Patent · US Expired

Prepaid smart card in a GSM based wireless telephone network and method for operating prepaid cards

US5915226A · kind A · utility

241Cited by
4References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 1996
Grant dateJun 22, 1999
Priority date—
Expiry dateApr 19, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2215/32
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides a prepaid smart card to be used in a wireless telephone network, and methods for prepaying for wireless telephone services, as well as systems for operating a wireless telephone network with prepaid smart cards. The cards, methods and systems permit the use of wireless telephones anonymously, and/or the payment by a user without having a subscription. The invention requires minimal changes to the existing wireless telephone and wireless telephone network, yet provides security against abuse or fraudulent use of the telephone system. Additionally, promotional material may be provided with the prepayments, and persons may prepay into a subscriber's telephone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.