US5577100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile phone with internal accounting
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
•
Filing: 1995-01-30
•
Granted: 1996-11-19
•
Expires: 2015-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A mobile phone system with a mobile phone having internal accounting capabilities for real time call debiting to account for the billing parameters of a mobile phone unit that is operated in a multi zone communication network with a complex rate structure, the mobile phone unit having an internal processor with accessible internal memory for storing the accounting program and call data for each call, a clock and circuit means for activating and deactivating the phone, the accounting program including an updatable rate table and a complex billing algorithm for calculating the account status on the fly including multiple rate structure factors such as long distance calls, international calls with country independent local charges, charges for roaming per day and/or roaming per minute, and call surcharges, where the account status of the mobile phone is calculated in real time for decrementing a debit account or calculating an account charge on demand, the mobile debit phone having a signal for alerting the user of account status which is preferably a display of real time account status, the mobile phone system including a communication system for activating and programming a new phone unit over the airways and upgrading the account status in rate table in the phone unit over the airways.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S. McGregor
- 👤 Gregory M. McGregor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/28; H04M15/30; H04M15/48; H04M15/83; H04M15/88; H04M17/00; H04M17/10; H04M17/20; H04W8/00; H04W8/18; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0116; H04M2215/0156; H04M2215/018; H04M2215/20; H04M2215/2026; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/82; H04M2215/92; H04W76/00; H04W76/10; H04W8/20; H04W8/205; H04W8/26; H04W88/00; H04W88/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A mobile phone system comprising a system provider having a host processor unit and a plurality of system users each having at least one mobile phone unit wherein: the host processor unit has communication means for selectively establishing a communication link with each mobile phone unit; and, each phone unit includes a processor, a clock chip, memory associated with the processor, program means including a complex billing algorithm and rate data for internally calculating call charges as calls are made, wherein the phone unit includes internal accounting means for generating a debit account with an account amount in the phone unit and decrementing the account amount in the debit account in real time, and wherein the system provider has payment verification means under system provider control for setting a phone use account amount and communicating the account amount to the phone unit, wherein the internal accounting means adds the account amount to the debit account.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A mobile phone system comprising a system provider having a host processor unit and a plurality of system users each having at least one mobile phone unit wherein: the host processor unit has communication means for selectively establishing a communication link with each mobile phone unit; and, each phone unit includes a processor, a clock chip, memory associated with the processor, program means including a complex billing algorithm and rate data for internally calculating call charges as calls are made, wherein the phone unit includes internal accounting means for generating a debit account with an account amount in the phone unit and decrementing the account amount in the debit account in real time, and wherein the system provider has payment verification means under system provider control for setting a phone use account amount and communicating the account amount to the phone unit, wherein the internal accounting means adds the account amount to the debit account.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the program means further includes means for storing call charges as record data in the memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The mobile phone system of claim 2 wherein the communication means of the host processor unit has program means for initiating the communication link at a time controlled by the system provider and activating the communication of the record data of stored call charges from the mobile phone unit to the system provider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the host processor unit includes program means for increasing the amount of the debit account in the mobile phone unit during a communication link with the phone unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mobile phone system of claim 4 wherein the mobile phone unit has an RF transceiver and the communication link is established over the airways by RF signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone unit has control means for deactivating the mobile phone unit when the debit account is exhausted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mobile phone system of claim 6 wherein the mobile phone unit has paging means for establishing a communication link with the host processor unit when deactivated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the phone system includes a transaction station wherein the phone unit has means for establishing a communication link with the transaction station and upon verification of a set payment account amount increasing the amount of the debit account in the phone unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the payment verification means for setting a phone use account amount and communicating the account amount to the mobile phone unit has security means for securely communicating the account amount to the mobile phone unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mobile phone system of claim 9 wherein the security means of the payment verification means includes encryption means for encrypting account communications with the mobile phone unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile phone system of claim 5 wherein the RF signals include security means for securely communicating the set account amount to the mobile phone unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The mobile phone system of claim 3 wherein the communication means for the host processor unit includes security means for securely activating and communicating the record data or stored call charges from the mobile phone unit to the system provider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mobile phone system of claim 3 wherein the program means for initiating the communication link at a time controlled by the system provider has means for initiating a periodic polling of the mobile phone unit during off-peak hours.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the payment verification means under system provider control includes a transaction station wherein the transaction station has means for communicating with a system user and the user's mobile phone unit and verifying the authenticity of a transaction setting an account amount added to the debit account of a mobile phone unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The mobile phone system of claim 14 wherein the transaction station includes prepayment means for prepayment of a set account amount for adding to the internal debit account of the mobile phone unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile phone system of claim 14 wherein the transaction station includes security means for secure communications between the transaction station and the mobile phone unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mobile phone system of claim 16 wherein the security means includes direct electronic coupling of the mobile phone unit with the transaction station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone unit has communication means for communicating in a communication network through a wireless service provider.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mobile phone system of claim 18 wherein the wireless service provider and the system provider comprise a single entity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile phone system of claim 18 wherein the wireless service provider and the system provider comprise different entities.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone unit includes a visual display and the program means generates a visual display of current debit account status in the visual display.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone unit is a hand-held device with the complex billing algorithm and rate data retained in the memory of the hand-held device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mobile phone-system of claim 1 wherein the rate data comprises a rate table under control of the system provider and secure from the mobile phone unit user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the complex billing algorithm includes a multiple factor accounting protocol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mobile phone system of claim 24 wherein the multiple factor accounting protocol includes code means for factoring in call charges based on the location of the phone unit in a multi-zone communication network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mobile phone system of claim 24 wherein the multiple factor accounting protocol include code means for factoring in call charges based on the location of the mobile phone unit when called.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mobile phone system of claim 24 wherein the multiple factor accounting protocol includes code means for factoring in call charges based on a location of a party being called.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mobile phone system of claim 24 wherein the multiple factor accounting protocol includes code means for factoring in call surcharges and deductions based on a data content of a call.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mobile phone system of claim 24 wherein the multiple factor accounting protocol includes code means for classifying calls for calculating call charges based on a telephone number called from the mobile phone unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the communication means of the host processor unit has means under control of the system provider secure from the mobile phone unit user for periodically updating the rate data in the mobile phone unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mobile phone system of claim 24 wherein the clock chip of the mobile phone unit is a real time clock chip and the multiple factor accounting protocol includes code means for calculating call charges based on the time of day of calls on the mobile phone unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mobile phone system of claim 31 wherein the phone unit has circuit means for deactivating the phone unit at a predetermined time and date.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mobile phone system of claim 1 wherein the processor system includes multiple host processor units and a central processor unit with means for communicating with the host processor units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3531586A
Cited
US3459882A
Cited
US4518824A
Cited
US4706275A
Cited
US4839829A
Cited
US4860341A
Cited
US5046188A
Cited
US4958368A
Cited
US4965821A
Cited
US4951308A
Cited
US5109401A
Cited
US5301223A
Cited
US5127041A
Cited
US5138650A
Cited
US5297192A
Cited
US5297191A
Cited
US5144649A
Cited
US5303297A
Cited
US5148474A
Cited
US5325418A
Cited
US5335278A
Cited
US5359182A
Cited
US5386455A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-19 | 2000-05-20 | 2000-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-05-20 | 2004-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-19 | 2008-05-20 | 2008-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |