WO2004008651A1

WO2004008651A1 - Facility and method for cellular data communication between merchants and credit processing agencies

Info

Publication number: WO2004008651A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/021969
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rod L. Proctor
Original assignee: Airbiquity Inc.
Priority date: 2002-07-10
Filing date: 2002-07-10
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Also published as: AU2002326371A1

Abstract

A wireless financial transaction verification facility (16) has a transaction information terminal for scanning credit cards and entering a purchase price, and communicates information in a first electronic format. A converter is connected to the terminal and operates to convert the information to a second format transmissible by a digital cellular network. A wireless communication device is connected to the converter, and operates to communicate with the network in the second format. At a central financial agency, a similar converter may convert the information from the digital wireless transmissible format to a different format. Reply communication with approval or other information may proceed by the same means.

Description

FACILITY AND METHOD FOR CELLULAR DATA COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MERCHANTS AND CREDIT PROCESSING AGENCIES

Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention is directed to wireless communication, and more particularly to wireless data communication for verification of credit card purchases.

Background and Summary of the Invention [0002] The use of credit cards for retail purchases is widespread. To ensure against fraud, merchants verify the legitimacy and capability of a purchaser by transmitting an identifying credit card number, a transaction monetary amount, and other information to a central agency associated with the card issuer. The issuer responds with an approval or denial of the transaction, based on whether the purchase is within the purchaser's available credit, and whether the card has been reported lost or stolen. Communication between the merchant and the issuer is by way of a merchant terminal connected via telephone lines to the issuer computer. The terminal includes what is essentially a modem that operates to convert digital data into audible tones transmissible over phone lines, and which may be demodulated and reconverted to the data by the recipient.

[0003] While useful for many merchants, other merchants seeking to accept credit cards do not have telephone lines available, and therefore may not accept credit cards. Such merchants include those at remote locations, those with temporary locations of operation, and those in other transitory circumstances where the wiring of telephones is impractical. Examples include: a small merchant at a seasonal craft fair, a large traveling entertainment production such as a circus or touring Broadway show, and wandering food and souvenir vendors at stadium events. For a merchant without telephone lines to accept a credit card, he may use a wireless telephone to make a voice communication with a human operator at the verification agency, reading the credit card number and purchase price information aloud, and listening for the operator to verbally issue an approval or denial. However, this introduces delay and inconvenience, increases operating costs of the agency, and risks that the spoken confidential information is overheard, leading to fraud.

[0004] While credit card terminals, with their card scanning transducers, keypads, and electronic displays are readily connected to conventional phone lines, they are incompatible with digital cellular networks. The technical reason that the terminal cannot communicate over digital cellular networks is the "vocoders" in the cellular voice transmission path. These vocoders compress the voice signals, making more conversations possible in the same bandwidth, thereby conserving spectrum. Wliile effective for transmitting spoken words, the compression responds to modem tones in a way that corrupts the data carried therein, and renders the result unusable. The teπninal modem used to send data over the wire-line network is not able to send data through the cellular voice path. Some digital cellular networks have data paths separate from the voice path that could be used to send data to a selected receiving location. However, even in these cases, the terminal is not able to com ect to the mobile data ports of these phones.

[0005] The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a wireless financial transaction verification facility that has a transaction information terminal for scam ing credit cards and entering a purchase price, and which communicates information in a first electronic format. A converter is connected to the terminal and operates to convert the information to a second format transmissible by a digital cellular network. A wireless communication device is connected to the converter, and operates to communicate with the network in the second format. At a central financial agency, a similar converter may convert the information from the digital wireless transmissible format to a different format. Reply communication with approval or other inforaiation may proceed by the same means.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0006] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of one embodiment of the present invention in a telecommunications network.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an implementation of the invention to support a public safety answering point (PSAP).

[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a process for call taker refreshing remote caller location data. [0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a location-based call routing methodology according to the invention.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a simplified, overview block diagram of one embodiment of the invention in a system implementation. This system includes a satellite positioning system (SPS), a Remote Communication Apparatus (RCA) (e.g. a cell phone or other wireless 'mobile unit) having SPS location capability, a Telecommunication Service Apparatus (TSA) in communication with the Cellular Telecommunications Switching System (CTSS), and a call receiver or "call taker" apparatus (CRA) in communication with the CTSS, optionally via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

[0011] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing greater detail of the Remote Communications Apparatus, which includes components and methods to generate time-stamped, 3 axis geo- position data representative of the apparatus' position relative to 3-axes in a system implementation of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing greater detail of the Network Service Apparatus, which includes components and methods to process CTSS and PSTN call setup signaling, query the Remote Communication Apparatus, receive, decode, format, and perform a network related service (e.g. Call path determination) based on 3-axis geo-position data communicated by the Remote Communication Apparatus.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing greater detail of the Call Receiver Apparatus to process CTSS, PSTN, and PBX call setup signaling, query the Remote Communication Apparatus, receive, decode, format, and perform a 3-axis geo-position related service (e.g. Personnel & fleet management, and E911 location identification) based on the 3-axis geo- position data communicated by the Remote Communication Apparatus. [0014] FIG. 9 is an illustration of dual-tone location data signaling. [0015] FIG. 10A is a simplified block diagram of a first alternative wireless mobile unit. [0016] FIG. 10B is a simplified block diagram of a second alternative wireless mobile unit.

[0017] FIG. 10C is a simplified block diagram of a third alternative wireless mobile unit. [0018] FIG. 10D is a simplified block diagram of a fourth alternative wireless mobile unit.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a fifth alternative wireless mobile unit. [0020] FIG. 12 is simplified block diagram of a display unit, which can be mobile or stationary, for indicating location of a remote unit on a map display. [0021] FIG. 13 A is a cross-sectional view of an example of a wireless mobile unit whereby the SPS is disposed within the power supply housing.

[0022] FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of an example of a wireless mobile whereby the SPS is on the power supply housing. [0023] FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view of an example of a wireless mobile in which the SPS is located under the power supply housing.

[0024] FIG. 14 is a simplified block diagram of a hardware architecture that can be used to implement SPS location error correction.

[0025] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a process of correcting SPS location data.

[0026] FIG. 16 is a high-level block diagram showing the environment in which the facility preferably operates.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment [0027] Referring to Figure 5, a Remote Communication Apparatus (RCA) 10 is configured to communicate to one or more NSA 12, and said CRA 14, a time stamped, 3 axis geo-position of the remote device within a telecommunication network. In this description, the RCA is also variously referred to as a remote unit, mobile unit or cell phone, the cell phone being but one example. As another example, the RCA can be a communication unit built into a motor vehicle to provide location data in the event the vehicle is lost or stolen; it need not necessarily be a conventional cell phone.

[0028] Referring now to Figure 6, according to one illustrative implementation, the RCA 10 is comprised of, but not limited to; a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) Receiver Antenna 24, an SPS Receiver Chip 26, an SPS Data Processor 30, a Central Processor Unit 34, a Random Access Memory Module (RAM) 38, an Electronically Erasable & Programmable Read Only Memory Module (EEPROM) 16, a Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver Antenna 68, an RF Transceiver 66, a Voice & Data Signal Coder/Decoder Processor 62, a Tone Generation & Detection Module 48, a User Interface Display 58, and a User Activation Interface 42. It is noteworthy that many of these components already exist in a conventional cell phone design, so redesign or retrofit to implement the invention requires minimum effort and expense. For example, while the SPS receiver components must be added, the existing CPU and memory components can be shared.

[0029] Referring to Figure 7, an embodiment of a Network Service Apparatus (NSA) 12 is arranged so that the apparatus NSA 12 is able to communicate with a plurality of said RCA 10, and CRA 14, so that the apparatus 12 can provide a 3 axis geo-position relational telecommunication network data services. Examples of such services include call route determination, 3 axis geo-position related call metering, etc. based on 3 axis geo-position data received from a plurality of said RCA 10. In one illustrative implementation the NSA 12 is comprised of, but not limited to; a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) Receiver Antenna 104, an SPS Receiver Chip 106, an SPS Data Processor 110, a Central Processor Unit 86, a Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver Antenna 72, an RF Transceiver 74, a Voice & Data Signal Coder Decoder Processor 78, a Tone Generation & Detection Module 82, a Communication Network Interface Device 128, a 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90, a 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database 210, and a 3 axis Geo-position Relational Database Service 212.

[0030] Referring now to Figure 8, the Call Receiver Apparatus (CRA) 14 is configured to communicate with a plurality of said RCA 10, and NSA 12, so that said apparatus 14 can provide a 3 axis geo-position relational data service to users of said RCA 10, and said CRA 14 based on 3 axis geo-position data received from one or more RCA 10, and 3 axis geo- position relational data received from the NSA 12. According to one illustrative implementation, the CRA 14 includes, but not limited to; a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) Receiver Antenna 154, an SPS Receiver Chip 156, an SPS Data Processor 160, a Central Processor Unit 152, a Voice & Data Signal Coder/Decoder Processor 196, a Tone Generation & Detection Module 148, a 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170, a 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database 166, and a 3 axis Geo-position Relational Database Service 178, a User Activation Interface 188, and a User Display Interface 186. The RCA need not necessarily be mobile. It can implemented in an ordinary home telephone, or a computer with an SPS receiver, etc. When a call is made from the device, its exact location is sent to the CRA. This can be useful, for example, to give exact location in a large building or industrial complex in case of emergency. Conventional ANI location lookup may be unavailable, inaccurate or simply not adequately precise. [0031] Referring again to Figure 6, the Electronically Erasable & Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) 16, is a device located within, but not limited to, said RCA 10, and is pre-programmed with instructions sets, or micro-code to initialize said SPS Data Processor 26, said CPU 34, and said Tone Generation & Detection Module 48 at the onset of power to said RCA 10. The micro-code establishes operating parameters with which said devices will control and process data according to the methods of this invention.

[0032] When said RCA 10 enters a "power on" condition, the micro-code initializes said SPS Data Processor 26 to a preset data format type, for output to said Formatted SPS Data Path 32. The micro-code also initializes said SPS Data Processor 26 to a preset data output flow rate value to said Formatted SPS Data Path 32. Finally, the micro-code initializes said SPS Data Processor 26 to a preset data output occurrence rate value, or refresh rate value to said Formatted SPS Data Path 32.

[0033] The micro-code then initializes said Tone Generation & Detection Module 48 to the preset tone detection modes, or data format input to be received from said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 46, and from said Decoded- Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 102. Said Tone Generation & Detection Module 48 is also initialized to a preset detection mode, or data output format to be transmitted to said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 60, and to said Coirmiunication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 50. The said Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 is initialized to a preset data input flow rate value for detecting data from said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 46, and from said Decoded- Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 102. The Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 is then initialized to a preset data output flow rate value for data output to said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 60, and to the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 50. The Tone Generation & Detection Module 48 is then initialized for a preset data occurrence rate value, or refresh rate value to said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 60, and to said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 50.

[0034] The CPU 34 is initialized to a preset "event trigger" value. The "event trigger" is a pre-programmed sequence of data or conditional inputs, via micro-code, to said CPU 34, which results in the execution of subsequent, sequential processes, and events, also preprogrammed via the micro-code into said EEPROM 16. The event trigger may be activate by any number of inputs to said CPU 34, to include, but not be limited to; input from user of said RCA 10 via said User Activation Interface 42, input received from said NSA 12 as preset Communication Control Commands (e.g. network audible signaling), input received from the CRA 14 as preset Communication Control Commands, or audible commands from a user of the CRA 14. Finally, the CPU is initialized as to preset data processing methods, and communication parameters (i.e. baud rate, data size, etc.).

[0035] The presentation of said Micro-code Output Path 18 establishes a connection of said EEPROM 16 to said CPU 34, said SPS Data Processor 30, and said Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 for initialization to preset operating parameters at the onset of a "power on" condition of said RCA 10. In the present embodiment of the invention, the said SPS Data Processor 30 is connected to said CPU 34, via a communications bus, and therefore receives initialization presets from said EEPROM 16, via commands from said CPU 34. As the SPS Data Processor, the said Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 is connected via a communications bus to said CPU 34, and also receives initialization presets from said EEPROM via said CPU 34.

[0036] The Satellite Positioning System (SPS) Network 20 is comprised of a plurality of geo-orbiting satellites, which broadcast a standardized format data packet over a given radio frequency. The data packet is readily received, converted, and made into useful data, given the implementation of the following devices in the present embodiment of the invention; the SPS Receiver Antenna 24, connected to an SPS Receiver Chip 26, connected to an SPS Data Processor 30, and an SPS Receiver Antenna 104, connected to an SPS Receiver Chip 106, connected to an SPS Data Processor 110, and an SPS Receiver Antenna 154, connected to an SPS Receiver Chip 156, connected to an SPS Data Processor 160. The connected devices are either embedded or coimected to a respective apparatus as illustrated and are pre-programmed with micro-code to process the SPS Data Transmission 22 signals. [0037] SPS Data Transmission 22 is a continuous, or streaming broadcast of data messages which are time-synchronized to an atomic clock. Because SPS Data Transmission 22 is present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, is synchronized to extremely low tolerances, and exists globally, the SPS Data Transmission 22 is well recognized as the most accurate, and available means of obtaining static and dynamic 3 axis geo-position data. [0038] The SPS Receiver Antenna 24 implemented within the preferred embodiment of the RCA 10, is capable of receiving a specific range of said SPS Data Transmissions, and can operate within a wide range of operating environments. SPS Receiver Antenna 24 is appropriately sized for the current utilization with said RCA 10, however size and radio frequency shielding should be considered when embedding said SPS Receiver Antenna within, or close proximity to said Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver 66 embedded within same said RCA 10. A presently preferred implementation of said SPS Receiver Antenna 24 is connected to said SPS Receiver Chip 26 via an appropriate physical means as specified by the Antenna 24 manufacturer and the SPS Receiver Chip 26 manufacturer. [0039] SPS signals are received by said SPS Receiver Chip 26 from the SPS Receiver Antenna 24, and is converted into "raw", or non-formatted, binary SPS data streams, which are then passed on to said SPS Data Processor 30, via the Raw SPS Data Output Path 28. SPS Data Processor 30 receives the unformatted, or "Raw" binary SPS data streams via connection to said SPS Receiver Chip 26. In a presently preferred implementation the SPS Data Processor 30 is embedded into, or connected to the RCA 10. The SPS Data Processor 30 executes a pre-programmed instruction set, or micro-code specific to the manufacturer of said SPS Data Processor 30. The micro-code instructs said SPS Data Processor 30 to sample the incoming raw data stream, and acquire (lock onto) received SPS satellite signals within a preset decibel (dB) range, and then perform a validation of SPS data messages from said SPS Satellites 20. The said SPS Data Processor 30 then correlates a 3 axis geo-position, relative to the center of the geoID (earth), based on the time-synchronized data messages received from the said SPS Network 20 satellites that are within view of said SPS Receiver Antenna 24, and append the 3 axis geo-position data with data relative to the static, or dynamic position of said RCA 10, the time of said correlation, and validity of the correlated 3 axis geo-position coordinates. Per the initialization process at the onset of a "power on" condition, said SPS Data Processor 30 formats the correlated 3 axis geo-position data, and communicates the data at the preset data output flow rate, and refresh rate to said Central Processor Unit (CPU) 34, via the Formatted Geo-position Data Output Path 32. [0040] The non-validated, formatted 3 axis geo-position data is received by the CPU 34 via said Formatted 3 axis geo-position data output path 32, and is temporarily stored in a Random Access Memory Module 38, via the Non- validated 3 axis Geo-position Data Storage Path for validation processing. The method for validating formatted 3 axis geo-position data as embodied in the present invention, retrieves the non- validated 3 axis geo-position data from the said RAM 38, via the Non-validated 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 40, and examines the data for the presence of a character, or signal which defines "Valid" or "Not Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, per the manufacturer of said SPS Data Processor. If the 3 axis geo-position data is reported as "Not Valid", then said CPU 34 ignores the 3 axis geo- position data in temporary storage within said RAM 38, and continues to sample the 3 axis geo-position data input from said SPS Data Processor. If the 3 axis geo-position data reported as "Valid", then said CPU 34 temporarily stores, or updates said RAM 38 with "Valid", formatted 3 axis geo-position data via the Valid 3 axis Geo-position Data Storage Path 52. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this process begins at the onset of a "power on" condition of the RCA 10, and continues irrespective of other processes performed by the RCA 10, until a "power off condition is achieved, or other pre-programmed microcode instructs said CPU 34 otherwise. [0041] In the present embodiment of the invention, when said RCA 10 is in a "power on" condition, a number of means may be utilized to initiate an active 3 axis geo-position related communication session. The user of said RCA 10, can initiate a sequence of commands via the User Activation Interface 42, which represent a pre-programmed event trigger, in which the RCA 10 will proceed to communicate a 3 axis geo-position to either said NSA 12, or said CRA 14. The User Activation Interface 42 can take the form of a single momentary switch used only in special circumstances, or as a regular RCA 10. The User Activation Interface 42 may also be in the form of a key pad, allowing the user to initiate the event trigger via a preprogrammed sequence of key presses, communicated to the CPU 34 via the User Activation Interface Path 44.

[0042] The User Activation Interface 42 may also be in the form of a measurement device embedded in, or attach to the RCA 10 via the User Activation Interface Path 44, which measures environmental, dynamic, and static inputs of the RCA 10, the user, as well as those detectable conditions of the environment in the immediate vicinity of the RCA 10. This allows the measurement device, which now acts as an automated User Activation Interface 42, initiate an event trigger when a pre-programmed condition has been satisfied (accelerometer input, timer input, temperature input, etc.). The User Activation Interface 42 may also be in the form of an on-board audio detection device connected to said CPU 34 via the User Activation Interface Path 44, which utilizes a speech recognition algorithm, allowing the user to initiate the event trigger via a selected natural spoken, phonetic language (English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, etc.).

[0043] In a presently preferred implementation of said User Activation Interface, all inputs by the user of the RCA 10, and communication control commands, and 3 axis geo- position relational data received by the RCA 10, is sent to the User Display Interface 58 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Related Data Display Output Path 56. This provides the user with feedback that the proper sequence of user activation inputs were processed to initiate an 3 axis geo-position communication event trigger. 3 axis geo-position related data received from said NSA 12, and said CRA 14 can also be displayed in the present embodiment of the invention.

[0044] Another method for initiating a 3 axis geo-position communication session, is for the Call Receiver Apparatus (CRA) 14 to initiate a communication session with said RCA 10. When a communication channel has been established between said devices, the CRA 14 may use a signaling method, or query command, which is pre-programmed into both devices, causing the RCA 10 to respond by transmitting a 3 axis geo-position to said CRA 14. [0045] The RCA 10 initiates a communication path to the NSA 12. When a communication path is established between the RCA 10 and the NSA 12, the CPU 34 is instructed by the pre-programmed micro-code to automatically send "Valid" 3 axis geo- position data to the NSA 12. The NSA 12 can be automatically instructed by the 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Service Application 90, to automatically send a recognized communication control command back to the RCA 10, when a communication session has been initiated by said RCA 10.

[0046] Referring again to Figure 7, the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 sends the pre-programmed coinmunication control data to the CPU 86 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Related Data Output Path 92. The CPU 86 sends the communication control data on the Tone Detection & Generation Module 82 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Transmit Path 94. The communication control data is then converted into an audio tone representation of the data by the tone generation function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 82. The audio tone signaling preferably is DTMF or another multiple (2 or more) tone frequency protocol. Since DTMF is an international telecommunications standard protocol, the invention can be used with virtually all telephony signaling devices, analog or digital, including e.g. ISDN, DS-0,1, CAMA, FGD, DMA, TDMA, GSM, AMPS, etc. The tone data is then forwarded to the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 78 via the Communication Control 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Transmit Path 96. This device formats the audio tones into a data stream appropriate to the manufactures method of transmitting voice & data via the Radio Frequency (RF), Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70 (CDMA, TDMA, NAMPS, GSM, VHF, UHF, etc.).

[0047] In a presently preferred embodiment, location data is encoded in to at least one string, while additional strings of data can be transmitted as well, automatically or upon request. The basic string contains time stamp, latitude, longitude and altitude data. The time stamp comprises 3 characters - minute, second, second. For example, at 08:22:33 the time stamp is 2,3,3 as the hour and tens of minutes are ignored. This much is adequate because location data is updated frequently, for example every second or two. For data correction, described later, a 60-second array of data is maintained. That implies 60 samples or locations are stored, based on one update per second. The latitude requires 8 characters, and longitude 9 characters, and altitude 3 characters. So in a preferred embodiment a basic data string is 23 characters long. Additional strings can be used to transmit, for example, direction vector and speed.

[0048] Each data character is translated, for example by a lookup table, to a corresponding set of two or more audio frequency tones. Preferably, DTMF is used, although other multiple tone encoding can be used. A tone set or pair is transmitted for a 40 msec burst, followed by a 40 msec blank. Thus one character of data is transmitted every 80 msec during transmission of the basic string. The 23 characters defining the string will take a total of 23 x 80 msec or 1.8 seconds. Of course this protocol is merely illustrative; the number of audio tones, tone frequencies, burst size, burst rate, and refresh rate etc. can all be selected as desired for a particular application. In any event, the resulting audio burst (1.8 second transmission) is added to the audio channel, and coexists along with (or is added to ) the voice content. It need not be annoying to the user. The audio level or amplitude of the data burst can be controlled by the CPU or preset. The data burst can be made relatively low level - barely audible - so that one can talk right over it. On the other hand, it is preferred especially for emergency calls to the PSAP that the tones be plainly audible, as this provides reassurance to the user that the line is active, and indeed location data is updating. [0049] Returning now to the description of the apparatus, the coded-communication control data is sent to the Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver 74 via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 98. The RF Transceiver 74 then converts the input data from the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 78 into an RF transmission, at a frequency pre-determined by the manufacturer of said device. The data transmission is then emitted from the RF Transceiver Antenna 72, to the RCA 10 RF Transceiver Antenna 68. Referring now to Figure 6, the signal is received via the RF, Coded- Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70. The signal received by the RF Transceiver Antenna 68 sends the signal to the RF Transceiver 66. The RF Transceiver 66 then converts the received signals to a format which is pre-determined by manufacturer of said RF Transceiver 66 and is usable by the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 62, which receives the communication control data via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 100. The Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 62 uses a decoding algorithm, pre-programmed by the manufacturer of said Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 62 to re-assemble the received data into a format usable by the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48. The decoded communication control data is then sent to the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 via the Decoded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 102. The communication control data is received by the tone diction function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48, and is then converted from an audio tone representation of the data to a format preset by the manufacturer of said Tone Detection & Generation Module 48, which is usable by the CPU 34 of the RCA 10. The communication control data is then received by the CPU 34 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 50. Per the pre-programmed micro-code, the CPU 34 recognizes the communication control input data as a command to communicate 3 axis geo-position data to the NSA 12.

[0050] When an event trigger has been enabled (user activation input, or communication control input), the CPU 34 executes a set of instructions so as to communicate 3 axis geo- position data. As the CPU 34 continues to receive, validate, and update the RAM with "Valid" data, the CPU 34 samples the RAM 38, via the Valid 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 52, for current "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data. If 3 axis geo-position data from the SPS Data Processor 30 is "Not Valid", then the CPU 34 maintains, retrieves via the Valid 3 axis Geo-position Data Retrieval Path 54, and communicates the last "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, until new "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data is obtained, and updated into RAM 38. If "Valid" data is not realized by the CPU 34 after a preset timeout condition has been achieved, the CPU 34 will default to communicating the "Not Valid" data.

[0051] During the sampling and communication of said "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, the CPU 34 disables the 3 axis geo-position data validation process, so that existing "Valid" data is not corrupted, erased, or over-written during the sampling and communication sequence. However, during the transmission of "Not Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, the validation process continues, and in the event "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data is realized, the CPU 34 will interrupt the transmission of "Not Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, update the RAM 38 with "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, and proceed to transmit the new "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data.

[0052] The CPU 34 sends the data to the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 46. The "Valid" geo- position data is then converted into an audio tone representation of the data by the tone generation function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48. This data is then forwarded to the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 62 via the Communication Control 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 60. This device formats the audio tones into a data stream appropriate to the manufactures method of transmitting voice & data via the Radio Frequency (RF), Coded-Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70 (CDMA, TDMA, NAMPS, GSM, VHF, UHF, etc.).

[0053] The Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data is then sent to the Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver 74 via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 64. The RF Transceiver 74 then converts the input data from the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 62 into an RF transmission, at a frequency pre-determined by the manufacturer of said device. The data transmission is then emitted from the RF Transceiver Antenna 68, to the NSA 12 RF Transceiver Antenna 72 via the RF, Coded- Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70. The signal received by the RF Transceiver Antenna 72 sends the signal to the RF Transceiver 74. The RF Transceiver 74 then converts the received signals to a format which is pre-detennined by manufacturer of said RF Transceiver and is usable by the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 78, which receives the data via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 76. The Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 78 uses a decoding algorithm, pre-programmed by the manufacturer of said Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 78 to re-assemble the received data into a format usable by the Tone Detection & Generation Module 82. The decoded 3 axis geo-position data is then sent to the Tone Detection & Generation Module 82 via the Decoded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 80. The 3 axis geo-position data received by the tone diction function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 82, and is then converted from an audio tone representation of the data to a format preset by the manufacturer of said Tone Detection & Generation Module 82, which is usable by the CPU 86 of the NSA 12. The 3 axis geo-position data is then received by the CPU via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 84. The CPU 86 sends the "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data to the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 for processing, via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 88.

[0054] The preferred embodiment of the NSA 12 uses a similar implementation as the RCA 10, of embedded, or connected SPS devices to the NSA 12. The use of 3 axis geo- position data from said devices, however, is for the purposes of correcting the "built-in" error of said SPS Transmission Data 22, as further explained later.

[0055] The preferred implementation of said SPS Receiver Antenna 104 is as currently exists in the present embodiment of the invention. The said SPS Receiver Antenna 104 implemented within the preferred embodiment of said NSA 12, is capable of receiving a specific range of said SPS Data Transmissions, and can operate within a wide range of operating environments. The said SPS Receiver Antenna 104 is appropriately sized for the current utilization with said NSA 12, however size and radio frequency shielding is to be considered when embedding said SPS Receiver Antenna within, or close proximity to said Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver 74 embedded within same said NSA 12. The preferred implementation of said SPS Receiver Antenna 104 is coimected to said SPS Receiver Chip 106 via an appropriate physical means as set forth by said SPS Receiver Antenna 104 manufacturer and said SPS Receiver Chip 106 manufacturer.

