MXPA99003395A - Reprogrammable wireless local loop phone capable of emulating a wireline phone - Google Patents

Abstract

A wireless local loop phone (10) is provided that accepts payment from a variety of sources for wireless calls. The phone (10) emulates, with a speech processor (40) having dial (42) tone generator and a DTMF tone generator (44), a standard telephone set by providing dial and DTMF tones to the earpiece of the handset (12). The speech processor (40) may also play audio prompts that provide instructions or advertisements. A display (20) provides operating instructions to the user, as well as an accounting of call cost and remaining credit. A phone management system (100) communicates with a number of the phones (10) to download new rate and dialing plan information, change stored visual and audible prompts and retrieve accounting data to create call statistics.

Description

REPROGRAMABLE TELEPHONE. WIRELESS, LOCAL CIRCUIT, THAT EMULATES A CABLE LINE TELEPHONE The present invention relates to a wireless local circuit telephone that can emulate a cable line telephone, accept different forms of payment and is reprogrammable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Evolving telecommunications technology has generated different systems through which users can communicate. This wide range includes the following options: cable systems, the Public Switched Telephone Network ("PSTN"), Private Branch Telephone Centers, Location Systems, Local Area Networks, ATM Networks, Wide Area Networks, Networks of Metropolitan Area and Wireless Networks. Several countries around the world lack a cable PSTN. However, the installation of cable networks for cable PSTN service is not only expensive, but also time-consuming and leaves many potential customers temporarily without service. One solution is to deploy wireless networks such as cellular or PCS networks. Cellular networks use several independent cell sites connected through a dedicated network (usually leased lines or microwaves) to a Mobile Switching Center ("MSC") that then connects to the PSTN. The MSC handles all the intelligence of call processing, switching functionality, fault detection and diagnostics. The MSCs are also integral to the operation of the newly developed Personal Communication Systems ("PCSs"). A PCS uses "microcells" that cover a high-use area, or an area where terrain features limit transmission capabilities (for example, a downtown office district with tall buildings). Due to the large number of cells, the PCS can handle a significantly greater volume of traffic. A low power transmitter within each PCS microcell receives the subscriber's signal and communicates (usually through a public microwave telephone company or data lines) with a controller, which in turn communicates with the MSC. Because these networks allow mobile communication, they can be a better long-term solution than the installation of an expensive cable network. In addition, in countries that lack a cable base, these networks can be deployed quickly and more efficiently. However, a huge market of potential customers can not receive the service effectively, even with wireless and PCS networks. This is because many countries lack the necessary infrastructure for billing and collection. In addition, although there are several forms of fraud detection and prevention systems, cellular and PCS networks are notoriously guilty of fraud losses of users who manipulate networks to obtain unpaid telecommunication services. Also, those users familiar with cable telephony termination protocols may not feel comfortable using wireless phones, which usually lack the dial tone, DTMF tones, and other signaling protocols of standard, cable phones. Cordless phones require the use of a "Send" button ("Send") to start a call. These differences make wireless phones complicated, unfamiliar and less attractive to many potential customers. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,658,096, 4,775,997, 4,922,517, each to West, Jr., et al., And 4,737,975 to Shafer describe the interface systems by which a user can use a familiar standard telephone device with a transceiver. of cellular radio. "The interface system converts dial-tone or pulse-dial entries into a serial data stream for storing in the transceiver." This conversion is required because the radio transceiver is used with "a standard telephone set". Shafer's patent describes a "programmable" interface system that automatically determines when the last number or digit of a telephone system in a particular area was dialed., the interface systems described in the patents of West, Jr., and collaborators and Shafer, add another group of costs and expenses for telephones. Not only must the user have a standard cable line telephone, but the interface and the cellular radio must also be purchased. Therefore, it would be less expensive to offer cell phones or PCS to users. However, these PCS cell phones require a high level of maintenance. Telephones must be reprogrammed and maintained constantly, sometimes by inexperienced or inadequately trained technicians. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION This invention focuses on these and other problems by offering a wireless local circuit telephone that: emulates a standard cable line telephone; classifies incoming and outgoing wireless telephone calls; accepts a variety of forms of payment by the customer, including prepaid cards or credit cards; It can be reprogrammed remotely and can self-diagnose maintenance problems in order to reduce intervention by service technicians. Other features are also offered, including optional printing of detailed information about credit or calls, programming that allows the phone to offer visual or audio information in several languages, an administrative system to handle a number of wireless phones or a screen to show the cost of the call in progress and the remaining credit for the user. The telephone of the present invention connects a microprocessor, a speech processor and a telephone receiver by means of a digital bus bar to a transmitter / receiver for communicating with a wireless network, such as for example a cellular network, a linked radio network or a satellite network. Users can remove the telephone receiver outside the connection and access a desired telephone number in the telephone receiver. After detection outside the connection, the microprocessor controls the speech processor to generate the dialing tone, which is supplied to the receiver of the telephone receiver. The speech processor may also access a memory in order to provide voice indicators such as instructions, announcements or even call advance data. Subsequently, a user accesses a desired telephone number through the keys. A DTMF generator is activated from the output of the key matrix through the modem in order to provide the telephone receiver with the tones associated with the position of the selected key. However, these tones are not sent to the transceiver. The microprocessor controls an analog-to-digital converter that sends to the transceiver the numbers marked in a digital format by means of the digital busbar. The microprocessor constantly checks the numbers entered in the buffer memory against a stored dialing plan to determine whether the user has accessed a valid telephone number. After making a match, the microprocessor checks first to determine if the user has paid for the call. This can be done by having the user insert a prepaid card or a credit card into an appropriate card reader. The card is verified and, optionally, a charge is deducted for a selected call (for example, two minutes) to the dialed number, from the value that is held in the prepaid card, or is stored in the memory for a later charge against the card Credit, whose number, expiration date and user's name is collected and stored. Initial and subsequent charges are determined by having the microprocessor classify the call based on a cost-per-call classification database. A screen shows the user the remaining credit on the card, the charge of the call or the time left of the call. After the numbers entered into the buffer memory (1) are determined to match them with a valid telephone number and the initial payment (2), the microprocessor sends the complete number to the transmitter / receiver, together with a "send" command . This initiates the call. At a pre-selected interval before the user's initial credit ends, the microprocessor checks the amount of the particular authorized credit available to the user by checking the remaining credit on the prepaid card or stored on the phone against the cost of the ongoing call for determine if you will allow the call to continue. For calls from users with a credit card, the microprocessor can simply allow the charge to accrue for later billing or can cut calls whose cost exceeds a certain threshold value. Accounting data such as the start time of the call, the time of completion, the number dialed, the cost and details about the credit card can be stored by the microprocessor. A telephone management system uses a computer to remotely program a telephone number and retrieve this accounting data and formulate them into useful call statistics or billing information for the wireless service provider. In addition, the telephone management system can be used to diagnose remote maintenance problems and assist in the maintenance of broken telephones, which can initiate communication with the telephone maintenance system by calling it on the line. These remote calls from the phone to the maintenance system can also be initiated at selected times, when the phone's memory is filled with accounting data or even during acts of vandalism. The telephone of the present invention can be used as a truly wireless public telephone that allows several types of pre-payment for outgoing and incoming calls. The telephone simulates a landline telephone operation using a cellular, radio link or satellite handset and sends the same handset commands to a transceiver controlled by a compatible microprocessor. Alternatively, the telephone of the present invention can be deployed in fixed locations, such as at the user's home or office, and can be used on a pre-paid basis or with a credit card. This allows the service providers that operate the phones to receive the guaranteed payment if a prepaid card is used, or if a credit card is used, to receive the payment without the need to establish a prepared billing and a collection procedure of the company. of credit cards. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless local circuit telephone that eliminates the need for a centralized billing system or the extension of credit by the telephone company administering the wireless telephone system. Another objective of the present invention is to offer a wireless local circuit telephone that classifies calls and accepts payment with credit cards or prepaid cards, either allowing the card to guarantee the credit and alter the balance after use or guaranteeing the card inside the phone's memory. A further objective of the invention is to offer a wireless local circuit telephone that can emulate a standard telephone. Still another object of the invention is to provide a wireless local circuit telephone with a speech processor capable of delivering audio signals to the headset to communicate with the user. Another object of the invention is to offer a wireless local circuit telephone that is reprogrammable and easy to service. A further objective of the invention is to offer a wireless local circuit telephone adapted to emulate a cable line telephone, classify incoming and outgoing wireless communications, accept a variety of forms of payment by the customer, reprogram remotely, carry Carry out self-diagnostics or display ads, indicators or information about the payment. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the remainder of this document. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the local circuit wireless telephone of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the components of the local circuit wireless telephone of the present invention. FIGURE 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the microprocessor 30 of the local circuit wireless telephone of the present invention. Figures 4A and 4B are flow charts illustrating the processes of initiation and classification of the call. Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating the use of a prepaid card to guarantee credit within the local circuit wireless telephone of the present invention. Figure 6A is a block diagram of the components of the telephone administrative system of the present invention. Figure 6B is a flow diagram illustrating the processing logic to the telephone administrative system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wireless local circuit telephone 10 according to the present invention. A standard headset 12 is coupled to the telephone 10 and a keypad 14 accepts a user number. To emulate a conventional cable phone, the handset 12 of the telephone 10 can use either a headset system with a carbon microphone or a telephone receiver with a microphone / speaker 12. A prepaid card reader 16 allows the user to access credit for a call on the telephone 10. example, the reader of the prepaid card 16 can be one that accepts embedded chip cards, 9000 cards or so-called Kapsch cards that use a built-in chip and that have an inductive coupling device, a capacitive device, both or other devices coupling (including magnetic) to perform a remote interface with the card reader 16. A second credit card reader 18 may also be provided. The available credit may be shown to the user through screen 20. This credit begins to decrease after the user presses the start button 15. The telephone 10 may also have a port to be coupled with a co computer or other digital device (for example, a fax machine, personal digital assistant, etc.) in order to allow data to be transmitted over the telephone 10. Figure 2 shows, in block form, the internal components of the device. telephone 10, where these components are activated by the power supply 70 which may include a main AC power source, a charger, battery or regulator. The power supply 70 regulates the power to supply both 12 volt and 5 volt power for the telephone 10 and a logic circuitry within the telephone 10. The earphone 12 is coupled to a speech processor, a multiplexer and a marker 40. The speech processor 40 is multiplexed for multiple or independent access to a certain number of inputs, such as, for example, inputs from the handset 12, dial tone generators or DTMF 42, 44 or a memory 41 in whose audio is store indicators. A switch 28 couples the speech processor 40 to a transceiver 24. The microprocessor 30 controls the switch 28 in such a way that when a call is not being used through the speech processor 40 the microprocessor 30 can, sometimes, send data through the transceiver 24 through a modem 26. The microprocessor 30 can be any suitable microprocessor from Intel, Motorola, Semiconductor Nacional or a similar one. The microprocessor 30 also extracts from a memory 32, which can be an EPROM chip or equivalent, suitable instructions to send to screen 20, which can be a low cost screen, of two easily available, fluorescent vacuum lines, with 20 characters per line. Different screens 20 can also be used, such as a liquid crystal display or the like, as long as the screen 20 is able to show the user the cost of the call and the remaining credit or time. The stored speech processor 40 allows the microprocessor 30 to send stored and audible voice indicators from the memory 41 to the headset 12. The microprocessor 30 controls the functional operations of the telephone 10. These functions and the set of instructions reside in the memory 32 The memory 32 may be a random access memory, RAM, or a read-only memory, ROM. For example, the operating system described below may reside in ROM and the visual and conversation information may reside in RAM. The memory 32 can also store details or calls prepaid or with credit and tables for the classification of the cost of the mentioned calls. The microprocessor 30 can also be supplied with a real time clock, used to determine the proper care and time. This information is useful for classifying the cost of incoming and outgoing calls. 1 - Operating System: The instantaneous ROM contains the BIOS (operating system) of the microprocessor 30. The BIOS can be a modified version of ROM DOS, produced by Datalight Corporation, or any other suitable operating system. This basic instruction set determines the actions of the microprocessor 30 including its control of the speech processor 40; the screen 20; the different card readers 16, 18; the icrocontroller for the busbar 50, the access to the different segments of the RAM within the memory 32 (for example, those used to determine the number of digits used for dialing, and the dialing patterns; make the charge for the periods of time that are used based on the destination accessed by the end user); the conditions of the transceiver 24; the section of the modem that communicates with the Remote Administration System 100; how to deal with the interruptions of the switch of the connection switch, the headset 12, the keypad 14, and the "Start" switch 28; the progress of a call including the start, adjustment, connection and phase of connection and disconnection; the interconnection of all parts of accessories such as the printer for customer receipts, an external 30 milliampere RJll circuit for fax, computer or remote connection, additional credit / debit cards and any other accessory added by the supplier from service. 2. Visual and Conversation Memory: The visual RAM has the visual screens that are interconnected to the functions of advance of the call or "in connection" (waiting state). The messages may include announcements, operating instructions, call status, charges for the call, value of the payment instrument, and language chosen by the end user to use it. Conversation RAM has all the indicators used in the languages offered by the telephone vendor 10. Individual words have specific locations, and locations can join or form sentences, with pauses in time between words. The words can be in different languages, whose use is chosen by the interrogation of the final user when the initial call programming is being carried out. Both visual RAM and conversation RAM can be changed by uploading or downloading new information. The visual RAM is connected to the conversation RAM, so that the actual language displayed is the same language selected by the client. Telephone Operation 1. Messages for the User: Figure 3 shows the operation of telephone 10. After applying power, a microprocessor 30 turns on and activates the screen 20 to display the operating instructions, advertisements or a combination of these according to the instructions of the service provider. The screen 20 shows the destination digits accessed on the keypad 12, as well as the charge to the user for an initial call period. The screen 20 can also show the value of the payment method (for example, prepaid card 17) presented or the credit card number if credit card 19 is used. The visual or audible indicators can be provided by the microprocessor 30 after of detecting a change in the state of a switching switch 11. Or, these indicators can be supplied when the microprocessor 30 receives data within the buffer memories labeled SPO and SP1 which respectively connect to the prepaid card reader 16 which accepts cards prepaid telephone numbers 17 and the credit card reader 18 that accepts standard credit cards 19. These audible visual or voice indicators can be instructions or announcements, and any of these can be changed through a remote reprogramming of the telephone 10 through of a Telephone Management System 100 (shown in Figure 6 and described later in the associated text). The operating instructions inform the user to pick up the handset 12 to make a call. When the user picks up the handset 12 from the switch connection 36, a disconnect detector informs the microprocessor 30, which turns on the dial tone generator 42 located in the speech processor 40. The user in this way hears a dial tone when you put the headset 12 in your ear. Optionally, the microprocessor 30 can then display on the screen 20 a message that an alternate language is available by pressing the # key on the keyboard 14. Pressing the # key activates an indicator within the microprocessor software between two languages: for example , English / Spanish, Spanish / French, French / German, Chinese / Japanese, etc. The text for the languages is stored in the memory 32 of the microprocessor 30; the pre-recorded audio indicators for these languages can be stored in the memory 41 of the stored conversation processor 46, which can be an MSM6650 (ORI) IC. Once the user selects a language, the microprocessor 30 provides future visual and audible indicators in the language that was selected. The visual messages are extracted from the memory 32 as digital words and are sent to the screen 20 by means of the microprocessor 30. The audible indicators are requested by the microprocessor 30 and the built-in microcontroller calls the message from its memory, carries out the conversion required digital to analog, with filtering, and sends the audio line (marked A) to the speech processor 40, which subsequently delivers the audio to the receiver of the telephone receiver 12. During the call and especially during the initiation of the call, the The user receives indicators with audio messages in the language of their choice. The telephone 10 is equipped with an arrangement of "recorded messages" in either of the two languages that inform the user how to use the telephone, the status of the call, etc. These may also include advertisements, such as telephone services. Additionally, the user obtains audible indicators with respect to the remaining credit on his card 17, 19. 2. Security of the Check and the Payment Card: Without taking into account the selected language, audio or visual indicators give instructions to the user to insert , either a credit card 19 or a prepaid card 17. Two card readers, 16, 18 can be provided in such a way that each type of card 17, 19 can be accepted. Or the telephone 10 can be supplied with only one type of reader of cards 16, 18. After on-screen or audible instructions, the user will enter a prepaid telephone card 17 or pass his credit card 19 through the card reader 16, 18. The information of the inserted card 17, 19 this way is transferred to the card reader 16, 18 where it is kept until the transfer to the microprocessor 30. If a prepaid card reader 16 is used, a motorized mechanism such as a wheel or something similar can pull the card 17 into the reader 16 and read the recorded data as the card 17 passes through it. In the case of the insertion of the prepaid card 17, the card reader 19 reads certain codes, such as the records in a magnetic stripe on the card 17. These codes identify the issuing company, the serial number of the card and the amount of the credit remaining on the card 17. The prepaid card reader 19 holds the card 17 until the entire call ends and the handset 12 is returned to the "connection" position. The microprocessor 30 continuously and sequentially checks the status lines of the card readers 16, 18. If any data is available, the status lines indicate this and a routine interrupt service stops the microprocessor 30 from continuing its operation. normal routine and gives instructions to serve the reader 16, 18 in question. In this way, the microprocessor 30 immediately accepts, through one of the two specialized serial incorporated input / output ports, the data of any of the card readers 16, 18, which are stored in the memory 32. The microprocessor 30 reviews the card identification code against the stored list of stolen or invalid cards 17, and if it is a stolen card or is otherwise invalid, mutilated, damaged or forged, returns card 17 to the user with a message that card 17 is invalid. If card 17 is valid, the remaining credit (for a prepaid card 17) is placed in a register that will be used in later calculations. When a credit card 19 is used, the reader of the credit card 18 reads its information and sends it to an associated memory RAM in the memory 32. The microprocessor 30 reviews the information of the card 19 for the valid digits, valid expiration dates, orientation and PIN numbers. The microprocessor 30 can then carry out a comparison with a database of valid / invalid credit cards, which is stored in the memory 32 and is updated remotely. Alternatively, the telephone 10 can also speed dial a real-time online validation system. If an approval code is returned, this code is stored within the call record and the call proceeds. If a rejection code is received, the advance of the call is stopped and the user is instructed to try another form of payment. When there is no card 17, 19 inserted or data of the card to be recovered, the microprocessor 30 continues to sample other inputs and service any requested action. An example of a continuous process is the service of the visual screen 20. The microprocessor 30 writes a new letter to the screen 20, the screen 20 recognizes the reception of the letter and then activates a status line indicating that the screen 20 is ready for the next letter.

Meanwhile, the microprocessor 30 uses a clock 38 to calculate a preset time; after this time passes, the microprocessor 30 sends a new letter to the screen 20.

This causes the message to advance through the screen 20. 3. Call Initiation and Classification: In an "unoccupied" activated state the telephone 10 continuously monitors bus 50 for any activity emanating from the transmitter's logical unit -receptor 24. If there is no activity, the telephone 10 is free to make a call. The telephone 10 may in the meantime display welcome messages or announcements. When a user initiates a call by raising the handset 12"out of connection" an interrupt is sent to the microprocessor 30. The microprocessor 30 serves the interruption and immediately initiates the generation of the dial tone by applying power to or otherwise activating the generator dial tone 42 associated with the speech processor 40 (which alone can provide the dial tone, if properly configured to do so). Simultaneously, the operating instructions are shown in the memory 20. The messages displayed on the screen 20 are stored in the main memory 32 of the telephone 10, are requested and are passed to the screen 20 under the control of the microprocessor 30. The Figures 4A and 4B illustrate this process of initiation and classification of calls. The microprocessor 30 controls the display 20 or the speech processor 40 to instruct the user to access the desired telephone number via the keypad 14. Accessing the digits in step 140 turns off the dial tone generator 42 through the microcontroller. As each key is pressed, a pair of Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) tones can be applied to the handset 12 to be heard by the user. The tone pairs are the same frequencies used in a telephone type "Contact Tone". DTMF tone pairs are not used to actually dial the call. Rather, they are used to simulate a standard cable line telephone for the user of the telephone 10. In this way, as each successive key is pressed, the DTMS generator 44 produces tones associated with the selected key. These tones are delivered to the headset 12 but are not sent to the transceiver 24. Simultaneously, the keypad 14, through a connection to a front end door arrangement, sends the selected key to an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the microprocessor 30 of the telephone 10. The microprocessor 30 enters the digital number into the buffer and also sends it to the transceiver 24 through the busbar 50. An interdigital timer is programmed (for example, through the software to customer's request) after each digit and if a selected period expires (eg, three seconds) before pressing the next key, the microprocessor 30 assumes that dialing is complete and attempts to place a call on the dialed number. Alternatively, the microprocessor 30 performs a digit analysis which determines when the dialing is completed by constantly checking the numbers entered in the buffer memory against a dialing plan stored in the telephone 10. After making a comparison, the microprocessor 30 determines that a complete valid number has been marked. The digit analysis determines whether the end user has accessed valid digits by comparing the accessed numbers with a dial plan loaded into the memory of the telephone 10 to determine whether the numbers are a free, local call, free of charge or with international destination, or a destination that does not exist. If the analysis of the digits determines that random numbers were accessed or a "finger" error occurred, the call is terminated and this is notified to the user. Once the destination of the call has been determined, the results of the digit analysis are sent to a sorting process 150 (refer to Figure 4B) which determines the classification for the charge of the call In any case, each full dialed number is sent to the formatted transceiver 24 such as described above and an SND command is issued if enough credit remains on the card 17, 19 to place the desired call for a selected minimum period of time (eg, two minutes) .To do this, the microprocessor 30 communicates with the transmitter-receiver 24 and request that the dialed numbers (destination number) be sent to the appropriate cell site The transmitter-receiver 24 stores the destination numbers until it receives the digital "send" command from the microprocessor 30. Subsequently, the transmitter-receiver 24 initiates the outgoing call, which generally involves: channel scanning for a radio link with a base station in a cell site near; tracking of available systems to determine the best radio link; and fixing in a particular cell site. Several messages are exchanged between the transceiver 24 and the microprocessor 30 to determine the call appropriately. The transmitter-receiver 24, in turn, communicates with the site of the cell, passing its registration number, its telephone number and the dialed number. If the telephone 10 receives a monitoring control message indicating that the call can not be completed, the microprocessor 30 terminates the call and displays a message describing the problem, for example: "Your call can not be processed at this time. Please hang up and try later. " When the appropriate supervision messages have been exchanged and the call is initiated, the microprocessor 30 disconnects the user's transmitter (microphone) but leaves open your headset 12 receiver so you can hear the ring signal and the response of the part you called. When the call is answered and the user hears the voice of the called party, the user, after a visual indicator on the screen 20, must press the start button 15 to cause the microprocessor 30 to connect the headset microphone 12 of such way that the conversation can begin. Simultaneously, the microprocessor 30 charges a sufficient credit, stored in the credit record, to pay for the preselected time period (for example, two minutes). In the same way, the microprocessor 30 records the start time in the memory 32 for the call accounting and starts a clock 38 to record the elapsed time of the call. The clock 35 can be a real-time clock such as a DS 1302 coupled to a capacitor for backup power and provided with a monitoring program for power failures. Radio, cellular and satellite radio standards generally do not support call monitoring. Only the most recent CDMA standard supports call monitoring and allows final office advance tones to pass back to the telephone. As a substitute for response monitoring, some service providers have modified their switches to produce a fourth-column tone or DTMF after receiving a call supervision signal from the wireline terminal office. Accordingly, the microprocessor 30 may be equipped with a receiver circuit to recognize this tone if it is presented by the service provider. Subsequently, the microprocessor 30, after receiving the predetermined tone that means the supervision of the call, sends a signal to automatically release the disconnection condition, allows the user to communicate, records the start time and charge the user by the Initial period of time of the call. Alternatively, the telephone 10 can be supplied with Digital Signal Processing chips that can process the received sound information of the called party and the calling party to determine if and when a conversation has started. The status lines can interrupt the microprocessor 30 in order to start recording the time of the call. Before the actual termination of the call, the microprocessor 30 initiates a sorting process 150 which determines the "rate per minute" of the marked destination. Briefly, the classification process 150 determines the distance that the call will travel, the time and the day of the week, and gives reference to the structure of the rate provided by the service provider in order to determine the appropriate charge for the part initial, and later by the completed call. The service provider of the telephone 10 determines the basic monetary rate for the time that the telephone 10 is used. The charges can be based on the distance of the airline from the telephone 10 to the called destination and the classification of the call. Three common classifications are time of day, day of the week and if the call is local in the area, no cost outside the area (long distance) or no cost to another country (international). For example, the daytime may be -the full rate, the evening may be 0.75 of the full rate or the full night may be half of the full rate. The day of the week may also include a discount, Monday through Friday with full rate, Saturday at 0.5 and Sunday at 0.75 or 0.5 of the full rate. The distance, multiplied by time, rate and any discount determines the final amount that must be charged to the client for the actual use. Surcharges, taxes or other special charges or discounts (for example, for the concept of holidays) are added from a table of exceptions contained in the report 32, which is also provided by the telephone service provider 10 and which can be used to show the final charge for the call in its entirety or each part of the completed call. 4. Programs and Call Termination: In any case, the new balance where the original credit was stored (for example, either on card 17 or memory 32) is saved. In the meantime, the rest of the credit on the screen 20 is shown by the telephone call, which also shows the call time remaining in the current interval already paid (ie, the initial interval of two minutes or the current interval of one month). minute). The visualizations can be by bars or of another type. At the end of a set time (eg, 1.5 minutes), and preferably for selected intervals (eg, one minute), the microprocessor 30 checks to establish that there is sufficient credit for another minute of connected time. If so, the call process continues and the credit verification procedure is repeated. On the other hand, if there is insufficient credit, the microprocessor 30 starts blinking on the screen 20, which then shows instructions for the user to insert another card 17. An additional free time or grace period may be allowed (for example ten seconds), but if a new card 17 is not inserted (with sufficient credit), the call will be terminated and the card 17 ejected. The microprocessor 30 continuously monitors the lines and interruptions in the data, and decodes the material and reacts to any message (when requested) from the logic unit of the transceiver. If the circuit connection fails and this is reported to the telephone 10 by the transceiver 24 the call will terminate. The call will also end when the microprocessor 30 sends an "ANDE" ("END") command to the transceiver 20 when the user returns the handset 12 to the "hung" position by placing the handset 12 on its base. When the call is completed, the duration of the call is added to a statistical file for accounting the data referring to the calls made from the telephone 10. The statistics of the call consist of the year, month, day and hour of the beginning of the call , duration of the call and the called number. The final deductions are made from any prepaid card 17, the new balance appears on the screen and is recorded magnetically on card 17 and card 17 is released from reader 19 to return it to the user. The phone 10 then shows a "thank you" message on the screen and returns to the standby mode and you're done. The remaining call statistics are recorded and kept in memory 32 for subsequent loading of the Central Office upon request. A call with a credit card 19 can advance almost in the same way as the prepaid card call 17 described above, with the exception that there is no charge for the credit card 19. The total cost of the call together with the credit card number 19, the expiration date "", etc., are recorded for a later charge to the central office or to a central computer for billing. Alternatively, if the wireless service provider so decides, the telephone 10 can be configured to make a call in order to pre-authorize each call with a credit card, as described above. 5. Airtime Calls: The telephone 10 can be configured as an independent public telephone or a wireless local circuit telephone. If configured as a public telephone, the telephone 10 will not accept incoming calls because there will be no billing method for the user before accepting the call. Although the modem of telephone 10 can be configured to answer the call after a selected number of rings in order to allow remote programming. As a local circuit wireless telephone, the telephone 10 activates an external ringer after receiving an incoming call. In addition, the telephone 10 can activate the real-time clock 35 in order to initiate the time counting of the call. If supplied with a caller identification feature, the telephone 10 can also initiate the classification of the call in order to charge the user. Internal Messages In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the busbar 50 may be a Motorola 3-wire digital bus bar. The voice and data signals originating from and going to the telephone 10 pass through a transmitter and a receiver 24, such as that manufactured by Motorola. The transmitter-receiver 24, in turn, communicates with a selected cell site in particular through electromagnetic waves. The transceiver 24 responds to the command and control signals from the microprocessor 30 of the telephone 10. The transceiver 24 also receives, responds and passes to the telephone 10 the status signals received from the cell site. The bidirectional communication between the microprocessor 30 and the transceiver 24 can be carried out in the 3-wire digital busbar 50 using a priority message protocol developed by Motorola, as described in the "specification of peripheral messages of the 3-wire "busbar" from Motorola, and that document is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. In general, the three data lines, referred to as Data C (Complementary Data), Data R (Return Data) and Data T (True Data), are entered into the buffer and formatted, but otherwise they are connected directly between the transmitter / receiver 24 and the microprocessor 30. Each of the three lines are always in either a "true" (high) or a "false" (low) state. The information is contained in the busbar 50 by virtue of the relative states of the lines and also by the absolute changes of a single line. For example, if both the data lines C and the data lines T are low (0, 0) the transmitter-receiver 24 is in the repositioning state. As a further example, if the microprocessor 30 takes the data line R down from a high condition, this signals to the transceiver 24 that the microprocessor 30 is sending a message to the transceiver 24. A logic unit within the transceiver 24 controls the time regulation in the busbar 50. At selected intervals (for example, about once every minute), the transceiver 24 checks the status of the telephone 10 by issuing a status request message in the busbar 50. The microprocessor 30 responds, usually within a programmed period of time (plus or minus thirty seconds). For example, a "Switch Connection" code can be sent to the transceiver 24. The switch connection code can be $ IF (a hexadecimal number equivalent to sixteen). This switch connection code indicates that the telephone 10 is classified as a secondary peripheral, which means that the messages through the transceiver 24 to activate-deactivate a call must use a Send (SND - init) and END message. (end up) . The telephone numbers that the microprocessor 30 determines are complete and valid, and appear as a result in the microprocessor 30 by sending the "SND" command to the transceiver 24 through the busbar 50. Similar commands are sent through the busbar 50 to the transceiver 24 when appropriate. When the telephone 10 sends a message to the transceiver 24, the transmitted message must be in accordance with the prescribed format. For example, the sixteen bit message may have an address (four bits) followed by a destination code (four bits) that, in turn, is followed by an eight-bit data field. Each message in the busbar 50 must consist of sixteen bits or is ignored.

In any case, through this regular exchange of status data, the transceiver 24 knows that the telephone 10 is handling a call in progress or is operational but waiting due to lack of traffic. "~" The telephone 10 must be capable of receiving all traffic from the busbar 50 at all times and, for this purpose, may have a switch generator that detects both positive and negative transitions in the data lines T and data C of the busbar 50. The resulting interrupt is presented to the microprocessor 30, which immediately serves the interrupt, receives the traffic directed to the microprocessor 30 and decodes this traffic. Card Reader Operation With Stored Value There are two basic ways to operate the telephone 10 with a prepaid card 17. Whether the credit card 17 can remain on the card and be altered by a card reader / writer after its use (as described above) or that the credit can be recorded in the memory. This second alternative embodiment of the invention, described later and in Figure 5, utilizes the card reader 15A shown in Figure 4. The card reader 15A, whose physical components are manufactured and are available from Xico, Inc. of 9737 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA, is configured as a card reader with stored value. Typical card readers "read" a card to determine its value and have a mechanism to write on the value of the card to post a charged amount. The action of "writing" is important to ensure that card 17 does not remain with the same value, which would allow the user to reuse card 17 and obtain services free of charge later. In contrast, the card reader 15A works with a stored value card 17A to read the total value of the card 17A in the memory 32 of the telephone 10. In this way, the writing mechanism can be eliminated from the card reader 15A, which offers savings in substantial costs. There are several methods of configuring and operating the "card reader 15 as a stored value card reader, - Three illustrative methods are described below and in Figure 5. 1. Single Telephone Card: The stored value card 17A can be issued for use with a selected telephone 10 and includes at least the following information: serial number for telephone number 10; transaction code and credit amount: Generally, stored value cards 17A may be obtained at an issuing station located as a distribution machine to the public, in a retail store, or in the commercial offices of the wireless service provider These broadcast stations use a "swipe" encoder connected to the RS 232 port of a PC host computer that has a serial port separate for connection to the telephone 10. The user (after payment in cash or otherwise) accesses the value of the desired card PC host computer, which sends this information, the serial number of the user's phone 10 and other data to the encoder. The encoder generates a UNIX time stamp which acts as a single transaction code, codes the serial number of the telephone 10, the value of the card and the UNIX time stamp or some other unique transaction code into the card 17A. The PC host computer stores this transaction information in order to maintain a record for subsequent audits. The user inserts the stored value card 17A into the card reader 17a, which confirms the validity of the card 17a and reads the information from card 17a. This transfers the total value of the card 17a (e.g., $ 50) to the memory 32 of the telephone 10. The card reader 18a can be configured either to read after the insertion of the card 17a or to read after its removal. The card reader 18a decodes the data on the card 17a and sends all the data to the microprocessor 30 of the telephone 10. The microprocessor 30 validates the data, and if they are valid, add ~ eT new card value to your memory 52 and update your transaction code files with the transaction code of card 17a. The information stored on card 17a, however, remains unchanged because unlike ordinary card readers, reader 17a lacks an encoder. Optionally, the telephone 10 can display on the screen for the user the value of the prepaid card 17a or the number of credit cards 17b. Or, green and red LEDs can be used to allow the user to know whether or not credit is available. The validation is carried out in order to ensure that a lost or stolen card is not used erroneously. This can be done simply by making the information on the card 17a with the information on lost or stolen cards 17a that could be periodically downloaded to the telephone 10 by the Telephone Administrative System 100, shown in Figure 6. However, suppose that the user consumes the $ 50 total credit using the 10 phone and then try to reuse the 17th card that still has a $ 50 credit with the 10 phone or another phone. To avoid this, as shown in Figure 5, the telephone 10 is programmed to determine whether (1) the serial number stored on the card 17a matches the stored serial number of the telephone 10 and (2) the telephone code. The transaction or identification (for example, the UNIX time stamp) stored on the card 17a is in accordance with a transaction or identification code already stored within the transaction files of the telephone 10 of previous cards 17a. If any of the series numbers do not match or the transaction code does not match, the stored value of the card 17a will not be transferred to the telephone 10. In this way, the telephone 10 rejects the used cards 17a, even though the The information of the cards 17a is the same as before their use because the card reader 18a did not overwrite the cards 17a. 2. Telephone Sales Card: Although it is highly secure, the single telephone card 17a can be used only with a simple telephone 10, which requires that the card 17a be issued with the telephone 10, preselected. There are two alternative methods to eliminate this disadvantage. First, the card 17a may be available through a vending machine. The customer inserts cash or credit into the sales machine and accesses the mobile number, ESN or other identifier for the telephone 10. The card 17a can be encoded with this identifier plus the unique transaction code (for example, a time stamp) ). The validation is carried out as shown in Figure 5. Alternatively, instead of requiring the users to program a card 17a with a particular mobile number, the card 17a can be encoded with only a unique transaction code. This is especially useful when different telephones 10 have been configured to be validated based solely on the transaction code. However, this method requires that the telephone 10 be programmed to erase the card 17a in order to prevent a user from reusing it with other telephones. Because the card 17a can be erased by blocking, it is not necessary to supply a "write" hardware with the card reader 16A. Optional Characteristics 1. Added Value Characteristics. During the call, the user may wish to provide DTMF tones to have an interface with an automated system (for example, an information system, company directory, ordering system, etc.). To do this, the user simply presses the numbers on the keypad 14, which activates either a DTMF tone generator built into the transceiver 24 or the DTMF tone generator 44. Alternatively, after recognizing the "send" command through the bus 50, the simultaneous analog-to-digital conversion of the keyboard signals 14 is stopped, the microprocessor 30 determines that a call is coming in, and subsequently the DTMF signals pass from the earphone 12 to the transceiver 24 for transmission. This allows the DTMF tones to be heard by remote devices in the telecommunication with the telephone 10 which required DTMF tones for the operation. Because the telephone 10 is wireless, it can also be a mobile telephone, mounted for example in a vehicle such as a bus, train car, airplane or taxi. In this case, the user may want a receipt, in which case the telephone 10 may be equipped with a printer, such as a thermal printer or the like. The receipt can record the date, time of day, day of the week, number called, number of minutes and charge of the call. 2. Remote Programming.

The wireless service provider serving the telephone 10 can use the Telephone Administrative System 100 to reprogram the telephone 10 in order to favor particular "SIDs" (Wireless System Identification Numbers). In this way, the telephone 10 may be provided with a "preferred" list of SIDs for the telephone 10. As the telephone 10 moves to a new area, the telephone 10 monitors the control channels of the network for the SID from each service provider in the area, compares each SID with the list, and after making a comparison, decides to make the calls through the preferred SID. The list can be updated or changed through assignments of remote programming between the telephone 10 and the Telephone Administrative System 100. Of course, similar results can be obtained by programming the telephones 10 to avoid particular SIDs. By using any of the methods, a particular wireless service provider can program the telephone 10 to prefer it or the entities associated therewith, thereby improving its revenue stream. When the telephone 10 is not in use, a switch (controlled by the microprocessor 30) connects the audio tracks of the radio transceiver 24 to the audio path of the modem 26, thereby cutting the inputs from the earphone 12. In this implicit mode the telephone 10 can always accept an incoming call from the central office or the Telephone Administrative System 100 to load statistical data or download updates from the rate table. During low traffic hours, the Telephone Management System 100 can request individual telephones 10 (or vice versa) and download the most recent traffic rates, dial plans, etc. For example, telephone 10 can be remotely programmed with new prices for local calls, in training, long distance, "800" or international calls or the price of incoming calls or service requests. Each telephone 10 can report its maintenance status to the Telephone Administrative System 100 upon request, at a pre-selected call time or as determined by local fault detection circuits. The messages of the revised visual screen 20 can also be downloaded in this manner. Alternatively, instead of making an expensive cellular call between each of the telephones 10 and the Telephone Management System 100, the telephones 10 can be provided with the ability to send and receive data on the cellular control channel, preferably during the periods of low traffic in the network. The apparatuses and methods for implementing this procedure are described in U.S. Patent Number 5,546,444, the document of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. In any case, the visual screen 20, the memory 32 and the modem 26, for example, are capable of an operation of between 300 and 9600 baud and are supplied with built-in error detection and correction algorithms and the complete set of AT commands. , and all of these are connected to the busbar 50. Also, an RJll jac can be incorporated in the telephone 10 in order to offer an external fax machine or modem for the user. A call can be placed using either the connection or disconnection call. For example, for the call in connection, the microprocessor 30 detects a load across the conductors of the RJll jack, and causes the dial telephone generator 42 to generate an artificial dial tone. The voice indicators are deactivated by the microprocessor 30, which continues to provide visual indicators in order to show the progress of the call. As in a voice communication, a prepaid card 17 or a credit card 19 must be inserted to allow the call to continue. After finishing the call, the external device returns to the position in connection and the telephone 10 ends the call as described above. Alternatively, for the disconnected call, the communication via the RJll jack proceeds in the same way as in a normal call, where the user initiates the call by removing the handset 12 from the connection. The busbar 50 can be an external, bidirectional, 20 bit digital busbar, through which the commands from and the information flow to the microprocessor 30. This busbar 30 makes the telephone 10 of the present invention interchangeable with different transmitters-receivers and wireless networks. For example, telephone 10 can be easily modified and configured to work with different cellular, PCS, satellite and linked radio networks. Similarly, the telephone 10 can be used with other transceivers 24 of other manufacturers, as long as these transceivers 24 interface with a digital bus 50. The transceiver 24 can be programmed by inserting a programming card into the receiver. prepaid card reader 18. The microprocessor 30 accesses information on the programming cards as well as the sequence codes for the transceiver 24. These same codes have an echo on the display 20. In this way, the technician can access a new "SID" or a new mobile telephone number ("MIN") through the keyboard 14. The microprocessor 30 accepts these commands and stores them. Also, the Telephone Management System 100 may be used to assist with the on-site maintenance of the telephone 10. For example, the insertion of the programming card may also activate an internal diagnostic software program within the telephone 10 which performs a Complete maintenance routine. Telephone Administrative System Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the components and processing operations carried out by the Telephone Administrative System 100. The objective of the Telephone Administrative System 100 is to offer a simple and useful system for managing cell phones 10 with the following characteristics: two-way communication capability with telephones 10, including the ability to accept communication initiated by telephones 10, and a capability to detect and reestablish lost communication and continue the transmission and reception of data. In general, the system operates on a convenient, wide-ranging platform, such as a workstation that operates Windows (3.1, NT, etc.) or UNIX, although other operating systems can also be used. All the functions of the telephone 10 from the tariffs to the voice indicators can be controlled by this operating system. Figure 6A shows the components of the system 100, including a central processing unit 106, the modem 108 for interfacing with the telephones 10 and a database 110. The modem 108 calls the telephones 10 for the purpose of uploading information or check your status A second modem can be provided so that the telephones 10 can freely and frequently call the system 100 to report the accounting data of the calls at specified times or when their intermediate memories are filled. In this way, both odems can work without interference. A database 110 for system 100 must possess, organize and manage the following types of information:! Adjustment and configuration of the Telephone Management System 100; ! configuration and allocation information for telephones 10; ! rate tables for each 10 telephone, including Free, Local, No Cost Local, No Long Distance and International Calls; ! identify groups of stolen / lost cards 17, 19; Y ! store accounting information on each phone . The database 110, for example, a database related to Informix, must also provide the ability to group telephones 10 into groups for communication requests and initiate communication assignments with individual telephones 10, based on the maintenance of the base of 110 data or other programmed parameters. These groups allow the operators of the system 100 to build telephone systems 10 that have the same tariff structure (for example when the telephones 10 are in close geographic proximity or the destination tariffs are identical for telephones 10). Figure 6B shows some of the processes operated in the system 100, such as for example the process of the monitor 130 or the GUI process ("Inferíase of the Graphic User") 130. The process of the monitor 120 decodes the input messages in 122, stores these messages in a database 124 and notifies the message processor at 126. The main message processor 106 operates in the central processing unit 106. This unit 106 also operates the GUI 130 entry process, by which it is brought to perform the maintenance of the telephone database 10 in 132 and the maintenance in 134 of the telephone location 10. The GUI 130 process may also be responsible for transmitting messages to telephones 10, as used in 136. In addition, the system operators 100 can provide through the GUI 130 processes initial information for the system 100 (for example, owner or operator of a particular telephone 10, speed and location of the modem, co system passwords); adding new telephones 10 to system 100, carrying out self-diagnostic functions on telephones 10 when information is loaded or downloaded thereto; adjust the classification information; download to the telephones 10 the prepaid card numbers of the group of lost or stolen cards 17, or 19 credit cards to reduce fraud; and the telephones probed 10 in order to generate desired reports. The system 100 communicates with a number of telephones 10 in order to download and load data and operating systems, request call records and carry out maintenance checks. In general, the system 100 communicates with a particular telephone 10 to: send a change of the group message; send a maintenance review message; request the status of telephones 10; request call records; send the rate table, or a part of the rate table such as the local calling plan, without local, long distance or international cost; or! send initialization information or software as the application software. Different communication protocols can be used, such as the ZMODEM by means of the system 100 to communicate with the telephones 10. Different formats can also be selected to send data to and to receive data from the telephones 10. However, the typical telephone state data requested include the correction of errors or establish information. The call accounting data includes information on the number of free, local, no local, long distance or international calls made from a particular telephone 10 since the last request of the 100 system. Finally, the accounting data can be recovered as Credit card information, including: user, card number, expiration date, amount charged, etc. Obviously, this information must at least be mixed and preferably coded to avoid its interception by unauthorized persons. The transmission of large amounts of data, like rate tables or dial plans, to private phones 10 requires careful error correction. One method for each telephone 10 to guarantee receipt of rate tables or a dialing plan is to first have system 100 construct a message, such as a rate table, by dividing it into blocks of data, for example, 256 bytes of length. Each telephone 10 will receive not only the data within the block, but also the error correction information such as the byte count for the entire rate table, the revision sum information for a particular block and the total number of expected blocks. Based on this information, the telephone 10 will generate an acknowledgment message for the system 100 when the full rate table has been received. As the data blocks enter, the telephone 10 generates and sends status messages for each block of data sent. If an error occurs, only the block is retransmitted with error - trying a pre-selected number of times - saving the two or three minutes of modem connection time that would be required to download a rate table. A lost connection or an incomplete transmission results in system 100 or telephone 10 losing the time regulation of the scheduled period. The system 100 can then request an update of the status of the telephone 10, which may have sent a negative acknowledgment message at the end of its timeout period. The error messages between the telephone 10 and the system 100 will usually include an error code that will help determine which part of the message went wrong, which part should be re-sent or if it should be reconnected later due to, for example , a bad signal from the carrier. The microprocessor 20 will automatically call the telephone management system 100 if a physical or mechanical problem occurs. Either the microprocessor 30 or the telephone system 100 can subsequently balance a test routine within the microprocessor 30 which tests the connections and components of the telephone 10. Severe failures §5 will result in the telephone 10 leaving service or being sent to a technician for correction. The foregoing is provided for purposes of explaining and presenting the preferred embodiments of the present invention. For example, the operating software for the microprocessor, the protocols for communicating between the telephone 10 and a telephone administrative system 100 or between the microprocessor 30 and the transceiver 24 that can be modified, and which follow within the following claims. Modifications and subsequent adaptations to the embodiments described will be apparent to those skilled in the art and can be carried out without deviating from the scope or content of the invention and the following claims.

Claims (33)

1. CLAIMS 1. A cordless telephone that has a handset and keyboard _ and is capable of emulating a standard cable line telephone, where the cordless telephone includes: a. a transceiver to communicate in a wireless network; b. a microprocessor, coupled to the transceiver through a digital bus bar, to get the transceiver to send an access number on the keyboard; and c. a processor, coupled to the headset, to generate predetermined audio signals and deliver the audio signals to the headset in order to emulate a standard cable line telephone.
2. 2. A cordless telephone according to claim 1 which further includes a card reader to accept the user's payment.
3. 3. A cordless telephone according to claim 1 that further includes a dial plan database to be used in (1) the determination of when the numbers accessed on the keypad include an established telephone number or (2) the evaluation of a charge for a telephone call.
4. 4. A cordless telephone that has a handset and a keyboard to initialize a remote communication, where the cordless telephone includes: a. a transceiver to communicate in a wireless network; b. a microprocessor, coupled to the transceiver by means of a digital bus bar, so that the transceiver sends a telephone number accessed on the keypad in order to initialize the remote communication; and c. a card reader for accepting the payment information of a user, by means of which the microprocessor calculates a charge to evaluate the user based on (1) the telephone number and (2) the classification information contained within the telephone. ~~ A cordless telephone according to claim 4 further including a processor, coupled to the headset, for generating audio signals with a command from the microprocessor and for delivering the audio signals to the headset. 6. A cordless telephone according to claim 5 wherein the audio signals are selected from the group consisting of: DTMF tones, simulated dial tones and conversation segments. 7. A cordless telephone according to claim 6 that further includes a dial plan database to be used by the microprocessor to (1) determine when the numbers accessed on the keypad include an established telephone number and (2) calculate the charge for a telephone call. 8. A cordless telephone according to claim 7 which further includes a screen for displaying the cumulative charge for the telephone call. 9. A cordless telephone according to claim 4 wherein the card reader is a prepaid card reader for accepting the payment of a prepaid card. 10. A cordless telephone according to claim 9 which further includes a second credit card reader for accepting the payment of a credit card. A wireless telephone according to claim 4 further comprising means for determining the call start time for each remote communication and the means for determining the call termination time for each remote communication. 12. A cordless telephone according to claim 11 wherein the microprocessor determines the call termination time and stores the accounting information of the call including the telephone number, the start time of the call and the time of termination of the call. 13. A cordless telephone according to claim 12 which further includes a modem for remotely communicating with a computer in order to send accounting information of the call. 14. A cordless telephone, which includes: a. a transceiver to communicate in a wireless network; b. a keyboard and a first processor, coupled to the transceiver and the keyboard, to get the transceiver to send over the network a telephone number accessed on the keyboard; c. an earphone and a second processor coupled to the headset, to generate a simulated dial tone and other predetermined audio signals, by coupling the signals to the headset, and thus simulating a cordless telephone; d. a card reader adapted to read values on a card, to verify information read from the card based on information stored on a storage device, and to transfer the information to a memory device of the account; and. a classification device adapted to classify, based on information stored within the telephone, the cost of a telephone call for the telephone number accessed on the keyboard; and f. a management device adapted to track the length of a telephone call made to the telephone number accessed on the keypad, the information in the memory device of the account, and the information of the classification device in order to update the information on the device of the account's memory based on the length of the call and the classification information. 15. A method for operating a wireless communications device that includes a handset, a transceiver, a card reader and a processor, wherein the method includes the steps of_: a. generating DTMF tones with the processor after access by a user of a particular dialed number; b. emulate a standard phone by providing the DTMF tones to the headset; c. automatically verify a card inserted in the card reader in order to supply the payment; d. determine the termination of the dialed number; and e. control the transceiver to send digital data representing the dialed number to a wireless network to initialize a wireless communication. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of generating a simulated dial tone after the use of the handset by the user. The method according to claim 16 wherein the emulation step further includes the step of supplying a dial tone to the handset. 18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of determining the start time of the call; determine the time of termination of the call; determine the cost of the call and show the cost of the call on screen. 19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of storing the countable information of the call selected from the group consisting of: call start time, call termination time and call cost. The method according to claim 15 further including the step of remotely reprogramming the communications device. The method according to claim 15 wherein the verification step further includes the step of determining that a transaction code stored in the card does not match any transaction code stored within the wireless communications device. 22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the emulation step further includes the step of automatically determining when the user has accessed a dialed number and sending this number and a command to SEND to the transceiver to communicate with a provider. wireless services. The method according to claim 15 wherein the verification step further includes the step of comparing a serial number stored on the card with a serial number associated with and stored within the wireless communication device. 24. A method for operating a wireless communications device to communicate remotely with a wireless service provider that includes the steps of: a. ~ accepting from a user a card having a stored value, verifying the card and transferring the stored value to a memory inside the wireless communication device; b. classify an incoming or outgoing telephone call to determine a charge for the call; and c. deduct the charge of the call from the stored value that is inside the memory. 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of simulating a standard cable line telephone. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein the simulation step further includes the step of generating a dial tone after activation of the wireless communication device. The method of claim 26 wherein the simulation step further includes the step of generating a DTMS tone after accessing a selected number within the wireless communication device. 28. Apparatus to allow a user to communicate remotely with a wireless service provider and to accept the user's immediate payment for the aforementioned communication, where the device includes: a. means to initialize communication with the wireless service provider; - b. means to determine a charge associated with communication; c. means for reading a storage device that has information about the payment, including a first user transaction code; d. a microprocessor for validating the payment information, wherein the microprocessor compares the first transaction code with a second transaction code and, depending on the comparison, the microprocessor stores a credit from which the charge is deducted. 29. Apparatus according to claim 28 which further includes means for simulating a cable line telephone. 30. Apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising means for delivering audible messages to the user. 31. Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the delivery means includes a conversion processor coupled to a memory in which the speech segments are stored. 32. Apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising means for communicating with a host computer in order to obtain instructions and upload accounting information. 33. Apparatus according to any of claims 29 to 32, wherein the microprocessor determines whether the first and second transaction codes differ.