Wireless telephone system with mobile instruments for outgoing calls

• US 6,647,255 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dot 23 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Byard G. Nilsson
• Inventors: Nilsson, Byard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/120,632
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 455/563, 455/557, 455/412, 455/406, 455/90, 455/409, 455/410, 455/408, 379/88.03
• US Class Current: 455/409
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0285 Pen-type handsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A telecommunication system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by wireless operation, voice dialing, prepaid accounting and out-call operation, all enabled by cooperative system operation including supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication to, regulate control, monitor and record operations of the instruments, and bridge communication with selected remote terminals through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, emergency abort to an operator station and security features supplement the basic system.

Claims

1. A process of mobile wireless telephone communication for individual callers to contact remote telephone terminals through a public switched telephone network, comprising the steps of:

providing the individual callers with out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments including, transceiver apparatus for wireless communication, transducer apparatus coupled to the transceiver for enabling the user to form dial-up signals and audio communication signals, and a control unit functional on energization for transmitting identification data for each telephone instrument and sequencing the operation of the instrumpent to initiate an out-call;

providing a central station for wireless communication with the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments to receive identification signals and dial-up signals to selectively bridge an out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument through the public switched telephone network to a remote telephone terminal for communication; and

limiting the use of at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments to reflect prepaid values.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments are disposable.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments further include a memory for storing identification data to facilitate out calls only.

4. A process according to claim 1 the wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments further include a memory for storing control data to facilitate out calls only.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a voice recognition unit to receive voice signals and provide control signals.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein said control signals comprise DTMF signals.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing current values for prepaid use on at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing identification data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing call record data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing call limit data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing validity data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing instrument code data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

13. A process according to claim 1 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing refresh record data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

14. A process according to claim 13 wherein the central station receives voice signals from at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments and provides representative dial up signals in a form for the public switched telephone network.

15. A process according to claim 13 wherein the dial up signals comprise DTMF signals.

16. A process according to claim 1 further including a step of renewing a prepaid value for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

17. A process according to claim 16 wherein the renewing step adds a predetermined increment of value to the prepaid value.

18. A process according to claim 1 wherein the transducer apparatus consists essentially of a microphone and an earphone.

19. A process of mobile wireless telephone communication for individual callers to communicate with remote telephone terminals through a public switched telephone network, comprising the steps of:

providing the individual callers with out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments including, a transceiver for wireless communication, signal forming apparatus coupled to the transceiver for enabling the user to form dial-up signals and audio communication signals, and a control functional on energization of a wireless mobile telephone instrument for sequencing the operation of the instrument to initiate an out-call;

providing a central station for wireless communication with the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments to receive identification signals and dial-up signals to qualify individual wireless mobile telephone instruments for use and to selectively bridge an out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument through the pubic switched telephone network to a remote telephone terminal for communication in accordance with dial-up signals received from the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments; and

limiting the use of certain individual out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments to reflect accumulated uses of individual out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

20. A process according to claim 19 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments are disposable.

21. A process according to claim 19 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments include signal forming apparatus for enabling the user to form dial-up signals by speaking numbers.

22. A process according to claim 19 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments further include a memory for storing identification data.

23. A process according to claim 19 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments further include a memory for storing control data.

24. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a voice recognition unit to receive voice signals and provide control signals.

25. A process according to claim 24 wherein said control signals comprise DTMF signals.

26. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing current values for prepaid use of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

27. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing identification data for the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

28. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing call record data for the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

29. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing call limit data for the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

30. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing validity data for out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

31. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing instrument code data for out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

32. A process according to claim 19 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing refresh record data on the limited use for out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

33. A process according to claim 32 wherein the central station receives voice signals from out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments and provided representative dial up signals in a form for the public switched telephone network.

34. A process according to claim 33 wherein the dial up signals comprise DTMF signals.

35. A process according to claim 19 further including a step of renewing the prepaid value.

36. A process according to claim 35 wherein the renewing step adds a predetermined increment of value to the prepaid value.

37. A telephonic communication system utilizing a public switched telephone network to enable callers to communicate with remote telephone terminals, and comprising:

a plurality of out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments including, transceiver apparatus for wireless communication, transducer apparatus coupled to the transceiver for enabling the caller to form dial-up signals and audio communication signals, and a control unit for transmitting identification data for each out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument and sequencing the operation of such telephone instrument;

a central station for wireless communication with the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments to receive identification signals and dial-up signals to selectively bridge an out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument through the public switched telephone network to a remote telephone terminal for communication; and

means for limiting the use of at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments to reflect prepaid values.

38. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments are disposable.

39. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments further include a memory for storing identification data.

40. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments further include a memory for storing control data.

41. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein the central station includes a voice recognition unit to receive voice signals and provide control signals.

42. A telephonic communication system according to claim 41 wherein said control signals comprise DTMF signals.

43. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing current values for prepaid use of at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

44. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing identification data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

45. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing call record data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

46. A telephonic communication system according to claim 37 wherein the central station includes a memory for storing call limit data for at least some of the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instruments.

47. An out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument for use with a central station enabling callers to communicate though a public switched telephone network, the out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument consisting essentially of:

a transceiver apparatus for wireless telephonic communication with the central station;

transducer apparatus for callers to communicate through the transceiver apparatus with the central station;

a control unit for controlling the transceiver apparatus to selectively bridge outgoing calls in accordance with the transducer apparatus through the transceiver apparatus for wireless telephonic communication through the public switched telephone network;

a power supply for the instrument; and

a housing supporting the transceiver apparatus;

the transducer apparatus, the control unit and the power supply.

48. An out-call only wireless mobile telephone instrument in accordance with claim 47 wherein the transducer apparatus consists essentially of a microphone and an earphone.

49. One or more processor readable storage devices embodying processor readable code, said processor readable code for prograniming a central station process that enables a method of establishing mobile wireless communication from a mobile wireless, keyless instrument through a public switched telephone network to a called telephone terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification signal from a mobile wireless keyless instrument;

accessing the readable storage devices to determine a prepaid value for the mobile wireless, keyless instrument;

activating the mobile wireless keyless instrument to prompt for a spoken telephone terminal number desired to be called, the central station receiving spoken digits representing the telephone number desired to be called by the mobile instrument user as spoken into the instrument and converted to dial-up signals to thereby complete the call to the desired called terminal;

qualifying the call to a called telephone terminal with reference to the prepaid value for the mobile wireless, keyless instrument to provide an approval;

upon the occurrence of an approval, dialing up the called telephone terminal through the public switched telephone network with the dial-up signals for a connection; and

bridging the connection of the called telephone terminal to the mobile wireless, keyless instrument through the public switched telephone network.

50. One or more processor readable storage devices embodying processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming a central station process that enables a method of establishing mobile wireless communication from a mobile wireless, keyless instrument through a public switched telephone network to a called telephone terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification signal from a mobile wireless instrument;

accessing the readable storage devices to determine a prepaid value for the mobile wireless, keyless instrument;

activating the mobile wireless, keyless instrument to prompt for a spoken telephone terminal number to be called;

the central station receiving spoken digits representing the telephone number desired to be called by the mobile instrument user as spoken into the instrument and converted to dial-up signals to thereby complete the call to the desired called terminal;

qualifying the call to a called telephone terminal with reference to the prepaid value for the mobile wireless, keyless instrument;

with qualification of the call, dialing up the called telephone terminal through the public switched telephone network with the dial-up signals for a connection; and

bridging the connection of the called telephone terminal to the mobile wireless, keyless instrument through the public switched telephone network.

51. Readable storage devices according to claim 50 wherein the method further includes a step of qualifying the call with reference to stored data for a mobile wireless, keyless instrument.

52. Readable storage devices according to claim 51 wherein the method further includes a step of qualifying the call with reference to stored area limitations.

53. Readable storage devices according to claim 51 wherein the method further includes a step of qualifying the call with reference to stored time limitations.

54. One or more processor readable storage devices embodying processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming a central station process that enables a method of establishing mobile wireless communication from a mobile wireless, keyless instrument including a microphone, through a public switched telephone network to a called telephone terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an identification signal from a mobile wireless, keyless instrument;

accessing the readable storage devices to determine a reference verification code for the mobile wireless, keyless instrument;

cueing the mobile wireless, keyless instrument to speak a verification code representation into the microphone of the mobile wireless instrument;

qualifying the spoken verification code with respect to the reference verification code;

with qualification, cueing the mobile wireless, keyless instrument to speak a spoken called number for a called telephone terminal;

receiving signals representative of a telephone number desired to be called from the mobile instrument;

converting voice signals which represent a desired calling destination telephone number to dial-up signals acceptable to the public switched telephone network;

dialing up the called telephone terminal through the public switched telephone network with the dial-up signals for a connection; and

bridging a connection of the called telephone terminal to the mobile wireless, keyless instrument through the public switched telephone network.

55. One or more processor readable storage devices embodying processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming an instrument process that enables a method of establishing mobile wireless communication from a keyless, prepaid, mobile wireless instrument with a transceiver, earphone and microphone, through a mobile wireless network and a public switched telephone network to a called telephone terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a manually switched energizing signal;

upon receiving the manually switched energizing signal, accessing the readable storage device to provide an identification data signal;

actuating the transceiver to transmit the identification data signal;

actuating the transceiver to receive cue signals from the mobile network to drive the earphone with an instructional cue from the mobile network regarding operation of the wireless instrument;

receiving voice signals from the microphone to provide voice signals representative of data responsive to the instructional cue;

actuating the transceiver to transmit the voice signals representative of data responsive to the instructional cue;

actuating the transceiver to receive cue signals from the mobile network to drive the earphone with a cueing signal for a spoken called number;

receiving voice signals from the microphone to provide called number voice signals representative of a spoken called number desired to be called through the public switched telephone network;

actuating the transceiver to transmit called number voice signals; and

actuating the transceiver to interface the microphone and earphone to communicate with the called number telephone terminal coupled through the public switched telephone network.

56. A storage device according to claim 55 wherein the method step of receiving cue signals with an instructional cue comprises receiving a cue for verification data.

57. A storage device according to claim 55 wherein the method step of receiving cue signals with an instructional cue comprises receiving a cue related to prepaid operation of the instrument.

58. One or more processor readable storage devices embodying processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming an instrument process that enables a method of establishing mobile wireless communication from a keyless prepaid, mobile wireless instrument with a transceiver, earphone and microphone, through a mobile wireless network and a public switched telephone network to a called telephone terminal, the. method comprising the steps of:

receiving a manually switched energizing signal;

upon receiving the manually switched energizing signal, accessing the readable storage device to provide an identification data signal;

actuating the transceiver to transmit the identification data signal;

actuating the transceiver to receive cue signals from the mobile network to drive the earphone with an informative cue from the mobile network regarding prepaid data for the wireless instrument;

actuating the transceiver to receive cue signals from the mobile network to drive the earphone with a cueing signal for a called number;

receiving spoken voice signals from the microphone to provide called number voice signals representative of a called number desired to be called through the public switched telephone network;

actuating the transceiver to transmit the called number voice signals; and

actuating the transceiver to interface the microphone and earphone to communicate with a called number telephone terminal coupled through the public switched telephone network.

59. A storage device according to claim 58 wherein the method step of receiving cue signals with an instructional cue comprises receiving a cue related to increasing the prepaid value of the instrument.

61. A system according to claim 59 wherein the means for dialing up the desired remote telephone terminal includes a voice recognition unit for providing dial-up signals from received voice signals.

62. A system according to claim 59 wherein said system for interfacing mobile wireless telephone instruments interfaces certain out-call-only of the mobile wireless telephone instruments solely upon receiving wireless signals from an activated mobile wireless telephone instrument.

63. A system according to claim 59 further including means for storing a prepaid calling balance for certain of the mobile wireless telephone instruments.

64. A system according to claim 59 further including means for storing verification data for certain of the mobile wireless telephone instruments.

60. A system for interfacing mobile, wireless telephone instruments for communication with remote telephone terminals, comprising:

means for receiving wireless signals from an activated mobile wireless telephone instrument representative of identification data for such instrument;

means for confirming the received wireless signals representative of identification data and responsively cueing the activated mobile wireless telephone instrument for calling signals indicative of a desired remote telephone terminal to be called;

means for receiving calling signals from the activated mobile wireless telephone instrument for the desired remote telephone terminal; and

means for dialing up the desired remote telephone terminal and bridging the desired remote telephone terminal to the activated mobile wireless telephone instrument for the duration of the communication.

65. A mobile wireless telephone system for enabling communication with remote telephone terminals, comprising:

a plurality of mobile wireless telephone instruments;

means for receiving wireless signals from an active instrument of the mobile wireless telephone instruments, the received wireless signals representative of identification data for the active instrument;

means for confirming the received wireless signals representative of identification data to cue the active mobile wireless telephone instrument for calling signals indicative of a desired remote telephone terminal to be called;

means for receiving calling signals from the active mobile wireless telephone instrument indicative of a desired remote telephone terminal to be called; and

means for dialing up the desired remote telephone terminal to be called for communication and bridging the desired remote telephone terminal to the active mobile wireless telephone instrument for the duration of the communication.

66. A system according to claim 65 wherein at least one of the mobile wireless telephone instruments is keyless.

67. A system according to claim 65 wherein at least one of the mobile wireless telephone instruments is an outcall only instrument with no assigned calling telephone number.

68. A system according to claim 65 further including means for storing a prepaid calling balance for at least one of the mobile wireless telephone instruments.

69. A system according to claim 65 further including a voice recognition unit for providing dial-up signals from voice calling signals from an active mobile wireless telephone instrument.

70. A process of mobile wireless telephone communication for enabling communication with remote telephone terminals, comprising:

providing a plurality of mobile wireless telephone instruments;

receiving wireless signals from an active mobile wireless telephone instrument representative of identification data for such instrument;

confirming the received wireless signals representative of identification data to cue the active mobile wireless telephone instrument for calling signals indicative of a desired remote telephone terminal to be called;

receiving calling signals from the active mobile wireless telephone instrument indicative of the desired remote telephone terminal to be called; and

dialing up the desired remote telephone terminal to be called for communication and bridging the desired remote telephone terminal to the active mobile wireless telephone instrument for the duration of the communication.

71. A process according to claim 70 further including a step of limiting communication with mobile wireless telephone instruments based on a prepaid credit.

72. A process according to claim 70 wherein the step of limiting communication includes storing a prepaid calling balance for at least one of the mobile wireless telephone instruments.

73. A process according to claim 70 wherein at least one of the mobile wireless telephone instruments is keyless.

74. A process according to claim 70 wherein at least one of the mobile wireless telephone instruments is an outcall only instrument with no assigned calling telephone number.

75. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, the processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for accomplishing a connection from keyless mobile wireless telephone instruments to a select remote telephone terminal through a public switched telephone network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving wireless signals from an active mobile wireless telephone instrument representative of identification data for such instrument;

confirming the received wireless signals representative of identification data to cue the active mobile wireless telephone instrument for calling signals indicative of a desired remote telephone terminal to be called;

receiving calling signals from the active mobile wireless telephone instrument indicative of the desired remote telephone terminal to be called; and

dialing up the desired remote telephone terminal to be called for communication and bridging the desired remote telephone terminal to the active mobile wireless telephone instrument for the duration of the communication.

76. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, the processor readable code for programming one or more processors in a keyless mobile wireless mobile telephone instrument having an activation switch, an earphone, a microphone, a memory, and a transceiver, to perform a method for interfacing a central station to accomplish a connection to a select remote telephone terminal through a public switched telephone network, the method comprising the steps of:

on manual operation of the activation switch providing an identification signal from the memory to the transceiver for transmission to the central station;

receiving a cue signal from the central station through the transceiver to actuate the earphone to cue for a desired call telephone number;

providing voice signals from the microphone representative of a desired call telephone number to the transceiver for transmission to the central station; and

providing two-way on-line communication through the transceiver using the earphone and the microphone.