CA2083515A1

CA2083515A1 - Cellular telephone system with remote programming, voice responsive registration, and real time billing

Info

Publication number: CA2083515A1
Application number: CA002083515A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Charles Gregory Amadon; Rick F. Combest; David M. Stanhope; Cameron Scott Elliott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Asensus Surgical Inc
Priority date: 1990-05-22
Filing date: 1990-10-06
Publication date: 1991-11-23
Also published as: AU6716990A; AU7997291A; WO1991018467A1; WO1991018468A1; US5673306A

Abstract

Method and apparatus for use in a mobile telephone rental system in which credit card information is communicated from mobile telephone units (100); communicating data between the mobile telephone unit (100) and a Voice Response System (302) for the purpose of customer registration and mobile telephone unit (100) remote programming of mobile telephone unit (100) features and NAM and mobile telephone unit (100) supervision; communicating data between the Voice Response System (302) and a Registration System (304) to obtain mobile telephone unit (100) information and customer credit card validation; communicating data between the Registration System (304) and a credit card clearinghouse (306) to obtain customer credit card approval or decline; communicating data between the Registration System (304) and a plurality of Collector Systems (307) for the purpose of call rating and billing; communicating data between the Registration System (304) and an Administration System (309) for the purpose of providing rated call information to the reseller of the rental mobile telephone business; and communicating data between the mobile telephone unit (100) and an Indirect System (303) for the purpose of establishing service in cellular areas without Collector System (307) service. Data read from the mobile telephone units (100) are placed in variable length, encrypted and error protected Packet Data Units (PDUs). Commands are transmitted between the components of the System using PDUs.

Description

WO 91/1X415- 2 0 ~3 c) 3 ~ ~ Pcr/l Is90/0s736 Cross Reference to Related Application This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Patent application 07/527,136, entitled ~Real Time Cellular Phone Rent;al Syst~n and Methocl," filed May 22, I990.

8ACKGRO~ND OF THE ~VENTION
Field of the Invention This lnvention relates genera~y to mobiie radiote~ephone systems and speciffcally to the method and apparatus used in a system installed in rental vehicles, utilizing a computer sys~em tor credit card approval, ca}l monitonng, call rating, and billing Desc~i~tion of the P~iot Art Widespread mobile telephone unit sesvice enablff large numbers o~
u~ers to have cellular mob~le ~e}ephone ~enrice in their vehicles. To prot~ide ~his ser ~ice in rental vehicles or t~> o~lter public transpot~ation 20 services such as ~axi cabs, limousines buse~, and tailroads, certain issues must be addres~ed by the entiti~ pro~idin~ ~e ser~ice; the ttanstnission of voice me~sage~ through the mobi~e ~elephone unit to the cus~omer ~o obtain ctedit card information as put of a registration process; the acti~ation and deactivation of the mobile telepiume untt, based on a 25 customerls approYed or de.nied credit: ~he ac~dtion and deactivation o~
the mobile telephone, based on ~ omer ~ ~nshes; the super~ision o~
the mobile telephone unit as i~ pertains ~ cellular sys~em iden~i~ica~ion cellular air~ime lim~ts, and cellul~r ser~icé ~reas outside of ~he said ser~ice; the supervi~ion of incomin~ c~115 to ~he mobilé ~e~éphone unit;
30 and ~he billing of ~ cus~omer s accumul~ed cellular airtime~

Prior sys~ems us~d for supere~islon ot mobile telephon~ un.lts in rental vehicles, as disclo~ed in U.S. Pa~en~ Na~ 76,003; ~,;77~;
4,831,647; and 4,880,3~1, ha~e emplo~ credit card actuatable mobil~
3~ telephone uni~s - that is, mobile ~eleph~ne units with a ma~netic s~ripe readers. A cus~omer must n~n a cre~ c;ard ~hrough the ma~net~c stripe ., W091/18467 20835~ '- PCI/l'S90/05736 _.
-reader so the aedit card may be identified. A call is then placed, through the mobile telephone unit, to a registration system which calls a aedit card clearinghouse for credit card validation. If there is no reason for service to be denied, the mobile telephone unit is ac~v~ted for the customer to make o calls until he turns off the vehicle's ignition or turns off the mobile telephone unit's power, Data with respect to customers' ca}Is a;e conventionally s~ored on nine track compu~er tapes in Automa~ed Message Accounting (AMA) forrnat. These AMA tapes are sent by ~he ce~iular service reseller to a service bureau and processed so the rese~er may receive the billirlg information needed, The ser~ice bure~u sends ~he billing inforrnation on nine track data tapes ~typical}y in up ~o a month s tlme), which the reseller receives and uses to bill customers.
I;
The disadvantages of this mode o~ operation are shared by the customer, the cellular ser~ice reseller~ and ~he rental vehicle owner the c~tomer must n~ipe his credi~ ca-d ~hrough the unit ag~in when he turns off and again turns on the ~ehicle s igni~ion ot Ihe mobite ~elephone uni~'s power and the customer recei~ no teceipt for his or her transactions at the end of the mobile ~elepllone ~enrice; ~he celJular sen~ice reseller must wait up ~o ~ days to recei~ e ~he ~illin~
information s~ored on the reseller ~apes; and :he ren~al vehic~e owner loses money on the ins~alled mobil~ ~elephone llnit in~es~men~ b~cause ~he mobile telephone uni~, equipped wi~h ~he magnettc stripe reader~
canno~ be sold wi~h the vehicle so equipped~

~ummary of ~he In~enti~n One object ~nd feature of ~he présen~ m~en~ion is to pro~ide billin~
~; 30 information to a reseller in relll time. ~lo~nn~ ~he reseller ~o bill on a daily basis. Billing da~d is a-~lable far r~ip~s a~ s~n as ~he cus:omer ends the mobile telephone uni~ senfice.

Another object and feanlre of ~he presen~ in~en~ion is to provide a 3S way for the customer to continue ~o use ~he mobile ~elephone uni~ when WO 91/1~46/ - ~ ~Q ~ PCI/US90/0:~736 , the power to the vehicle or to the mobile telephone unit has been turned off and turned back on, without re-initiating the registration process.

Another object and feature of the present invention is to allow the 5 customes to provide credit card inior~Lation such as credit card number and expLration date through the mobile telephone unit without a magnetic stripe reades This type of mobile telephone unit may be readily converted to a mobile telephone unit programmed to function outside ot the rental market, enabling the rental ~ehic~e ot~mer to sell the mobile 10 telephone unit with the ~ehicle. The convenion ~akes place through remote programming of the mobile telephone unit by a touch tone transport system.

Ano~her oblect and feature of the presen~ invention is to pro~ide l; and maintain speed dialing capabili~es ~o the mobile telephone uni~.
Speet dial nurnbers are prograrnmed into the mobile ~elephone unit remotely, through a touch ~one transport sys~ern~ Chang~ng and adding speed d~al nurn~ers also occurs throu8h tl~i~ re no~e programming.

Another ob~ and fea~ure o~ the presen~ inven~ion is ~o progr~m a mobile telephone unit's lock c~de remo~elt,f. This occur~ o~fer ~he t oice channel through a touch tone transport s~n~em.

Accordingly, ~hese and o~ objec~ ~nd fe~tures are achieved b~.f the presen~ invention, which encomp~ ~ met~od ~nd appata~us used in a sys~em installecl in ren~l vehicles, utilizing ~ compu~er svstem ~o contact a credit catd cleanng house tor credi~ c~rd approval. and utilizin~ a computer s$~slem to monitor c~lis. ~o r~le calls, ~nd ~o bill c~lls in real timè. The cus~omer en~et~ aedi~ casd inlonnatton ~hrou~h 3 voice prompted regi~tration pto~e~. ~et crecli~ i~ appro-~ed tot a predetermined amount, the c~t~n~r 1~ ptompted to en~et d si~t di8i~
personal acti~ ation code which supenfi~ ~cc~s to the mobUe tdephone unit. Each time the vehicle is turned oif and on, the customer mu~t enter his penonal act~vation code to unloclt the mobile telephone UtUt thereb~
allowing him to make and recèive cails.

WO 91/1X467 2 0 8 3 a ~ ~ pcr/l'S90/0'/36 , _ . ~

The customer's caLlls are rated by the system and the rated call information is shipped in real tirne to a computer system responsible for creating billing drafts to be submitted to the customer's credit card provider, 8illing may be generated on a daily basis.
-When the rental vehide agency e~entually sells the vehicle and theinstalled mobile tPlephone uni~, a pTOCeSS iS islitiated in the said systern to convert the mobile telephone unit to a mobile telephone uJut programmed to function outside the rental market. A mobile telephone 10 unit control bit in ~he mobile telephone unit's Numeric Assignment Module ~NAM) controls the status of the mobile telephone unit. Through remote re-pro8ramming of the .~'A.~ he mobile telephone uni~ is converted to function outside ot the presen~ invention.

I; lhe above and o~her objects, feanutes, and advantages of ~he presertt invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of certain pte~'erred embodiments ~hereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying dra~vin~s.

Brief Descr4!~
FlG.1 is a schematic diagram showing the path of a c~l made on a mobile telephone uni~ ins~alled in a vehicie.
FlC.2 is a diagram of a ~ypical ins~ia~ion of a mobiie ~elephone uni~ in a ~rehjcle, - 2; FlGS.3a, 3b, and 3c are a compa9i~ biocit dhgr~m ~howing ~he in~eraction of componen~s in ~ s~em go~nin~ the use of mobile ~eléphone uni~s ins~alled in rental ~etlicles.
FtG.4 Is a block diag;rarn of ~he tr~scei~er~lo8ic un~ ot ~he mobile lelephone ~ni~ u~ in prac~ce of the pren~ in-ention~
FIC.S Is a ~me dia8r~m of ~ P~ck~ ~ Uni~ used in communica~ions be~ween the mobile ~el~!phone uni~ and ~he componen~s used in prsctice of ~he ptesen~ in~ on~
FlCS.6a and 6b are a c~mpo~ ~ er~n~itiun ~iaRram showing ~he states and sta~e changes ~ha~ occur when ~e mobile ~elephone unit s 35 power is acti~a~ed and the cus~omer initi~ regis~ration ptocess.

wo 91/1X46 2 ~ 8 ~ 5 ~ ~ PCT/I!S9o/05736 ,, s FIG.7 is a state transition diagram show~ng the Packet Data Unit exchange occurring when the mobile telephone unit is programmed for speed dialing numbers.

FIGS.8a and 8b are a comp~site state transition diagram showing the states and state changes that occur when the customer cc~ntinues through a complete registration process.

FIGS.9a and 9b are a composite state transition diagram showing the states and state changes tha~ occur when the customer moves into a new cellular senrice area and dials a number.

FIGS.10 and 10b are a composite state transition diagram showing the states and state changes that occur when the airtime meter in the mobile telephone unit expires and the customer attempts a call. This diagram outlines the sta~es and state changes tha~ occur when the customers credit is appto~ed for c~ntinued mobile telephone unit use.

1~ FIGS.11a and 11b are a composite sta~e transition diagram showin~

the states and state changes that occur when the customer receives credi~

denial after attempting to make a call.

PlGS.12a and 12b are a compod~e sta~e transition diagram shol~nng the states ant state changes that occur when the customer attempt~ to make a call in a ~ellular sennce are~ ~ntl~out Collector S~stem sennce.

FlGS.13a and 13b are a compasite 5~a~ tr;ansition dia~rarn showing the states and sta~e changes thal occur when ~he cus~omer attempt~ to make a call in a cellular service atea no~ q~pped ~or prac~ce oi ~h~

presen~ in~ention.

~, 25 FlGS.14a and 14b a~ a compo~i~e s~ ton diagram ~howing ~he states and state changes that occur when thæ cus~omer tecei~s an incoming call in a cellular ser~ice ,uea ~n~ou~ Coliector Syslem s~ice~

FlGS.1Sa and lSb are a compa~te St3~! tr;u~t~on dia~ram showtn~

the states and state ch~nges th~t occut when ,~ mobile telephone uni~ Ihat 3n is progr~mmed ~o operatè ~g patt of the p~aent in~entlon is con-~e ted ~n a moblle telephone unl~ ptogram ned fa~ ndud ceilular u~e.

~escrtgtion of the Pr~fe~red Embodimen~

A greatly simplified illusttation o~ ~he general opera~ion o~

conventional cellular mobile ~elephone ser ice - a standard path o~ a WO9~/1846- PCl~l,'S90/05736 2~35 ~ ~

cellular mobile telephone unit call - is shown in FIG.1. A mobile telephone unit 100 is installed h a vehicle.

The mobile telephone unit user m~lces a call w~thin radio transnussion and reception range of a oell site 101 which includes a fixed radio receiver and transmitter, ~11 the cell sites belon~ng to a particular cellular system are connected together at a Mobile Telephone Switching Office ~hITSO) 102, which ties them into a conventional iand line telephone sys~em.
Thw, tlle mobile telephone user's call tra~els through a cell site 101 to a MTSO 102 to a Public Switched Telephone ~;etwork (PSTN) 103. The PSTN is responsible for linking the call made on the mobile telephone unit to a standard, land line telephone 10~

The mobile telephone uni~ 100 mta~ns components that supervise ~o its operation, FIC. 2 is an illustration ot a rppical, conventional installation of a mobile ~elephone uni~ in a ~ehicle The antenna 200 is necessary for the mobile telephone uni~ lOO Io transtnit and receive signals from a cell site 101. The ttanscéi~ter/lo~pc unj~ 201, typically installed In the ~ehicle's trunk, is ~he core oi ~he mobile ~elep~lone unit 100. The transcei~et/logic unit 201 is a radio t.tansmi~r ~nd recei~er tha~
communicate~ with the equipmen~ a~ a cell s~te 101 to es~ablish ~
connection, to determine ~he radio fre~2uenàes u~ed for ttansmjssion and reception, and to coordinate trar~ts ~rom one ceil site 101 to another detailed diagtarn of a ttanscei~et/logic uni~ us~ble in ptacticé ot the present invention is FtG. ~.

The handset 203 m~y be cornp~red ~o ~ tecei~er ot a standa~d. Iand line telephone 104 as it used io~ ~ialin~ ~d rel:ei-~in~ calk~ Ex~ernall~.
the mobile telephone h~ndse~ 203 is of ~ con~t~ on comentional per se, such as shown and desaibed tn The Cel~ul~r Connéctton.' b~ los~t Bern~rd, publishe~ by Qudnlum Publi~hin~ tnc. of Mendocino~ C~
(September 1987), a~ p~ges 85.

The mobile telephone unit user lif~s ~hé h~ndset 203 and spe~ks or leaves the handset 203 in the hang up cup and presse~ a key on the h~nd~e~ 203 for hands~free con~ersa~ion. The control he;ad 20~ issues comm~n~s ~o J 3 1 ~) WO 91/1~46- PCr/US90/05736 , .

the other components of the mobi}e telephone unit 100 and to the equipment at a oell site 101. The control head 204 is connected to the transceiver/logic unit 201 by the contro} cable 204. The power souroe 206 supplies power to the mobile telephone un~t 100. The vehicle's battery is typically used as the power source 206 of the mobile telephone unit 201.
The power source 206 is connected to the trans~ver/logic urut 201 by the power cab1e 205.

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c diagrarnmatic~lly show communication paths 10 between the S~stem components ot the present invention. A customer initiates a registration process ~r press ng ~rs on the mobile telephone unit 100 The call is routed throu8h the ceE~ular switch 300 located in the MTSO 102. The cellular switch 300 routes the call to the PSlN 301. The call i9 recognized by the PS$'N 301 as a c~ o the Voioe Response System 1; 302 The Voice Response System 302 ~s a compu~er system that supervises the registration process by sending ~foice me~ges to the mobile telephone unit 100 ant communicating ~ he kegisna~ion System 304 throu~h a local area network 308 The Re~tra~on Sy~m 304 is a compu~er s~rs~em re~lponslble for storing info~mdtion abou~ ~11 of the mobile telephone 20 units 100 utilizlng the presen~ in~ tion. T~e Registradon System 3W
also is responsible for communicating wi~h a aedi~ card cleann~ house 306 to obtain the csedit card ~ erific~tion nece~ for registration. The Registration System 30~ communsca~es with credi~ card cléarin~hous~ 306 through a wide area networlt 305 and cotnmuruc~tes ~nth ~he o~er 25 System components ~hrou~h a local arei~ ne~work 30 The Collector 307 depicted in F~G3b i~ one of a pluri~ity o~
~ollectors in ~he pre~en~ inventionr~ S~n~em network. T~e Collecton 307, located ~ Os 102 in mapt cdlular m~rke~. monitor and rate calls 30 made by cus~omet~. The ra~ed call inior~na~on i~ ~hipped ~i~ a wite area ne~work 305 to the Regis~ralion Sys~e~n 30~. The Re~tra~ion S~em 30~
add~ any applic~ble ~xes ~o the ra~ed cal~ inform~tion and ~hen ~nd~ the inhrmation to the Admini~tr~tion Sy~tem 30~. Billin~ and mo~ile telephone unit 100 managemen~ is ~.he func~on of ~he Admini~ on 35 Sys~em 309, which b de~aibed in mote detail in copenting U~S. P~ten~
application 0~/52~,136, en~itled ~Re~l Time Cellul~r Phone Ren~al S$~slem wo 91/1~46- 2 0 8 3 a 1 S PCr/l,'S90/05/36 "-and Method," filed May 22,1990. The Ad ninistration System 309 receives billing and other types of data from the Registration System 304 periodical~y, e.g, every night. The Admir~stration System 309 is used to print billing and credit dra~ts which are sent to customers' credit card 5 providers.

The Indirect System 303 is a computer system used for call switching, call monitoring, and call rating ~n ceilular service areas without Collector Systems 307, In cellular senrioe are~c ~nuhout ~ollectorç 307, 10 calls are routed through the cellular switch 300 and the PSIN 301 to the lndirect Systern 303 through inc~ru;ng trun~t lines 314 from the PS'lN 301.
The inco~s~ng trunk lines 314 send ~he c~ o the Private Branch Exchange ~PBX) 312 inside the Indirect Sys~em 303 ~co:lung calls are routed ~rom the PBX 312 incung trunlc lines 314 ~o the ~ndirect Voice Respo~
1~ System 310 through incommg trunk iines 316 ~etween the PBX 312 and the Indirect ~toice Response System 310. The Indirect Voice Response Systern 310 is responsible for sending packet data units (PDUs) to the mobile telephone unit 100; these PDUs con~ain data necessary for mobile telephone unit 100 operation. lhe call ~s th~n routed from the PBX 312 20 through the outgaing trunk lines 315 ~o the PSTN 301, then the cellular svntch 300, and to the cus~omer's mobile ~elephone uni~ 100. Ca~ls are monitored and rated by the lndirect Collec~or 313. The Indirect Collector 313 funcdons much in the same way ~s ~he Collec or 30~ - ra~ed caU
information is shipped ~ia a ~ide are;a ne~ork 305 ~o the Re~ps~;ation 25 Sys~em 304. The Registra~on Srstem 30~ ~dds an,y applicable taxes ~o the ra~ed call informa~ion and ~hen sends ~he ~;~orrn~ion ~o ~he Administra~ion System 309. The ~mi~us~ra~ion S$~stem is ~e~cribed in more det~il in copending U.S Pa~en~ ~ppli~a~ion ~7~52~,t36~ en~i~le~ ''Ke~l Time Cellular Phone Ren~l Sys~em and ~e~ho~ file~ ~tay ~ t~.
In otder far a mobile ~elephon~ uni~ 100 ~o opera~e in ~he Sys~em o~
~he present invention, i~ i9 specifically programmed for this func~ion~
~IC. ~ illustrateg the pro~rammed ~ran~c~rer~logic unl~ 201 in ~he mobile ~elephone unit 100. This ptogtamming ~s necessan~ 50 ~he mobile 35 telephone unit's 100 functions may ~e t~motely con~rolled by the ttoice Response Sys~em 302.

wo ~ 46~ 2~g~31 5 Pcr/~lsgo/0~
.,j ",.

telephone unit's 100 functions may be remotely controlled by the Voioe Response System 302 As showrl h FIG. 4, the transceiver/logic unit 201 comprises a S Central Prooes8ing Unit (CPU) 400 which con~rols all the functic~s in the mobile telephone urut 100. The Data Bus 401 u ~ed to trans~rut data between the CPU 400 ant the ~anous de~ices it communicates with, suc~

as the Dl~ encoder 403, D~ decoder ~, and the wide band data processor 405. (DlMFs - Dual Tone Modulating Frequenaes, are defined 10 below ) The control signals 402 are decoded signals from the CPU 400 and are used to control the variow hmctioru of the audio switch 406, handset 203, wide band data processor 405, and radio 407 ll~e DTMF encoder 403 is used by the CPU 400 ~o send ~:YIl!.ll: digits ~o the Registration Sys~em 3W

by pas~ing them through the audio switch 406 and then out the outgoang l; autio path 408 ~o the radio 40~. ~e D}~F encoder 403 is a~so used to genera~e DlMF di~its during nonnal mobile telephone unit 100 opetation~

The DTI~ decoder 404 is wed by the CPU 400 ~o receive DTMF digi~ irom the ~oice Re~pon~e System 302 or the tndirea Sys~em 303 ~na the incomlng audio path 408 to ~he tadio 407 and ~uLlio swl~ch 406. The 20 DTMP decodet 404 is u~ecl onl~r when the mobile ~elephone uni~ 100 is communicating wi~h ~he ~Joice Response Sys~em 302 or ~he tndirec~

Sys~em 303 The w~de band da~a ptoce~sot ~05 scnd~ ~nd recei- e~ ~he di~i~al 25 control da~a using ~sndard cellul~r pto~ocols~ This da~d is used by ~e mobile ~elephone unit 100 ~nd th~ cellul~r ~em ~o control ~e no~mal operation of the mobile ~elephone UIU~ 100. The audio s~n~ch ~06 i9 use~d ~o con~rol which devices ~re cl rTenuly allowed ~o eceive ~nd tTan~mi~

da~a ~a the radio 407. The r~dio ~0~ is ~ rd multi-channel cellular 3n transceiver The audio path ~OJ ate the conn~c~ons be~ween ~he audio swi~ch 406 and the orig~na~ions and des~in3~ions o~ audio da~

Packet Data Uni~s ~PDUs~ ue u~ed in traNmission~ between ~he mobile telephone urut lO0 and the ~oice Response Sy~tem 302 and 35 between the mobile telephone uri~ lO0 ~nd the Indirect System 303. A

diagram of the structure of a PDU is Fl~. S P~Us S00 consis~ Ot sequences W0 91t184~7 2~3~ PCI/US90/0~736 ,~
. -- . .

of Dual Tone Modulating Frequencies (DTMF~ characters. DTMFs are tones in the center of the normal telephone arcuit frequency band - they are the tones that are heard when dialing using a touch tone telephone.
Dl~s are used in vanous sequences to create PDUs 500 that the System S components recognize as comrnands. The characters in the DlMF
alphabet are A, B, C, D, zero l0), one (1), two (2~, three (3), four ~4), five (5), SL~ (6), ~en (7), eight (8), nine (9), pound Icey (#), and star Icey (-).

PDUs 500 are identified by the Dl~F character C at the start of the 10 PDU and the Dl~F character D at ~he end of the PDU. In the PDU
structure, the DT~ charaer C is known as the 8e~nning of PDU ~aOP) 501 and the DTMF character D is known as ~he End of the PDU (EOP) 506.
When a component in the presen~ invention receivff the BOP 501 it collects all of the follo~nng Dl?~IF characters until i~ receives the EOP 506.
15 If no EOP 506 is transmitted, all D~lF charac:ers prior to the next BOP 501 are discarded by the said System componen~. In PDU 500 transmissions.
more than one bOP 501 at the beginning o~ ~he transmission is allowed.

Each DTMF charaer ~etween the BOP S~ll and the EOP S06 20 represent PDU 500 information. The sequence of the characters is not impor~ant and may vary. The P~U sao con~ains a length field th~ con~in DTMF characters that represent the length of the P~U 502. l~e Ieng~ is all of the DTh~ characters in the PC)U excluding ~he 80P 501, ~he EOP 506.
and the length character(sl S02~ The P~U ~00 also contains the DT~
25 character identify~ng the type of Pt)U sa3. This may ~e one of l I Pt)U 500 types. All necessary data D'll~F ch~u~nen ~re ~hipped after the t~pe of PDU 503 and are located in the O~ta field S04 of the PDU SOO~ The Dl~
character B is used lo ~eparate edch ch3racter m ~he Data field S04. ~he checksum SOS is the error detection ~ue~ th~ he chec~-un SOS
30 determ~nes If the PDU tran~mission wa~ ~ucce~ful or no~. l~t~

t~eriflcatlon occurs a~ the PDU SOO ~e~in~tion~ tf ~etification is unsuessful, transmission is attemp~e~ IWo mote ~imes. rhe checksurn algoritlun is ~he addltion of dLII bytes. Includ~ng ~he length S02 up ~o the checksum SOS. The sum is converted ~o a Dl~MF decimal value WO 91/1f~4~ 3 j 1 ~i PCl/l'S90/05736 ::"- i' The list below shows each PDU 500 type and the Dl~ character that identifies each PDU 500 type.

DTMF character Type of PDU
A Synchronize O Connect Request Connect Confirm B Phone Registra~ion 2 Audio Control 3 Phone Con~ersion or ~erminating Phone Conversion4 Disconnect R~uest Speed Dial 6 Voice Response System Registration 9 Ac~nowledgement l;
Each DTMF character has a value Below is a list of the ~alues assigned to each t)TMF character.

DTMF character Value la # 12 C 1~
D tS

The companen~s and ~he componæn~ mæ~hod o~ c~mrnunication in the System of the pre~en~ invention h~ing been defined. ~he iollow~ng 30 descrlbe~ the Interac~don~ ween ~id com~nent~ occu~ng in the said S~stem from the proce~s of cu~omer re~tr~on tn~t~l reg~tratlon FtCS. 6~ snd 6b show the P~U 500 tr~nsmissiorls occumng during 35 initial commur~cation between the mobile ~elephone unit 100 ~nd ~he Voice Response System 302. lhe cust~rne~r rents a vehicle w~th an wo 91/18467 ~ 5 Pcr/l~S90/0~736 ~_ installed mobile telephone u lit 100 programmed to operate within the said System. Before the customer tu~ns on the vehicle's ignition, the mobile telephone unit 100 is in the power off state 600. When the customer turns on the vehicle ignition, the mobile telephone unit moves into the power on state 601 with tlbe miaophone, speaker, and keypad teactivatet. Once the mobile telephone unit 100 is in the power on state 601, it receives a radio signal from the oell ~ite 101 servidng the cellular system area where the vehicle s located. E~rery oellular servioe area is shared by a nonw~ire1ine camer and a wireline carrier. The nonwireline 20 carrier is a cellular service carner tlhat t~pica~ly has no involvernent in providing land line telephone sernces- this carner operates on the poffion of the radio frequency spec~um known as the A B~nd The wireline carrier is a cellular sertice camer that is also involved in p-oviting land line telephone service- this c~rner operates on the ~5 portion of the radio frequency spectrum known as the B Band.

The radio t~ransmission to the mobile ~elephone unit lOO l~rom ~he cell sile 101 identifie~ the Sys~em Identific~tion (SItO of the mobile telephone unit 100. The mobile ~elephone urut receives the SlD s~a~e 602 20 and mo~es into an idle state 603 until the custom~r presses the send (SND) key on the mobile telephane unit lOO ke~pad. The cus~ome~ is given in~ormation abou~ t~Ee said Sys~em and the registration process in the said System on instruction sheets p~aced ES~ the ren~al vehicle The customer is instructed to press t~e ~(one) ke~ and the send IS~l)l ke~ ~o 25 initiate the re~stration prooess; ho~ever~ ~ny digi~s pressed prior ~o ~he send (SND) key with exception ~o l(one~. are i~noted by the mobiie telephone un~ 100 which con~jnues the in~tiai P~t~ 500 transmission.
The mobile ~elephone uni~ 100 is pro~rammed to contact the ~foice Response Sys~em 302 when the cus~mer ptesses ~e ~end ~SND) ke~ The 30 mobile telephone ur~t 100 dial~ the 1-800 number fo- the ~oice R~ponse System 302 on the b~nd it is cunent~y re~st~re~ on - either the ~ 8~nd or the B 8and state 604. U this dhl ~tternpt i~ils the mobile telephone u~ut 100 attempts to connect the calî on the other b~nd~ state 605. tf this dial a~tempt also fails the mobile teleph~ne utut lO0 en~en an idle ~t;ate 603 35 until the customer presses the send (5L~tl)) ke~ again~ When the dial wo ~1/1x4~ 3 ~ Pcr/~sso/0~736 attempt to the Voice Response System 302 is successful, the call connects, state 607, and the Voice Response System receives the call, state 608.

The Voioe Response System 3~2 then sends the Synchronize PDU, state 609. If the Synchronize PDU does not transnut within 30 seconds of cos~nection, shte 607, a time out ou~ that causes the mobile telephone un~t 100 to ent c~mmunication w~th the Voie Response System 3Q2.
When the mobile telephone unit 100 receives the Synchronize PDU, s~ate 610, it sends the Coru~ect Re~uest PDU, state 611. The Connect Request 10 PDU identifies the encryption key and the p-o~ocol ~he mobile telephone unit 100 is using. Encrypting the PD~-s ns~res the data security. The eslcryption key is sent in the Connect Rectues~ Pl)U and the key i5 used bv the ~toice Response Systesn 302 to decode all of the Pl~Us It receives following the Connect Request PDU. If the 'Joice Response Systern 302 I; does not receive the Connect Re~ues~ P~U w~thin lO seconds of transmission of the Synchronize Pl~U, sta~e 609, ~he ~toice Response System sends the Synchronize PDI~ again. up tv two more times. U ~he transmisslon is sdll unsucce~ful, communica~ion ends.

When the Voice Response S$~stem 302 receives the Conn~.t Re~uest PDU, state 612, the Voice Resp<)nse Sys~em 302 send~ the Connect Confi-m PDU, s~ate 613. The Connect Cc~irm PDU ,~nd ~ny other P~U con~aining da~a is enc~ypted The mobile ~elephone uni~ 100 recei~ he Connecs Confir n PDU, state 6~4 and send~ the Phone Re~ ration PI~U, s~e 61S.
llle Phone Registration PDU con~ains in~onnation about ~he mobile lelephone unit 100 such as ~he h~obiie tden~ification ~Jumber (~, Electro uc Serisl Numb~r ~ESN~, ~nd other identify~ng information. The Voice Response System recei~es the Phone Re~stra~ion P~U, s~a~e 616 and request~ further ~nce infornu~tion .~bou~ the mobile ~elephone unit 100 from the Registsation Sy~em 304, ~a~e 61~. The Regi~tration Sy~tem 304 locat~ the record of the phone in Its d~t~ base and sends more sen~ice informatlon infonnation to the Voice Respotue Sy~tem 302. st~te 6t8~ The mobile ~elephone unit 100 is prep~red ~o proca~ any Pt~U tha~ may be transmi~ed subsequen~ly. The PD~ ransml~ted iollowin~ the Phone 3S Registration PDU depends on the con~en~s oi ~e Phone Re~is~ ion Pt~U.

wo g~ 46/ 2 ~ ~ 3 3 ~ ~ PCr/~lS90/0~736 FIG. 7 illustrates the PDU transmission occurring if the Phone Registration PDU contains information indicating this mobile telephone unit 100 must be programmed for speed dial capabilities. The Voice Response System 302 sends the Speed Diai PDU to the mobile telephone S unit 100, state 700. The Voioe Response System 302 only enters state 700 when the mo~ile telephone unit 100 needs to ~e prograrnmed for new or modified speed dial numbers. The mo~sile telephone unit 100 receives the Speed Dial PDU, state 701, and sends an Ac~now1edgement PDU, state 702, to the Voioe Response System 302. An Aclcnowledgernent PDU is sent to 10 confi~nl that the Speed Di~l PDU was received and processed by the mobile telephone unit lOa. If the Voice Respornse Sys~em 302 does not receive an Acknowledgement PDU ~nthin 10 seconds Ot Speed Dial PDtJ' transmission, state 700, the Voice Response System 302 sends the Speed Dial PDU, state 700, up to two more times.
When a new customer is reEps~ering for the fisst time, the registration process continues from Speed ~ial Pl~U tsansmission illustrated in FIG.7 or, if Speed l~al Pt)U ~ransmission is unnecessary, the registration process continues from the ~'oice Response System~s 302 20 reception of the service is~formation ~rom the R~istration Syste~n 30~, state 618. FICS 8a and 8~ depict ~he continua~ion of the re~istration pr~cess from state 618.

