Electronic device cover with embedded radio frequency (RF) transponder and methods of using same

• US 6,771,981 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Shaw, Steven A., Roberts, Randall C., Pennington, Michael C, Zalewski, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/675,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/412.1, 455/466, 455/557, 455/558, 455/92, 455/95, 455/575.8, 455/115.4, 455/100, 455/552.1, 342/51, 235/380, 705/41
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• 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 17/026 Constructional features
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A changeable cover for an electronic device and method of using same in a payment system is provided. The cover has a transponder responsive to interrogation by an electric field. The cover provides an electronic identification number and other information in response to the interrogation signal. Also provided is a system for making payments, comprising at least one mobile station (4) which has an associated cover (100) for providing local data transfer. The system also comprises at least one point of sale terminal or the like, which has a second transceiver for providing data transfer.

Claims

1. A removal non-planar external cover module for a mobile device comprising:

a main face, having an upper surface which is exposed when said removal non-planar cover is removably attached to said mobile device;

a plurality of wall elements joining said main face at its edge wherein said main face and at least portions of said wall elements define a receivable cavity for receiving said mobile devices; and

transponder having data and circuitry responsive to an interrogation signal to communicate the data with a remote station via wireless communication.

2. The module of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory for storing digital data.

3. The module of claim 2, wherein memory is preloaded with digital data representing digital cash.

4. The module of claim 2 further comprising:

an interface with a portable radio communication device, wherein digital data representing digital cash may be added to the memory be received by the portable radio communication device and transferred to the memory via the interface.

5. The cover of claim 1, wherein the transponder is a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) transponder.

6. The cover of claim 1, wherein the transponder is a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) transponder.

7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the transponder is a Dense Wave Multiple Access (DWMA) device.

8. A portable radio communication device comprising:

a removal non-planar external cover comprising;

a main face, having an upper surface which is exposed when the removal non-planar cover is removably attached to the portable radio communication device;

a plurality of wall elements joining the main face at its edge wherein the main face and at least portions of the wall elements define a receivable cavity for receiving the portable radio communication device;

a transponder embedded in the removable non-planar cover, the transponder having data and circuitry responsive to an interrogation signal to communicate the data with a remote station via wireless communication.

9. The portable radio communication device of claim 8 further comprising:

a memory for storing digital data.

10. The portable radio communication device of claim 9 further comprising:

an interface electronically coupling the removable non-planar cover with the portable radio communication device, wherein digital data representing digital cash may be added to the memory be received by the portable radio communication device and transferred to the memory via the connector.

11. The portable radio communication device of claim 9 further comprising:

an interface electronically coupling the removable non-planar cover with the portable radio communication device, wherein the data in the transponder may be modified by data received by the portable communication device.

12. The portable radio communication device of claim 11 wherein the update data may be in the form of a SMS message received by the portable communication device.

13. The portable radio communication device of claim 9, wherein the transponder is a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) transponder.

14. The portable radio communication device of claim 9, wherein the transponder is a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) transponder.

15. The portable radio communication device of claim 9, wherein the transponder is a Dense Wave Multiple Access (DWMA) device.