GB2356274A

GB2356274A - Mobile phone communications system with extended functionality

Info

Publication number: GB2356274A
Application number: GB9926184A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wolfgang Halpern
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-02
Filing date: 1999-11-04
Publication date: 2001-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-04
Also published as: GB2353889B; GB2356274B; GB2353889A; GB9920616D0; GB9926184D0

Abstract

A mobile telephone has a slot to receive a contactless smart card and an oscillator 6 whose frequency is adaptable to the frequency of communication with the contactless smart card. An earpiece is held by a rigid plug-in piece.

Description

2356274 Mobile Phone extended in its functionality by serving as a

Controller of transactions and access entitlements.

In my UK Patent 2,291 724 1 have pointed out the potential value of the telephone network to the practical realisation of a stored value card system.,. and with,this in mind I spe cified the combination of a telephone set and a smart card transaction terminal. Especially where smart cards are used for, paying fare on public transport systems, a readi made facility for the replenishment of card values ahead of time is critical for public acceptance of a smart card system.

As a matter of principle cards with an exhausted value can not be allowed to be updated on buses as this would cancel the time advantage of using the cards in the first place.

During rush hours and in modern times all hours are rush hours congestion is heavy and there is not enough room for installing a large number of updating self-service machines in. City-,. and,.other..Railway.. stations.

The idea of -converting a smart card into an entitlement document with as much authenticity as the issue of a ticket through a booking window has been further elaborated in my Patent Application of September 2nd 1999, application nr.

GB 9920616.1 wherein the by me often described "travel pass" is equipped with additional mobile phone capability.

In the present paper, essentially the same ideas are worked out from the point of view of empowering a mobile phone with such features as would make it attractive for use as a travel pass and for carrying out spontaneous transaction, utili sing built-in security.

Faced with the just charadterised task, a design enginneer is faced with a choice: to base himself on the existing forms of mobile phones, or on existing descriptions of a travel pass.

The second-named course is by far the preferable one because today's mobile phones are clumsy to carry around, and would never do as a card or ticket on a trip. The designer must therefore envisage a mobile phone that fits into a shirt pocket and can double as a "travel pass" with all the transactional and informational facilities described in my earlier patents. Further and additional demands will require the mobile phone to be capable of.updating a contactless card be6ause, for transportation purposes, the use of cards having contactors on the outside is bound to degrade reliabilityy and duty life.Dual access cards also increase the card cost unnecessarily. Another aspect is the ear piece... The solution in my application Nr. GB 9920616.1 is feasible but the use of plug-in parts ought to be avoided altogether. A preferred solution is offered in th6---present paper.

Summary of the invention.

The definition of the inventive elements is attempted in the three claims attached to the descriptive part.

Description of the Drawings. Figure 1 explains how the mobile phone antenna 1 is connected to a HF diode detector 3 and, via a filter stage 45 to the gate of a transistor 7.The same is also connected to an oscillator 6 generating oscillations at one of the standard frequencies for contactless cards, say, at 13.56 Megahertz. If the amplitude modulation of the carrier wave is adequate,.bursts,.of;power representing binary data at the above named frequency will be applied to the wire loop 15 supplementarily tuned by a capacitor,10, so as to resonate and give maximum output. When now a smart card is placed in such a manner close to to loop 15 that the card loop 11 forms a closely coupled pair there will be adequate transfer of energy. If there is no card present, the resonance point of the loop 15 would be at a somewhat higher frequency above the input frquency but then the required power level would also be lower, since the card need not be powered up. In either case, the content of the digital data is displayed on the large mobile phone window 20 (FIG. 2).

In Figure 2, the mobile phone antenna bit is not shown; it is assumed to be housedwithin the overall shell 16. It is believed that the thickness of the device can be kept between 10 to 15mm so as to qualify for being a "pocketsize" device-The top row of buttons are marked Ic', Is', 'p', and It'. c= cancel, s = for all summing operations, for example, all purchases of one of a list of categories that can be addresses in an upper case memory plane, say alpha 5. In that memory purchases of one kind will be found, and the push button s will be pressed if only the sum of all purchases of that category should be displayed. Next, the button P = password, meaning a preset pasword is-generated. This is used at times to increase confidentiality of already encrypted data transmission. (This is thus different from the PIN which altogether enables the mobile phone to give any service whatever). The buttons with the left and right pointing arrows will serve to selectively delete a letter or figure, and for many other purposes. The barlike buttons marked I, II, and III produce direct access to the memory record of three accounts relating to three different banks or other institutions. In the upper row of five buttons in a line, DB specifies access to the debit account of one of the three said accounts, CR specifies a credit.account of same, U shifts the reference plane of any selected button from the lowest (unmarked) level to the U level, alpha level, or the betha level. The user can inform him/herself on the nature of all these addressable memories by punching in the address followed by a display. command code.Some may be empt which then can be used for quite specific event records. The remaining keyboard is convenional. The large display area is covered by a relatively thick glass plate that cannot easily be scratched. This plate 20 would be safely held by the frame 1 and must withstand the pressure of a strong hand holding the device. It must be a high quality glass or glass/plastics combination to remain without abrasions over a long period of time. - The market 24 sppears after using button U the first time, if pressed twice it shifts to the alpha position and thereafter on pressing U again moves to the beta position. The microphone is housed within-the shell 16, but holes 18 permit the User's voice to be transmitted to a station attendant, or of course to a conversation partner.

Figures 2 and 3 show the front and side view of the device, and more particularly clarify the use of a semi-permanent fixation of the ear piece 17. To have a good reception, this earpiece must be pressed into the persons left ear. As FIG 3 shows, the earpice 17 is held by a robust plug-in piece 17p which fits precisely into a structural element so that it is not subject to wubbling or turning. The entire handheld,device can be handled easily so that the earpice fits the ear. From time to time, the earpiece might need replacing which can be carried out readily by a local telephone servce shop.

Finally, FIG. 4 giving a partial view of the device (View A-A) illustrates the slot 21 through which the contactless smart card 12 can be inserted.

It may be important to use the contactless smart card in the say indicated in such a manner that the system prevents simultaneous entries into the memory of the mobile phone. Th-i5--can best- be dQne,electronc-411yp-for-example--by--qot allowing the PIn of the Card to be th'e same as the PIN of of the Mobile Phone. If they were identical, then no transaction can be carried out at all. If the PIN numbers are different then the update transaction will be carried out in the memory of the card or the phone whose PIN had been used. Safeguards may be duplicated as an extra insurance.

Not everyone in a family needs a mobile phone. Others would be content in having a card mainly for travel purposes. In such cases the Mobile Phone would serve as a terminal for card updates. There may be households when a mobile phone is not needed at all; in such cases it would be more convenient if the home telephone has the described capability permitting greater privacy and concentration of the mind in the preparation of a journey itenary, for example.

In consideration of the likelihood that persons with widely different eyesight will need to use the device,a code.:for an enlarged version of the displayed material on the screen window should give access to the enlarged display in re-arranged alignments. Such code would be entered on the keyboard as shown? in FIG.2

Claims

C L A I M-S What I claim is:

1. A mobile phone spatially arranged within: a pocketsize shroud of no greater thickness than makes it acceptable in a shirt pocket, the phone containing a coupling loop, and oscillator circuit capable of emitting one of the standard frequencies used in contac__less cards, and means for receiving messages on the phone wireless network, means for tuning the said coupling loop,-_-and.a reserved slotlike spacezwithin the.:mobile phone-to..receive a standard-size smart card, means for adjusting the resonance point of the combined inductance produced by the said coupling loop and the loop in the card, means for displaying the digital content of messages received or internallr, produced in humanly readable form, a hard-wearing cover for the said,meanr.;.of displaying text messages, the improvement consisting in the provision of an oscillator source (6) whose frequency is adaptable to the frequency of communication of contactless smart cards, and which oscillator is applied to the coupling loop in the same modulation mode as the VHF signal received by the mobile phone antenna (1).

2. A mobile phone spatially arranged within &,.pocketsize shroud (16) o f no greater thickness than acceptable for placing it into a shirt pocket wherein an earpiece (17) is solidly linked to a fastening element (17p) which is semi-permanently inserted into the mobil phone framework and connecting the earphone electrically to the phone's audio circuit.

3. A mobile phone as in claims 1 and 2 wherein the internal program of the mobile phone will inhibit the processing of a card inserted into the mobile phone if its PIN is the same as the PIN of the phone and, if not the same will disable access to any phoae.stored--.-,vA1ue memory to prevent any update action to be applied to both phone a n d card value sectionsof their memories.

4. A mobile phone as in any preceding claim, having a strong transparent and protective cover plate (20) over the display area, so that the same may serve for firmly holding the phone device.

(C

5. A mobile phone as in any preceding claim whose internal program permits the display of text matter in two letter magnitudes, and a selection code for the larger letter type display control program, enabling a person to choose if necessary the second mode of display by code entry on the mobil phone's keyboard.