From state 618, the Voice kespo~e Srs~em 302 sends the Audio 25 Control PDU, state 800, to the mobile tele~hone unit 100. The mobile telephone unit 100 eceives the Audio Cont~oI P~U and turns on the speaker ant ke~rpad, sta~e ~01. The mobile ~elephone uni~ 100 then sends an Acknowledgemen~ P~U, state 802. ~o the Voic~ Respon~e S~sIem 302. If the ~oie Response System 302 daes no~ rec~ve an Acknowledxement 30 PDU from the mobile telephone unit 100 with~n tO seconds c~ the tr~nsmission of the Audio Cont~ol P~U. ~ e J00~ the ~Joice Response Sys~em 302 t~ansmiu ~he Audio CantroI Pt)U. s~a~e 800 a~ain. up IO two more times.

When the ~toice Respons~ SYStem 3a~ re~eives the Acknowledgmen~ PDU, st~te 803. it pla~ oice mess~ge ~h~ough the WO 91/1~ 3 ? ~ PCI/l'S90/05736 mobile telephone unit 100 for the customer to enter c~edit card number, credit card expiration date, and a lock code - this is state 804. The customer enters the credit card number and expiratiQn date through the keypad on the handset 203 of the mobile telephone unit 100. This information is received by the Voice Response System 302, which ships the information to the Registration System 304 for credit card validation, state 805. The Registration S~t~n 304 contacts a credit card clearinghouse 306 through a wide area network 305. After rec~vizlg aedit card approval or decline, the Regis~ation System 304 sends this infarnutiQn to the Voioe Response System 302 The ~toice Response Svstem 302 receives the credit card approval/decline, state 806 and compi~es ~he information in~o a PDt~
called the Voice Response System Registration PDt,'.

The Voice Response System 302 sends the tloice Response System Registration PDU, state 807, ~o ~.e mobiie ~eiephone unit 100. Lntonnation regarding csedi~ cart approval o~ dedine is containecl in the ~Joice Respo~ue Sys~ern Regist~ation Pl)U aind because of this, the customer ma~
tlseonnect ~he communication between the mobile telephone uni~ 100 and the Voice Response Systern 302 withou~ losin~ ~aluable iniormation 20 If aedi~ was approved, disconne~ion a~ this poin~ causes the mobile telephone uni~ 100 ~o enter s~ate 817 wh ch is reprogramming the lock code ~o be itentical to the one the customer selected, reprograrnmin~ the Sys~em Identificat~on ~Sll)) ~nd c~rrier i~ necessarv and unloc~ing t~
credi~ was dec-lined, disconnec~ion causes the mobile ~elephone unit 100 to 25 enter state 817 ~c well, the difference ~eing that it reprograms the locl~ co~de so the customer canno~ access sen~ice. it repto~rarns the S~D and carrier ii necessary, and it locb~

However, if the customer doe~ no~ disconnect communication, 30 PDU transmlssion continues~ The mol~ile telephone unit 1Q0 recei~es ~he Voice Response System PDU and sends an Acit;nowledgrnent POU, s~a~e 809, to the Voice Response 5~tem 302~ he Voice Response S~stem 302 does not rec~e ~n Acknowledgement POU within lO seconds oi the transmission of the ~Joice Response S~fstem Xegistration POU. state 807, 35 the Voice Response Ss~stem 302 ~nsmits ~he Voice Response Sys~em Registration PDU, state 807 again. up ~o ~wo more times~ The Voice IC V t~ . 3 WO ~ 46 / PCT/US90/0~736 ~_ Response System 302 receives the Acl~nowledgement PDU state 810. If credit is declined the Voice Response System 302 plays a voioe message through the mobile telephone unit 100 telling the customer that the credit card information was invalid and that the customer shoult try again later To re-initiate the registration process the customer mwt again press the 1 (one) key and then the send (SND) Icey on the handset 203. If credit is approved the Voice Response System 302 plays a voice message to the ~stomer than3cing him for his bushess state 811. Upon completion of the thanlc you voice message the Voice Re~ponse System 302 sends a 10 Disconnect Request PDU state 812 to ~e mobile telephone unit 100 ~lle mobile telephone unit 100 receives the Disconnect Request PDU state 813 ant sends an Acknowledgemen~ PDU state 814 If the Voice Response System 302 does not receive an Acknowle~gernent PDU from che mobile telephone unit 100 within 10 seconds of crans~ission of ~he Disconnect l; Request PDU s~ate 812 the Voice Response Sys~em 302 trar~rnils the Disconnect Reques~ PI~U s~a~e 812 again. up to two more times When the Voice Response System 302 re~ei~e~ the Acknowledgement PDU ~ta~e ~15 i~s communication with the mobile 20 telephone unit 100 is complete for ~he re~s~ration process Upon ~ransmlssion o~ an Acknowledgemen~ Pl)tl. s~ate 81q ~o ~he ~oice Re~pon~e System 302 the mobile telephone uni~ 100 ends cornmunication with the Voice Re~ponse Syslem 302 in s~a~ ~16 nle mobile ~elephone unit 100 uses inforrnation it recei~ed during the re~istration procl!ss to 25 program the lock code re-pro~r;~m the Sll~ and carner if neces~ nd unlock. The mobl1e ~elephone uni~ urns on i~q ~peak~r. m~aophone.
and ke~rpad state 818 to aJlow ~he c~u~omes ~o m~e dnd receive calls~

