Wireless telephone debit card system and method
First Claim
1. A wireless debit card system comprising:
- at least one radio unit, each radio unit including;
means for receiving communications directed to selected access numbers, including a fixed radio unit access number unique to said radio unit;
means for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card;
first processing means for generating a credit signal from the credit amount and the personal access number;
means for communicating, using radio waves, the credit signal;
access control means associated with said receiving means for activating the personal access number as an additional selected access number in response to a first control signal; and
changing means for changing the credit amount of a debit card in response to a second control signal; and
at least one base station for receiving credit signals and for transmitting first and second control signals to a radio unit from which a credit signal is received which is responsive to the received credit signal such that;
said first control signal verifies the credit amount of the debit card to said radio unit and enables activation of an additional selected access number of the radio unit corresponding to the personal access number of the debit card, andsaid second control signal enables changing the credit amount of the debit card by said radio unit changing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless debit card communications system comprising a radio unit, a base station, and an end station. The radio unit, for example, a radio telephone, includes a first processor, a reader for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card, and a transceiver for communicating, using radio waves, a credit signal. The base station receives and relays the credit signal over a communications channel to the end station. The end station includes a switch to generate a first control signal to allocate the credit amount of the debit card to the radio unit, and to set a radio unit access number of the radio unit to the personal access number of the debit card with a communications path through the base station. The end station also generates a second control signal for changing the credit amount and the personal access number of the debit card. The base station may be connected to a debit meter. The radio unit and the debit meter respond to the second control signal to change the credit amount and the personal access number using magnetic writers or writer processors to store an updated credit amount and personal access number on a magnetic strip on a debit card or on a chip on the debit card as the debit card is used in the radio unit. The personal access number may be used as a telephone number of the radio unit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless debit card system comprising:
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at least one radio unit, each radio unit including; means for receiving communications directed to selected access numbers, including a fixed radio unit access number unique to said radio unit; means for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card; first processing means for generating a credit signal from the credit amount and the personal access number; means for communicating, using radio waves, the credit signal; access control means associated with said receiving means for activating the personal access number as an additional selected access number in response to a first control signal; and changing means for changing the credit amount of a debit card in response to a second control signal; and at least one base station for receiving credit signals and for transmitting first and second control signals to a radio unit from which a credit signal is received which is responsive to the received credit signal such that; said first control signal verifies the credit amount of the debit card to said radio unit and enables activation of an additional selected access number of the radio unit corresponding to the personal access number of the debit card, and said second control signal enables changing the credit amount of the debit card by said radio unit changing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a wireless debit card system including a plurality of radio units and a base station, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing radio units for receiving communications from a base station based on selected access codes, each radio unit having at least one unique pre-assigned access code as one of the selected access codes; storing a credit amount and a personal access number on a debit card; using a selected radio unit to read a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card; and
togenerate a credit signal based thereon; transmitting the credit signal over a broadcast channel; receiving the credit signal at the base station; transmitting a control signal from the base station responsive to said credit signal for verifying the credit amount of the debit card to said selected radio unit and for enabling activation of an additional selected access code of said selected radio unit corresponding to the personal access number of the debit card; and activating the additional access code at said selected radio unit to thereby enable receiving of communications from said base station based on said additional access code. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A radio unit for use in a wireless debit card system having at least one base station for transmitting control signals in response to received credit signals, said radio unit including:
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means for receiving communications directed to selected access numbers including a fixed radio unit access number unique to said radio unit; means for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card; first processing means for generating a credit signal from the credit amount and the personal access number; means for communicating, using radio waves, the credit signal to a base station; access control means associated with said receiving means for activating the personal access number as an additional selected access number in response to a first control signal received from a base station for verifying a credit amount of the debit card to said radio unit and enabling activation of the personal access number of the debit card; and changing means for changing the credit amount of the debit card in response to a second control signal received from a base station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification