Removable card for use in a radio unit

• US 7,137,548 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schilling, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US10/730,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 340/7.21, 455403-466, 705/1, 705/500
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/842 Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• 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 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• 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 2017/2518 : from material card, using a magnetic stripe card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/255 : local at the terminal itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• 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 2215/7027 : Activate new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8112 : during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8133 : Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue, intelligent peripheral or switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8158 : Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A cellular phone includes a first removable subscriber identification card which has a microprocessor and memory that stores subscriber identification information. The cellular phone also includes a card interface, a controller, that generates a personal access number from the subscriber identification information, and a transmitter that transmits the first personal access number to a wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A radio unit comprising:

a removable card configured to store a first personal access number and configured to store a plurality of telephone numbers; and

a transceiver configured to transmit the first personal access number to a wireless network to facilitate access to the wireless network, the transceiver is configured to receive a new access number different than the first access number; and

the transceiver configured to transmit the new access number to subsequently access the wireless network.

2. The radio unit of claim 1 wherein the card is configured to store a personal identification number to control access by the radio unit to the wireless network.

3. The radio unit of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to receive charge information associated with use of the wireless network.

4. The radio unit of claim 3 further comprising a card writer configured to change information stored on the card in response to the received charge information.

5. The radio unit of claim 4 wherein the receiver configured to receive further charge information associated with use of the wireless network and the card writer configured to change the information stored on the card in response to the accumulation of the charge information and the further charge information.

6. The radio unit of claim 1 wherein the transceiver configured to update the new access number and subsequent attempts to access the wireless network are made using the updated access number.

7. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the transceiver of the base station is configured to transmit an updated access number and the transceiver of the radio unit is configured to receive the updated access number and the base station controller is configured to allow subsequent attempts to access the wireless network by the radio unit in response to receipt of the updated access number by the base station transceiver.

8. A method for use to access a wireless network, the method comprising:

reading a first personal access number from a removable card by a radio unit; and

transmitting to the wireless network by the radio unit the first personal access number to facilitate access to the wireless network;

receiving from the wireless network by the radio unit a new access number different than the first access number; and

transmitting the new access number by the radio unit to subsequently access the wireless network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing a plurality of telephone numbers on the removable card.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing a personal identification number to control access by the radio unit to the wireless network.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving charge information associated with use of the wireless network by the radio unit.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising changing information stored on the removable card in response to the received charge information.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving further charge information associated with use of the wireless network and changing the information stored on the removable card in response to the accumulation of the charge information and the further charge information.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising updating the new access number and accessing the wireless network on subsequent attempts using the updated access number.

15. A wireless communication network comprising:

at least one radio unit comprising;

a removable card configured to store a personal access number and configured to store a plurality of telephone numbers; and

a transceiver configured to transmit the personal access number, the transceiver is configured to receive a new access number; and

the transceiver configured to transmit the new access number; and

at least one base station comprising;

a transceiver configured to receive the personal access number and transmit the new access number; and

a controller configured to allow access for the radio unit in response to receipt of the personal access number by the transceiver and to allow subsequent access for the radio unit in response to receipt of the new access number by the transceiver.

16. The wireless communication network of claim 15 wherein the card is configured to store a personal identification number to control access by the radio unit to the wireless network.

17. The wireless communication network of claim 16 wherein the transceiver of the base station is configured to transmit charge information associated with use of the wireless communication network to the radio unit and the transceiver of the radio unit configured to receive the charge information.

18. The wireless communication network of claim 17 wherein the radio unit further comprising a card writer configured to change information stored on the card in response to the received charge information.

19. The wireless communication network of claim 18 wherein the transmitter of the base station is configured to transmit further charge information associated with use of the wireless communication network the receiver of the radio unit is configured to receive the further charge information and the card writer configured to change the information stored on the card in response to the accumulation of the charge information and the further charge information.