[0056] SPS signals are received by said SPS Receiver Chip 106 from said SPS Receiver Antenna 104, and is converted into "raw", or non-formatted, binary SPS data streams, which are then passed on to said SPS Data Processor 110, via said Raw SPS Data Output Path 108. The SPS Data Processor 110 receives unformatted, or "Raw" binary SPS data streams via connection to said SPS Receiver Chip 106. The present, and preferred implementation of said SPS Data Processor 110, is embedded into, or connected to said NSA 12. The said SPS Data Processor 110 executes a pre-programmed instruction set, or micro-code specific to the manufacturer of said SPS Data Processor 110. The micro-code instructs the SPS Data Processor 110 to sample the incoming raw data stream, and acquire (lock onto) received SPS satellite signals within a preset decibel (dB) range, and then perform a validation of SPS data messages from said SPS Satellites 20. The said SPS Data Processor 110 then correlates a 3 axis geo-position, relative to the center of the geoID (earth), based on the time-synchronized data messages received from the said SPS Network 20 satellites that are within view of said SPS Receiver Antenna 104, and appends the 3 axis geo-position data with data relative to the static, or dynamic position of said NSA 12, the time of said correlation, and validity of the correlated 3 axis geo-position coordinates. Per the initialization process at the onset of a "power on" condition, said SPS Data Processor 110 formats the correlated 3 axis geo-position data, and communicates the data at the preset data output flow rate, and refresh rate to said Central Processor Unit (CPU) 86, via the Formatted 3 axis Geo-position Data Output Path 112.

[0057] The CPU 86 is instructed by the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 to perform a validation on the formatted 3 axis geo-position data input. If the 3 axis geo-position data is found to be "Valid", the CPU 86 will send the 3 axis geo-position data to the 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database 210 for future input to a 3 axis geo- position error correction algorithm, via the 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database Record Input Path 114.

[0058] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 receives the 3 axis geo-position data communicated by the RCA 10, and performs a validation on the received data. If the data is corrupt, the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 will transmit a communication control command back to the RCA 10, to send 3 axis geo-position data. Upon receipt of validated 3 axis geo-position data from the RCA 10, the 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Service Application 90 examines the time-stamp of the received 3 axis geo-position data from the RCA 10. The said application 90 then queries the 3 axis Geo- position Correction Database via the Database Query Path 116 to return a 3 axis geo-position correction record with the same time-stamp via the Database Record Return Path 118. [0059] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application implements an error correction algorithm which utilizes two dynamically updated variable data inputs, and a user defined variable data input. The user defined variable data input represents a professionally surveyed, or bench-marked 3 axis geo-position of the NSA 12. This 3 axis geo-position represents a known location from which to reference deviations of correlated SPS Transmission Data 22. The first dynamic variable data input is the 3 axis geo-position received by the local SPS Data Processor 110, and connected SPS devices, which is stored in said 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database 210. This data represents the correlated 3 axis geo-position of the NSA 12, and is used in conjunction with the user defined variable, to calculate a 3 axis geo-position deviation factor from the known, or bench-marked 3 axis geo- position. The second dynamic variable data input is the "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data received from the RCA 10. This data represents the correlated 3 axis geo-position of the RCA, and is used in conjunction with the computed 3 axis geo-position deviation factor, in order to calculate a corrected 3 axis geo-position of said RCA 10. Position correction methods and apparatus are described further below with reference to Figures 14 and 15. [0060] After performing an error correction on the RCA 10 3 axis geo-position, the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 then forwards the 3 axis geo-position data to a 3 axis Geo-position Relational Database Service 212, via the Corrected 3 axis Geo- position Data Input Path 120. This service 212 utilizes the corrected 3 axis geo-position data of the RCA 10, in order to return a pre-determined data record via the 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Output Path 122, relative to the 3 axis geo-position communicated by the RCA 10, which would enable the user of said NSA 12 to perform a network related service for user of said RCA 10, or user of said NSA 12, based on the 3 axis geo-position relational data input to said Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90. hi some cases, said 3 axis Geo-position Relational Database Service 212 may never return a 3 axis geo-position relational data record to the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90, but instead would store the 3 axis geo-position of said RCA 10, for future processing, or communication to services outside the realm of this invention. [0061] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 90 in the present embodiment of the invention can perform any one of several actions. Said application 90 can send further communication control, and 3 axis geo-position relational data back to the user of said RCA 10. The said application 90 can send 3 axis geo-position relational data to a Communication Network Interface Device 128, via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Path 124, enabling said application 90 to send communication control data, 3 axis geo-position deviation factor data, uncorrected 3 axis geo-position data of said RCA 10, corrected 3 axis geo-position data of said RCA 10, and the associated 3 axis geo-position relational data to a plurality of telecommunication network devices via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 130. The final option is that said application 90 performs no further action, and merely performs all processes to a process point pre-defined in said application 90 code, or the user of said application [0062] h one illustrative implementation of the invention, the NSA 12 performs a service for said RCA 10 utilizing said application 90 to determine a destination of the communication session event. The application 90 would send the 3 axis geo-position relational data to the CPU 86 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Related Data Output Path 92. The CPU 86 then sends the data to said Communication Network Interface Device via said Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Path 124. The Communication Network Interface Device 128 sends and receives communication control data, and/or 3 axis geo-position relational data to a plurality of network devices connected to a Cellular Telecommunications Switching System (CTSS) 134 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Path 130. In some implementations of the invention, the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application requires feedback, or other 3 axis geo-position relational data from a plurality of telecommunications network devices comprising of either a CTSS 134, aPSTN 138, or PBX 202. This data is received by the Communication Network Interface Device 128 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Path 130, and is sent to the CPU 84 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Input Path 126.

[0063] Referring once again to Figure 5, communication control data and/or 3 axis geo- position relational data is then forwarded by the CTSS 134 to one of several paths. Depending on the destination, or service requested by the user of said RCA 10, the CTSS 134 may then forward the communication session to another RCA 10 utilizing the same, or different said CTSS 134, in effect assuming a similar role as the CRA 14. Because the destination of the coinmunication session is with another RCA 10 implementing the same methods of this invention, the users of both RCA's 10 have the ability to send and receive communication control and 3 axis geo-position data to the other RCA 10. h the present embodiment of the invention, the call is forwarded from the CTSS 134 to the destination RCA 10 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 130. The communication session request is received by the RCA 10 via a cellular communication control method which exists irrespective of this invention. When the user of said destination RCA 10 accepts the coinmunication session request, the plurality of CTSS 134 telecommunication network devices use existing functionality to complete a communications circuit represented by the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70, and the Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 132. [0064] Depending on the pre-programmed micro-code, and the action of the users of both the originating and receiving RCA's 10, any number of 3 axis geo-position data event triggers may enable the communication of 3 axis geo-position data from one RCA 10 to the other. Also, depending on the processing capability of said CPU 34, the pre-programmed microcode, and/or attached peripheral devices to either the originating or receiving RCA's 10, they maybe capable of performing an error correction on 3 axis geo-position data. [0065] Another option of the CTSS 134 is to forward the communication session, and associated communication control and 3 axis geo-position relational data to a plurality of telecommunication network devices comprising a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 138, via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 136. [0066] Depending on the service requested by the user of said RCA 10, and/or the 3 axis geo-position relational data forwarded to the PSTN 138, the communication session destination may be forwarded by said PSTN 138 via a Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 198, to a PSTN subscribing (e.g. POTS) CRA 14. [0067] Depending on the service requested by the user of said RCA 10, and/or the 3 axis geo-position relational data forwarded to the PSTN 138, the communication session destination may be forwarded by said PSTN 138, via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-Position Related Data Path 140 to a CRA 14 acting as a call receiving "Agent" within a Private Branch Exchange Network 202.

[0068] Depending on the service requested by the user of said RCA 10, and/or the 3 axis geo-position relational data forwarded to the CTSS 134, the communication session destination may be forwarded to a CRA 14, connected to said CTSS 134, as a call receiving "Agent" within a Private Branch Exchange Network 202.

[0069] Acceptance of the communications session by the CRA 14, completes a communication circuit back to said RCA 10, now enabling direct 3 axis geo-position communication between said RCA 10 and said CRA 14, via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Transmit Path 192; the Communication Control 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Transmit Path 194; the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 198, the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 206; the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 132; the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 98; the RF, Coded-Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70; the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 100; the Decoded-Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 102; the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 50; the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 46; the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 60; the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 64; the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo- position Data Path 76; and the Decoded-Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo- position Data Path 146 as described above. If CRA 14 is implemented in a PBX communication environment, then the following additional representations of; the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 200; the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 204; the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 206; and the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 208 are applicable.

[0070] Depending on the implementation of said CRA 14, in a PBX 202 environment, the communication control and or 3 axis geo-position related data is received by the PBX 202 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-Position Related Data Path 140 from the CTSS 134, or the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-Position Related Data Path 142 from the PSTN 138, and is received by said CRA 14 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo- Position Related Data Path 144.

[0071] The RCA 10 initiates a communication path to said CRA 14. When a communication path is established between the RCA 10 and the CRA 14, the CPU 34 is instructed by the pre-programmed micro-code to automatically send "Valid" 3 axis geo- position data to the CRA 14. The CRA 14 can be automatically instructed by the 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Service Application 170, to automatically send a recognized communication control command back to the RCA 10, during a coinmunication session with said RCA 10.

[0072] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 sends the preprogrammed communication control data to the CPU 152 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Related Data Output Path 182. The CPU 152 sends the communication control data on the Tone Detection & Generation Module 148 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Transmit Path 192. The communication control data is then converted into an audio tone representation of the data by the tone generation function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 148. This data is then forwarded to the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 196 via the Communication Control 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Transmit Path 194. This device formats the audio tones into a data stream appropriate to the manufactures method of transmitting voice & data via the Coded- Voice, Coinmunication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 200, (ISDN, Analog). [0073] In a PBX 202 implementation of the invention, the coded-communication control data is sent to the PBX 202 via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo- position Data Path 200. Depending on the communication circuit path, the PBX 202 decodes the data, and forwards the communication control data to the PSTN 138 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 204, which in turn, forwards said communication control data to said CTSS 134 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 206, or the PBX 202 decodes said data, and forwards the communication control data directly to the CTSS 134. Otherwise the communication data is sent to the PSTN 138 via the Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 198. [0074] The CTSS 134 sends the communication control data to the NSA 12 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 132. Said data is received by the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 78. This device formats the audio tones into a data stream appropriate to the manufactures method of transmitting voice & data via the Radio Frequency (RF), Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70 (CDMA, TDMA, NAMPS, GSM, VHF, UHF, etc.). The RF Transceiver 74 then converts the input data from the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 78 into an RF transmission, at a frequency pre-determined by the manufacturer of said device. The data transmission is then emitted from the RF Transceiver Antenna 72, to the RCA 10 RF Transceiver Antenna 68 via the RF, Coded- Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70. The signal received by the RF Transceiver Antenna 68 sends the signal to the RF Transceiver 66. The RF Transceiver 66 then converts the received signals to a format which is pre-determined by manufacturer of said RF Transceiver 66 and is usable by the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 62, which receives the communication control data via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 100. The Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 62 uses a decoding algorithm, pre-programmed by the manufacturer of said Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 62 to re-assemble the received data into a format usable by the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48. The decoded communication control data is then sent to the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 via the Decoded-Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 102. The communication control data is received by the tone diction function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48, and is then converted from an audio tone representation of the data to a format preset by the manufacturer of said Tone Detection & Generation Module 48, which is usable by the CPU 34 of the RCA 10. The communication control data is then received by the CPU 34 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 50. Per the pre-programmed micro-code, the CPU 34 recognizes the communication control input data as a command to communicate 3 axis geo-position data to the NSA 12.

[0075] When an event trigger has been enabled (user activation input, or communication control input), the CPU 34 executes a set of instructions, to coinmunicate 3 axis geo-position data. CPU 34 continues to receive, validate, and update the RAM with "Valid" data. CPU 34 samples said RAM 38, via the Valid 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 52, for current "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data. If 3 axis geo-position data from said SPS Data Processor 30 is "Not Valid", then the CPU 34 maintains, retrieves via the Valid 3 axis Geo-position Data Retrieval Path 54, and communicates the last "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, until new "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data is obtained, and updated into RAM 38. If "Valid" data is not realized by the CPU 34 after a preset timeout condition has been achieved, the CPU 34 will default to communicating the "Not Valid" data.

[0076] During the sampling and communication of said "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, the CPU 34 disables the 3 axis geo-position data validation process, so that existing "Valid" data is not corrupted, erased, or over-written during the sampling and communication sequence. However, during the transmission of "Not Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, the validation process continues, and in the event "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data is realized, the CPU 34 will interrupt the transmission of "Not Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, update the RAM 38 with "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data, and proceed to transmit the new "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data.

[0077] The CPU 34 sends the data to the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 46. The "Valid" geo- position data is then converted into an audio tone representation of the data by the tone generation function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 48. This data is then forwarded to the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 62 via the Communication Control 3 axis Geo-position Data Transmit Path 60. This device formats the audio tones into a data stream appropriate to the manufactures method of transmitting voice & data via the Radio Frequency (RF), Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70 (CDMA, TDMA, NAMPS, GSM, VHF, UHF, etc.).

[0078] The Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data is then sent to the Radio Frequency (RF) Transceiver 66 via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 64. The RF Transceiver 66 then converts the input data from the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 62 into an RF transmission, at a frequency pre-determined by the manufacturer of said device. The data transmission is then emitted from the RF Transceiver Antenna 68, to the NSA 12 RF Transceiver Antenna 72 via the RF, Coded- Voice, Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 70. The signal received by the RF Transceiver Antenna 72 sends the signal to the RF Transceiver 74. The RF Transceiver 74 then converts the received signals to a format which is pre-determined by manufacturer of said RF Transceiver and is usable by the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder Module 78, which receives the data via the Coded- Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 76. The Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 78 uses a decoding algorithm, pre-programmed by the manufacturer of said Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 78 to re-assemble the received data into a foimat usable by the CTSS 134. The NSA 12 sends the uncorrected 3 axis geo-position data to the CTSS 134 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 132.

[0079] Depending on the communication circuit path, said CTSS 134 forwards the 3 axis geo-position data to the PBX 202 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo- position Data Path 208, or sends the 3 axis geo-position data to the PSTN via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 206, which in turn forwards said data to said PBX 202 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 204. Otherwise the communication data is sent to the PSTN 138 via the Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 206, which forwards the data on to said CRA 14 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 198.

[0080] The PBX 202 codes the 3 axis geo-position data, and forwards said data to the CRA 14 via the Voice, Communication Control, and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 144. [0081] The 3 axis geo-position data received by the Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 196 uses a decoding algorithm, pre-programmed by the manufacturer of said Voice/Data Signal De/Coder 196 to re-assemble the received data into a format usable by the Tone Detection & Generation Module 148. The decoded 3 axis geo-position data is then sent to the Tone Detection & Generation Module 148 via the Decoded-Voice, Communication Control and 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 146. The 3 axis geo-position data received by the tone diction function of the Tone Detection & Generation Module 148, and is then converted from an audio tone representation of the data to a format preset by the manufacturer of said Tone Detection & Generation Module 148, which is usable by the CPU 152 of the CRA 14. The 3 axis geo-position data is then received by the CPU 152 via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Path 150. The CPU 152 sends the "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data to the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 for processing, via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Data Input Path 168. [0082] The preferred embodiment of the CRA 14 uses a similar implementation as the NSA 12, of embedded, or connected SPS devices to the CRA 14. The use of 3 axis geo- position data from said devices, however, is for the purposes of correcting the "built-in" error of the SPS Transmission Data 22 as further described below. [0083] A presently preferred implementation of the SPS Receiver Antenna 154 is embedded within the CRA 14, is capable of receiving a specific range of SPS Data Transmissions, and can operate within a wide range of operating environments. The Antenna 154 is connected to said SPS Receiver Chip 156 as specified by the SPS Receiver Antenna manufacturer and the SPS Receiver Chip 156 manufacturer.

[0084] The preferred implementation of said SPS Receiver Chip 156 is as currently exists in the present embodiment of the invention. SPS signals are received by said SPS Receiver Chip 156 from said SPS Receiver Antenna 154, and is converted into "raw", or non- formatted, binary SPS data streams, which are then passed on to said SPS Data Processor 160, via said Raw SPS Data Output Path 162. Further details of the CRA SPS receiver components and operation are analogous to the corresponding circuits in the RCA and or the NSA and therefore will be abbreviated here.

[0085] The CPU 152 is instructed by the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 to perform a validation on the formatted 3 axis geo-position data input. If the 3 axis geo-position data is found to be "Valid", the CPU 152 will send the 3 axis geo- position data to the 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database 166 for future input to a 3 axis geo-position error correction algorithm, via the 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database Record Input Path 164.

[0086] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 receives the 3 axis geo-position data communicated by the RCA 10, and performs a validation on the received data. If the data is corrupt, the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 will transmit a communication control command back to the RCA 10, to send 3 axis geo-position data. Upon receipt of validated 3 axis geo-position data from the RCA 10, the 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Service Application 170 examines the time-stamp of the received 3 axis geo-position data from the RCA 10. The said application 170 then queries the 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database via the Database Query Path 172 to return a 3 axis geo- position correction record with the same time-stamp via the Database Record Return Path 174.

[0087] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application implements an error correction algorithm which utilizes two dynamically updated variable data inputs, and a user defined variable data input. The user defined variable data input represents a professionally surveyed, or bench-marked 3 axis geo-position of the CRA 12. This 3 axis geo-position represents a known location from which to reference deviations of correlated SPS Transmission Data 22. The first dynamic variable data input is the 3 axis geo-position received by the local SPS Data Processor 160, and connected SPS devices, which is stored in said 3 axis Geo-position Correction Database 166. This data represents the correlated 3 axis geo-position of the CRA 14, and is used in conjunction with the user defined variable, to calculate a 3 axis geo-position deviation factor from the known, or bench-marked 3 axis geo- position. The second dynamic variable data input is the "Valid" 3 axis geo-position data received from the RCA 10. This data represents the correlated 3 axis geo-position of the RCA, and is used in conjunction with the computed 3 axis geo-position deviation factor, in order to calculate a corrected 3 axis geo-position of said RCA 10.

[0088] After performing an error correctiqn on the RCA 10 3 axis geo-position, the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 then forwards the 3 axis geo-position data to a 3 axis Geo-position Relational Database Service 178, via the Corrected 3 axis Geo- position Data Input Path 176. This service 178 utilizes the corrected 3 axis geo-position data of the RCA 10, in order to return a pre-determined data record via the 3 axis Geo-position Relational Data Output Path 180, relative to the 3 axis geo-position communicated by the RCA 10, which would enable the user of said CRA 14 to perform a 3-axis geo-position related service for user of said RCA 10, or user of said CRA 14, based on the 3 axis geo- position relational data input to said Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170. In some cases, said 3 axis Geo-position Relational Database Service 178 may never return a 3 axis geo-position relational data record to the 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170, but instead would store the 3 axis geo-position of said RCA 10, for future processing, or communication to services outside the realm of this invention. [0089] In the present embodiment of this invention, the user of said CRA 14 interacts with said application 170 by entering data variables into said application 170 via the User Activation Interface 188. A variety of inputs, similar to those of the RCA can be utilized to provide data input to either change operational characteristics of the CRA, or change event trigger parameters, h the case of a person attended CRA 14, feedback is provided to the user via a connected User Display Interface 186. Those 3 axis geo-position data related services which require the user of said CRA 14 to view the 3 axis geo-position relational data results, utilize the application 170 to drive said 3 axis geo-position relational data results to the CPU 152, which in turn forwards the data to said User Display Interface via the Communication Control & 3 axis Geo-position Related Data Display Output Path. [0090] The 3 axis Geo-position Data Related Service Application 170 performs the primary function of receiving 3 axis geo-position data from a Remote Communication Apparatus 10, or said Network Service Apparatus 12, and enable the user of said 3 axis Geo- position Data Related Service Application 170 to perform a service for user of said RCA 10, and said CRA 14. 3 axis geo-position related applications may include but not be limited to; asset tracking, personnel and fleet management, directory assistance, concierge services, process control, personal location, public safety location services, navigation, telecommunication network management, and so forth.

[0091] As mentioned briefly above, an important aspect of the invention is a method and apparatus for correcting SPS-derived location data received from a remote communication device such as a cell phone. It is known that certain degradation of satellite signals leads to inaccuracies in acquired position information. (The GPS apparently provides more accurate information to the military, NASA, etc. but not to the public.) The present invention provides a solution for overcoming these inaccuracies to provide precise location data. [0092] The correction technique is implemented at a fixed location, which can be virtually anywhere that GPS signals are visible for reception. In one embodiment of the invention, that fixed location is a part of the communications network, for example at a cell site, CTSS, telephone central office, etc. In another embodiment, the fixed location can be a home, office or other place of business, and in particular the fixed location can be a PSAP. It is advantageous for many applications to provide the fixed location within the communications network where a cell call, particularly an emergency or 911 call, is routed, so that location-based routing can be accomplished with enhanced accuracy as further explained below.

[0093] Thus another feature of the invention provides for dynamic routing of a call, for example an emergency 911 call, based on highly accurate, corrected location data. This ensures that the most appropriate emergency or public safety services provider receives needed information as quickly as possible. A location error of a few meters, for example, can make the difference between dispatching a call to local police or to highway patrol where the precise emergency location is actually on an urban highway. On the coast highway, as another example, only a few meters may mean the difference between the need for land- based ambulance or a distress call to the Coast Guard for a water rescue. [0094] Referring now to Figure 14, to provide location data correction, an SPS antenna 1402 is installed at the fixed location. The actual physical location of that antenna is accurately determined, for example by survey, and recorded in memory. An SPS receiver 1404 is coupled to the fixed antenna, and SPS location data of the fixed antenna is acquired and processed in an SPS processor 1406. The processor 1406 provides output data comprising a time stamp, latitude, longitude and altitude data, for example as an ASCII stream of bytes in a predetermined format. Commercially available SPS receivers and processors can be programmed to provide a desired output format, for example over a serial port. This data is updated frequently, for example every few seconds. (This data can be expected to suffer from the "selective availability" degradation built into SPS transmissions.) The acquired fixed antenna position data is delivered to a system microprocessor 1408 and stored (via bus 1410) in a memory. The data is stored in the memory so as to form a dynamic or circular array so that, for example, the most recent 60 seconds of data is maintained at all times. If data is acquired say, every 1 second on average, there will be sixty samples in the array, although this number is not critical. Memory space is provided as appropriate.

[0095] An RF receiver or transceiver 1416 for cell telephone reception is coupled to a voice/data code and decode module 1418 to decode incoming signals into digital data. This data is input to a tone detection module 1420 to detect the audio tones that represent the cell phone location. The resulting data, further processed by the microprocessor 1408 if necessary, to form the cell location data sample preferably comprising a time stamp, latitude, longitude and altitude. The cell location data sample is stored, for example in a memory location 1422 via bus 1410. Program code for execution by the microprocessor to carry out these operations can be provided in a memory 1426, preferably a read-only memory. The stored cell location data is corrected according to the following methodology. [0096] Referring now to Figure 15, a process of correcting the cell location data begins with acquisition of location data 1502 from the fixed SPS antenna (1402 in Fig. 14), responsive to an initialization step 1504. While at first blush it may seem odd to acquire SPS location data at a known, fixed location, the utility of doing so will become apparent. The acquired fixed antenna location data (after the usual processing, not shown) is stored in an array of memory as noted above. Periodically, for example as indicated by checldng a programmable timer (or by hardware interrupt, etc.), new location data is acquired and the array is updated. This process 1502, 1506 is repeated so that an array of location data is maintained, reflecting the most recently acquired data, for example over a period of 60 seconds. [0097] Next, SPS-derived location data is received 1508 from a remote wireless apparatus, as mentioned with reference to Figure 14. Based on the latitude and longitude (and optionally altitude as well) indicated in the received data, a distance of the wireless apparatus to the fixed location is calculated 1510. That distance is compared to a predetermined range, say 100 kilometers, step 1512. If the calculated distance exceeds the selected range, 1514, no correction is applied to the received data 1516, and the process loops via "A" to acquire new data from the remote apparatus. This is done because where the distance is great the probability increases that satellites in view at the remote location are not the same as the satellites in view at the fixed location at the same time. [0098] If the calculated distance is within the selected range, step 1518, the time stamp of the remote location data sample is read 1520, and the memory array containing the fixed antenna location data is interrogated 1522 to see if a sample having the same time stamp value is in the array (indicating a "fix" on the fixed location was acquired at the same time as the "fix" was acquired on the remote apparatus). If a matching time stamp is found in the array 1524, that data is used to calculate a 3-axis correction factor, step 1526, calculated as the difference in each of the three dimensions, as between the selected fixed antenna location data sample, and the known, actual location of the fixed antenna. This difference indicates the effective errors in the satellite transmitted data, for that fixed location, at the exact time the remote location data was acquired by the remote apparatus. The timing is critical because the satellite degradation is not static. The next step 1528 is correcting the remote location data by applying the calculated corrections. Then the process loops to "A" to acquire new location data from the remote object. The described process thus reverses the "selective availability" signal degradation of the SPS. When a matching time stamp is found, an application can confidently expect location accuracy within 10 meters. [0099] If the calculated distance is within correction range, but no matching time stamp is found in the array of fixed antenna location samples, 1530, a correction factor can still be calculated by averaging the corrections over all of the samples in the array, step 1532. This will provide a useful approximation, as it is highly likely that the remote data was acquired within the past 60 seconds, during which the fixed antenna data was also acquired. [00100] In a presently preferred embodiment, the error correction can be provided in a

Network Service Apparatus (NSA) 12, as described earlier with reference to Figure 7. In Figure 7, the geo-position correction database 210 stores the array of fixed antenna location data samples described above. The CPU 86 of Figure 7 corresponds to the microprocessor 1408 of Figure 14; the SPS data processor 110 of Figure 7 corresponds to the SPS processor 1406 of Figure 14, and so forth.

[00101] In the alternative, or in addition, the error correction can be implemented in the call taker CRA, as illustrated in Figure 8. In this case, the geo-position correction database 166 stores the array of fixed antenna location data samples described above. The CPU 152 of Figure 8 corresponds to the microprocessor 1408 of Figure 14; the SPS data processor 160 of Figure 8 corresponds to the SPS processor 1406 of Figure 14, and so forth. [00102] In our previously filed patent applications, we disclosed an improved system and method to communicate time stamped (time as UTC), 3-axis (X as Latitude, Y as Longitude, and Z as Altitude) geo-position data of a remote communication apparatus, through the audio traffic channel of a telecommunication network, to a network service and/or call receiver apparatus capable of receiving 3 axis geo-position data, and in turn performing a 3 axis geo-position relational service for the user of each apparatus. The present invention provides huge cost savings, for example in the public safety or emergency response sectors (dial 911 in the U.S.) by using the existing cell telephone network infrastructure, combined with a global positioning system, and several novel enhancements, to provide precise user location information.

[00103] We further described previously a wireless system for voice and data communications, such as a Personal Communication System (PCS), in which latitude- longitude- altitude (3 axis) location is embedded in the communications signals of the communication system for the determination of the location of the PCS user by a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), such as the Global Positioning System or Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System. In each such embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of antenna, a power supply, a device to process the SPS data, a communications device, and a remote display unit comiected by a wireless linlc.

[00104] The previous applications illustrated a mobile system (FIG. 10A), in which the

PCS/SPS device includes an SPS antenna 1002 and receiver 1004 to receive the SPS signals; an SPS signal frequency downconverter 1005; an SPS signal processor 1007 to receive converted antenna output signals and process them to provide a present location and altitude of the PCS/SPS user as well as the time of observation; a display processor 1010 and display 1011; a transceiver 1003 to receive processor output signals and transmit these signals through an antenna 1001 as a multiplexed 1008 data packet along with the voice/data stream inputs 1009; and a power supply 1006. [00105] The display unit (FIG. 12) includes an antenna 1201 ; a transceiver 1202 to receive the signals transmitted by the PCS/SPS mobile system transceiver; a computer based processor 1203 to receive and demultiplex output signals from the receiver; a voice/data input output system 1204; an SPS data buffer 1205; a data output system 1206; a system to display location by a computer based mapping system 1207; and a power supply 1209. We thus disclosed wireless switching and routing functionality with embedded 3 axis location data, either by terrestrial or satellite wireless systems.

[00106] We earlier described wireless systems that transmit voice and data communications, such as a Personal Communication System (PCS), cell phone or radio, in which latitude-longitude-altitude (3 axis) location is added to the system for the express purpose of embedding data packets or streams in the communications signals of the communication system for the determination of the location of the PCS user by a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), such as the Global Positioning System or Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System. In each embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of antemia, a plurality of power supplies, a device to process the SPS data, a communications device, a communications link and a remote display unit connected by a wireless linlc. [00107] We illustrated mobile systems as in FIG. 10B, in which the SPS (unit 2) supplies a data stream (e.g. NMEA ) to the PCS (unit 1) by a communications linlc to a signal multiplexer 1028. Mobile unit 2 includes an SPS antenna 1022 and receiver 1024 to receive the SPS signals; an SPS signal frequency downconverter 1025; an SPS signal processor 1027 to receive converted antenna output signals and process them to provide a present location and altitude of the PCS/SPS user as well as the time of observation; a display processor 1030 and display 1031. Unit 1 includes a transceiver 1023 to receive processor output signals and transmit these signals through an antemia 1021 as a multiplexed 1028 data packet along with the voice/data stream inputs 1029; and a power supply 1026. In a second embodiment, the SPS is located in the voice input (microphone) housing and the data stream is embedded in or included as a data packet in the voice stream. Figure 10D shows another embodiment. [00108] The display unit (FIG. 12) in the prior application includes an antenna 1201 ; a transceiver 1202 to receive the signals transmitted by the PCS/SPS mobile system transceiver; a computer based processor 1203 to receive and demultiplex output signals from the receiver; a voice/data input output system 1204; an SPS data buffer 1205; a data output system 1206; a system to display location by a computer based mapping system 1207; and a power supply 1209. [00109] A wireless system for voice and data communications, such as a Personal

Communication System (PCS), in which latitude-longitude-altitude (3 axis) location is embedded in the communications signals of the communication system for the determination of the location of the PCS user by a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), such as the Global Positioning System or Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System, hi the event of loss of positioning signal, an initial platform such as a Solid State Rotation Sensor like Gyro-Chip II(TM) or equal, to maintain two dimensional changes in geographic location. In each embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of antenna, a power supply, a device to process the SPS data, an inertial platform, a communications device, and a remote display unit connected by a wireless linlc.

[00110] In an alternative embodiment of the mobile system (FIG. 10C) the PCS/SPS device includes an SPS antenna 1042 and receiver 1044 to receive the SPS signals; an SPS signal frequency downconverter 1045; an SPS signal processor 1047 to receive converted antenna output signals and process them to provide a present location and altitude of the PCS/SPS user as well as the time of observation; an inertial platform 1053 to update two dimensional location in the event of signal loss; a display processor 1050 and display 1051; a transceiver 1043 to receive processor output signals and transmit these signals through an antenna 1041 as a multiplexed 1048 data packet along with the voice/data stream inputs 1049; a power supply 1046; and a switching routing transponder 1052. [00111] The display unit (FIG. 12) includes an antenna 1201; a transceiver 1202 to receive the signals transmitted by the PCS/SPS mobile system transceiver; a computer based processor 1203 to receive and demultiplex output signals from the receiver; a voice/data input output system 1204; an SPS data buffer 1205; a data output system 1206; a system to display location by a computer Based mapping system 1207; and a power supply 1209. [00112] That embodiment employs the inertial platform's ability to accurately update a user's location during periods of signal loss. The invention is useful in the wireless communications market for accurately updating, tracking and locating the user during an SPS data loss.

[00113] Another wireless system for voice and data communications, such as a

Personal Communication System (PCS), is illustrated in which latitude-longitude-altitude (3 axis) location is embedded in the communications signals of the communication system for the determination of the location of the PCS user by a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) such as the Global Positioning System or Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System in the event of loss of positioning signal, a barometric pressure transducer and signal processor (digital altimeter), to maintain altitude changes in geographic location. In each embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of antenna a power supply, a device to process the SPS data, a digital altimeter a communications device, and a remote display unit connected by a wireless linlc.

[00114] In another alternative embodiment of the mobile system (FIG. 10C), the

PCS/SPS device includes an SPS antenna 1042 and receiver 1044 to receive the SPS signals; an SPS signal frequency downconverter 1045; an SPS signal processor 1047 to receive converted antenna output signals and process them to provide a present location and altitude of the PCS/SPS user as well as the time of observation; a digital altimeter 1053 to update altitude in the event of signal loss; a display processor 1050 and display 1051; a transceiver 1043 to receive processor output signals and transmit these signals through an antenna 1041 as a multiplexed 1048 data packet along with the voice data stream inputs 1049; a power supply 1046; and a switching routing transponder 1052.

[00115] The display unit (FIG. 12) includes an antenna 1201; a transceiver 1202 to receive the signals transmitted by the PCS/SPS mobile system transceiver; a computer based processor 1203 to receive and demultiplex output signals from the receiver; a voice data input output system 1204; an SPS data buffer 1205; a data output system 1206; a system to display location by a computer based mapping system 1207; and a power supply 1209. Tins system employs the digital altimeter's ability to accurately update a users location during periods of signal loss.

[00116] Referring now to Figure 13, we illustrated an implementation for existing wireless mobile systems, E.g. Motorola Cellular Micro Tac Ultra Lite, Ericcson 338, etc. (FIG. 13 A), that transmits voice conventionally or data communications through a port in the wireless device 1307. Referring to Figure 11, the SPS system is external to the wireless mobile unit; the apparatus includes aplurality of antenna 1101 and 1102, an SPS Radio Frequency front end or down converter 1103, a multi-channel SPS correlator with support functions and crystal clock 1104, an SPS Processor 1105, communications processor 1106, data connection to the existing wireless mobile systems 1107, data multiplexer or logic device 1109, a transceiver 1108, speaker/microphone assembly 1110, a power supply which contains a rechargeable battery and components 1102-1106, and a wireless infrastructure that carries and routes the traffic channel. Additionally, in each embodiment, the data which includes latitude-longitude-altitude (3 axis) location is added to the system for the express purpose of embedding data packets or modulated data streams into the traffic channel of the communication system. In the embodiment of FIG. 13 A, the SPS is located within the power supply housing, h the alternative embodiment of FIG. 13B, the SPS is located on the power supply housing.

[00117] Referring to Figure 13, we described earlier the placement of the SPS system in, on or under the power supply 1331, removable battery, with data transfer through an integrated molded electrical connection manufactured to mate to the existing data port 1327, a secondary data port in parallel with the original on the SPS device can be added if required, in order to maintain manufactures design functionality. Further, this transmission which contains the embedded 3 axis location data, will be conveyed by terrestrial or satellite wireless systems in the traffic channel (voice). Figure 13C shows another alternative application.

[00118] Figure 16 shows a financial transaction verification system 1000 including a wireless or cellular network 1200 with a user system connected to the network. The cellular network is connected to a conventional telephone system 1600. A central verification facility 2000 such as a bank, credit card issuer, or agency is com ected to the system 1600. [00119] The user system includes a digital cellular telephone 2200 having an antemia 2400 communicating with the cellular network 1200, as described in greater detail above. The phone includes circuitry that encodes vocal coimnunications digitally, in a highly compressed format that allows a conversation to be transmitted with limited bandwidth. The circuitry also includes receiving capabilities that receive such a digital stream, and convert it into an audible facsimile of the original words spoken by a caller with whom the user is speaking. The phone 2200 includes a conventional ear piece and microphone, as well as a supplementary connector 2600 of the type used for communication with accessories such as hands-free headsets. The comiector has several lines, some of which are a remote analog microphone input and an analog speaker output. [00120] A converter 3000 is connected to the phone connector via a cable 3200. The converter is described above, with reference to Figures - .

[00121] The converter includes a connector 3400, to which a conventional credit card verification terminal 3600 is connected via a cable 4000. The terminal 3600 includes an alphanumeric display 4200 for displaying text to a user based on encoded signals received via cable 4000. The terminal 3600 includes a keyboard or other input device 4400 for the user to enter transaction information to be encoded and transmitted via the cable to the converter. A magnetic credit card reader slot 4600 is an input device that reads unique data encoded on a magnetic strip on a purchaser's credit card 4800. In alternative embodiments, the credit card may include data encoded by other means, such as a memory chip that records information beyond identifying the card, including balance and available credit. Other alternative terminals may collect purchaser information by other means, including biometric data contained in fingerprints. In addition, references to "credit cards" is intended to include all means for purchases and other financial transactions, including debit cards, bank draft verification, and other means of credit extension in which information or qualification asserted by a purchaser needs to be verified.

[00122] The terminal 3600 operates conventionally, and includes what is essentially a modem that converts the scam ed or entered data to be sent from a digital form to a modulated tonal pattern transmissible via conventional telephone lines; it further operates to receive such a modulated audio signal and convert it to digital form for display. [00123] The central verification facility 2000 is connected to the telephone network via phone lines 5000. A converter 5200 that is essentially functionally identical to converter 3000 is connected via line 5400 to line 5000. A computer system 5600 is comiected via line 6000 to the converter 5200, and includes or comiects to a financial database containing information about the purchaser's credit card, credit history, account balance or available credit, and other financial status, including whether or not the credit card is listed as stolen. In alternative embodiments, a computer terminal permitting human operator involvement may be connected, for instances in which a judgment must be made about whether or not to approve a proposed purchase or transaction.

[00124] The converter 5200 need not be a separately housed device, but may be included as an internal circuit board in existing systems, or integrated into the circuitry and or software of systems. As with the user system 1400, the facility system 2000 operates both for transmission and receiving of messages in text format.

[00125] The system in the facility 2000 is shown in a simplified form to illustrate the preferred embodiment. As shown, it is connected to a telephone line that may have a special phone number for use by wireless terminal users. Routing hardware and or software between line 5000 and the converter 5200 would analyze the characteristics of each call received to identify whether the call was a conventional inquiry from a standard terminal using a coinmunication format via a wired line, or whether it was in the special encoded format generated by a converter 3000. Based on this determination, the router directs calls to bypass the converter 5200, and directs encoded calls to the computer 5600 via the converter 5200. [00126] The system operates as follows: A merchant having a system 1400 wishes to accept a customer's credit card 4800. If the merchant system's components are not set up, the merchant connects the components as shown. The phone 2200 is activated, and the verification system number is dialed by the merchant. Other phone functions also may be conducted by using the device keyboard 4400. h any case, the terminal 3600 is used to generate a coinmunication for the center to receive. The communication may be a standardized inquiry identifying the customer's account number and purchase amount, possibly including other information such as PIN number, and other identifiers. [00127] The message generated in the terminal 3600 is modulated to an audible stream of tones, which are transmitted to the converter 3000. The converter converts this signal into a data stream in encoded format that is readily transmitted via digital cellular networks, as described in detail above with reference to Figures ___-__. The phone then transmits this encoded stream to a receiver node on the network 1200, which transmits the stream via the conventional telephone network to the facility 2000.

[00128] The facility identifies the stream as an encoded stream in the transmissible format, and if necessary, routes the call to the converter 5200. The converter 5200 converts the encoded stream into the modulated audible tone signal, which is demodulated by a modem in the computer 5600, and processed. Upon processing the transmitted message, the computer generates a reply message. This may be a simple indication of approval or denial of a transaction, or may include other information such as whether a credit card has been stolen or requires confiscation. The return communication follows the same path as the original communication, being modulated by the modem in the computer 5600, converted to the transmissible format by the converter 5200, and transmitted via networks 1600 and 1200 to be received by the merchant's phone 2200. The encoded stream is converted to a modulated pattern of tones by converter 3000, which tones are demodulated into digital form by the terminal 3600 for display to the user.

[00129] It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments of this invention without departing from the underlying principles thereof. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of verifying a financial transaction comprising: receiving via a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network a set of audio tones representing a merchant financial verification request, a first tone in the set of audio tones representing a first binary portion of the financial verification request, and a second tone in the set of audio tones representing a second portion of the financial verification request; converting the received set of audio tones into a financial verification request; and analyzing the financial verification request to determine whether to transmit an authorization message.

2. The method of claim 1 including generating an authorization message and converting the message to a second set of audio tones for transmission via the digital wireless telecommunications network.

3. The method of claim 1 including the steps of: providing a wireless remote coinmunication apparatus ("RCA") having a vocoder for transmitting and receiving human voice content over a voice channel of the digital wireless communication network; providing a call receiver apparatus ("CRA") also capable of transmitting and receiving human voice content over a voice channel of the digital wireless communication network; defining one or more control codes reserved for communication control signaling over the voice channel, each control code comprising one or more alpha-numeric characters; establishing a digital voice channel connection between the RCA and the call receiver apparatus CRA; in a first one of the RCA and the CRA, selecting one of the communication control codes for transmission to the other one of the RCA and the CRA; in the first one of the RCA and the CRA, converting the selected control code into an audio tone representation; in the first one of the RCA and the CRA, formatting the audio tones in a vocoder so as to form digital transmission data; in the first one of the RCA and the CRA, transmitting the digital transmission data over the digital voice channel connection to the other one of the RCA and the CRA; and in the other one of the RCA and the CRA, detecting the control code to effect control signaling transparently over the voice channel.

4. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus comprising: a transaction information terminal operable to communicate financial transaction infonnation over a financial verification network; a converter operatively connected to the transaction information terminal, the converter operable to convert the financial transaction information into a set of audio tones ; a wireless communication device operably connected to the converter such that the wireless coinmunication device can receive the set of audio tones from the converter and transmit the received audio tones over a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.

5. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transaction information terminal includes a card scanner.

6. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transaction information terminal includes an input device for entry of a transaction amount.

7. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the terminal includes a display for displaying a received approval status message.

8. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the converter comprises a input for receiving digital data from the transaction information terminal and a tone generation module for encoding the digital data into a series of audio frequency tones; each audio frequency tone having a frequency selected so as to avoid frequencies that are characteristic of human voice thereby minimizing interference with simultaneous voice traffic on the channel.

9. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the wireless communications device comprises: a voice/data signal encoder/decoder (vocoder) for sampling the audio frequency tones and forming digital signals for transmission over the digital wireless telecommunication network; and a transmission system for transmitting the digital signals over the voice channel of the digital wireless telecommunication network.

10. A wireless financial transaction verification apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the wireless communication device is a digital cellular telephone.

11. A system for verifying financial transactions between a customer and a merchant, the merchant having a credit card verification terminal operable to receive data representing a financial transaction and encode the received data for transmission via a financial verification network comprising: a converter operably coupled to the credit verification terminal to accept the encoded received data from the credit card verification terminal and convert the encoded received data in a set of audio tones; a cellular communications device operably coupled to the converter for receiving the set of audio tones from the converter and transmitting the audio tones over a voice channel of a digital telecommunications network to a financial verification facility.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the set of audio tones have a frequency that is selected so as to avoid frequencies that are characteristic of human voice thereby minimizing interference with simultaneous voice traffic on the voice channel.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein the cellular communication device includes a a voice/data signal encoder/decoder (vocoder) operable to sample the set of audio tones and form a digital signal for transmission over the voice channel of the digital wireless telecommunication network

14. A method of verifying financial transactions comprising: receiving data representing a financial transaction at a financial transaction verification terminal; encoding the received data for transmission via a financial verification network; converting the encoded received data into a set of audio tones, wherein a first portion of the set of audio tones represents a first portion of the encoded received data and a second portion of the set of audio tones represents a second portion of the encoded received data; and transmitting the set of audio tones over a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.

15. A method of verifying financial transactions according to claim 14 wherein the set of audio tones includes first audio tones having a first frequency selected so as to avoid frequencies that are characteristic of human voice.

16. A method of verifying financial transaction according to claim 15 wherein the set of audio tones includes second audio tones having a second frequency selected so as to avoid frequencies that are characteristic of human voice.