Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Usage measurement
Utility Patent
1995-10-12
2001-01-02
Bost, Dwayne D. (Department: 2744)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Usage measurement
C455S411000, C455S558000, C379S357040
Utility Patent
active
06169890
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system and method for utilizing card operated mobile stations, especially utilizing a service card of a GSM-network SIM-card containing a SIM-unit, advantageously with different electronic service systems demanding a high degree of data protection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In present card systems the telecommunication networks are utilized in either on-line or off-line communication of transactions. Considerable problems are presented by the development and maintenance costs of the card systems and the telecommunication fixed costs, as well as the variable costs of communication for the service providers, e.g. shops and banks, etc. In present card systems the telecommunication traffic and subscriber fees are paid by the service providers (the shop, restaurant, taxi, hotel, etc.), because the division of telecommunication costs would otherwise demand the construction of expensive or, for use of customers, clumsy solutions.
A vital problem is the prevention of unlawful and criminal use of electronic service systems. Such situations occur when the card falls into the wrong hands or when the card is used for unauthorized services (i.e. the card lacks coverage or the card limit has been overdrawn). A considerable challenge lies in preventing forgery of service cards and electronic service sessions. The problem is, for example, the forgery of the user A-number identification in the public network service applications, where the A-number is used to check the user's access rights to the service, by which a forged A-number identification enables criminal use of the service in question.
A considerable problem also arises from the management of access right to different services associated with the same service card. At present, expensive technical arrangements are separately provided for every service provider in order to administer the different services associated with the card.
Another problem of present card systems is the transfer of transaction data in connection with a card transaction to the different parties, e.g. in a trade situation the transfer of the purchase and card payment information to the central system of the shop from a single site, to the payer's bank, to the payee's bank, etc. Different banks and credit companies have their own security systems.
The existing telephone banks (or telebanks) with different numbers provide voice-frequency telephones for the payment of bills and statement of account inquiries. When, e.g., a telebank is called, the computer identifying the DTMF-voice frequency signals available through the telephone network, i.e. the central voice applications platform (the CVAP), answers and the caller communicates with the CVAP by pushing certain keys suggested by a predetermined program.
By linking a card reader system to the phone, calls can be paid by credit card. U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,649 describes a method of using a radio telephone with a credit card. The phone can be used only by first presenting the credit card. The credit card data is read from the credit card and the local validity of the credit card is established by processing the credit card data. If the validity is approved, the phone can be used. When the client uses the phone to place or receive a call, the time for using the phone is recorded. The validity can be checked during the call, and if the call charge exceeds the credit limit, the method can cut off the call.
Published EP application 409 417 also describes the charging of calls when using a certain service data terminal having a credit card reader. In the credit card phone method, a local database, a storage and a programming intelligence have been connected to the telephone to enable the processing of calls. In that method, the user enters the credit card number after having dialed the required number, the data is locally recorded after having checked the authenticity of the card, and if the authorization succeeds, the call set-up continues. The line is supervised during the call. The card number, the dialed number, the date, time and call time are locally recorded, and the host computer is updated with this information. In the methods described above, only calls are charged to the credit cards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system and method according to the subject invention provide a preferable solution to the above mentioned problems. The invention is characterized in what is presented in the claims. The solution according to the invention requires the initialization of the service card SIM-unit to always require the use of a PIN-code, the connection of service number applications demanding high data security from the GSM-network base station onwards through a private network all the way to the service provider (e.g. a bank credit system), searching with the user's A-number identification, in the service application from the service database, the database required by the user and to which the user has a predetermined right according to the database register, the description of the A-number identification related services to the service database in which, e.g., the customer's account number corresponds to the A- and B-number identifications and, furthermore, for the service management a service center for the control of access rights to the A- and B-number related services and re-connection of the services.
Important advantages of the subject invention are the possibilities of utilizing the Pan-European GSM-system SIM-card or a card of a corresponding system in and for the different card issuers' applications, the possibilities of reducing and dividing the service and equipment related telecommunication costs due, for example, to joint usage of different service providers. The invention solves the problem of reliably utilizing a GSM-network user's local authentication all the way to the service provider. The invention also provides a solution to the charging of card system telecommunication transaction costs direct from the user or from a third party, which is a direct benefit for the service supplier of the use of the GSM-network and the SIM-unit in the card system. The invention has additionally resolved the problem of substantially obstructing unlawful and criminal use of telecommunication services and, furthermore, the safe processing of the A-number identification in service applications.
Payment transactions can be secured on-line, by which the use of stolen and forged cards can be immediately prevented when the computer in question has been informed. The transaction data is simultaneously transferred to the payer and the buyer. The same data terminal equipment can also be used as a mobile phone by installing a mobile communication network service card. Payments can thus take place throughout the whole network.
Different services can be associated with the GSM-card customer number defined in the SIM-unit (Subscriber Identification Module). The telecommunication costs related to the use of the services can be charged directly to the customer defined or identified by the card. The card related services are described either in the network in the customer's service database, i.e. the AUP (A-user profile) from which the data is searched with the caller's ANI (A-number identity), or in the service card containing the SIM-unit.
Due to the authentication taking place in the local or the mobile telephone network, the GSM-card is adapted for different transactions demanding high data security and which require authentication of the user. The most important applications are, by way of example, in banking service cards, such as credit and cash cards, insurance cards, regular customer cards, hotel cards, passenger traffic cards, etc.
The invention provides a solution to a reliable utilization of local authentication of a user of a GSM- or corresponding network in different service applications (e.g. accounts in two different banks). The invention provides a solution to the safe management of different services associated w
Bost Dwayne D.
Cohen, Pontanu, Lieberman & Pavane
Maung Nay
Sonera Smarttrust Oy
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