Method and apparatus for authorizing use of cellular telephone units

• US 6,654,600 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Maldonado, Victor, Pollak, Frederick John
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US09/662,538
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407-408, 455/405, 455/411, 455/414, 705/40, 705/34, 705/26, 379/114.12, 379/114.2
• US Class Current: 455/405
• 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 17/103 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 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• 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 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• 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: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A computer implemented service transmits authorization codes for cellular service by way of a network connection with a user system. The user can purchase additional activation time for an already active pre-paid service. The user can also convert a previously purchased coded card to an authorization code by interacting with the service.

Claims

1. A method for replenishing a pre-paid telephone service by a server system, comprising:

the server system providing a first Web page to a user of the service, the first Web page including at least an interface for-entering a cellular unit number;

the server system providing an interface on said first Web page for purchasing additional airtime for the cellular unit associated with the number;

the server system receiving a request for the purchase of additional airtime, the request including a cellular unit number and financial transaction data for purchasing additional airtime; and

the server system transmitting a one-time-use activation code in response to the purchase of additional airtime by employing a second Web page including the code, the one-time-use activation code corresponding to the amount of additional airtime purchased, the one time-use activation code corresponding to the cellular unit associated with said cellular unit number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating said activation code by reference to said cellular unit number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a web page and said receiving a request is by an HTTP communication protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting an activation code is over a Secure Socket Layer communication session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said activation code is directly transmitted to a cellular unit associated with said cellular unit number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said activation code is transmitted to a service station server tracking user airtime credit.

2. A method for activating a pre-paid telephone card by a server system, comprising:

the server system providing a web page to a user, the Web page including at least an interface for entering a cellular unit number;

the server system receiving a one-time-use code from said user, the code provided through an interface in said web page, the code corresponding to a pre-paid telephone card associated with a predetermined amount of airtime;

the server system verifying the code received from the user to ensure that the code has not been previously used; and

transmitting an activation code to a cellular unit associated with the cellular unit number in response to positive verification of said code from the user, the activation code corresponding to the amount of airtime verified for the received code.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said pre-paid telephone card is purchased at a physical store.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said first code is a unique code.

3. A computer implemented system for providing authorization codes for service activation to customers, the system comprising:

a communication module, the communication module receiving a request for an authorization code from a customer system, the communication module coupled to the customer system by a network connection, the communication module providing a web page to the user to facilitate entry of financial data for purchasing additional airtime for a cellular unit, the communication module transmitting a one-time-use authorization code to said customer system;

an authorization module, the authorization module receiving requests for one-time-use authorization codes from the communication module, the authorization module transmitting a one-time-use authorization code to the communication module in response to a valid request; and

a security module, the security module receiving transaction data and request data from the authorization module to validate requests for one-time-use authorization codes.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said request received by said communication module includes a service type, an amount of airtime, and payment data.