Recyclable cellular telephone and method and apparatus for supporting the use of a recyclable cellular telephone within a cellular telephone network
First Claim
1. Apparatus for activating an acquired telecommunications instrument, comprising:
- first means for communicating with the acquired telecommunications instrument to extract activation information;
means for reading customer billing data for the acquisition and use of the telecommunications instrument; and
second means for communicating the read billing data to a billing entity to obtain authorization for the acquisition of the telecommunications instrument and for communicating the activation information to a communications service provider to obtain a directory number assignment for the acquired telecommunications instrument and to initiate telecommunications service, the assigned directory number communicated for storage in the acquired telecommunications instrument.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus for activating an acquired telecommunications instrument, comprising:
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first means for communicating with the acquired telecommunications instrument to extract activation information; means for reading customer billing data for the acquisition and use of the telecommunications instrument; and second means for communicating the read billing data to a billing entity to obtain authorization for the acquisition of the telecommunications instrument and for communicating the activation information to a communications service provider to obtain a directory number assignment for the acquired telecommunications instrument and to initiate telecommunications service, the assigned directory number communicated for storage in the acquired telecommunications instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A self-activating telecommunications instrument, comprising:
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means for entering an activation sequence and billing data; and means responsive to entry of the activation sequence and billing data for communicating the billing data to a billing entity to obtain authorization for the use of the telecommunications instrument and for communicating an activation information for the telecommunications instrument to a communications service provider to obtain a directory number assignment for the telecommunications instrument and initiate telecommunications service. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A self-deactivating telecommunications instrument, comprising:
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means for entering a deactivation sequence; means responsive to entry of the deactivation sequence for communicating with a communications service provider to cause termination of communications service, wherein said means for communicating receives disable instructions from the service provider; and means responsive to the disable instructions for inflicting damage to certain components of the telecommunications instrument. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A self-deactivating telecommunications instrument, comprising:
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means for entering a deactivation sequence; and means responsive to entry of the deactivation sequence for inflicting damage to certain components of the telecommunications instrument. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification