Disposable cellular telephone with system of operation

• US 20040224660A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Susan Jill Anderson
• Original Assignee: Susan Jill Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Susan Jill
• Application Number:
  US10/431,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/00 Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
• 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 17/005 Disposable prepaid communication devices

Abstract

A telecommunications system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by disposable wireless instruments, pushbutton and coded dialing, prepaid airtime usage with simple accounting required, all enabled by cooperative system operation including supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing with a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously. Calling capabilities with two-way communication bridging through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, emergency abort to an operator and/or 911 station and security features supplement the basic system. With prior art prepaid and disposable telephone technology, there is not a workable system in place. This invention addresses those issues.

There is a preconceived account for which phones would be programmed through along with a specific time allotment and a sub-account number code utilizing a predetermined number and access code to prevent theft and/or fraud of time built into each disposable phone. The number assigned to each phone would utilize the prescribed area code pertaining to the area it is purchased from and the typical seven-digit telephone number. Due to a binary code engaged to each ten-digit number, there would be quick recycling capabilities of phone numbers.

Instruments are disposable with intention of being disposable upon distribution and purchase with recycling of enclosed wireless telephone charger and battery with original purchase of disposable telephone for future disposable telephone purchases. This ability of being disposable is made possible by constructing the disposable phones of recycled, lightweight materials similar to those materials use in toy telephone equipment and as mentioned in prior art of disposable or dispensable wireless telephones.

Claims

1. A disposable cellular phone system comprising a system of purchasing a cellular telephone which involves no contract, but is pre-programmed with a predetermined amount of minutes upon which time the minutes are used, the phone is disposed of, never to be used again;

(a) whereas the said phone is capable of being pre-programmed with a code unique to the disposable phone which is linked to a service provider which has a central Data Bank created exclusively for these phones that would be the source of activation upon entry of the specified code of said telephones;

(b) whereas telephone of the invention upon activation is capable of being utilized as a standard cellular phone with roaming capabilities that would result in a higher rate of minute usage when used in roaming conditions as in prior art cellular telephone technology;

(c) invention when used has an optional 911 code with simple activation and standard 911 charges;

(d) whereas phone is ready for activation when enclosed reusable battery is inserted and telephone charged with reusable charger included in original purchase of said telephone of invention;

(e) whereas telephone of invention is assigned a phone number with area code specific to area it is purchased from. The phone number is formulated using prior art base ten system with binary coding added known only by datakeeping system. Upon activation, all the time assigned to the telephone must be used within a specific time period, i.e. one month;

(f) whereas invention has capabilities of using a dual base ten/binary code numbering system, i.e. area code plus standard seven number calling system, plus two or more numbers (base ten or binary) added for additional coding/anti-theft feature.

2. The disposable telephone as set forth in claim 1 has capabilities of unique qualities depending on the particular manufacturing and or servicing contractor, which would include:

(a) Coding;

(b) Materials and housing of said telephone;

(c) Colors or said housing of invention;

(d) Various amounts of time allotted in invention that would affect the cost of each phone;

(e) Roaming capabilities.

3. The disposable phone as set forth in claim 1 utilizes a Central Data Bank with capabilities of encoding/decoding with virtually unlimited variance;

whereas the said phone would have built-in anti-theft/minimal loss device due to the disposable nature of the phone which is mentioned in prior art but necessary to the design of the telephone of the invention;

i.e. when a phone is purchased, then lost or stolen, only the amount of time built in said phone would be lost, and not the risk of an entire account being plundered;

(a) whereas activating telephone of the invention, the 800 number assigned code given to specific phone is entered, which activates a binary code in the Central Data Bank, which makes theft of minutes virtually impossible;

(b) minutes are then activated and upon completion of first call with answer, the timer begins and time is used in increments of seconds as decided upon by the manufacturer/cellular provider;

(c) whereas possibilities are endless as to the extent of use of said phone which is also mentioned in prior art but necessary to the scope of the telephone of the invention;

i.e. replacing conventional cellular phones through such instances as travel, classroom, outdoor activities, emergency standby, and so forth, where the use of a standard cellular telephone is inconvenient or the possibility of theft, loss, or damage high.

4. The disposable phone as set forth in claim 1 would allow individuals to purchase a cellular phone “

off the rack”

without a contract;

(a) whereas due to minutes of phone time built into the disposable phone, the consumer may simply purchase the unit packaged as a whole and complete phone system, that utilizes the pre-programmed coding and Central Data Bank to activate;

(b) the Central Data Bank of the telephone has the ability to activate minutes preprogrammed into timing mechanism of the telephone of the invention.

5. The disposable phone as set forth in claim 1 would be capable of calling all telecommunication entities whether it be another disposable cellular or wireless telephone, a conventional telephone or other telephonic technology;

(a) whereas invention has prior art technology to use established switching stations, telephone towers, and all technologies in place enabling the use of cellular, digital, or wireless communicators.

6. The disposable phone as set forth in claim 1 would be accessed by consumers through numerous outlets such as retail stores, authorized dealers, convenience stores, gas stations and all authorized access sites;

(a) whereas prepackaged phone would need interaction involved in purchasing any article found in the marketplace and as required by law;

(b) whereas interaction is between the consumer and the provider of the disposable telephone of the invention;

(c) whereas service of the telephone is automated with access available to live customer representatives as in prior art;

7. The disposable phone as set forth in claim 1 utilizes the prior art system of prepaid minutes being assigned to telephones yet minutes may not be added to once they expire on each telephone of the invention, with the exception of possible extension of length of time, i.e. extend time to three months with additional service fee paid through Central Data Bank.

8. The disposable telephone as set forth in claim 1 is individual in nature with no personal information attached to it except as required by law.

9. The disposable telephone as set forth in claim 1 utilizes a system specific to all of the following conditions:

disposable telephone specific to the invention, specific coding, specific telephone number recycling, completely disposable with the exception of the reusable charger and battery included in original purchase by consumer.