PORTABLE CELLULAR PHONE SYSTEM HAVING AUTOMATIC INITIALIZATION

• US 20080057935A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evolving Systems Labs Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Telespree Communications (CCUR Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: NETANEL, Eran, Segal, Alon
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• 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 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: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A portable cellular phone system is provided, wherein matched sets of algorithmically generated communication units are generated, each defining an increment of authorized communication. One set is stored on a system server, i.e. a service provider, and the pre-paid set is available for use within a portable cellular phone. The portable cellular phone, which is normally non-activated, automatically contacts the system server upon selective activation by the user, to initiate a call (outgoing or incoming). A voice recognition system allows the user to place calls and/or receive calls. During a call, the portable cellular phone and the system server allow authorized access to communication, while the communication units are decremented at the system server and at the portable cellular phone. The portable cellular phone typically has either an internal energy supply and storage for the pre-paid communication units, or a removable airtime cartridge, typically containing an energy supply and either the ability to store or to generate a set of pre-paid single use airtime communication units.

Claims

1. A process, comprising the steps of:

establishing a first set of wireless identification numbers and associated directory numbers, the first set of wireless identification numbers and associated directory numbers reserved for establishment of temporary communication channels for portable wireless devices;

establishing a second set of wireless identification numbers and associated directory numbers;

providing a selected portable wireless device initially comprising a storage stored with one of the wireless identification numbers and associated one of the directory numbers corresponding to the first set;

automatically sending the stored wireless identification number corresponding to the first set from the selected portable wireless device to a wireless network without user intervention upon initial activation of the selected portable wireless device to establish a temporary communication channel;

automatically sending an authorization message from the selected portable wireless device to a system server over the established temporary communication channel; and

assigning a wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set to the selected portable wireless device, based upon an appropriate authorization message, wherein the assigned wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set are associated with the selected portable wireless device for subsequent communication.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending an authentication challenge from the system server to the selected portable wireless device; and

sending an authentication response from the selected portable wireless device to the system server, based upon the authentication challenge;

wherein the assignment of the wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set to the selected portable wireless device is based upon an authentication response which is appropriate to the sent authentication challenge.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending a network authentication challenge from the selected portable wireless device to the system server;

sending a network authentication response from the system server to the selected portable wireless device, based upon the network authentication challenge; and

conditionally authenticating the system server by the selected portable wireless device, based upon a received network authentication response that is appropriate to the sent network authentication challenge.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending the assigned wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set to the selected portable wireless device.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the established wireless identification numbers from the first set comprise any of airtime cartridge identifiers, wireless identifiers, and pager account numbers.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the wireless identification numbers from the second set comprise any of directory number identifiers, wireless identifiers, and pager account numbers.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the sent authorization message comprises user based information, comprising any of user identification and credit card information.

8. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

entering user based information through the selected portable wireless device.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the user based information is entered through the selected portable wireless device by any of keypad entry and verbal entry.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the selected portable wireless device comprises an active service life of communication, the process further comprising the step of:

reusing the assigned wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set at the end of the active service life of communication.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the system server has a plurality of single use server communication units, each of the plurality of single use server communication units defining a discrete increment of authorized communication, and wherein the selected portable wireless device comprises a plurality of single use airtime communication units, each of the plurality of single use communication units corresponding to server communication units at the system server, each of the plurality of single use airtime communication units defining a discrete increment of authorized communication, each of the plurality of single use communication units having a unique identifier;

wherein the process further comprises the steps of;

sequentially transmitting one or more of the single use airtime communication units having the unique identifiers from the selected portable wireless device during a communication session to the system server; and

matching the transmitted single use airtime communication units to corresponding single use server communication units at the system server, in which the system server allocates the defined discrete increment of authorized communication for the selected portable wireless device during the communication session, based upon the matching of each of the corresponding single use server communication units and the single use airtime communication units.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein any of the single use airtime communication units and the single use server communication units are algorithmically generated.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein any of the single use airtime communication units and the single use server communication units are sequential.

14. The process of claim 11, wherein the single use airtime communication units are pre-paid.

15. The process of claim 11, wherein the discrete increment is associated with any of an initiation of a communication session, a time period for a communication session, local calling, long distance calling, a roaming charge, and a service provider charge.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the selected portable wireless device further comprises a specified communication set defining an amount of authorized communication, the specified communication set comprising a plurality of single use airtime communication units having unique identifiers, and a unit key which provides authorization to automatically access and deplete one or more of the single use airtime communication units during a communication session.

17. The process of claim 1, wherein the selected portable wireless device further comprises a specified communication set defining an amount of authorized communication, a unit key associated with the specified communication set, and an algorithm module, the process further comprising the steps of:

sending an automated challenge from the system server to the selected portable wireless device;

determining a response to the sent automated challenge by the algorithm module, based upon the sent automated challenge and the unit key;

sending the response from the selected portable wireless device to the system server;

comparing the sent response to an expected response at the system server; and

allowing communication for the selected portable wireless device if the sent response matches the expected response.

18. A communication system, comprising:

a system server;

a first set of wireless identification numbers and associated directory numbers, the first set of wireless identification numbers and associated directory numbers reserved for establishment of temporary communication channels for portable wireless devices;

a second set of assignable wireless identification numbers and associated directory numbers;

a selected portable wireless device initially comprising a storage stored with one of the wireless identification numbers and associated one of the directory numbers corresponding to the first set;

means for automatically transmitting the stored wireless identification number corresponding to the first set from the selected portable wireless device to a wireless network without user intervention upon initial activation of the selected portable wireless device to establish a temporary communication channel;

means for automatically sending an authorization message from the selected portable wireless device to a system server over the established temporary communication channel; and

means for assigning a wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set to the selected portable wireless device, based upon an appropriate authorization message, wherein the assigned wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set are associated with the selected portable wireless device for subsequent communication.

19. The communication system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for sending the assigned wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set to the selected portable wireless device.

20. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the selected portable wireless device comprises an active service life of communication, the system further comprising:

means for reusing the assigned wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set at the end of the active service life of communication.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the reusing means of the assigned wireless identification number and the associated directory number from the second set comprises:

a designation as available for the assigned wireless identification number and for the associated directory number from the second set at the end of the active service life of communication; and

a reassignment of the wireless identification number and associated directory number from the second set.

22. The communication system of claim 20, wherein said selected portable wireless device further comprises any of a number and an identifier associated therewith over a plurality of active service lives.

23. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the authorization message comprises user based information, comprising any of user identification and credit card information.

24. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the system server has a plurality of single use server communication units, each of the plurality of single use server communication units defining a discrete increment of authorized communication;

and

wherein the selected portable wireless device further comprises a plurality of single use airtime communication units, each of the plurality of single use communication units matching each of the corresponding plurality of server communication units at the system server, each of the plurality of single use airtime communication units defining a discrete increment of authorized communication, each of the plurality of single use communication units having a unique identifier;

wherein sequential transmission of one or more of the single use airtime communication units having unique identifiers from the selected portable wireless device during a communication session to the system server is matched to the corresponding single use server communication units at the system server, in which the system server allocates the defined discrete increment of authorized communication for the selected portable wireless device during the communication session, based upon the matching of each of the corresponding single use server communication units and the single use airtime communication units.

25. The communication system of claim 24, wherein any of the single use airtime communication units and the single use server communication units are algorithmically generated.

26. The communication system of claim 24, wherein any of the single use airtime communication units and the single use server communication units are sequential.

27. The communication system of claim 24, wherein the single use airtime communication units are pre-paid.

28. The communication system of claim 24, wherein the discrete increment is associated with any of an initiation of a communication session, a time period for a communication session, local calling, long distance calling, a roaming charge, and a service provider charge.

29. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the selected portable wireless device further comprises a specified communication set defining an amount of authorized communication, the specified communication set comprising a plurality of single use airtime communication units having unique identifiers, and a unit key that provides authorization to automatically access and deplete one or more of the single use airtime communication units during a communication session.

30. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the selected portable wireless device further comprises a specified communication set defining an amount of authorized communication, a unit key associated with the specified communication set, and an algorithm module, the communication system further comprising:

a transmission of an automated challenge from the system server to the selected portable wireless device;

a determination of a response to the transmitted automated challenge by the algorithm module, based upon the transmitted automated challenge and the unit key;

a transmission of a response from the selected portable wireless device to the system server;

a comparison of the transmitted response to an expected response at the system server; and

conditional access to communication for the selected portable wireless device if the transmitted response matches the expected response.