Communication and proximity authorization systems

A proximity authorization unit for use with proximity service units, some of the proximity service units being capable of receiving information via a first signal and some of the proximity service units being capable of receiving information via a second signal, the second signal being different from the first signal, and each of the proximity service units providing a predetermined service when activated in response to receiving a request authorization code, the proximity authorization unit comprising:

• a portable housing;
• a computer unit supported by the housing and having the request authorization code stored therein;
• and
• a communication unit supported by the housing, the computer unit retrieving the request authorization code and the communication unit outputting the request authorization code on the first signal for communication to the proximity service units capable of receiving the first signal, and the communication unit outputting the request authorization code via the second signal to the proximity service units capable of receiving the second signal.

A proximity authorization transaction system, comprising:

• a plurality of wireless devices with at least two of the wireless devices being of a different type, at least some of the wireless devices outputting a request authorization code;
• a plurality of proximity service units with each of the proximity service units capable of providing a predetermined service, at least two of the proximity service units providing different predetermined services and the at least two of the proximity service units comprising:
• a multiple channel wireless transceiver capable of receiving at least two signal types, the multiple channel wireless transceiver receiving the request authorization code from some of the plurality of wireless devices such that the plurality of wireless devices are capable of communicating simultaneously with the multiple channel wireless transceiver without air time, each wireless device being capable of communicating the request authorization code when the wireless device is within a predetermined proximity distance from the multiple channel wireless transceiver and each request authorization code uniquely identifying the wireless device from which the request authorization code is received;
• a proximity unit validation assembly communicating with the multiple channel wireless transceiver receiving and validating the plurality of request authorization codes received by the multiple channel wireless transceiver and outputting a service authorization code in response to each of the request authorization codes upon validating the respective request authorization code;
• and
• legacy activation unit and for providing at least one predetermined service for each wireless device providing the request authorization code resulting in a service authorization code.

A proximity service unit for providing at least one predetermined service for use with multiple types of wireless devices, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver capable of receiving at least two signal types, the wireless transceiver receiving a request authorization code from each of a plurality of respective wireless devices such that the plurality of wireless devices communicate simultaneously with the wireless transceiver without air time, each wireless device being capable of communicating the request authorization code when the wireless device is within a predetermined proximity distance from the wireless transceiver and each request authorization code uniquely identifying the wireless device from which the request authorization code is received;
• a proximity unit validation assembly communicating with the wireless transceiver receiving and validating the plurality of request authorization codes received by the wireless transceiver and outputting a service authorization code in response to each of the request authorization codes upon validating the respective request authorization code;
• a legacy activation unit and for providing at least one predetermined service for each wireless device providing the request authorization code resulting in a service authorization code;
• an interface control unit;
• and
• a legacy payment interface unit, the legacy payment interface unit receiving a signal indicative of a valid payment, and outputting a signal to the interface control unit, the interface control unit outputting a signal to the proximity unit validation assembly to output the service authorization code.

A method for activating a proximity service unit capable of providing a predetermined service, comprising:

• providing a plurality of wireless devices with at least two of the wireless devices being of a different type, each of the wireless devices storing a request authorization code uniquely identifying the wireless device;
• providing a plurality of proximity service units with each of the proximity service units capable of providing a predetermined service, at least two of the proximity service units providing different predetermined services;
• outputting a request authorization code by at least some of the wireless devices;
• receiving, by the proximity service units, the request authorization code from the wireless devices outputting the request authorization code such that the plurality of wireless devices communicate simultaneously with the proximity service unit without air time;
• validating by the proximity service units receiving the request authorization code to generate a service authorization code;
• and
• outputting the service authorization code for each request authorization code which is validated.

A method for providing a predetermined service, comprising:

• providing a wireless device having a request authorization code stored therein, the wireless device capable of communicating via a wireless link and a physical link;
• providing a proximity service unit capable of providing a predetermined service upon validation of the request authorization code, the proximity service unit capable of communicating with the wireless device via the wireless link and the physical link, the proximity service unit having a physical adapter element receiving at least a portion of the wireless device to establish the physical link;
• outputting, by the wireless device, the request authorization code by at least one of the wireless link and the physical link,
• receiving, by the proximity service unit, the request authorization code by at least one of the wireless link and the physical link;
• and
• establishing communication between the proximity service unit and the wireless device by the physical link when the request authorization code is output by the wireless link, and establishing communication by the wireless link when the request authorization code is output by the physical link;
• and thereafter validating the request authorization code by the proximity service unit.