Mobile phone with internal accounting
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for remote activation and programming of a mobile phone unit by a mobile phone system provider comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Software for a debit telephone system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Software for a debit telephone system comprising:
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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.
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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. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method for activating a mobile debit telephone unit within a debit telephone system run by a system provider comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for replenishing a mobile debit telephone unit debit account within a debit telephone system run by a system provider comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification