WO2012114142A1 - Mobile top-up using phone camera and 2d barcode - Google Patents

Mobile top-up using phone camera and 2d barcode Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012114142A1
WO2012114142A1 PCT/IB2011/000417 IB2011000417W WO2012114142A1 WO 2012114142 A1 WO2012114142 A1 WO 2012114142A1 IB 2011000417 W IB2011000417 W IB 2011000417W WO 2012114142 A1 WO2012114142 A1 WO 2012114142A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mobile
barcode
code
card
paper
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2011/000417
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Samuel J. ESSIEN
Original Assignee
Essien Samuel J
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Essien Samuel J filed Critical Essien Samuel J
Priority to PCT/IB2011/000417 priority Critical patent/WO2012114142A1/en
Publication of WO2012114142A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012114142A1/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M17/02Coin-freed or check-freed systems, e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
    • H04M17/026Constructional features
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/26Devices for calling a subscriber
    • H04M1/27Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
    • H04M1/274Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
    • H04M1/2745Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
    • H04M1/2753Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips providing data content
    • H04M1/2755Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips providing data content by optical scanning
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M17/02Coin-freed or check-freed systems, e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24Accounting or billing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • H04M2017/2506Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code input or reading
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • H04M2017/2506Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code input or reading
    • H04M2017/2525Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code input or reading optical code recognition [OCR], e.g. bar code reader
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • H04M2017/2537Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code reader
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • H04M2017/2537Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code reader
    • H04M2017/255Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code reader local at the terminal itself
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • H04M2017/2556Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code type
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/25Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code
    • H04M2017/2556Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code type
    • H04M2017/2568Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a code code type bar code

Definitions

  • a 2D barcode symbology basically includes the PDF417, DataMatrix, QR-code and Aztec barcodes that can be created depending on the kind of data that are encoded in them.
  • QR-Code is a kind of 2D (two-dimensional) barcode created by the Japanese corporation Denso-Wave (a division of Denso Corporation at the time) and released in 1994 with the primary aim of being a symbol that is easily interpreted by scanner equipment. Because of the built-in support for anj ' i encoding, QR- Code is widely used in Japan.
  • the QR is derived from Quick Response, as the code is intended to be decoded at high speed. QR-Code became popular for mobile tagging applications one of which will be discussed hereafter as an invention unique to this course.
  • QR-Code (2D Code) contains information in both the vertical and horizontal directions, whereas a bar code contains data in one direction only. Refer to Fig.l for 2D and ID barcodes. QR-Code holds a considerably greater volume of information than a bar code.
  • QR-Code is a 2D barcode symbology with very high data density. In practice up to several hundred bytes are encoded in a single symbol. Each dot in a QR-Code symbol represents a bit. In contrast to linear bar-codes which encode the information usually in the ratio of the bars or spaces to each other a QR-Code is more tolerant with respect to poor printing quality.
  • QR Code was developed 1994 by the company DENSO. Aliases of QR-Code
  • QR-Code is also known under the names Quick Response Code, QR-Code.
  • ⁇ Normative standards The normative standards for the QR-Code barcode symbology are named JIS X 0510 (Japan) or ISO/IEC 18004 (ISO International Standard).
  • QR-Code symbol can hold up to 7089 numeric characters, 4296 alphanumeric characters, 2953 bytes (binary data) or 1817 Kanji characters (character set according to JIS X 0208).
  • QR-Code offers a built-in error correction based on Reed-Solomon algorithms. The error correction level can be adjusted (supported levels are Low, Medium, Quartile, High). Depending on the error correction level it is possible to restore between 7% (Low) and 30% (High) of unreadable codewords in a QR-Code symbol without data loss.
  • QR-Code supports 'Structured Append'. Up to 16 QR-Code symbols can be concatenated. If a scanner or decoder supports this feature, it returns the concatenated data content in the correct order.
  • QR-Code printing quality To optimize barcode quality a QR-Code symbol should not be printed with dots smaller than 4 to 5 device pixels.
  • QR Code is mainly used in Asia (Japan) for automotive and logistic applications. Starting with 2006/2007 the QR Code is also in use in the areas of mobile ticketing , mobile marketing and business (e.g. Japanese business cards).
  • QR-Code can be used to encode specific URLs or ticket numbers: in a mobile marketing scenario, a QR-Code symbol is printed or displayed on products or marketing related material (like displays, magazines or web-sites).
  • a user can now scan and decode this QR-Code using a mobile phone with a built-in camera and suitable decoder software. After decoding the QR-Code symbol, the user is forwarded to product related web-sites or marketing campaigns as in Fig. 2. in a process called mobile tagging.
  • TEC-IT's Online 2D Barcode Generator 3GVision's 2D Barcode (i-nigma) Reader Software, QR-code 2D barcode, Nokia E63 Mobile phone, SIM card, Airtel GSM/GPRS Network (operator) and hand-held Mobile Barcode Display Device (a proprietary OEM device optimised for 2D barcode display) or Hi-Resolution Mobile phone (or Laptop).
  • First time execution Selecting and pressing the DIAL button of the barcode software when it is displayed on the mobile screen. A failed to connect message is received at first execution of this command.
  • SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURE a) For experiment purpose, a non-commercial 2D barcode software application called i-nigma by 3G Vision Inc., USA was directly downloaded via a mobile web and installed on an E63 Nokia camera phone series which converted it automatically into a 2D mobile barcode reader. To get the i-nigma barcode reader - there are 2 easy ways namely;
  • SMS - Text the word i-nigma to: +447797 882325 (or 07797 882325 in the UK). You will receive back an SMS containing a link to the i-nigma software download site. Download and install on phone following shown instructions.
  • Airtel Nigeria was adopted as the preferred Mobile Network Operator.
  • a N100 top up voucher card belonging to Mobile Network Operator was purchased from a local vendor and scratched to reveal a 16 digits valid voucher PIN and this PIN details were obtained and noted as shown below.
  • Network Operator Airtel Nigeria
  • QR-Code 2D barcode A summary of how the QR-Code 2D barcode was created are highlighted below.
  • Airtel Instant Top Up Code Sequence comprises of a 22-character keyboard code sequence as shown below.
  • the 2D mobile barcode reader e.g. E63 Nokia camera phone
  • the 2D mobile barcode reader was used to decode the content of the QR-code 2D Barcode Voucher back to the Instant Top Up Code Sequence by scanning the QR-code 2D barcode image displayed on the Mobile Barcode Display Device or on the PC screen.
  • the SAVE button could be selected to save the Top Up Code Sequence to the phone for onward transfer to other mobile phones or for future use.
  • the Instant Top Up Code Sequence Command of the mobile network operator was invoked to successfully Top Up the mobile phone's pre-paid account based on the following.
  • Mobile tagging phenomenon has evolved yet another new technique for mobile pre-paid subscribers to top up their pre-paid mobile accounts with a mobile network operator directly using the camera of their mobile phones and pre-encoded 2D barcode top up vouchers. This is achieved when the top up voucher PIN in the form of a 2D barcode is read, processed and executed according to the mobile operator's executable top up code sequence using the user's phone camera for convenience.
  • QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, Japan meaning quick response code.
  • MOBILE TAGGING - Is the process of providing data on mobile devices, commonly through the use of data (such as a URL, phone number, etc.) encoded in a two-dimensional barcode, meant to be read and inputted using a camera phone

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Abstract

Aim: To develop a new Mobile Phone Top Up Technique using the phone Camera as a 2D decoder to directly decode and execute a pre-encoded Mobile Top Up Voucher in the form of a 2D Barcode. Objectives: Generally, hitherto, mobile top up largely in our locality and even in most part of the globe is practised by scratching card or paper-based refill vouchers which reveals valid voucher PINs. This PIN is manually entered by a pre-paid subscriber on his mobile phone using a specific keypad command code sequence, which is a combination of a top up USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Services Data) code- prefix and the valid top up voucher PIN, unique to a mobile phone operator. It has never been convenient for any pre-paid subscriber, who for one reason or the other, could not top up at first attempt and needs to repeat typing these long unique numbers, maybe twice, thrice or even more to successfully top up. Above all, the cost of logistics, storage and distribution of card or paper-based refill vouchers imposes significant overhead costs for all affected mobile operators globally. However, a user can now scan and decode a top up voucher in the form of a QR-Code using a mobile phone with an in-built camera and suitable decoder software for mobile top up purpose. The following are achievable with the introduction of the 2D barcode media, (a) Drastic reduction on overhead cost relating to logistics, storage and distribution of card or paper-based refill vouchers for mobile phone operators, (b) Card or paper-based refill vouchers are replaced by 2D barcodes, thus eliminating the need for card or paper-based refill vouchers, (c) Consolidates operation "Go Green" campaign; an eco-friendly paperless solution, (d) Enhances convenience for subscribers during mobile top up. (e) Provides a new mobile top up experience for subscribers. Commercial Application of this Invention - Besides the conventional application of 2D barcodes in mobile tagging, it has been discovered from experimental procedures that these key elements in my invention also have huge untapped potential and relevance in the telecommunication industry globally. This value- adding innovation also could attract huge commercial benefits because of its cost saving tendencies for major operators and also the convenience it would bring to pre-paid subscribers, if deployed commercially.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:
A 2D barcode symbology basically includes the PDF417, DataMatrix, QR-code and Aztec barcodes that can be created depending on the kind of data that are encoded in them. For the purpose of my invention and the intended use, I adopted the QR-code symbology which can be countlessly created by a 2D barcode generator.
QR Code Overview
QR-Code is a kind of 2D (two-dimensional) barcode created by the Japanese corporation Denso-Wave (a division of Denso Corporation at the time) and released in 1994 with the primary aim of being a symbol that is easily interpreted by scanner equipment. Because of the built-in support for anj'i encoding, QR- Code is widely used in Japan. The QR is derived from Quick Response, as the code is intended to be decoded at high speed. QR-Code became popular for mobile tagging applications one of which will be discussed hereafter as an invention unique to this course.
QR-Code (2D Code) contains information in both the vertical and horizontal directions, whereas a bar code contains data in one direction only. Refer to Fig.l for 2D and ID barcodes. QR-Code holds a considerably greater volume of information than a bar code.
QR-Code Classification
QR-Code is a 2D barcode symbology with very high data density. In practice up to several hundred bytes are encoded in a single symbol. Each dot in a QR-Code symbol represents a bit. In contrast to linear bar-codes which encode the information usually in the ratio of the bars or spaces to each other a QR-Code is more tolerant with respect to poor printing quality.
History of QR-Code
QR Code was developed 1994 by the company DENSO. Aliases of QR-Code
QR-Code is also known under the names Quick Response Code, QR-Code. Technical Data
Normative standards: The normative standards for the QR-Code barcode symbology are named JIS X 0510 (Japan) or ISO/IEC 18004 (ISO International Standard).
Data capacity: A single QR-Code symbol can hold up to 7089 numeric characters, 4296 alphanumeric characters, 2953 bytes (binary data) or 1817 Kanji characters (character set according to JIS X 0208).
The default character set is JIS-8/Shift-JIS, which corresponds to ECI 000020. Other character sets are possible by using different ECIs. Error correction: QR-Code offers a built-in error correction based on Reed-Solomon algorithms. The error correction level can be adjusted (supported levels are Low, Medium, Quartile, High). Depending on the error correction level it is possible to restore between 7% (Low) and 30% (High) of unreadable codewords in a QR-Code symbol without data loss.
QR-Code supports 'Structured Append'. Up to 16 QR-Code symbols can be concatenated. If a scanner or decoder supports this feature, it returns the concatenated data content in the correct order.
QR-Code printing quality: To optimize barcode quality a QR-Code symbol should not be printed with dots smaller than 4 to 5 device pixels.
General Application Areas of QR-Code
QR Code is mainly used in Asia (Japan) for automotive and logistic applications. Starting with 2006/2007 the QR Code is also in use in the areas of mobile ticketing , mobile marketing and business (e.g. Japanese business cards).
Depending on the application, a QR-Code can be used to encode specific URLs or ticket numbers: in a mobile marketing scenario, a QR-Code symbol is printed or displayed on products or marketing related material (like displays, magazines or web-sites).
A user can now scan and decode this QR-Code using a mobile phone with a built-in camera and suitable decoder software. After decoding the QR-Code symbol, the user is forwarded to product related web-sites or marketing campaigns as in Fig. 2. in a process called mobile tagging.
APPARATUS:
TEC-IT's Online 2D Barcode Generator, 3GVision's 2D Barcode (i-nigma) Reader Software, QR-code 2D barcode, Nokia E63 Mobile phone, SIM card, Airtel GSM/GPRS Network (operator) and hand-held Mobile Barcode Display Device (a proprietary OEM device optimised for 2D barcode display) or Hi-Resolution Mobile phone (or Laptop).
PRECAUTION:
The following precautions were observed in the course of this experiment to arrive at the desired result, although some of the precautions here observed during the experiment will no longer be tenable after the 2D barcode reader software has been technically modified into a dedicated mobile top up software. a) The PNG file format was adopted because of its intrinsic light-weight property, thus suitable for storage in smaller disk or memory space even in large quantities and its HTTP transfer rate duration during download is significantly short; implying fast download on GPRS terminals. b) After decoding the encoded Instant Top Up Code Sequence with the mobile phone, it was ensured that the Instant Top Up Code Sequence Command was executed 3 times in quick succession to successfully top up the mobile phone.
First time execution: Selecting and pressing the DIAL button of the barcode software when it is displayed on the mobile screen. A failed to connect message is received at first execution of this command. Second time execution: When the first execution fails, the instant top up code sequence will be automatically saved on the phone's dial or call log which you must locate. Next, pressing the phone's dial or call key opens the phone's dial or call log to reveal the top up code sequence.
Third time execution: Since the instant top up code sequence is the first item on the list, pressing the phone's dial or call key again successfully executes the Instant Top Up Code Sequence command.
SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURE: a) For experiment purpose, a non-commercial 2D barcode software application called i-nigma by 3G Vision Inc., USA was directly downloaded via a mobile web and installed on an E63 Nokia camera phone series which converted it automatically into a 2D mobile barcode reader. To get the i-nigma barcode reader - there are 2 easy ways namely;
I. On the mobile web - Go to www.i-nigma.mobi on your mobile. I-nigma will automatically identify your handset type, so you download and install the i-nigma barcode reader following shown instructions.
II. By SMS - Text the word i-nigma to: +447797 882325 (or 07797 882325 in the UK). You will receive back an SMS containing a link to the i-nigma software download site. Download and install on phone following shown instructions.
Note: The i-nigma software and services are free for personal use. b) For the purpose of this procedure and clarity, Airtel Nigeria was adopted as the preferred Mobile Network Operator. In a typical case, a N100 top up voucher card belonging to Mobile Network Operator (Airtel) was purchased from a local vendor and scratched to reveal a 16 digits valid voucher PIN and this PIN details were obtained and noted as shown below.
For example: Network Operator: Airtel Nigeria
Voucher Value: N100
Voucher PIN Code: 3973389404560503
c) The N100 Airtel top up voucher PIN code obtained in step b) above was manually keyed-in in combination with the Airtel's unique Instant Top Up Code Sequence and a scannable QR-code 2D barcode equivalent to a card or paper-based N100 Airtel Top Up voucher as shown in Fig. 3 was encoded and generated automatically. No Special training or technical skills was required. The QR-code 2D barcode was created automatically, copied and saved on a PC in a PNG file format using a non-commercial online barcode generator by TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH, Austria before it was transferred manually in the same format into a Mobile Barcode Display Device (an OEM device optimised for 2D barcode display).
A summary of how the QR-Code 2D barcode was created are highlighted below.
To create a QR-Code 2D barcode from a free online barcode generator, the following steps must be taken.
I. Go to http://barcode.tec-it.com/barcode-generator.aspx?LANG=en
II. Click on "Mobile Tagging" button category then input some barcode parameters online to create a QR- Code 2D barcode. For the purpose of my invention, the following barcode parameters were applied. Barcode Type: Select QR - Code > Select Dial a Phone Number
Data: Enter *126*3973389404560503#
Fore/Back Color: NIL (blank)
Module Width: 1.5mm - Select [mm] > Enter 1.5
DPI/Output Type (format): Enter 100 > PNG
Rotation: 0°
III. Click on "Generate Barcode" button.
VI. Right click on the barcode image generated, copy and paste the image in a folder or on the desktop, then open for scanning.
Airtel Instant Top Up Code Sequence comprises of a 22-character keyboard code sequence as shown below.
For Airtel Nigeria Mobile Network Operator;
Instant Top Up Code Sequence = *126*...[16 digits Voucher PIN Code]...#
= *126*3973389404560503# d) As shown in Fig. 4, the 2D mobile barcode reader (e.g. E63 Nokia camera phone) was used to decode the content of the QR-code 2D Barcode Voucher back to the Instant Top Up Code Sequence by scanning the QR-code 2D barcode image displayed on the Mobile Barcode Display Device or on the PC screen.
The same desired results were obtained reading the same QR-code 2D Barcode saved and displayed on a PC/laptop screen and on a separate supported mobile phone with screen resolution of 300ppi. Please see Fig. 5 for schematic drawing. e) Depending on the featured options of the 2D decoding software application on the mobile phone, the SAVE button could be selected to save the Top Up Code Sequence to the phone for onward transfer to other mobile phones or for future use. The Instant Top Up Code Sequence Command of the mobile network operator was invoked to successfully Top Up the mobile phone's pre-paid account based on the following.
Airtel Instant Top Up Code Sequence Command = *126*...fl6 digits Voucher PIN Code]...# Press SEND/OK
= *126*3973389404560503# Press SEND/OK
Please note that mobile phone SEND, OK and DIAL key commands all have the same meaning.
Based on the SAVE and DIAL unique functions of the 3GVision's 2D Barcode (i-nigma) Reader Software Application in Fig. 4(B), pressing the DIAL button during the session executes the Airtel Instant Top Up Code Sequence Command afore-mentioned and mobile phone is successfully topped-up with the N100 worth of airtime as indicated in Fig. 6.
CONCLUSION:
Mobile tagging phenomenon has evolved yet another new technique for mobile pre-paid subscribers to top up their pre-paid mobile accounts with a mobile network operator directly using the camera of their mobile phones and pre-encoded 2D barcode top up vouchers. This is achieved when the top up voucher PIN in the form of a 2D barcode is read, processed and executed according to the mobile operator's executable top up code sequence using the user's phone camera for convenience. GLOSSARY:
"QR Code" is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, Japan meaning quick response code.
XML - extensible Markup Language
GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications
JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group
PNG - Portable Network Graphic
HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol
PDF - Portable Data File
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service
SMPP - Short Message Peer-To-Peer Protocol
IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission
MOBILE TAGGING - Is the process of providing data on mobile devices, commonly through the use of data (such as a URL, phone number, etc.) encoded in a two-dimensional barcode, meant to be read and inputted using a camera phone
URL - Uniform Resource Locator
PPI - Pixel Per Inch
DPI - Dot Per Inch
PC - Personal Computer
2D - Two Dimension
AIM - Automatic Identification Manufacturers International standard
JEIDA - Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association
JIS - Japanese Industrial Standards
ISO - international Standard Organisation
POS - Point Of Sale

Claims

1. It is practicable to convert all camera mobile phones running on all leading mobile operating systems and platforms namely java, S60/UIQ, Windows Mobile, iPhone, Brew, J2ME™, Brew™, l-Mode™ Doja, Palm OS™, Symbian™, Andriod and WAP into 2D barcode readers by installing a customised 3rd party 2D decoding software application unique to this invention for mobile top up purpose.
2. The PIN of a valid card or paper-based Mobile Top Up Voucher of a particular denomination belonging to any mobile operator offering this service can easily be converted by a barcode generator into a readable 2D barcode and still retains its original denominational value.
3. Any mobile phone that supports the customised 2D decoding software application of claim 1 would successfully top up its mobile account with the specific airtime value of a 2D barcode of claim 2 above by reading or decoding the 2D barcode medium based on a user's guide.
4. In commercial deployment for the telecom industry, a mobile phone operator would require at the back- end a dedicated web server which provides a 2D barcode generator web-service unique to a proprietary web application of claim 2 and claim 5.
5. In relation to claim 4, this would be interfaced with the operator's voucher PIN generator for feeding the 2D code generator with arbitrarily generated voucher PIN in XML format for unlimited barcode creation.
6. For online real-time transactions, only hand-held GPRS-enabled POS Mobile Barcode Display Devices (an OEM device optimised for 2D barcode display), which shall be my proprietary devices, that have subscribed to the web application server would support the 2D barcode request and display service.
7. These unique 2D barcodes can also be displayed on Hi-Resolution Mobile Phones (or Laptops) or other mobile devices with Hi-Resolution screens and even on the hand-held GPRS-enabled POS Mobile Barcode Display Devices in offline mode.
8. This invention supports drastic reduction on overhead cost relating to logistics, storage and distribution of card or paper-based recharge or refill vouchers for the mobile phone operators.
9. Card or paper-based recharge or refill vouchers are replaced by 2D barcodes, thus eliminating the need for card or paper-based recharge or refill vouchers.
10. It consolidates the operation "Go Green" campaign; an eco-friendly paperless solution.
11. It enhances convenience for prepaid subscribers during mobile top up because the top up PIN in 2D barcode form is decoded by the camera phone and executed by the barcode software on the phone instantly in a mobile tagging process.
12. It provides a new mobile top up experience for prepaid subscribers.
PCT/IB2011/000417 2011-02-25 2011-02-25 Mobile top-up using phone camera and 2d barcode WO2012114142A1 (en)

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9432525B2 (en) 2013-08-07 2016-08-30 Dat The Lu Methods and systems for top-up
US9894216B2 (en) 2013-08-07 2018-02-13 Miltech Platform, Inc. Methods and systems for telecommunication messaging and real-time replenishment systems
IT201600105794A1 (en) * 2016-10-20 2018-04-20 Qui!Business S R L Dematerializable voucher system and payment method using high security vouchers
US10229303B2 (en) 2013-12-20 2019-03-12 Cognex Corporation Image module including mounting and decoder for mobile devices
US10591906B2 (en) 2018-03-14 2020-03-17 Morris Controls, Inc. Manufacturing environment management system
US11356543B2 (en) 2013-12-20 2022-06-07 Cognex Corporation Image module including mounting and decoder for mobile devices

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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