The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1996
Philippe Martineau, Rockville, MD (US);
Gemplus Card International, , FR;
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.