Communication and proximity authorization systems

• US 7,110,744 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bryan E. Freeny (Freeny), Charles C. Freeny III (Freeny), James P. Freeny (Freeny)
• Original Assignee: Automated Business Companies
• Inventors: Freeny, Jr., Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Application Number:
  US10/205,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20020187779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/550, 455/552.1, 455/41.2, 379/143, 379/144, 705/13, 705/26, 705/418
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A proximity service unit for providing at least one predetermined service for use with multiple types of wireless devices. The proximity service unit includes a multiple channel wireless transceiver, a proximity unit validation assembly, and a legacy activation unit. The multiple channel wireless transceiver receives at least two signal types, such as infrared region signals, 900 MHz region signals, 1.8 GHz region signals, and 2.4 GHz region signals. The multiple channel wireless transceiver receives a request authorization code from each of a plurality of respective wireless devices such that the plurality of wireless devices communicate simultaneously with the multiple channel wireless transceiver without air time. The proximity unit validation assembly communicates with the multiple channel wireless transceiver and receives and validates the plurality of request authorization codes received by the multiple channel wireless transceiver. The legacy activation unit receives a service authorization code and provides at least one predetermined service for each wireless device providing the request authorization code resulting in a service authorization code.

Claims

1. A public communication unit comprising:

a multiple channel wireless transceiver unit communicating with multiple wireless devices via low-power communication signals, the low-power communication signals including request authorization codes;

a proximity unit validation assembly validating particular wireless devices based upon the request authorization codes included in the low-power communication signals having valid payment information; and

a multiplex unit communicating with an Internet, and receiving communication signals from the multiple channel wireless transceiver unit to interface validated wireless devices with the Internet after the proximity unit validation assembly has validated such wireless device.

2. The public communication unit of claim 1, wherein at least some of the low-power communication signals include audio information.

3. The public communication unit of claim 1, wherein at least some of the low-power communication signals include visual information.

4. The public communication unit of claim 1, wherein the multiple channel wireless transceiver unit, further comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers with at least two of the wireless transceivers being adapted to receive different types of low-power communication signals.

5. The public communication unit of claim 4, wherein the different types of low-power communication signals are selected from a group comprising infrared region signals, 900 MHz region signals, 1.8 GHz region signals, and 2.4 GHz region signals.

6. The public communication unit of claim 1, wherein the proximity unit validation assembly accesses a list of authorized codes for validating the request authorization codes.

7. The public communication unit of claim 6, wherein the list of authorized codes are stored in a remote database accessible by the proximity unit validation assembly.

8. The public communication unit of claim 7, wherein the remote database is maintained by an Internet service provider.

9. A pay phone system associated with a proximity service provider for allowing bi-directional data communication between multiple wireless devices and a communication network associated with the proximity service provider when the wireless devices are within a predetermined proximity distance from the pay phone system, the pay phone system comprising:

a wireless transceiver capable of receiving request authorization codes from the wireless devices, each wireless device being capable of communicating the request authorization code when the wireless device is within a predetermined proximity distance from the wireless transceiver and each request authorization code uniquely identifying the wireless device from which the request authorization code is received;

a proximity unit validation assembly communicating with the wireless transceiver receiving and validating the plurality of request authorization codes received by the wireless transceiver and outputting a service authorization code in response to each of the request authorization codes having valid payment information; and

an activation unit receiving the service authorization codes and establishing bi-directional data communication between the communication network and the wireless devices providing the request authorization codes resulting in service authorization codes.

10. The pay phone system of claim 9, wherein the wireless devices communicate with the wireless transceiver via low-power communication signals, and wherein at least some of the low-power communication signals include audio information.

11. The pay phone system of claim 9, wherein the wireless devices communicate with the wireless transceiver via low-power communication signals, and wherein at least some of the low-power communication signals include visual information.

12. The pay phone system of claim 9, wherein the wireless transceiver, further comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers with at least two of the wireless transceivers being adapted to receive different types of low-power communication signals.

13. The pay phone system of claim 12, wherein the different types of low-power communication signals are selected from a group comprising infrared region signals, 900 MHz region signals, 1.8 GHz region signals, and 2.4 GHz region signals.

14. The pay phone system of claim 9, wherein the different types of low-power communication signals are selected from a group comprising infrared region signals, 900 MHz region signals, 1.8 GHz region signals, and 2.4 GHz region signals.

15. The pay phone system of claim 9, wherein the proximity unit validation assembly accesses a list of authorized codes for validating the request authorization codes.

16. The pay phone system of claim 15, wherein the list of authorized codes are stored in a remote database accessible by the proximity unit validation assembly.

17. The pay phone system of claim 16, wherein the remote database is maintained by an Internet service provider.

18. A communication unit connected to a public communication system, the communication unit capable of detecting a plurality of wireless devices and servicing each of the plurality of wireless devices by providing access to the public communication system when the wireless devices are within a predetermined proximity distance from the communication unit, the communication unit comprising:

a multiple channel wireless transceiver unit in communication with a multiplex unit, the multiple channel wireless transceiver unit and the multiplex unit cooperating to receive data from and transmit data to each of the plurality of wireless devices so as to provide access to the public communication system for each of the plurality of the wireless devices when each of the wireless devices is within a predetermined proximity distance from the wireless transceiver, the multiple channel wireless transceiver simultaneously communicating with at least two wireless devices with different types of low power communication signals.

19. The communication unit of claim 18, wherein the public communication system includes the Internet.