Wireless Service Card Having Machine Readable Codes and Device and Process for Use Therewith

• US 20170171398A1
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Vagelos, Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 10,326,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• 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 17/023 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• 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 17/30 using a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/301 Code input or reading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/307 Code type, e.g. alphanumeric code, bar code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A process for authorizing wireless service includes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface. The process further includes providing a machine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider, receiving the machine-readable activation code in a server, the machine-readable activation code being captured by a wireless device, and provisioning the wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network.

Claims

1. A process for authorizing wireless service, the process comprising:

providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface;

providing a machine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface of the generally rectangular flat form factor card, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider and the machine-readable activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;

providing an application executable on a wireless device, the application and the wireless device configured to capture the machine-readable activation code using a camera associated with the wireless device;

receiving the machine-readable activation code in a server, the machine-readable activation code being captured by the wireless device;

provisioning the prepaid amount of wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network;

monitoring and determining an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider and used by the wireless device with an accounting device; and

controlling the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the accounting device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable activation code comprises a QR code.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising receiving the machine-readable activation code from the wireless device over the wireless network to the server.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the wireless service includes one or more of:

wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talk time.

25. The process of claim 1, wherein the accounting device comprises an internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device, the process further comprising:

monitoring the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device; and

controlling the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device in response to the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device.

26. The process of claim 1, wherein the accounting device comprises a wireless provider backend system, the process further comprising:

monitoring the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the wireless provider backend system; and

controlling the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the wireless provider backend system.

27. The process of claim 1, further comprising generating a graphical user interface on a display of the wireless device in response to execution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input to receive a personal identification number from a user and an input to initiate capturing the machine-readable activation code in response to the user'"'"'s initiation.

3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8. A wireless device configured for authorizing wireless service comprising:

a camera configured to capture a machine-readable activation code, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider and the machine-readable activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;

a processor further configured to store the machine-readable activation code captured by the camera in a memory;

a transceiver configured to transmit the machine-readable activation code from the memory to a server;

the transceiver further configured to provide the prepaid amount of wireless service from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network;

an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider and used by the wireless device; and

the accounting device further configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute an application, the application executable by the processor configured to capture the machine-readable activation code using the camera and further configured to send the machine-readable activation code from the wireless device over the wireless network to the server.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the machine-readable activation code comprises a QR code.

10. The wireless device of claim 8 wherein the camera is further configured to capture the machine-readable activation code from a wireless service card.

11. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the transceiver is further configured to send the machine-readable activation code over the wireless network to the server.

14. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the wireless service includes one or more of:

wireless data, text messaging, or wireless talk time.

28. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the accounting device comprises an internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device;

wherein the accounting device is configured to monitor the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device; and

wherein the accounting device is configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting device implemented by the wireless device.

29. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the application is further configured to generate a graphical user interface in response to execution of the application, the graphical user interface comprising an input to receive a personal identification number and an input to initiate capturing the machine-readable activation code.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

15. A system for authorizing wireless service comprising:

a server configured to store a plurality of machine-readable activation codes, wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes is configured to authorize the wireless service associated with a wireless service provider;

the server further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes, one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes being captured by a wireless device and the machine-readable activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;

the server further configured to authenticate one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes;

the server further configured to provision the prepaid amount of wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes is determined to be authentic for providing wireless service from the wireless network;

an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

the accounting device further configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes comprises a QR code.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes that is obtained from a camera associated with the wireless device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes from the wireless device over the wireless network.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to provide for download an application executable on the wireless device, the application and the wireless device for capturing one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes using a camera associated with the wireless device and sending one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes from the wireless device over the wireless network to the server.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the accounting device comprises a wireless provider backend system;

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to monitor the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device.

19. (canceled)

21. A system for funding an account comprising:

a server configured to store a plurality of machine-readable activation codes, wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes is configured to authorize funding associated with a provider;

the server further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes, one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes being captured by a wireless device and the machine-readable activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;

the server further configured to authenticate one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes;

the server further configured to provide funding when one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes is determined to be authentic for providing funding;

an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

the accounting device further configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with the accounting device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes comprises a QR code.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes that is obtained from a camera associated with the wireless device.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is further configured to receive one of the plurality of machine-readable activation codes from the wireless device over a wireless network.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the accounting device comprises a wireless provider backend system;

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to monitor the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device; and

wherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to control the use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by the wireless device.