Recyclable cellular telephone and method and apparatus for supporting the use of a recyclable cellular telephone within a cellular telephone network
November 1, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesMethod for dynamically regrouping subscribers on a communications system Telephone registration and cancellation control in a wide area cordless telephone system Radiotelephone system adapted to read a credit card Portable radio telephone having power saver Automated vending of cellular hand-held telephones and cellular telephone services Cordless telephone with internal debit and credit memory Cellular telephone system with remote programming, voice responsive registration and real time billing Cellular phone accounting system Multilingual prepaid telephone system Apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections in a telecommunication switching network without utilization of rate schedules and call cost computations InventorsApplicationNo. 743409 filed on 11/01/1996US Classes:455/405, Usage measurement379/91.01, Credit authorization379/114.16, Recharging or replenishing an account or calling card455/406BillingExaminersPrimary: Kuntz, CurtisAssistant: Barnie, Rexford Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesH04M 015/00H04M 011/00 AbstractA recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone. The recyclable telephones are activated and deactivated in a number of ways, including through the use of a separate activation and deactivation station which communicates with the telephones over a radio frequency communications link. | |
