Chip card with integrated time-determining system

• US 9,641,693 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Ritter, R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Eric T
• Application Number:
  US99/629,01
• Time in Patent Office: 5,698 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 15/18 according to duration of the call , or the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

Billing method for billing a call to a user identified with an identification card (2) in a telecommunication network. The duration of the calls is determined by a GPS receiver. The identification card further preferably comprises downloaded scales of charges, the billed amount depending on the determined duration of the call and on the stored scales of charges.

Advantage: the determined time can not be falsified by the user.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information; and

a contactless interface;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network; and

duration of calls in said communication network is determined with said time information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a digital processor circuit with which said signals can be decoded, as well as a processor in which said user identification data is stored.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated circuit, with which the satellite location-determination signals received by an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated antenna.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said contactless interface is an electro-magnetic interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said contactless interface is a BLUETOOTH interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in the identification card with said time information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said chip card comprises at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in said communication network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the chip card is configured for checking electronic signature of received scales of charges.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the chip card computes amounts to be billed based on said duration of calls, and the computed amounts are debited from a pre-paid account.

14. A system for determining the duration of a process in a chip card, comprising:

a chip card configured to identify a user in a digital telecommunication network, and

a receiver to receive signals of a location-determining satellite and to determine time information from said signals,

wherein said time information is available in said chip card for measuring the duration of a process in said chip card, and

wherein at least certain components of said receiver are integrated in the chip card.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said time information is calculated in the chip card.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the chip card comprises a digital processor circuit, with which said time information is calculated.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated circuit, with which satellite location-determining signals received with an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated antenna.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein said time information is determined outside the chip card and transmitted into this chip card.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said time information is transmitted over a contactless interface.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said time information is transmitted over an electro-magnetic interface.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein location information is further determined from said signals and wherein this location information is available in said chip card.

25. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

an integrated antenna;

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information; and

a contactless interface, wherein said contactless interface is a BLUETOOTH interface.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said processor comprises a digital processor circuit with which said signals can be decoded, as well as a processor in which said user identification data is stored.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated circuit, with which the satellite location-determination signals received by the antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein said contactless interface is an electro-magnetic interface.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the duration of calls in said communication network is determined with said time information.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in the identification card with said time information.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said chip card comprises at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in said communication network.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the chip card is configured for checking electronic signature of received scales of charges.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the chip card computes amounts to be billed based on said duration of calls, and the computed amounts are debited from a pre-paid account.

38. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

at least one processor, wherein;

said processor decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information, and

said processor comprises a digital processor circuit with which said signals can be decoded, as well as a processor in which said user identification data is stored; and

an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network, and

the duration of calls in said communication network is determined with said time information.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated circuit, with which the satellite location-determination signals received by an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated antenna.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein said chip card comprises a contactless interface.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said contactless interface is an electro-magnetic interface.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein said contactless interface is a BLUETOOTH interface.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in the identification card with said time information.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein said chip card comprises at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in said communication network.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the chip card is configured for checking electronic signature of received scales of charges.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the chip card computes amounts to be billed based on said duration of calls, and the computed amounts are debited from a pre-paid account.

50. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, said chip card comprising a processor, wherein;

said processor decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network, and

the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in an identification card with said time information.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said processor comprises a digital processor circuit with which said signals can be decoded, as well as a processor in which said user identification data is stored.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated circuit, with which the satellite location-determination signals received by an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated antenna.

56. The system of claim 50, wherein said chip card comprises a contactless interface.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said contactless interface is an electro-magnetic interface.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein said contactless interface is a BLUETOOTH interface.

59. The system of claim 50, wherein said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the duration of calls in said communication network is determined with said time information.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein said chip card comprises at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in said communication network.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the chip card is configured for checking electronic signature of received scales of charges.

64. The system of claim 60, wherein the chip card computes amounts to be billed based on said duration of calls, and the computed amounts are debited from a pre-paid account.

65. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information; and

wherein said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network;

wherein said identification data further contains at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated, said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in the communication network, and

wherein the chip card is configured for checking electronic signature of received scales of charges.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein said processor comprises a digital processor circuit with which said signals can be decoded, as well as a processor in which said user identification data is stored.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated circuit, with which the satellite location-determination signals received by an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

70. The system of claim 65, wherein said chip card comprises an integrated antenna.

71. The system of claim 65, wherein said chip card comprises a contactless interface.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein said contactless interface is an electro-magnetic interface.

73. The system of claim 71, wherein said contactless interface is a BLUETOOTH interface.

74. The system of claim 65, wherein the duration of calls in said communication network is determined with said time information.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the chip card computes amounts to be billed based on said duration of calls, and the computed amounts are debited from a pre-paid account.

76. A system for determining the duration of a process in a chip card, comprising:

a chip card that is configured to be used in a digital telecommunication network to identify a user in said telecommunication network, and

a receiver that is configured to receive signals of a location-determining satellite and to determine time information from said signals,

wherein said time information is available in said chip card for measuring the duration of a process in said chip card, and

wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated circuit, with which satellite location-determining signals received with an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein at least certain components of said receiver are integrated in the chip card.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein said time information is calculated in the chip card.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein the chip card comprises a digital processor circuit, with which said time information is calculated.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

81. The system of claim 79, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

82. The system of claim 76, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated antenna.

83. The system of claim 76, wherein said time information is determined outside the chip card and transmitted into this chip card.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein said time information is transmitted over a contactless interface.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein said time information is transmitted over an electro-magnetic interface.

86. The system of claim 84, wherein said time information is transmitted over a BLUETOOTH interface.

87. The system of claim 76, wherein location information is further determined from said signals and wherein this location information is available in said chip card.

88. A system for determining the duration of a process in a chip card, comprising:

a chip card that is configured to be used in a digital telecommunication network to identify a user in said telecommunication network, and

a receiver that is configured to receive signals of a location-determining satellite and to determine time information from said signals,

wherein said time information is available in said chip card for measuring the duration of a process in said chip card, and

wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated antenna.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein at least certain components of said receiver are integrated in the chip card.

90. The system of claim 88, wherein said time information is calculated in the chip card.

91. The system of claim 88, wherein the chip card comprises a digital processor circuit, with which said time information is calculated.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

93. The system of claim 91, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

94. The system of claim 88, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated circuit, with which satellite location-determining signals received with an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

95. The system of claim 88, wherein said time information is determined outside the chip card and transmitted into this chip card.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein said time information is transmitted over a contactless interface.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein said time information is transmitted over an electro-magnetic interface.

98. The system of claim 96, wherein said time information is transmitted over a BLUETOOTH interface.

99. The system of claim 88, wherein location information is further determined from said signals and wherein this location information is available in said chip card.

100. A system for determining the duration of a process in a chip card, comprising:

a chip card that is configured to be used in a digital telecommunication network to identify a user in said telecommunication network, and

a receiver that is configured to receive signals of a location-determining satellite and to determine time information from said signals,

wherein said time information is available in said chip card for measuring the duration of a process in said chip card, and

wherein the chip card comprises a digital processor circuit, and wherein the chip card comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein at least certain components of said receiver are integrated in the chip card.

102. The system of claim 100, wherein said time information is calculated in the chip card.

103. The system of claim 100, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

104. The system of claim 100, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated circuit, with which satellite location-determining signals received with an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

105. The system of claim 100, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated antenna.

106. The system of claim 100, wherein said time information is determined outside the chip card and transmitted into this chip card.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein said time information is transmitted over a contactless interface.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein said time information is transmitted over an electro-magnetic interface.

109. The system of claim 107, wherein said time information is transmitted over a BLUETOOTH interface.

110. The system of claim 100, wherein location information is further determined from said signals and wherein this location information is available in said chip card.

111. A system for determining the duration of a process in a chip card, comprising:

a chip card that is configured to be used in a digital telecommunication network to identify a user in said telecommunication network, and

a receiver that is configured to receive signals of a location-determining satellite and to determine time information from said signals,

wherein;

said time information is available in said chip card for measuring the duration of a process in said chip card,

said time information is determined outside the chip card and transmitted into this chip card, and

said time information is transmitted over a contactless interface.

112. The system of claim 111, wherein at least certain components of said receiver are integrated in the chip card.

113. The system of claim 111, wherein said time information is calculated in the chip card.

114. The system of claim 111, wherein the chip card comprises a digital processor circuit, with which said time information is calculated.

115. The system of claim 114, wherein said digital processor circuit is integrated in a chip.

116. The system of claim 114, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit.

117. The system of claim 111, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated circuit, with which satellite location-determining signals received with an antenna can be transformed into a form that can be processed by said digital processor circuit.

118. The system of claim 111, wherein the chip card further comprises an integrated antenna.

119. The system of claim 111, wherein said time information is transmitted over an electro-magnetic interface.

120. The system of claim 111, wherein said time information is transmitted over a BLUETOOTH interface.

121. The system of claim 111, wherein location information is further determined from said signals and wherein this location information is available in said chip card.

122. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information; and

a contactless interface;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network; and

the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in the identification card with said time information.

123. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information; and

a contactless interface;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network;

said chip card comprises at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated; and

said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in said communication network.

124. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

an integrated antenna; and

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network, and

the duration of calls in said communication network is determined with said time information.

125. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

an integrated antenna; and

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network, and

the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in the identification card with said time information.

126. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

an integrated antenna; and

at least one processor that decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network,

said chip card comprises at least one scale of charges, in which the fees for using the communication network are indicated,

said scale of charges can be downloaded from and/or modified by a tariff server in said communication network, and

said chip card is configured for checking electronic signature of received scales of charges.

127. A system, comprising:

a chip card that is configured for storage of data containing at least user identification data, wherein said chip card comprises;

at least one processor, wherein;

said processor decodes digital signals sent by a location-determining satellite system to determine time information, and

said processor comprises a digital processor circuit with which said signals can be decoded, as well as a processor in which said user identification data is stored; and

an integrated battery to power said digital processor circuit;

wherein;

said identification data are identification data of a user in a digital communication network, and

the duration of usage of resources not required for traffic handling is determined in the identification card with said time information.