Method and apparatus for a nation-wide cellular telephone network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling access to cellular telephone systems, comprising:
- establishing a voice channel between a telecommunications platform and a mobile unit by directing a call from the telecommunications platform to the mobile unit through a local cellular telephone system;
performing a handshake protocol between the mobile unit and the telecommunications platform using the voice channel, the handshake protocol comprises generating a response at the telecommunications platform as a mathematical function of a challenge received at the telecommunications platform;
communicating the response to the mobile unit; and
providing voice communication using the previously established voice channel if the response is proper.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for a nation-wide cellular telephone network that controls access to cellular systems is provided in which a cellular system (14) includes a mobile unit (16), transmission towers (18), MTSO (20), and a clearinghouse link (22). The cellular system (14) is linked to a telecommunications platform (24). The telecommunications platform (24) is linked to central hosts (26 and 28). Calls to or from mobile unit (16) are directed through telecommunications platform (24), thereby reducing opportunities for cellular fraud and reducing cellular air usage charges.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of controlling access to cellular telephone systems, comprising:
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establishing a voice channel between a telecommunications platform and a mobile unit by directing a call from the telecommunications platform to the mobile unit through a local cellular telephone system; performing a handshake protocol between the mobile unit and the telecommunications platform using the voice channel, the handshake protocol comprises generating a response at the telecommunications platform as a mathematical function of a challenge received at the telecommunications platform; communicating the response to the mobile unit; and providing voice communication using the previously established voice channel if the response is proper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for controlling access to a cellular telephone system, comprising:
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a telecommunications platform operable to communicate with a mobile unit using a voice channel of the cellular telephone system by directing a call from the telecommunications platform to the mobile unit through the cellular telephone system, the telecommunications platform equipped with a mathematical algorithm that is not revealed in communications using the voice channel, the telecommunications platform operable to receive a challenge using the voice channel, to perform the mathematical algorithm on the challenge to generate a response, and to communicate the response using the voice channel; the mobile unit coupled to the telecommunications platform using the voice channel, the mobile unit operable to receive the response generated by the telecommunications platform, the mobile unit further operable to provide voice communication using the previously established voice channel if the response generated by the telecommunications platform is proper.
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10. A method of controlling access to a cellular telephone system, comprising:
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establishing a voice channel between a telecommunications platform and a mobile unit by directing a call from the telecommunications platform to the mobile unit through the cellular telephone system; performing a handshake protocol at the telecommunications platform, the handshake protocol comprising; receiving a challenge at the telecommunications platform from the mobile unit using the voice channel; retrieving a mathematical algorithm stored at the telecommunications platform, the mathematical algorithm not referenced in communications using the voice channel; and performing the retrieved mathematical algorithm on the challenge to generate a response at the telecommunications platform; communicating the response to the mobile unit using the voice channel; and providing voice communication using the previously established voice channel if the response is proper.
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11. A telecommunications platform for providing voice communication between a calling party and a mobile unit, comprising:
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a first telecommunications trunk operable to receive a call from the calling party; a second telecommunications trunk coupled to a cellular telephone system, the second telecommunications trunk operable to establish communications with the mobile unit using a voice channel of the cellular telephone system by completing a call from the telecommunications platform to the mobile unit through the cellular telephone system; a fraud management system coupled to the second telecommunications trunk, the fraud management system operable to receive a challenge from the mobile unit using the voice channel, the fraud management system further operable to generate a response to the challenge received from the mobile unit, the fraud management system further operable to communicate the response to the mobile unit using the voice channel; and a switch operable to couple the first telecommunications trunk to the second telecommunications trunk to provide voice communication between the calling party and the mobile unit using the previously established voice channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing voice communication between a calling party and a mobile unit, the method comprising the following steps performed at a telecommunications platform:
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receiving a call from the calling party at a first telecommunications trunk; establishing, at a second telecommunications trunk, a voice channel to the mobile unit by completing a call from the telecommunications platform to the mobile unit through a cellular telephone system; receiving a challenge from the mobile unit using the voice channel; generating a response to the challenge received from the mobile unit using a mathematical algorithm not referenced in voice channel communications; communicating the response to the mobile unit using the voice channel; and coupling the first telecommunications trunk to the second telecommunications trunk to provide voice communication between the calling party and the mobile unit using the previously established voice channel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A mobile unit for communicating using a cellular telephone system, the mobile unit comprising:
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a phone transceiver operable to communicate with a remote location using a voice channel of the cellular telephone system by receiving a call from the remote location through the cellular telephone system; and a processor coupled to the phone transceiver, the processor operable to communicate a challenge to the remote location using the voice channel, to generate a first response to the challenge communicated to the remote location, and to receive a second response from the remote location using the voice channel, the processor further operable to allow voice communication using the previously established voice channel if the first response generated at the mobile unit matches a second response received from the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for communicating using a cellular telephone system, the method comprising the following steps performed at a mobile unit:
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establishing a voice channel between the mobile unit and a remote location by receiving a call from the remote location at the mobile unit through the cellular telephone system; communicating a challenge to the remote location using the voice channel; generating a first response to the challenge communicated to the remote location; receiving a second response from the remote location using the voice channel; and providing voice communication using the previously established voice channel if the first response generated at the mobile unit matches a second response received from the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification