Nonreusable cellular telephone and method of making cellular telephone calls

• US 6,332,074 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward C. Spitaletta, Robert E. Spitaletta
• Original Assignee: Edward C. Spitaletta, Robert E. Spitaletta
• Inventors: Spitaletta, Edward C., Spitaletta, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/564,755
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/407, 455/404
• US Class Current: 455/407
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A nonreusable cellular telephone includes a programmable timer for providing a predetermined period of calling time during which the cellular phone may be used for cellular communications. The amount of remaining calling time is monitored and the phone is disabled when the calling time has expired rending the phone inoperative so that it may be disposed of.

Claims

1. A method of making a plurality of phone calls using a cellular phone which is nonresettable and permanently rendered inoperative after the expiration of a predetermined period of calling time, the cellular phone comprising a preprogrammed one-time predetermined period of calling time deductible from the cellular phone during cellular communications and a microprocessor operative to control the operation of the cellular phone, said method comprising:

(a) conducting first cellular communications with the cellular phone for a limited duration less than said predetermined period of calling time;

(b) automatically deducting a first amount of calling time from said predetermined period of calling time corresponding to the duration of said first cellular communications such that the user can make one or more additional calls without regard to when said first cellular communications was made and until said predetermined period of calling time is used up;

(c) conducting additional cellular communications with the cellular phone;

(d) automatically deducting an additional amount of calling time from said predetermined period of calling time corresponding to the duration of the additional cellular communications; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until said predetermined period of calling time is used up and, at such time, permanently disabling the cellular phone such that it is permanently rendered inoperative and incapable of any further use.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sounding a tone generator to generate one or more tones to alert the user of the cellular phone as to the status of remaining calling time.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating one or more tones upon expiration of a predetermined amount of calling time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating an LED upon expiration of a predetermined amount of calling time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising actuating a vibration generator to vibrate and alert the user as to the status of remaining calling time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the remaining time of the calling time based on a flat rate corresponding to the duration of the phone call.

7. A method of making a plurality of phone calls using a cellular phone which is rendered inoperative after the expiration of a predetermined period of calling time, the cellular phone comprising a preprogrammed one-time predetermined period of calling time deductible from the cellular phone during cellular communications and a microprocessor operative to control the operation of the cellular phone, said method comprising:

(a) conducting first cellular communications with the cellular phone for a limited duration less than said predetermined period of calling time;

(b) automatically deducting a first amount of calling time from said predetermined period of calling time corresponding to the duration of said first cellular communications such that the user can make one or more additional calls without regard to when said first cellular communications was made and until said predetermined period of calling time is used up;

(c) conducting additional cellular communications with the cellular phone;

(d) automatically deducting an additional amount of calling time from said predetermined period of calling time corresponding to the duration of the additional cellular communications; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until said predetermined period of calling time is used up and, at such time, disposing of said cellular phone.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sounding a tone generator to generate one or more tones to alert the user of the cellular phone as to the status of remaining calling time.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating one or more tones upon expiration of a predetermined amount of calling time.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising illuminating an LED upon expiration of a predetermined amount of calling time.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising actuating a vibration generator to vibrate and alert the user as to the status of remaining calling time.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising calculating the remaining time of the calling time based on a flat rate corresponding to the duration of the phone call.

18. The method of claim 7, farther comprising calculating the remaining time of the calling time based on a flat rate corresponding to the duration of the phone call.

13. A method of making a plurality of phone calls using a cellular phone which is rendered inoperative after the expiration of a predetermined period of calling time, the cellular phone comprising a remaining time indicator providing a one-time predetermined period of calling time, a microprocessor operative to deduct calling time from said remaining time indicator and disable said cellular phone and send and end keys allowing the user to initiate and end cellular communications and to start and stop the deduction of the calling time, said method comprising:

(a) conducting first cellular communications with the cellular phone for a limited duration less than said predetermined period of calling time in accordance with the operation of said send and end keys by the user;

(b) automatically deducting a first amount of calling time from said predetermined period of calling time corresponding to the duration of said first cellular communications such that the user can make one or more additional calls without regard to when said first cellular communications was made and until said predetermined period of calling time is used up;

(c) conducting additional cellular communications with the cellular phone;

(d) automatically deducting a second amount of calling time from said predetermined period of calling time corresponding to the duration of the additional cellular communications; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until said predetermined period of calling time is used up and, at such time, disposing of the phone.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sounding a tone generator to generate one or more tones to alert the use of the cellular phone as to the status of remaining calling time.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating one or more tones upon expiration of a predetermined amount of calling time.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising illuminating an LED upon expiration of a predetermined amount of calling time.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising actuating a vibration generator to vibrate and alert the user as to the status of remaining calling time.