CN1166902A - single use cell phone - Google Patents

Abstract

A cellular circuit system, comprising a disposable cellular circuit with a given number of metering pulses, wherein a device is provided for being controlled by a user to send a single activation code to a telephone exchange of a telephone line management bureau, wherein the telephone exchange recognizes the specific code of the disposable cellular phone and authorizes the cellular phone to access an applicable line, and in the applicable line only the given number of metering pulses can limit the call duration, thereby allowing the user to make one or more calls until the limited billing metering pulses end.

Description

single use cell phone

field of invention

The present invention relates to a cellular telephone system comprising a disposable type cellular telephone, since it is ready for use immediately after removal of the sealing device, and is pulsed by the telephone exchange for a limited number of billing times after operation (it contains in the purchase price) to access the appropriate line and then terminated by the exchange at the end of the billing pulse, so it does not require a prior use contract with the telephone carrier.

Background technique

Several types of cellular telephones are known according to operating capacity, operating time, signal power, weight, size and the like.

A disadvantage of all known cellular telephones is the need for a use contract with the telephone line authority for access to the telephone exchange responsible for allocating the communication lines.

A second disadvantage is the need to purchase a common cellular phone and pay the associated bill without knowing the amount of calls or lease a common cellular phone and return it when it is due.

Document GB,A,2262685 discloses a telephone system comprising a single use telephone.

Disposable telephones are intended for one-time use only and can only be used to contact an operator at a predetermined telephone number.

Contents of the invention

In contrast, the cellular telephone system of the present invention ensures a fixed price including a given billing unit and associated call charges. The cellular phone of this cellular phone system includes the same components as a normal cellular phone, but unlike the latter, it can be used for a limited period of time and can be discarded without hesitation after use without further payment.

According to the invention, the step of detaching the seal from the cellular phone and switching on the latter involves sending the identification code to the telephone line authority (by which it is possible to access the appropriate phone with a limited number of billing count pulses) with the appropriate protocol. line) to the telephone exchange immediately.

Brief description of the drawings

A further understanding of the invention, including a non-limiting example and preferred embodiments, may be obtained from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the picture:

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a single-use cellular telephone for use in a cellular telephone system;

Figure 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view similar to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cellular phone;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cellular phone;

Figures 5 and 5a are two perspective views of a fourth embodiment of a cellular telephone; and

Figure 6 is a block diagram of the main hardware of the cellular phone.

Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention

In a cellular telephone system, a single-use cellular telephone basically consists of:

A body made of one or more layers of cardboard or plastic or other suitable material to protect electronic components and accommodate non-rechargeable batteries;

An electronic circuit card that contains one or more layers and connects all the electronic components necessary for the operation of a radiotelephone, as well as keypads and electroacoustic transducers;

Make sure the cell phone is fully sealed before use.

Of course, the battery has sufficient charge to keep the single-use phone working properly for its useful life.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the front panel of the phone includes a power on/off (1), an alpha/numeric keypad (2), a headset (3), a microphone (4), an option display (5) and, for example, a tear-off sheet (pull- tab) type sealing effective device (6).

The tear-off seal is just one example of a possible mechanical protection that may be provided with a cell phone to protect the device from damage and accidental activation by knocking or inadvertent pushing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the disposable cellular telephone can only make calls, or only receive calls, or both. So during runtime after startup, the cell phone only has its own phone number when it is able to receive calls. Instead, it doesn't have to have its own phone number.

In the embodiments described above, the act of unsealing the cell phone causes the electrodes of the battery (7) to come into contact with the electrodes of the electronic circuit under the action of the spring force or the action of the user. After power up, an identification code with the appropriate protocol is sent to the telephone exchange. Upon receipt of said code, the telephone exchange provides a received signal to the cellular telephone and is connected to the determined telephone number during a limited number of billing count pulses. The billing count pulse may be used for one or more telephone calls authorized by the telephone exchange based on an identification code sent by the cellular telephone each time a call is placed.

Once the billing pulse or the lifespan of the single-use cellular telephone is exhausted, the telephone exchange deactivates the cellular telephone and renders it inaccessible to the telephone line. At this point the cellular phone can no longer be used and must be discarded.

If the cell phone is capable of receiving calls, the phone number may be assigned and stamped directly on the phone when the cell phone is manufactured, or assigned by the telephone exchange and notified to the user after the user powers up the phone for the first call on the assigned phone line .

A protection program may also be provided which disables the function of incoming calls in case of tampering attempts.

It should be noted that the electronic circuits, hardware and software of this single-use cellular phone (not described since they are all general and commercially available) are not the same as analog cellular phones used in communication systems such as those currently in use. E/TACS, AMPS and NMT used or developed) are compatible with digital cellular phones (such as GSM, PCN, PCS, DCS1800) and satellite UMTS.

The second embodiment (FIG. 3) provides a battery that is loaded on the back of the phone as is the case with most cellular phones. But this battery is not a rechargeable battery.

In this embodiment, the seal can be released after the battery is connected to the phone. For example: the battery (7) is provided with at least one protrusion (9) (which makes contact between the poles of the battery and the power supply circuit of the telephone), its terminal contacts are in a suitable sealing position, and is airtight when the battery and the telephone are connected for the first time Things are torn apart.

It is also possible to send a signal to the telephone about the counted billing ticks, by means of embodiment 3 it is possible to use a telephone card or a smart card containing a limited number of credit units. For this reason, in a third embodiment (FIG. 4), a cellular phone is provided with means capable of using these cards and with a battery having a longer service life.

In a preferred embodiment, the materials (and components) of which the single-use cellular telephone is constructed are low cost materials, and due to its short lifespan, the cellular telephone is maintenance-free. The body of the phone may thus be constructed of plastic and/or rubber containing non-detachable electronic circuits.

As can be seen from the above, this new type of cellular phone does not require a service contract with the Telephone Line Authority. Telephone lines are automatically allocated by the authority's telephone exchange for use during a limited period of billing time pulses when the telephone is powered on.

It should be noted that it is entirely up to the user to decide when to start using the cellular phone. To do this, he simply removes the seal of the phone and energizes the phone so that the telephone exchange can identify the phone by means of an identification code and activate the phone until the billing unit is exhausted after one or more calls.

Figures 5 and 5a show yet another embodiment of a cellular phone, in which the sealing means (6) consists of an opening and closing system similar to a cigarette box, in the closed position (Figure 5), preventing the opening/closing key (1) from being actuated.

Finally, see Figure 6, which shows a block diagram of all the main hardware of a cellular phone, where the means (6) sealing the cellular phone of the present invention is connected upstream of the power supply of the entire circuit so that it is impossible to power on the phone before the seal is removed.

Another alternative is to place the seal (6) such that the transmission system is closed until the phone is unsealed. In this case, it is impossible to send to the authority's telephone exchange the identification code absolutely required to access the telephone line.

The preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, but those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A disposable cellular phone system is characterized in that it provides a device (6) that is controlled by the user to send an activation code to the telephone office of the telephone line authority so that within a certain period of time and/or a certain number of billing pulses Allocate the line to the user within the range. 2. The cellular phone according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be used immediately by the user, and the selling price of the cellular phone includes certain billing and account opening fees. 3. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that no contract with the telephone line authority is required since the telephone line can be activated within a limited time of activation of the telephone. 4. A cellular telephone as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the cellular telephone is made of low cost materials and is provided with a non-rechargeable battery sufficient to ensure normal operation for the entire useful life of the telephone (7), and thus the cellular phone can be discarded after the expiration of the useful life. 5. Cellular telephone according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that said activation means (6) ensure that said battery (7) has never been used before by the user. 6. The cellular phone according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that said starting device (6) is such as a tear-off sealing system (6), which ensures that said cellular phone is integrity and protects the cellular phone from knocks and inadvertent pressing. 7. The cellular phone according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that said phone can use a phone magnetic card and/or a smart card (8). 8. A cellular phone as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the battery (7) is separate from the phone body and at least one protrusion (9) is provided which constitutes a Said activation means (6) can be introduced into a suitable recess of the phone body, whereby the seal closing said recess is removed. 9. A cellular phone as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that said enabling means (6) prevents the operation of the transmission system of the phone so that the phone cannot be used until the user removes the sealing means. 10. Cellular telephone according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that said sealing means (6) consist of an opening/closing system similar to that of a cigarette box, whereby in the closed position the telephone cannot be connected .

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