Patent EP0780802A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0780802A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless billing system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-12-10
Abstract
Abstract In a preferred embodiment, a method of billing comprises electronically transferring identifying information of a purchaser from a wireless terminal of the purchaser to a merchant's billing device to initiate a transaction between the purchaser and the merchant, creating an electronic record of the transaction between the purchaser and the merchant where the record contains at least the identifying information and an amount transacted and billing the purchaser for the amount transacted. The identifying information, e.g., Caller ID data, can be electronically transferred to the merchant billing device via a wireless telecommunication network. Alternatively, a local proximity connection between the purchaser's wireless terminal and the merchant billing device can be used. A processor within the billing device retrieves information related to the purchase either from a memory within the billing device or from an electronic cash register external to the billing device. The processor can command a control circuit to deliver the service or merchandise such as raising a toll booth gate to allow a vehicle to pass. The processor then constructs the electronic transaction record, which is subsequently transmitted to a centralized billing location or database.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Charles Salimando
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:41
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/0866; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/22; G06Q20/24; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/32; G06Q20/322; G06Q20/3223; G06Q20/327; G06Q20/36; G06Q20/363; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07B15/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of billing, comprising: electronically transferring identifying information associated with a wireless terminal of a purchaser, automatically during a call set-up, from the wireless terminal through a telephone network to a merchant's billing device to initiate a transaction between the purchaser and the merchant; receiving, at a centralized billing location, an electronic record of the transaction between the purchaser and the merchant, wherein said record is created at the merchant's billing device and transmitted therefrom, said record containing at least said identifying information of the purchaser and an amount transacted; and, billing the purchaser for the amount transacted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of billing as recited in Claim 1, wherein said electronically transferring identifying information includes: forwarding Caller Identification (Caller ID) information indicative of the purchaser's wireless terminal to the billing device during a call attempt from the purchaser's terminal; and, subsequently disconnecting the call attempt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of billing as recited in Claim 1, wherein said electronically transferring identifying information includes: forwarding Caller Identification (Caller ID) data indicative of the purchaser's wireless terminal to the merchant's billing device; and, maintaining an end-to-end telephone network connection between the purchaser's wireless terminal and the merchant's billing device during the course of the transaction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of billing as recited in Claim 3, further comprising acknowledging completion of the transaction by transmitting an audible tone or message from the merchant's billing device to the purchaser's wireless terminal via the telephone network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of billing is recited in Claim 1, further comprising commanding a control circuit via a command generated by the merchant's billing device to provide a service or convey merchandise to the purchaser, thereby completing the transaction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of billing as recited in Claim 10, wherein said control circuit controls a toll gate in a toil lane to control passage of vehicles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of billing, comprising: electronically transferring identifying information of a purchaser from a wireless terminal of the purchaser to a merchant billing device to initiate a transaction between the purchaser and the merchant, said identifying information being transmitted at a radiated power level substantially less than radiated power levels used in wireless communications between said wireless terminal and a base station in a wireless communications network; receiving the identifying information at the merchant's billing device with a local proximity receiver; said merchant billing device creating an electronic record of the transaction including at least said identifying information and an amount transacted; said billing device transmitting said record to a centralized billing location; and billing the purchaser for the transaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method of billing as recited in Claim 7, wherein said electronically transferring identifying information includes: activating a billing module associated with the purchaser's wireless terminal to prompt the purchaser to enter a merchant's identification (ID) code into the wireless terminal; transmitting the merchant's ID code and the identifying information of the purchaser from the purchaser's wireless terminal to the merchant's billing device; and, receiving the identifying information and the merchant ID code with said local proximity receiver.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of billing as recited in any of Claims 1 or 7, wherein said billing device is dedicated for a fixed transaction and wherein said creating an electronic record includes retrieving by a processor within said billing device purchase information including the cost of the transaction stored in a memory within said billing device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of billing as recited in any of Claims 1 or 7, wherein said creating an electronic record includes receiving by a processor within said billing device purchase information including the cost of the transaction from a manually operated electronic cash register associated with said billing device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of billing as recited in any of Claims 1 or 7, wherein said billing the purchaser includes deducting the transacted amount from a secured set of funds or credits in an electronic banking center.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
A billing device, comprising: a local proximity receiver for receiving identifying information of a purchaser transmitted from a wireless terminal of the purchaser at a radiated power level substantially less than radiated power transmitted by said wireless terminal when communicating with a base station in a wireless telecommunication network; a processor for creating an electronic record of a transaction between the purchaser and a merchant, said record including at least said identifying information of the purchaser and an amount transacted; and a transmitter for transmitting the transaction record to a centralized billing system wherein the amount transacted is charged to the purchaser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A billing device, comprising: a receiver for receiving, through a telephone network, identifying information associated with a wireless terminal of a purchaser and automatically transmitted by the wireless terminal during a call set-up; a processor for creating an electronic record of a transaction between the purchaser and a merchant, Said record including at least said identifying information of the purchaser and an amount transacted; and a transmitter for transmitting the transaction record to a centralized billing system wherein the amount transacted is charged to the purchaser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A billing device as recited in any of Claims 12 or 13, further comprising a memory for storing purchase information and further wherein said processor is operable to retrieve said purchase information from said memory for inclusion within said transaction record, and further to cause said transaction record to be stored within said memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a wireless terminal operable in a wireless telecommunication system, said wireless terminal including a memory for storing identifying information of said wireless terminal and a processor operational to retrieve said identifying information during a call set-up, the improvement therein comprising: a billing key coupled to said processor for causing said wireless terminal to transmit, when said billing key is depressed, said identifying information stored by said memory to a location proximate to said wireless terminal to initiate a transaction between a user of said wireless terminal and a billing device that receives the identifying information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The wireless terminal according to Claim 15, wherein said improvement further comprises: means associated with said processor for prompting the user, after said billing key is depressed, to enter a merchant identification code, said merchant identification code being transmitted in modulate data stream along with said identifying information to initiate the transaction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5310999A
Cited
US5424727A
Cited
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