile phone system of claim 11 wherein the program means includes means for generating a debit account in the phone unit and means for decrementing the debit account in real time.

13. The mobile phone system of claim 12 wherein the phone unit includes a visual display and the program means generates a visual display of current debit account status in the visual display.

14. The mobile phone system of claim 12 wherein the host processor unit includes program means for increasing the amount of the debit account in the phone unit during a communication link with the phone unit.

15. The mobile phone system of claim 14 wherein the mobile phone unit has an RF transceiver and the communication link is established over the airways by RF signals.

16. The mobile phone system of claim 12 wherein the phone unit has control means for deactivating the phone unit when the debit account is exhausted.

17. The mobile phone system of claim 16 herein the phone unit has paging means for establishing a communication link with the host processor unit when deactivated.

18. The mobile phone system of claim 12 wherein the phone system includes a transaction station wherein the phone unit has means for establishing a communication link with the transaction station and increasing the amount of the debit account in the phone unit.

19. Software for a debit telephone system comprising:

internal accounting software for a cordless hand-held mobile telephone unit to establish a debit account with a representation of prepaid funds, store a plurality of charge rates and create a billing algorithm which can classify each telephone call into one of a plurality of billing categories, select a charge rate corresponding to that billing category, calculate an appropriate charge for that telephone call in real time by using said selected charge rate and subtract this appropriate charge from said debit account; and

software for a system provider'"'"'s host processor which stores mobile telephone unit identification information, stores operating codes needed for mobile phone unit activation and stores operating codes needed for replenishing mobile phone unit debit accounts whereby, upon receipt of mobile telephone unit identification information from a particular mobile phone unit or its user, said host processor software is capable of ascertaining the operating codes needed to activate that particular mobile phone unit or to replenish its debit account.

20. The debit telephone system software of claim 19 wherein the internal accounting software for said cordless handheld mobile telephone can ascertain whether a telephone call being dialed belongs to a long distance call category.

21. The debit telephone system software of claim 19 wherein the internal accounting software for said cordless handheld mobile telephone can ascertain whether a telephone call being dialed belongs to a local call category.

22. The debit telephone system software of claim 19 wherein the internal accounting software for said cordless handheld mobile telephone can ascertain whether a telephone call being dialed belongs to a roaming call category.

23. The debit telephone system software of claim 19 wherein the internal accounting software for said cordless handheld mobile telephone can ascertain whether a telephone call being dialed belongs to a international call category.

24. The debit telephone system software of claim 19 wherein the internal accounting software for said cordless handheld mobile telephone will prevent further telephone calls from being made if there are no remaining funds in the debit account.

25. Software for a debit telephone system comprising:

internal accounting software for a cordless hand-held mobile telephone unit to establish a debit account with a representation of prepaid funds, store a plurality of charge rates and create a billing algorithm which can classify each telephone call into one of a plurality of billing categories including categories for local, long distance and roaming telephone calls, select a charge rate corresponding to that billing category, calculate an appropriate charge for that telephone call in real time by using said selected charge rate and subtract this appropriate charge from said debit account; and

software for a system provider'"'"'s host processor which stores mobile telephone unit identification information, stores assignable telephone numbers, stores operating codes needed for mobile phone unit activation and stores operating codes needed for replenishing mobile phone unit debit accounts whereby, upon receipt of mobile phone unit identification information from a particular mobile phone unit or its user, said host processor software is capable of ascertaining the operating codes needed to activate that particular mobile phone unit, to replenish its debit account or to select an assignable telephone number corresponding to the user'"'"'s locale.

26. A mobile debit telephone unit operating within a debit telephone system comprising:

a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, memory and internal accounting software, wherein said internal accounting software includes a debit account with a representation of prepaid funds, a plurality of charge rates, memory allocation for a phone number to be assigned at the time of activation and a billing algorithm which can classify each telephone call into one of a plurality of billing categories, select a charge rate corresponding to that billing category, calculate an appropriate charge for that telephone call in real time by using said selected charge rate and subtract this appropriate charge from said debit account.

27. The mobile debit telephone unit of claim 26 wherein said internal accounting software prevents calls from being made when the debit account has a zero balance.

28. The mobile debit telephone of claim 26 wherein said internal accounting software has the ability to accept and implement operating codes generated by a system provider host processor.

