Over-the-air card provisioning system and method

• US 7,146,159 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zhu, Weiwen
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart, James D.
• Application Number:
  US10/744,169
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455406-408, 455410-411, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/550.1, 455/588, 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/472.02, 235/472.01, 705/1, 705/38, 705/44, 705/35, 705/41
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• 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 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment

Abstract

A system for over-the-air provisioning of a card on a wireless device is provided. The system includes a wireless device, a provisioning system in communication with the wireless device, and an issuer system to maintain an account related to a card. The issuer system is operable to wirelessly enable the card on the wireless device via the provisioning system. A method for over-the-air card provisioning of a wireless device is also provided. The method includes authorizing, by an issuer, an account related to a card, and wirelessly provisioning the card on a wireless device.

Claims

1. A system for over-the-air provisioning of a card on a wireless device, the system comprising:

a wireless device having a removable chip;

an issuer system to maintain an account related to a card; and

an authentication authority having enablement data and a unique identifier related to the removable chip;

wherein the authentication authority provides the enablement data and the unique identifier related to the removable chip to the issuer system; and

wherein the issuer system uses the enablement data to enable the removable chip for use and the unique identifier to authenticate the removable chip before loading information related to the card onto the removable chip.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is an application load certificate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is further defined as a credit card.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is further defined as a loyalty card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is further defined as a security card.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the security card is further defined by a pass card.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the security card is further defined as an identification card.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the issuer system is further defined as a system of a financial institution.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the issuer system is further defined as a system of a business and wherein the card is further defined as a card accepted by the business.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device includes a client module wherein the card is enabled, the wireless device further includes a transaction module operable to communicate between with the client module and a transaction device at a vender location.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the transaction module is further defined as a contact-less module to communicate with the transaction device at the vender location.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the contact-less module is further defined as an infra-red module to communicate with the transaction device at the vender location.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the transaction module is further defined as a wireless module to communicate with the transaction device at the vender location.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the transaction module is operable to communicate with the transaction device at the vendor location using BLUE-TOOTH.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the transaction module is operable to communicate with the transaction device at the vendor location using RF communication.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the transaction module is operable to communicate with the transaction device at the vendor location using WiFi communication.

17. The system of claim 1, the wireless device comprises:

a security component having a certificate related to authenticity of the wireless device and the card; and

a storage component that is operable to store a plurality of cards.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless device is provided with an application to organize the plurality of cards on the wireless device stored in the storage component.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a wireless telephone.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a digital phone.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a personal digital assistant.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a code division multiple access network.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a wireless local area network.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a global system for mobile communications.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a virtual private network.

27. A method for over-the-air provisioning of a card on a wireless device, the method comprising:

an issuer;

authorizing an account related to a card;

notifying a network operator of the authorization; and

requesting that the network operator issue the card operable for the account to a wireless device; and

the network operator;

issuing the card to the wireless device;

at the time of issuing the card to the wireless device, monitoring network activity for fraudulent activity; and

if fraudulent activity is detected, implementing evasive measures to prevent unauthorized usage of the card.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the fraudulent activity includes the wireless device being in a location that is not consistent with the network operator'"'"'s records.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the fraudulent activity includes more than one wireless device responding to signals from the network operator.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the evasive measures include reissuing a wireless device.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the evasive measures include changing the card.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the evasive measures include changing the account information associated with the card.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is further defined as a credit card.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is further defined as a loyalty card.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is further defined as a security card.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the security card is further defined by a pass card.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the security card is further defined as an identification card.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the issuer is further defined as a financial institution.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the issuer is further defined as a business and wherein the card is further defined as a card accepted by the business.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device includes a client module wherein the card is enabled, the wireless device further includes a transaction module operable to communicate between with the client module and a transaction device at a vender location.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the transaction module is further defined as a contact-less module to communicate with the transaction device at the vender location.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the contact-less module is further defined as an infra-red module to communicate with the transaction device at the vender location.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the transaction module is further defined as a wireless module to communicate with the transaction device at the vender location.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the transaction module is operable to communicate with the transaction device at the vendor location using BLUE-TOOTH.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the transaction module is operable to communicate with the transaction device at the vendor location using RE communication.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the transaction module is operable to communicate with the transaction device at the vendor location using WiFi communication.

47. The method of claim 27, the wireless device comprises:

a security component having a certificate related to authenticity of the wireless device and the card; and

a storage component that is operable to store a plurality of cards.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the wireless device is provided with an application to organize the plurality of cards on the wireless device stored in the storage component.

49. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is a wireless telephone.

50. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is a digital phone.

51. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

52. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is a personal digital assistant.

53. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a code division multiple access network.

54. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a wireless local area network.

55. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a global system for mobile communications.

56. The method of claim 27, wherein the card is wirelessly provisioned on the wireless device via a virtual private network.