Wireless telephone with credited airtime and method

• US 5,983,094 A
• Filed: 10/27/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Technologies (Canada) Corp.
• Original Assignee: Randice-Lisa Altschul
• Inventors: Altschul, Randice-Lisa, Volpe, Lee S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/958,120
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 455/453, 455/413, 395/219
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• 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: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• 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 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• 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: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and for the purchase of selected goods and services in purchase amounts is responsive to the purchase amounts so as to enable the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime. A method of using a wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and for the purchase of selected goods and services in purchase amounts enables the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime. Preferably the purchase amounts are placed through a purchase account and are converted to additional periods of airtime in proportion to the purchase amounts.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and responsive to making selected purchases of goods and services in purchase amounts placed through a purchase account and for enabling the purchase amounts made through the purchase account to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, the telephone comprising:

telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

input means for entering information pertaining to a purchase amount of a selected purchase;

confirming means for confirming placement of the purchase amount in the purchase account;

converting means responsive to the confirming means for converting the purchase amount confirmed by the confirming means to an additional period of airtime, in proportion to the purchase amount of the selected purchase, during which additional period of airtime telephonic communication is enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

enabling/disabling means for enabling the telephonic means for telephonic communications during a predetermined limited subscribed period and disabling the telephonic means upon expiration of the predetermined limited subscribed period; and

selective operating means for operating the telephonic means for telephonic communications of selected durations, the enabling/disabling means being responsive to the selective operating means such that telephonic communication is disabled for telephonic communications when the sum of the selected durations reaches the predetermined limited period; and

resetting means responsive to the converting means for adding the additional period of airtime to the predetermined limited period.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the enabling/disabling means includes setting means for determining the duration of the predetermined limited period, and disabling means for rendering the telephonic means inoperative in response to the sum of the selected durations reaching the duration of the predetermined limited period, the resetting means being responsive to the converting means for adding additional duration to the predetermined limited period.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the setting means includes a timing mechanism, and the resetting means is responsive to the converting means to reset the timing mechanism.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein the telephone includes identifying means for identifying the purchase account through which the selected purchases are made.

4. A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and responsive to making selected purchases of goods and services in purchase amounts placed through a purchase account and for enabling the purchase amounts made through the purchase account to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, the telephone comprising:

telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

input means for entering information pertaining to a purchase amount of a selected purchase;

confirming means for confirming placement of the purchase amount in the purchase account;

converting means responsive to the confirming means for converting the purchase amount confirmed by the confirming means to an additional period of airtime, in proportion to the purchase amount of the selected purchase, during which additional period of airtime telephonic communication is enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

accumulator means responsive to the converting means for accumulating additional periods of airtime, as determined by the converting means, to establish an additional duration; and

indicator means responsive to the accumulator means for indicating during telephonic communications, for the additional duration, the additional periods of airtime, whereby telephonic communication is enabled for the duration of the accumulated additional periods of airtime independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

the accumulator means including a timing mechanism, and the indicator means including a signal generator for generating a signal during telephonic communications, the signal being indicative of the additional periods of airtime.

6. A method of using a wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and for making selected purchases of goods and services in purchase amounts placed through a purchase account, the method enabling the purchase amounts of the selected purchases to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, in response to making the selected purchases, the method comprising:

providing telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

placing a purchase amount in the purchase account;

entering information pertaining to a purchase amount of a selected purchase;

confirming placement of the information pertaining to the purchase amount in the purchase account;

converting the purchase amount, confirmed as having been placed in the purchase account, to an additional period of airtime, in proportion to the purchase amount;

enabling the telephonic means for telephonic communications during the additional period of airtime, independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

enabling the telephonic means for telephonic communications during a predetermined limited subscribed period and disabling the telephonic means upon expiration of the predetermined limited subscribed period;

operating the telephonic means for telephonic communications of selected durations such that telephonic communication is disabled for telephonic communications when the sum of the selected durations reaches the predetermined limited period; and

adding the additional period of airtime to the predetermined limited period.

