Remote rechargeable prepaid cellular service peripheral device

• US 20040235524A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maher Abuhamdeh
• Original Assignee: Maher Abuhamdeh
• Inventors: Abuhamdeh, Maher
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• 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 2215/92 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An integrated prepaid cellular service and telephone unit including a cellular transceiver, a storage unit, a processor; and a credit/debit card interface. In a further aspect, the invention includes code for contacting a cellular provider, transmitting user debit/credit information, receiving a quantity of pre-paid cellular service units, storing the units, and allowing use of the cellular transceiver as long as said units does not equal zero.

Claims

1. An integrated prepaid cellular service and telephone unit, comprising:

a cellular transceiver;

a storage unit;

a processor; and

code for contacting a cellular provider, transferring user debit/credit information, receiving a quantity of pre-paid cellular service units, storing the units, and allowing use of the cellular transceiver as long as the units does not equal zero;

wherein the debit/credit information is transferred without user intervention.

2. The unit of claim 1, further including a debit/credit card interface.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the debit/credit card interface is a magnetic card reader.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the debit/credit card interface is a smart card interface.

5. A method for transferring electronic funds to a wireless device, comprising:

(a) receiving user financial information with the wireless device;

(b) receiving a request with the wireless device for electronic funds to be transferred to the wireless device;

(c) beginning communication, subsequent to steps (a) and (b), with a back-end service for the purpose of transferring the user financial information and the request for electronic funds;

(d) transferring the user financial information and the request for electronic funds to the back-end service; and

(e) receiving the requested electronic funds from the back-end service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving a request with the wireless device comprises receiving a request for an amount of electronic funds to be transferred to the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

completing a financial transaction using the wireless device and the electronic funds.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the financial transaction is completed wirelessly.

9. A system for transfer of electronic funds, comprising:

a back-end service, the back end service including a transaction engine; and

a wireless device adapted to communicate with the back-end service, the wireless device including;

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive information;

a processor adapted to process information received and transmitted through the transceiver; and

a storage unit, the storage unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor enable the wireless device to;

receive user financial information;

receive a request for electronic funds;

begin communication with the back-end service for the purpose of transmitting the user financial information and the request after receiving the user financial information and the request;

automatically transmit the user financial information and the request to the back-end service using the transceiver; and

receive the requested electronic funds from the back-end service;

wherein the transaction engine is adapted to receive the user financial information and the request in order to authorize the request.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the transaction engine accesses transaction authorization data in order to authorize the request.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless device further comprises:

a debit/credit card interface, the interface adapted to receive the user financial information.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless device further comprises:

a smart card interface, the smart card interface adapted to receive a smart card.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions further enable the wireless device to store the electronic funds on the smart card.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the user financial information is received by transferring funds from the smart card.