Removable card for use in radio units

• US 20040112956A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schilling, Donald L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/842 Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• 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 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• 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 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2518 : from material card, using a magnetic stripe card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/255 : local at the terminal itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• 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 2215/7027 : Activate new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8112 : during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8133 : Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue, intelligent peripheral or switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8158 : Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A cellular phone includes a first removable subscriber identification card which has a microprocessor and memory that stores subscriber identification information. The cellular phone also includes a card interface, a controller, that generates a personal access number from the subscriber identification information, and a transmitter that transmits the first personal access number to a wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

(a) a first removable subscriber identification card, wherein said first card includes a microprocessor and memory that stores first subscriber identification information;

(b) a card interface;

(c) a controller that generates a first personal access number from said first subscriber identification information; and

(d) a transmitter that transmits said first personal access number to a wireless communication system.

2. The cellular phone of claim 1, further comprising a second removable subscriber identification, including second subscriber identification information.

3. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein the transmission of said first personal access number to said wireless communication system enables said cellular phone to receive calls associated with said first subscriber information.

4. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said first subscriber identification information includes a subscriber account number.

5. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is a spread spectrum transmitter.

6. The cellular phone of claim 2 wherein said transmitter is a spread spectrum transmitter.

7. The cellular phone of claim 3 wherein said transmitter is a spread spectrum transmitter.

8. The cellular phone of claim 4 wherein said transmitter is a spread spectrum transmitter.

9. The cellular phone of claim 5, wherein said wireless information system is a cellular system.

10. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor updates said first subscriber identification information.

11. The cellular phone of claim 2, wherein said cellular phone receives calls associated with said first subscriber identification information and said second subscriber identification information.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of receiving calls from said wireless communication system associated with said first subscriber identification information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

(i) inserting a second subscriber identification card;

(j) reading second subscriber identification information on said second card;

(k) processing said second subscriber identification to create a second personal access number;

(l) transmitting said second access number to said wireless communication system; and

(m) receiving calls from said wireless communication system associated with said second subscriber identification information.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing to said first removable subscriber identification card.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said read first subscriber information includes a subscriber account number.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said reading step reads memory on said subscriber identification card.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said reading step reads a magnetic strip.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

(q) receiving said first personal access number at said wireless communication system;

(r) receiving calls associated with said first subscriber information at said wireless system; and

(s) transmitting calls associated with said first subscriber information to said cellular phone.

12. A method for receiving cellular phone calls comprising the steps of:

(e) inserting a first subscriber identification card into a cellular phone;

(f) reading first subscriber information on said first card;

(g) processing said first subscriber information to create a first personal access number; and

(h) transmitting said first personal access number to a wireless communication system.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said read first subscriber information includes a subscriber account number.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said reading step reads memory on said subscriber identification card.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

(n) receiving said first personal access number at said wireless communication system;

(o) receiving calls associated with said first subscriber information at said wireless system; and

(p) transmitting calls associated with said first subscriber information to said cellular phone.