Mobile phone communications system with increased functionality

• US 7,251,501 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John W. Halpern
• Original Assignee: John W. Halpern
• Inventors: Halpern, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US10/469,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20040077372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/557, 455/566, 455/147, 235/380, 235/379
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/353 Payments by cards read by M-devices
• 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 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile telephone and a smart card transaction system in combination, where the functionality of a mobile telephone is increased so that the phone can be used in a large range of transactions for which smart cards are normally used. The phone may also be provided with a slot to receive smart cards and recharge them with funds for cashless transactions, by communicating with a bank account or the like.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone comprising a coupling loop and an oscillator circuit adapted to emit a standard frequency of a carrier signal used in smart contactless cards, said telephone adapted to transmit signals to such a card, said telephone comprising:

means for receiving messages via a telephone network;

the mobile telephone further comprising means for adjusting a resonance point of a combined inductance of the coupling loop and a card coupling loop when said telephone and said card are in communicating relationship;

further comprising an oscillator source whose frequency is adaptable to the frequency of the carrier signal of said smart contactless card; and

means for translating said messages into signals using the same modulation mode as that of the card carrier signal.

2. A mobile telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a separate ear-piece adapted to be electrically attached to the audio circuitry of the telephone.

3. A mobile telephone according to claim 2, further comprising a slot adapted to receive a smart card.

4. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for storing a plurality of modulation modes corresponding to standard card modulation modes, such that the modulation mode of the telephone can be preset to one of said standard modulation modes.

5. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 2, further comprising security means so as to prevent valuable data conveyed from a bank to said phone being transferred simultaneously to the card and to a memory of the phone.

6. A mobile telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a slot adapted to receive a smart card.

7. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for storing a plurality of modulation modes corresponding to standard card modulation modes, such that the modulation mode of the telephone can be preset to one of said standard modulation modes.

8. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 6, further comprising security means so as to prevent valuable data conveyed from a bank to said phone being transferred simultaneously to the card and to a memory of the phone.

9. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for storing a plurality of modulation modes corresponding to standard card modulation modes, such that the modulation mode of the telephone can be preset to one of said standard modulation modes.

10. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 9, further comprising security means so as to prevent valuable data conveyed from a bank to said phone being transferred simultaneously to the card and to a memory of the phone.

11. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, further comprising security means so as to prevent valuable data conveyed from a bank to said phone being transferred simultaneously to the card and to a memory of the phone.

12. A mobile telephone comprising a coupling loop and an oscillator circuit adapted to emit a standard frequency used in smart contactless cards;

means for receiving messages via a telephone network;

the mobile telephone further comprising means for adjusting a resonance point of a combined inductance of the coupling loop and a card coupling loop of a card in communicating relationship with the telephone, the telephone further comprising an oscillator source whose frequency is adaptable to the frequency of communication of smart contactless cards and whose modulation mode is adaptable to the specification of said card, the telephone further comprising a coupling loop tuneable to the midpoint of the combined resonance of said loop and the card antenna loop when the card is placed into its coupling condition in relation to the phone.

13. A mobile telephone according to claim 12, further comprising a slot adapted to receive a smart card.

14. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for storing a plurality of modulation modes corresponding to standard card-modulation modes, such that the modulation mode of the telephone can be preset to one of said standard modulation modes.

15. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 12, further comprising security means so as to prevent valuable data conveyed from a bank to said phone being transferred simultaneously to the card and to a memory of the phone.