Wireless telephone debit card system and method

• US 6,382,507 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schilling, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/886,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/384, 455/403, 455/406-408, 455/410, 455/411, 379/90.01, 379/91.01, 379/91.02, 379/93.01, 379/93.03
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/842 Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• 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 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2518 : from material card, using a magnetic stripe card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/255 : local at the terminal itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7027 : Activate new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8112 : during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8133 : Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue, intelligent peripheral or switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8158 : Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio unit used in a wireless communication system. A card reader reads information from a card. The read information includes a read telephone number stored on the card. A transceiver transmits a signal including the read telephone number to a base station. The transceiver receives calls directed to the read telephone number. The first signal enables the wireless communication system to direct calls for the read telephone number to the radio unit.

Claims

1. A radio unit for use in a wireless communication system, the radio unit comprising:

a card reader for reading information from a card, the read information including a read telephone number stored on the card; and

a transceiver for transmitting a signal including the read telephone number to a base station and for receiving calls directed to the read telephone number, whereby the first signal enabling the wireless communication system to directed calls for the read telephone number to the radio unit.

2. The radio unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory for storing the read telephone number.

3. The radio unit claim 1 having a telephone number associated with the radio unit and the transceiver for receiving calls directed to both the read telephone number and the radio unit telephone number.

4. A method for enabling a radio unit in a wireless communication system to receive calls for a telephone number stored on a card, the method comprising:

the radio unit reading the telephone number from the card;

the radio unit transmitting the read telephone number to a base station;

directing calls associated with the read telephone number to the radio unit; and

the radio unit receiving the calls associated with the read telephone number.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising storing the read telephone number in a memory of the radio unit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the card stores information of credit amount and personal access number.

7. The method of claim 6, the radio unit further comprising:

means of the radio unit for reading said credit amount and personal access number from the card;

memory means for storing said credit amount and personal access number of the card;

means for transmitting said credit amount and said personal access number to the base station;

means for receiving said updated credit amount and personal access number from the base station; and

means for writing said updated credit amount of the card.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the base station further processes the received credit amount and the personal access number to generate the updated credit amount.

9. A wireless communication system comprising:

a card storing information including a telephone number;

a radio unit comprising;

a card reader for reading the stored telephone number;

a transceiver for transmitting a signal including the stored telephone number to a base station and for receiving calls directed to the stored telephone number; and

a base station comprising a transceiver for receiving the signal;

wherein in response to the base station receiving the system directing calls associated with the stored telephone number to the radio unit.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein the radio unit further comprising a memory for storing the stored telephone number.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 10, wherein stored information of the card further including a credit amount and a personal access number.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card device;

a transceiver and associated antenna for receiving communications directed to selected access numbers including a fixed radio unit access number unique to said radio unit and for communicating, using radio waves, a first credit information that includes a base station;

means for verifying information received from said base station which include said fixed radio unit access numbers for said radio unit and the personal access number and credit amount for said debit card device; and

means for writing the credit amount of said debit card device in response to said second credit information received from a base station.