Recyclable cellular telephone and method and apparatus for supporting the use of a recyclable cellular telephone within a cellular telephone network

• US 5,818,915 A
• Filed: 11/01/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Fehnel, Michael D., Phillips, John C., Hayes, John J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N.
• Application Number:
  US08/743,409
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414, 455/415, 455/418, 455/419, 455/435
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0287 being disposable or recyclable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

A recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone. The recyclable telephones are activated and deactivated in a number of ways, including through the use of a separate activation and deactivation station which communicates with the telephones over a radio frequency communications link.

Claims

1. A method for assigning directory numbers to telecommunications instruments, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a pool of available directory numbers;

extracting a directory number from the pool for assignment to a certain telecommunications instrument having predetermined available period of use;

authorizing operation of the telecommunications instrument in a bidirectional mode of operation utilizing the assigned directory number;

monitoring for the expiration of the predetermined available period of use;

responsive to expiration of the predetermined available period of use, returning the assigned directory number to the pool of available directory numbers for subsequent assignment to another recyclable telecommunications instrument; and

restricting operation of the telecommunications instrument to a unidirectional, outgoing call only mode of operation following return of the assigned directory number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined available period of use comprises a maximum amount of telecommunications instrument communications talk time, and the step of monitoring comprises the steps of:

tracking an elapsed amount of used talk time;

comparing the elapsed amount of used talk time to the maximum amount of talk time; and

identifying that the predetermined available period of use has expired if the elapsed amount of used talk time exceeds the maximum amount of talk time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined available period of use comprises a maximum number of telecommunications instrument calling events, and the step of monitoring comprises the steps of:

tracking an elapsed number of calling events;

comparing the elapsed number of calling events to the maximum number of calling events; and

identifying that the predetermined available period of use has expired if the elapsed number of calling events exceeds the maximum number of calling events.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the calling events comprise either an originated or terminated call.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the step of extracting further comprises the steps of:

monitoring for activation of the telecommunications instrument; and

assigning the extracted directory number to the certain telecommunications instrument following activation.