7. A method of using a wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and for making selected purchases of goods and services in purchase amounts placed through a purchase account, the method enabling the purchase amounts of the selected purchases to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, in response to making the selected purchases, the method comprising:

providing telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

placing a purchase amount in the purchase account;

entering information pertaining to a purchase amount of a selected purchase;

confirming placement of the information pertaining to the purchase amount in the purchase account;

converting the purchase amount, confirmed as having been placed in the purchase account, to an additional period of airtime, in proportion to the purchase amount;

enabling the telephonic means for telephonic communications during the additional period of airtime, independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

accumulating additional periods of airtime to establish an additional duration; and

indicating during telephonic communications, for the additional duration, the additional periods of airtime, whereby telephonic communication is enabled for the duration of the accumulated additional periods of airtime independent of the subscribed periods of airtime.

8. The invention of claim 7 including generating a signal during telephonic communications, the signal being indicative of the additional periods of airtime.

9. A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and responsive to purchase amounts so as to enable the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, the telephone comprising:

telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

purchase amount means for entering information pertaining to a purchase amount;

converting means responsive to the purchase amount means for converting the information pertaining to the purchase amount to an additional period of airtime during which additional period of airtime telephonic communication is enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

enabling/disabling means for enabling the telephonic means for telephonic communications during a predetermined limited subscribed period and disabling the telephonic means upon expiration of the predetermined limited subscribed period;

selective operating means for operating the telephonic means for telephonic communications of selected durations, the enabling/disabling means being responsive to the selective operating means such that telephonic communication is disabled for telephonic communications when the sum of the selected durations reaches the predetermined limited period; and

resetting means responsive to the converting means for adding the additional period of airtime to the predetermined limited period.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the enabling/disabling means includes setting means for determining the duration of the predetermined limited period, and disabling means for rendering the telephonic means inoperative in response to the sum of the selected durations reaching the duration of the predetermined limited period, the resetting means being responsive to the converting means for adding additional duration to the predetermined limited period.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the setting means includes a timing mechanism, and the resetting means is responsive to the converting means to reset the timing mechanism.

12. A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and responsive to purchase amounts so as to enable the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, the telephone comprising:

telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

purchase amount means for entering information pertaining to a purchase amount;

converting means responsive to the purchase amount means for converting the information pertaining to the purchase amount to an additional period of airtime during which additional period of airtime telephonic communication is enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

accumulator means responsive to the converting means for accumulating additional periods of airtime, as determined by the converting means, to establish an additional duration; and

indicator means responsive to the accumulator means for indicating during telephonic communications, for the additional duration, the additional periods of airtime, whereby telephonic communication is enabled for the duration of the accumulated additional periods of airtime independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

the accumulator means including a timing mechanism, and the indicator means including a signal generator for generating a signal during telephonic communications, the signal being indicative of the additional periods of airtime.

13. A wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and responsive to purchase amounts so as to enable the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, the purchase amounts being placed through a purchase account, the telephone comprising:

telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

purchase amount means for entering information pertaining to a purchase amount;

converting means responsive to the purchase amount means for converting the information pertaining to the purchase amount to an additional period of airtime during which additional period of airtime telephonic communication is enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime; and

the purchase amount means including;

input means for entering the information pertaining to the purchase amount; and

confirming means for confirming placement of the purchase amount in the purchase account and indicating a confirmed purchase amount;

the converting means being responsive to the confirming means for converting the information pertaining to the purchase amount confirmed by the confirming means to the additional period of airtime.

14. A method of using a wireless telephone for telephonic communications during subscribed periods of airtime and responsive to purchase amounts so as to enable the purchase amounts to be converted to additional periods of airtime during which telephonic communications are enabled independent of the subscribed periods of airtime, the method comprising:

providing telephonic means for transmitting and receiving telephonic communications;

entering information pertaining to a purchase amount;

converting the information pertaining to the purchase amount to an additional period of airtime;

enabling the telephonic means for telephonic communications during the additional period of airtime, independent of the subscribed periods of airtime;

accumulating additional periods of airtime to establish an additional duration; and

indicating during telephonic communications, for the additional duration, the additional periods of airtime, whereby telephonic communication is enabled for the duration of the accumulated additional periods of airtime independent of the subscribed periods of airtime.

15. The invention of claim 14 including generating a signal during telephonic communications, the signal being indicative of the additional periods of airtime.