29. The mobile debit telephone of claim 26 wherein said billing categories include billing categories for local calls, long distance calls and roaming calls.

30. A mobile debit telephone unit operating within a debit telephone system comprising:

a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, memory and internal accounting software, wherein said internal accounting software includes a debit account with a representation of prepaid funds, a plurality of charge rates, memory allocation for a phone number to be assigned at the time of activation, coding to allow the telephone unit to accept and implement operating codes generated by a system provider host processor and a billing algorithm which can classify each telephone call into one of a plurality of billing categories including billing categories for local calls, long distance calls and roaming calls, select a charge rate corresponding to that billing category, calculate an appropriate charge for that telephone call in real time by using said selected charge rate and subtract this appropriate charge from said debit account.

31. The mobile debit telephone of claim 30 wherein said operating codes are encrypted.

32. A method for activating a mobile debit telephone unit within a debit telephone system run by a system provider comprising:

storing mobile debit telephone identification information, mobile debit telephone operating codes and assignable telephone numbers in a system provider'"'"'s host processor;

having the mobile debit telephone or its user initiate communication with the system provider to activate said mobile debit telephone unit including providing to said system provider with information about the identity of said mobile debit telephone unit and the location of its user;

inputting said identity and location information into the system provider'"'"'s host processor;

retrieving from said system provider'"'"'s host processor operating codes to activate said debit telephone, operating codes to establish a debit account balance and an assignable telephone number corresponding to the user location information;

communicating said operating codes and assignable telephone number to said mobile telephone unit or its user;

inputting said operating codes and assignable telephone number into said mobile debit telephone unit to activate said mobile debit telephone unit, establish a debit account balance and establish a working telephone number for said mobile debit telephone unit.

33. The activation method of claim 32 wherein the host processor stored operating codes and assignable telephone number are communicated to the user by a system provider operator who has access to said host processor.

34. The activation method of claim 33 wherein the user enters the operating codes into the mobile debit telephone unit by manually punching keys on the mobile debit telephone unit.

35. The activation method of claim 32 wherein the host processor stored operating codes are communicated over the airwaves directly from the host processor to the mobile debit telephone unit.

36. The activation method of claim 32 wherein said operating codes are communicated to said mobile debit telephone unit or its user in encrypted form.

37. The activation method of claim 32 wherein said mobile debit telephone unit identity information includes the telephone'"'"'s electronic serial number.

38. The activation method of claim 32 further comprising having the host processor use the location information provided by the user to select home SIDs for the mobile debit telephone unit and those communicate those home SIDs to the mobile debit telephone unit or its user to allow the mobile debit telephone unit to determine whether it is roaming.

39. A method for replenishing a mobile debit telephone unit debit account within a debit telephone system run by a system provider comprising:

storing operating codes within a system provider'"'"'s host processor which are capable of replenishing a mobile telephone unit'"'"'s debit account;

having the mobile debit telephone user pay to have the mobile telephone unit debit account replenished in a designated amount and providing said user with verification of such payment;

having the mobile debit telephone or its user initiate communication with the system provider to replenish the mobile telephone unit debit account including providing to said system provider information about the identity of said mobile debit telephone unit and verification of payment;

inputting said identity and payment verification information into the system provider'"'"'s host processor;

retrieving from said system provider'"'"'s host processor operating codes applicable only to the particular mobile debit telephone unit identified in order to replenish that telephone'"'"'s debit account in the designated amount;

communicating said operating codes to said mobile telephone unit or its user; and

,

inputting said operating codes into said mobile debit telephone unit to replenish its debit account.

40. The debit account replenishment method of claim 39 wherein the host processor stored operating codes are communicated to the user by a system provider operator who has access to said host processor.

41. The debit account replenishment method of claim 40 wherein the user enters the operating codes into the mobile debit telephone unit by manually punching keys on the mobile telephone unit.

42. The debit account replenishment method of claim 39 wherein the host processor stored operating codes are communicated over the airwaves directly from the host processor to the mobile debit telephone unit.

43. The debit account replenishment method of claim 39 wherein said operating codes are communicated to said mobile telephone unit or its user in encrypted form.

44. The debit account replenishment method of claim 39 wherein said mobile debit telephone unit identity information includes the telephone'"'"'s electronic serial number.