Compact wireless telephone with enabling module

• US 6,405,056 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Technologies (Canada) Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dieceland Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Altschul, Randice-Lisa, Volpe, Lee S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/741,719
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/550, 455/557, 455/558, 455/568, 455/569, 455/572, 455/575, 379/428.01, 379/428.02, 379/428.04, 379/429, 379/430, 379/431, 379/433.01, 379/433.03, 379/433.05, 379/433.09, 379/434
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/675 the user being required to insert a coded card, e.g. a smart card carrying an integrated circuit chip
• 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: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• 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 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A compact modular wireless telephone includes a base unit, a headset selectively connected to and disconnected from the base unit, and a separate card for placement in the base unit to enable telephonic communication. The card includes an identifier for providing a signal identifying a dedicated service account, an interfacer for interfacing the telephone with a service provider for authorization of a telephonic communication, and a selector for placing an authorized telephonic communication, upon interfacing the telephone with the service provider and gaining authorization for the telephonic communication. Telephonic communications are authorized on the basis of the amount of airtime made available in the dedicated service account represented by the card, and the mode of operation of the telephone indicated in the dedicated service account.

Claims

1. A compact modular wireless telephone for telephonic communications, the wireless telephone comprising:

an operator module including wireless telephonic operating circuitry, operator electrical connector elements connected to the wireless telephonic operating circuitry, and a power source for supplying power to the wireless telephonic operating circuitry;

an enabling module for being supplied separate from the operator module, the enabling module including a body member having limited dimensions, including a limited length, a limited width and a limited thickness, an identifier in the body member for identifying a service account dedicated to the enabling module, an interfacer in the body member, a selector integral with the body member, and enabling electrical connector elements connected to the identifier, the interfacer and the selector, the enabling electrical connector elements being complementary to corresponding operator electrical connector elements;

an antenna;

an earphone assembly;

a microphone assembly;

electrical connections for connecting the antenna, the earphone assembly and the microphone assembly with the wireless telephonic operation circuitry; and

an interconnect for selectively connecting the enabling electrical connector elements with the operating electrical connector elements such that upon connecting the enabling electrical connector elements with the operating electrical connector elements, signals from the interfacer, the identifier, and the selector are transmitted by the wireless telephonic operating circuitry to interface the wireless telephone with a service provider, to identify the dedicated service account to the service provider for authorization of a telephonic communication, and to establish an authorized telephonic communication.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the interconnect includes a receptacle in the operator module, the receptacle being complementary to at least a portion of the body member of the enabling module for reception of at least the portion of the body member within the receptacle;

the operating electrical connector elements include operating contacts in the receptacle; and

the enabling electrical connector elements include enabling contacts on the body member for connecting the enabling contacts with the operating contacts upon reception of at least the portion of the body member within the receptacle.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the electrical connections include an earphone connection at the operator module, and the earphone assembly is remote from the operator module and the enabling module and includes an earphone and elongate earphone electrical conductors for connecting the earphone to the operator module at the earphone connection.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the electrical connections include a microphone connection at the operating module, and the microphone assembly is remote from the operator module and the enabling module and includes a microphone and elongate microphone electrical conductors for connecting the microphone to the operator module at the microphone connection.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the antenna is located at the operator module.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the enabling module includes a microprocessor in the body member, and the interfacer is connected with the microprocessor and includes an interfacer memory programmed with an interfacing telephone number.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the enabling module includes a microprocessor in the body member, and the identifier is connected with the microprocessor and includes an identifier memory programmed with a service account identification corresponding to the dedicated service account.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the interfacer is connected with the microprocessor and includes an interfacer memory programmed with an interfacing telephone number.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the selector includes a keypad, the enabling electrical connector elements include selector electrical connector elements connected to the keypad, and the operator electrical connector elements include complementary selector electrical connector elements for connecting the keypad to the wireless telephonic operating circuitry upon connecting the enabling module with the operating module.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the interconnect includes a receptacle in the operator module, the receptacle being complementary to at least a portion of the body member of the enabling module for reception of at least the portion of the body member within the receptacle;

the operating electrical connector elements include operating contacts in the receptacle; and

the enabling electrical connector elements include enabling contacts on the body member for connecting the enabling contacts with the operating contacts upon reception of at least the portion of the body member within the receptacle.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the wireless telephonic operating circuitry includes telephonic circuitry for sending outgoing telephonic communications, and the dedicated service account is provided with a predetermined amount of airtime such that upon identifying the dedicated service account, the service provider enables outgoing telephonic communications for the predetermined amount of airtime available in the dedicated service account.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the wireless telephonic operating circuitry includes telephonic circuitry for receiving incoming telephonic communications, and the dedicated service account is provided with a predetermined amount of airtime such that upon identifying the dedicated service account, the service provider enables incoming telephonic communications for the predetermined amount of airtime available in the dedicated service account.