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US 10,887,472 B2Granted
Wireless service card having machine readable codes and device and process for use therewith
AssigneeTracFone Wireless, Inc.
InventorTheodore Vagelos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for authorizing wireless service includes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a first surface and opposing second surface. The process further includes providing a machine-readable activation code arranged on the first surface, wherein the machine-readable activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a system associated with a wireless service provider, receiving the machine-readable activation code in a server, the machine-readable activation code being captured by a wireless device, and provisioning the wireless service to the wireless device from a wireless network when the machine-readable activation code is provided to the system associated with the wireless network.
Claims20
A process for authorizing wireless service for a wireless device, the process comprising:
- providing an application executable on a wireless device, the application configured to control the wireless device to capture a machine-readable wireless service activation code using a camera associated with the wireless device, and the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to a wireless service provider system, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service;
- transmitting in response to the application the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information from the wireless device over a network to the wireless service provider system;
- receiving the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information in the wireless service provider system, the machine-readable wireless service activation code being captured by the camera of the wireless device;
- provisioning the prepaid amount of wireless service to the wireless device identified by the wireless device identification information from a wireless network when the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with wireless device identification information is provided to the wireless service provider system associated with the wireless network;
- monitoring and determining an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider system and used by the wireless device with an accounting device;
- and
- controlling a use of the wireless service provided by the wireless service provider system and used by the wireless device with the accounting device based on the amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service used by the wireless device,
- wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprises at least one of the following:
- a bar code, a QR code, a Data Matrix (DM) code, or a Universal Product Code (UPC).
6 more elements
A wireless device configured for initiating authorization of wireless service comprising:
- a camera configured to capture a machine-readable wireless service activation code, wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize a wireless service when provided to a wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service;
- a processor further configured to store the machine-readable wireless service activation code captured by the camera in a memory, and the memory further configured to store wireless device identification information;
- a transceiver configured to transmit the machine-readable wireless service activation code from the memory along with the wireless device identification information over a network to the wireless service provider system;
- and
- the transceiver further configured to provide the prepaid amount of wireless service from a wireless network when the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with the wireless device identification information is provided to the wireless service provider system associated with the wireless network,
- wherein the processor is further configured to execute an application, the application being executable by the processor and configured to capture the machine-readable wireless service activation code using the camera and further configured to send the machine-readable wireless service activation code along with the wireless device identification information from the wireless device over the wireless network to the wireless service provider system;
- wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to the wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider and the machine-readable wireless service activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;
- wherein the camera is further configured to capture the machine-readable wireless service activation code;
- and
- wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprises at least one of the following:
- a bar code, a QR code, a Data Matrix (DM) code, or a Universal Product Code (UPC).
8 more elements
A system for funding a wireless service account comprising:
- a wireless service provider system configured to store a plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes, wherein each one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes is configured to authorize funding for wireless service from a wireless provider;
- the wireless service provider system further configured to receive over a network one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes along with wireless device identification information, one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes being captured by a wireless device and the machine-readable wireless service activation code represents a prepaid amount of wireless service;
- the wireless service provider system further configured to authenticate the one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes received over the network;
- the wireless service provider system further configured to provide funding to a wireless account when the one of the plurality of machine-readable wireless service activation codes is determined to be authentic for providing funding;
- and
- an accounting device configured to monitor and determine an amount of the prepaid amount of wireless service provided by the wireless service provider system used by the wireless device,
- wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code is configured to authorize the wireless service when provided to the wireless service provider system associated with a wireless service provider, the machine-readable wireless service activation code configured to represent a prepaid amount of wireless service;
- and
- wherein the machine-readable wireless service activation code comprises at least one of the following:
- a bar code, a QR code, a Data Matrix (DM) code, or a Universal Product Code (UPC).
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.