FR2793101A1 - Mobile telephone information recharging system having rechargeable information support/store section with loading/acquisition across network reception/transmission. - Google Patents

Abstract

The mobile telephone recharging system has a mobile telephone network (100) with transmission and reception (1,2) mechanisms. The mobile telephone has a rechargeable information support (22) and store section (24,25). There is a mechanism (30,31) to load the information. The information is acquired (26) and placed in the storage section. Acquisition is by transmission and reception across the cellular network (100).

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONE OF A TELEPHONE NETWORK
CELLULAR, RECHARGEABLE INFORMATION MEDIUM
Access to certain places, for example to a public transport network, is controlled. This access control is generally carried out by reading information, supported by a transport ticket from a network user and representative of a period of validity of the transport ticket, during which the user benefits from a right of access to the network.

Transport tickets are known which include a card carrying a magnetic stripe on which the period of validity of the transport ticket is recorded. To access the network, the user must enter their ticket in an access control terminal which reads the information recorded on the magnetic tape in order to authorize or deny user access to the network. With tickets of this type, there is a significant risk of reproduction fraud.

To limit the risk of fraud, devices known as "contactless" are known, acting as a transport ticket, comprising, in a box, radio transmission means, a display, a memory for storing the period of validity. the ticket and an electrical supply. To access the network, a user must present their ticket to an access control terminal and, by induction, under the effect of an electromagnetic field emitted by the terminal, the radio transmission means of the ticket issue the period of validity that the terminal controls in order to authorize or refuse access to the network.

"Contactless" devices can also incorporate an electronic wallet function. In this case, an electronic wallet memory is provided, for storing a sum of money, and a subtractor for deducting a purchase amount from the stored amount of money. To make a purchase, the holder of the title presents his electronic wallet in front of a transaction terminal and, by pressing a specific key, the electronic wallet transmits the sum of money, stored in the wallet memory, to the thick headed. The terminal can verify that the amount of the purchase is less than or equal to the amount of money in the wallet and transmit the amount of the purchase to the wallet which counts down the amount of money stored in memory.

The recharge of the electronic wallet or of the transport ticket, in other words the acquisition of a new sum of money for the electronic wallet or of a new period of validity for the transport ticket, is made from a counter, which obliges the holder of the wallet and / or the ticket to travel to this counter.

The present invention aims to overcome this drawback.

To this end, the invention relates to a mobile telephone of a cellular telephone network, comprising radio transmission and reception means through the cellular network, characterized in that it comprises rechargeable information support means comprising means for storing information, means for unloading said information and means for acquiring information to be stored in the storage means, the means for acquiring comprising said means for transmitting and receiving radio across the network cellular.

The recharging of the information support means can thus be carried out by downloading information from an information supplier, during a telephone communication through the cellular network between the telephone and this supplier.

Advantageously, man-machine interface means being provided in the telephone, said man-machine interface means are intended to provide the interface between the rechargeable information carrier means and a user.

Advantageously also, means of electrical supply being provided in the telephone, said supply means are intended to supply the rechargeable information support means.

The telephone and the rechargeable information support means thus share the man-machine interface means and the power supply means.

Preferably, the unloading means comprise proximity emission means.

Advantageously, means are provided for controlling a telephone call from an information provider through the cellular network.

In a particular embodiment, the acquisition means are intended to control the transmission, through the cellular network, of an information acquisition request.

The information may include - a period, for example a period of validity of a transport ticket for access to a public transport network, - a geographical indication, specifying for example a geographical area of a transport network at which the holder of the telephone has access, - units of money, each unit making it possible for example to browse a determined number of stations of a transport network, - transport units in a transport network, - a sum of money , to make purchases, or characteristics of a telephone user, specifying for example that it is a disabled person or a child and making it possible to control traffic lights.

The invention will be better understood using the following description of a particular embodiment of the telephone of the invention, with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 represents a functional block diagram of the telephone and - FIG. 2 represents a front view of an electrical supply battery of the telephone of FIG. 1.

The telephone of the invention is a mobile telephone of a cellular telephone network 100, here of the GSM standard, comprising, in a conventional manner, a radio antenna 1, a radio transmission and reception block 2, a coding block / decoding 3, a communication block in GSM mode 4, a man-machine interface and a power supply battery 17.

The radio transmission and reception unit 2, connected to the radio antenna 1, is intended to transmit and receive radio signals serving as carriers for the transmission of data through the cellular network 100.

The human-machine interface comprises a microphone 5, a loudspeaker 6, an input keyboard 7, a display 8 and a user interface block 9.

The microphone 5 and the loudspeaker 6 are respectively connected to an analog-digital converter (ADC) 10 and to a digital-analog converter (DAC) 11.

The coding / decoding block 3, connected to the radio block 2 and to the converters
CAN 10 and CNA 11, is intended to encode the voice data to be transmitted, to compress it, and to decode the voice data received, to decompress it.

The user interface block 9 comprises a user interface application, intended to display command menus, on the display 8.

The keyboard 7 includes standard telephone keys, a browser allowing a user to move through the menus of the user interface and a selection key for selecting commands from the menus.

The communication block in GSM 4 mode includes an application for executing a GSM communication protocol.

The telephone also includes a male connector 12 for connection with a female connector 23, explained below, and a pad 13 for electrical supply.

All the elements of the telephone, described above, are connected to a central control unit 14 intended to control the operation of the telephone and to execute the applications thereof.

The elements 2-14 of the telephone are integrated into or mounted on a housing 15, from which the antenna 1 projects. The housing 15 of the telephone provides a housing, not shown, for receiving the battery 17, intended to be removably mounted, here by snap-fastening, on the housing 15.

The battery 17 comprises, in a housing 18, a rechargeable element 16, generator of electric current, as well as charging pads, not shown, by which the generator element 16 is intended to be recharged and, on an internal face 19 of the housing 18, a pad 20, connected to the generator element 16 and intended to establish electrical contact with the pad 13, located in the battery receiving housing 17, in order to power the telephone electrically.

The face 19 also supports a memory 21 for storing telephone identification data, in this case a PIN code, a set 22 of rechargeable information support and the female connector 23 for connection to the microprocessor 14 of the telephone.

The memory 21 for storing the PIN code is integrated into an electronic chip, in other words an integrated circuit, supported by a card 35, here of SIM standard format, mounted on the support face 19. The PIN code allows the telephone to identify itself with the cellular network 100.

The rechargeable information carrier assembly 22 here provides a telephone ticket function for accessing a public transport network, and an electronic wallet function. It comprises a memory 24 for storing a period of validity of a transport ticket, a memory 25 for a wallet, for storing a sum of money, a block 26 for acquiring a period of validity to be stored in memory 24 and a sum of money to be stored in memory 25, a down-count block 29, a block 30 of proximity radio transmission and reception and an antenna 31 of proximity radio transmission and reception .

The acquisition block 26 comprises a module 27 for connection to a server 40, supplier of validity periods for transport tickets and sums of money for electronic purses, and a module 28 for acquisition and recording of 'a period of validity and a sum of money.

The connection module 27 is connected to a memory 32 for storing identification data of the user, holder of the telephone, and of a telephone call number of the server 40. It is intended to control the automatic connection of the telephone to the server 40, according to a connection protocol, as explained below.

The acquisition and recording module 28, connected to memories 24 and 25, is intended to control the transmission, through the cellular network 100, to the server 40, of an acquisition request with a duration of determined validity, to extend the validity period of the transport ticket, and of a request for acquisition of a determined sum of money, to recharge the electronic purse, and, if necessary, to record the duration of validity required and amount of money required, respectively in memories 24 and 25.

The radio block 30, connected to the radio antenna 31 and to memories 24 and 25, is intended to control the unloading of the period of validity of the transport ticket, stored in memory 24, and of the sum of money, stored in the memory 25, respectively to a terminal for controlling access to the transport network and to a transaction terminal, by a nearby radio transmission, using the antenna 31 and the radio block 30. By "transmission , or reception, proximity radio "means the transmission, or reception, of radio signals of low power, less than the power of radio signals transmitted between a cellular telephone and a base station of the cellular network, and by therefore short range.

The downcount block 29 is intended to count down, that is to say to subtract, a certain purchase amount from the amount of money stored in the electronic purse memory 25.

The assembly 22 further comprises a connector 33 for connection to the electronics of the telephone and a connector 34 for connection to the generator element 16.

The connector 33 is connected, on the one hand, to the acquisition block 26 and to the radio block 30, and, on the other hand, by a conductive track printed on the support face 19, to the connector 23. When the battery 17 is mounted on the telephone, the elements of the rechargeable information carrier assembly 22 are thus connected to the microprocessor 14 of the telephone, via connectors 12 and 23, the microprocessor 14 and the assembly 22 thus being intended to cooperate '' with each other in order to discharge the period of validity of the transport ticket and the sum of money from the electronic wallet, and to recharge the transport ticket and the electronic wallet.

The connector 34 is connected to the elements of the assembly 22 and, by a conductive track printed on the face 19, to the generator element 16. The generator element 16 is thus intended to electrically supply the assembly 22 information carrier rechargeable.

All the elements, described above, of the set 22 rechargeable information carrier are integrated into an electronic chip supported by a card 36 mounted on the support face 19, with the exception of the radio antenna 31 which is directly supported by the support face 19.

The server 40 is intended to supply periods of validity to electronic transport tickets, in order to extend their validity, as well as sums of money to electronic wallets, as will be explained below. It is a computer server connected to the GSM 100 network and comprising a database, an access control block and a block distributing validity periods and money.

The database contains, for each user of a telephone acting as a transport ticket and / or electronic wallet, identification data for this user and, where applicable, an indication of authorization for direct debit. on an account as well as the bank details of the account. The database contains in particular the identification data of the user holder of the telephone described above.

The access control block is intended to verify the identification data of a user, in order to control the connection of this user to the server 40.

The distributor block is intended to provide periods of validity for tickets and sums of money for electronic wallets, upon user requests, as explained below.

The operation of the telephone, for the use of the transport ticket and electronic purse functions, will now be explained.

Before using the telephone, its user mounts the battery 17 on the housing 15, placing it in its receiving housing, with the face 19 facing the bottom of the housing, and thus connects, on the one hand, the connectors 12 and 23 and, on the other hand, the pads 13 and 20. The telephone is thus electrically supplied and the microprocessor 14 is connected to the memory 21 and to the assembly 22 rechargeable information carrier.

To access the public transport network, the user just has to present the phone in front of a network access control terminal, placing it near it. Under the control of the radio block 30, the radio antenna 31 transmits the validity period of the transport ticket, stored in the memory 24. The telephone thus discharges the validity period from the memory 24 to the access control terminal, by a local radio broadcast. The terminal receives the period of validity, by means of a proximity radio receiver, and controls it in order to authorize or deny user access to the network.

In the particular example of the description, the ticket has a monthly validity period. It should therefore be recharged each month, to extend its period of validity by one month.

To reload the transport ticket, the user selects an order for acquiring a transport ticket validity period of one month, in a menu of the user interface (9), using the keyboard 7. Under the control of the connection module 27 and the microprocessor 14, the telephone calls the server 40, automatically (that is to say without the intervention of the user), through the cellular network 100, by means antenna 1 and radio block 2. The telephone establishes telephone communication with the server 40, through the cellular network 100, then executes the telephone connection protocol to the server 40, during which the telephone transmits the identification data of the telephone user, stored in memory 32, through the cellular network 100. The server 40 checks the validity of these data, by comparison with those stored in its database, and validates the connection.

Then, automatically, under the control of the module 28 and the microprocessor 14, the telephone transmits an acquisition request with a validity period of one month to the server 40, through the cellular network 100, by the antenna radio 1. The server 40 receives the acquisition request, checks in its database that there is an indication of authorization of direct debit for the user concerned, and, if necessary, transmits an acknowledgment signal indicating that the required period of validity is provided. In addition, the server 40 withdraws from the bank account the purchase value of the period of validity of the transport ticket provided.

After reception of the acknowledgment signal, the module 28 records the period of validity supplied in the memory 24, by extending that which is already stored there.

In the case where the database of the server 40 does not contain an indication of authorization of bank direct debit for the transport ticket concerned, the server 40 transmits a failure signal to the telephone. In this case, the period of validity stored in the memory 24 is not extended.

To make a purchase of a given amount, a user places the phone near a transaction terminal, in which the amount of the purchase has been previously recorded, by selecting a transaction command in a menu of the interface user (9), using the keyboard 7. Under the control of the microprocessor 14 and the radio block 30, the radio antenna 29 transmits the amount of money stored in the wallet memory to the terminal. The phone thus discharges the sum of money from the electronic purse memory to the terminal, by a nearby radio broadcast. The terminal verifies that the amount of the purchase is less than or equal to the sum of money of the electronic purse and, if this is the case, transmits by radio an acknowledgment signal, specifying the amount of the purchase. The telephone receives the acknowledgment signal, via the antenna 31 and the radio block 30, and the countdown block 29 subtracts the amount of the purchase from the amount of money stored in the electronic purse memory. Otherwise, the terminal sends a failure signal, and the purchase amount is not subtracted from the amount of money stored in the memory 25.

The process of recharging the electronic wallet is analogous to the process of recharging the transport ticket, with the only difference that it is a recharge of money and not of duration. To recharge the electronic wallet, under the control of a user, the telephone connects to the server 40 and then sends to the latter a request for acquisition of a determined sum of money, through the cellular network 100, by means radio antenna 1 and radio block 2, automatically, as explained for recharging the ticket. If the request is accepted, the server 40 transmits to the telephone an acknowledgment signal, indicating the amount of money provided, through the cellular network 100. The amount of money acquired is recorded in the carrier memory. electronic money 25, by module 28, and increases that already stored there.

If the request is refused, the server 30 transmits a failure signal to the telephone through the cellular network 100, so that the amount of money stored in the wallet memory 25 is not increased.

Furthermore, the user can display on the display 8 the sum of money of the electronic purse, stored in the memory 25, as well as the period of validity of the ticket, stored in the memory 24, by selecting a specific command in a menu of the user interface (9).

It will be noted here that the recharging of the transport ticket and that of the electronic purse is carried out using the means 1, 2 of radio transmission and reception through the cellular network 100 of the telephone. It follows that the means of acquisition of a period of validity and of a sum of money, in addition to the acquisition block 26, include the means 1,2 for radio transmission and reception through the cellular network. 100 of the phone.

It will also be noted that the man-machine interface of the telephone, and in particular the keyboard 7, the display 8 and the user interface block 9 also provide the interface between the set 22 rechargeable information carrier and the phone user.

The telephone could obviously function exclusively as a transport ticket or electronic wallet.

The rechargeable information carrier assembly could include any other type of proximity transmission and reception means, for example infrared transmission and reception means.

Telephone identification data from the information provider server (i.e. validity periods and / or sums of money) could include cellular telephone identification data, such as than a PIN code.

The rechargeable information carrier assembly could also include a memory for storing information representative of transport units, each transport unit equivalent to a transport ticket giving the right to a single access to the transport network. units of money, making it possible to browse a determined number of stations of the transport network, -a geographical indication, specifying a geographical area of the transport network to which the medium gives access or -times and waiting times .

Instead of providing access to a public transportation network, the telephone could provide access to any other controlled access location.

It could also be envisaged that the telephone calls the supplier server under the control of a user who himself dials the server call number using the telephone keypad. To connect the phone to the server, the user could also enter the user credentials using the dial pad.

Instead of being in the telephone, the discount block for the electronic purse could be integrated into the transaction terminal. In this case, after receipt of the sum of money from the electronic purse, the terminal would subtract from this sum the sum of the purchase and transmit the result obtained to the telephone.

The telephone, in addition to the function of transport ticket and / or electronic purse, could include other functions such as those of proximity message receiver or traffic light control.

In the case where the telephone includes a proximity message receiver function, the rechargeable information carrier assembly comprises a message storage memory and a message acquisition block to be stored in the message storage memory.

In this case, the telephone is intended to receive messages, transmitted by proximity broadcasting terminals, by means of the antenna and of the proximity transmission and reception radio block. The messages received are recorded in the message storage memory by the message acquisition block, and can be displayed on the telephone display, by selecting a command in a menu of the user interface. The message broadcasting terminals can be the access control terminals of a public transport network. In this case, the messages are received by the telephone, when the telephone user accesses the network, and can for example include information on network traffic.

In the case where the telephone includes a traffic light control function, the rechargeable information carrier assembly includes a memory for storing characteristics of the telephone user.

These characteristics may for example include the indication that the user is a disabled person or a child.

When the telephone user wants to cross a road lane with traffic lights, he presents the telephone in front of a receiving terminal by selecting a command for transmitting the characteristics of the telephone user in a menu of the user interface. Under the control of the microprocessor of the telephone and of the proximity radio transmission and reception unit, the telephone discharges the characteristics of the telephone user, stored in memory, by proximity radio transmission to the receiving terminal. using the nearby broadcast radio antenna. The terminal retransmits the user characteristics received to a light controller which controls the switching of vehicle traffic lights to red for a sufficient time to allow the telephone user to cross the track, this duration depending on the characteristics of this user.

Claims (11)

 CLAIMS 1-Mobile telephone of a cellular telephone network (100), comprising means (1,2) of radio transmission and reception through the cellular network (100), characterized in that it comprises means ( 22) rechargeable information carriers comprising means (24,25) for storing information, means (30,31) for unloading said information and means (26,1,2) for acquiring information to be stored in the storage means (24,25), the acquisition means comprising said means (1,2) of radio transmission and reception through the cellular network (100). 2-telephone according to claim 1, wherein, man-machine interface means (7-9) being provided therein, said man-machine interface means (7-9) are intended to provide the interface between the means ( 22) rechargeable information carriers and a user. 3-Telephone according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, electrical supply means (16) being provided therein, said supply means (16) are intended to supply the means (22) information carriers rechargeable. 4-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unloading means comprise proximity transmission means (30, 31). 5-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein there is provided means (27) for controlling a telephone call from an information provider (40) through the cellular network (100). 6-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the acquisition means (26,1,2) are intended to control the transmission, through the cellular network (100), of a request for information acquisition. 7-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means (22) rechargeable information carriers include countdown means (29) to subtract information from that stored in the storage means (25). 8-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information comprises at least one of the group information comprising a duration, a geographical indication, money units, transport units in a network of transport, a sum of money and the characteristics of a user of the telephone. 9-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, a power supply battery (17) being provided there, the means (22) rechargeable information carriers are mounted on said battery (17). 10-Telephone according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein there is provided proximity reception means (30,31). 11-Telephone according to claim 10, wherein there is provided means for acquiring messages comprising the proximity reception means.