Portable communication unit with discrete allocable blocks of airtime

• US 6,577,857 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emerald Isle, LLC
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/302,159
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/419, 455/405, 379/144, 379/115, 379/90.01, 379/114.01, 235/380
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• 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: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A portable communication unit that operates based upon predetermined discrete blocks of airtime. The unit may be operated as a conventional portable communication unit when airtime is available, and operation of the unit for conventional communication is disabled when all the airtime has been used. By entering a specific code, which may be supplied by a dealer, the user may activate an additional block of airtime. Two classes of airtime may be provided; home time airtime which is used when the unit is within the area of a local or primary communication service provider, and roam time airtime which is used when the unit is outside of the area of a local or primary communication service provider. The unit may be programmed, preferably only by the dealer, with toll restrictor codes that limit the available range of numbers with which the unit may initiate a communication session.

Claims

1. A method for operating a portable communication unit having an electronic memory and a plurality of keys for establishing a communication session according to a predetermined protocol, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of different parameters in the electronic memory of the portable communication unit, including at least an identification code and a value relating to the amount of available service time, said value including at least a first class of service time related to a predetermined region and a second class of service time related to areas outside said predetermined region,

increasing the value relating to the amount of available service time in response to a predetermined code entered by activation of a corresponding sequence of said keys,

displaying one or more of said parameters stored in the electronic memory of said unit,

establishing a communication session with said unit,

decreasing the value of said first class of service time when said portable communication unit is within said predetermined region,

decreasing the value of said second class of service time when said portable communication unit is outside of said predetermined region,

enabling said unit for a communication session when said value relating to the amount of available service time is greater than a predetermined value, and

disabling a communication session with said unit when said value relating to the amount of available service time is less than said predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

restricting the range of available numbers for establishing a communication session with said unit.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

predetermining an access profile for said range of available numbers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing said value relating to the amount of available service time in the electronic memory.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

decreasing the value of said first class of service time at a first rate during a communication session within said predetermined region, and

decreasing the value of said second class of service time at a second rate during a communication session outside said predetermined region.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing the value relating to the amount of available service time in response to an activation signal received by said unit after establishing a communication session with said unit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing the value relating to the amount of available service time in response to an activation signal received by said unit during a process of registration of said unit.