Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-23
2001-10-02
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
C235S381000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296183
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telephony systems, and more particularly, to the use of smart cards for gaining access to telephony services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As the range of telephony-related service capabilities continues to increase, so to does the reliance thereupon. Concomitantly, there are also increased expectations in business and personal relations as to the timeliness of returning messages and/or and otherwise maintaining personal contact on an ongoing basis.
As can be appreciated, however, there are many situations in which access to telephony services is limited, thereby restricting an individual's capability for timely response. By way of primary example, telephone access is limited when a user is at a location remote from the user's primary telephony equipment. In such instances, the user may only have access to telephony services via the use of public telephones. Frequently, a user will not have the necessary currency to utilize a public telephone, particularly, for example, in the event long distance calling is desired.
To help address such situations, “smart cards” have been developed for gaining telephony service access from a public telephone. In short, a smart card is one that is adapted for insertion into certain public telephones, such telephones being capable of accessing encoded information carried on a microchip within the card. The encoded information allows the smart card holder, upon input of a personal identification number, to receive telephony services to the extent that encoded telephony credit units cover associated calling charges. Additional calling credit units may be purchased at smart card telephones via interface with a specific financial institution and telephony service provider.
Unfortunately, the potential use of smart cards is currently restricted by the fact that any given smart card-compatible telephone can only access one particular type of smart card (i.e., a smart card issued with the cooperative authorization of a single, specific financial institution and telephony service provider).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary objective of the present invention is to enhance smart card access to telephony services. More particularly, an objective of the present invention is to improve access by providing a more convenient approach for the provision of smart card-based telephony services.
An additional objective of the present invention is to increase telephony equipment efficiencies and location coverage via dual functionality at smart-card compatible telephones.
The above objectives and additional advantages are realized in accordance with the present invention which provides telephony service access at a public telephone, responsive to the use of any of a plurality of types of smart cards, each of said plurality of types of smart cards corresponding with a different one of a plurality of financial institutions. In this regard, it will be understood that, for any given smart card, there is typically a single, corresponding financial institution that has issued or otherwise authorized the smart card in conjunction with a corresponding telephony service provider. By way of example, in use of the present invention, a public telephone may utilize one of a plurality of security access modules to access data in a microchip embedded in a first given smart card issued by a first financial institution. Subsequently, another of the security access modules may be utilized to access data in a microchip embedded in a second given smart card issued by a second financial institution. As will be appreciated, the provision of a plurality of security access modules in one-to-one relation with a corresponding plurality of types of smart cards (i.e., each being issued/authorized by a different financial institution), allows a variety of smart card types to be utilized at the public telephone, thereby enhancing convenience and calling options for smart card holders.
To provide access to differing types of smart cards, each of the plurality of security access modules utilized in the present invention is responsive to a different security access protocol. While the access protocols differ, the modules may all interface with a common transceiver that interfaces with the microchip of a given smart card utilized at the public phone.
To facilitate smart card usage, the public telephone may further comprise a user interface for prompting a user to select one of a plurality of functions. Such functions may include placement of a telephony call utilizing smart card credit units stored in the smart card microchip to cover associated charges. Such functions may also include the purchase of additional smart card calling units. The public phone may be further provided with appropriate user input mechanisms for function selection by a smart card user.
In order to complete a purchase of additional smart card calling units, the public telephone may be operable to employ accessed data (i.e., from an embedded microchip) to complete a purchase authorization request that is transmitted to a financial institution. Pursuant to obtaining authorization of the purchase authorization request, the public phone may be further operable to automatically transmit a request to a telephony service provider (i.e., corresponding with a given smart card) for loading of smart card units. Upon such authorization, the public phone may then access the microchip of the corresponding smart card to load the authorized smart card units thereinto.
Numerous additional aspects and advantages will become apparent in the description that follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4138599 (1979-02-01), Munter
patent: 4707592 (1987-11-01), Ware
patent: 4907257 (1990-03-01), Asano et al.
patent: 4961142 (1990-10-01), Elliott et al.
patent: 5046183 (1991-09-01), Dorst et al.
patent: 5305383 (1994-04-01), Guillou et al.
patent: 5311595 (1994-05-01), Bjerrum et al.
patent: 5351296 (1994-09-01), Sullivan
patent: 5436971 (1995-07-01), Armbrust et al.
patent: 5475740 (1995-12-01), Biggs, Jr. et al.
patent: 5501608 (1996-03-01), Scheer et al.
patent: 5511114 (1996-04-01), Stimson et al.
patent: 5524134 (1996-06-01), Gustafson et al.
patent: 5550917 (1996-08-01), Tallec
patent: 5557668 (1996-09-01), Brady
patent: 5563937 (1996-10-01), Bruno et al.
patent: 5588037 (1996-12-01), Fuller et al.
patent: 5619559 (1997-04-01), Kennedy
patent: 5650761 (1997-07-01), Gomm et al.
patent: 5661284 (1997-08-01), Freeman et al.
patent: 5673299 (1997-09-01), Fuller et al.
patent: 5673306 (1997-09-01), Amadon et al.
patent: 5675627 (1997-10-01), Yaker
patent: 5677955 (1997-10-01), Doggett et al.
patent: 5796832 (1998-08-01), Kawan
Smart Card Handbook, W. Rankl and W.Effing, John Wiley and Sons, Copyright 1997.*
Smart Cards, Seizing Strategic Business Opportunies, C. Allen and W. Barr, McGraw-Hill, Inc., Copyright 1997.*
Partington, George, “A microchip in a plastic card,” May 1997.
Frech Karl D.
Marsh & Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
Qwest Communications Int'l., Inc.
LandOfFree
Telephony system for smart card usage does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Telephony system for smart card usage, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Telephony system for smart card usage will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2585092