New ~ ce ~a re-reg~tntion When a customer en~ets 1~ new ce~lu~ r ser~ice uea the 5~ nd carrier for ser~ce chD~nge This ch~nge mu~t be regis~eted in ~he System The customer is ~lerted to the change in the cell~lar ~ervice arei~ b~ a fl~shlng roam ligh~ on ~he mobile telephane u~st 100 hand~et 203 The customer must make a call befote he can tecei~e calb in the new ~nrice 3S area Maklng a call initiates a re~registration pro~ess that re8i~t~rs the ~U~J31~
wo 91/lX46, Pcr/~sso/0~736 customer with the new SID and carrier. ~his reregistration process is detailed iSI FIGS. 9a and 9b.

As depicted in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the customer dials a number in the 5 new cellular senrioe area, The mobile telephone unit 100 and the Voice Respo~ue Syst~n 302 exchange the initial PDUs such as the Synchronize PDU and the Connect Request PDU - t;his exchange is detailed in FIGS. 6-and 6b from stat~ ,08 through s~a~e 613. Transnussion of the Phone Registratlon PDV, state 900 is different from ~he said new customer 10 registration in that the Phone Reg~s~ation P~U contains data indica~ing that this registration is a new ser~rice area reregistration. The mobile telephone unit stores the digits the customer dialed, state 901 as it transmits the Phone Registration Pl)U, s~a~e 900, 50 the customer's call may be connected when new senrioe area rereg~stration }s complete.
I;
The Voice Respon~ System 302 rece~es the Phone Registra~ion PDU state902 and requests servia~ ormation from the Re~stration S~rstem 304 state 903. llle tJoice Response Sys~m 302 reoei~e~ this infonna~ion from the Regisuation S~stem 30~ s~ate 904. The ~oice 20 Response Syslem 302 then sends an Audio Control PDU state 9051O the mobile telephone unit 100. The mobile telephon~ unit 100 receites the Audio Con~ol PDU and turns on it~ speaket state 906. The mobi~e telephone unit laO then sends an Acknowiedgement PDU state 907. ~o ~he Voice Response System 302. If the ~toice Respo~ue Sys~em 302 does no~
25 receive an Acknowledgement PDU Irom the mobile telephone u~ut 100 within 10 seconds of transmission of the Audio ContTol P~U. state 905 the Voice Response System 302 trans~nits ~he P.udio Control P~U. state 905 again up to two more times When the Voice Response Sy~tem 3aQ teceive~ the Acknowledgment PDU st~te 908 it pla~n ~ ~ce me~ge th~ough the mobile telephone unit lO0 inscruc~ng the custamer to wait whi~e the call is being connectect state 9~9~ At the comple~on of the ~oice me~ge Ihe Voice Response System 302 send~ a ~toice R~ponse System Re8istracion PDU contain~ng the new SID and carnet int`orma~ion s~ate 9~0- i~
reeeived this inforrnation from the Re~istration Sys~em 304 while in state ~u ~
WO 91 /1 8467 PCI /l 'S90/05736 _ ~.

904 The mobile telephone unit 100 receives th~ Voice Response System PDU, state 911, and sends an Acknowledgernent PDU, state 912 to the Voice Response System, state 913 If the Voioe Response System 302 does not receive an Acknowledgernent PDU from the mobile telephone unit 5 100 within 10 seconds of transmissia¢l of the Voioe Response System Registration PDU, state 910, the Vaice Res~rae Syst~n 302 transnuts the Voice Re~ponse System Registration PDU, state 910 again, up to two more times When the Voice Response System 302 re~eives the Acknowledgement PDU, state 917, its communication wi~h the mobile telephone unit 100 is complete. t~pon ~ans~nission of an Acknowledgement PDU ~o the ~Joice Response System 302, state 916, the mobile telephone unit lOO ends commw~ication ~nth the Voice Response System 302, state 918 The mobile telephone unit 100 uses the information it received to re~pro~am the SIO and carner. The mobile telephone uni~
100 turns on its speaker, microphone, and ke~piad, s~ate 920, ~o allow the cwtomer's call to be connec~ted The mobile ~elephone uni~ ~OO or the Voice Respor~e S$~s~em 302 then connect~ the cwtomer's call, s~ate 921~ The Voice Response S~stem 302 determ~nes whether the mobi~e tdephone ~it 100 or the ~oice Response Sys~em 302 should connec~ the cus~om~r s call, s~a~e g21. tf ~hæ
customer has entered an are~ hout CoUec~or 307 ser ice, ~he ~oice Response S5~stem 302 connects th~ cus~omer ~ c~ll in order to ~oid transferrlng the call to the Indisect Sy~em 303. If ihe cwtler i~ in an area wlthout Colleetor 307 ~er ice, hi~ ~ubffqu~nt c~lls are connected.
monitored and ra~ed by the Indirect S~tem 30~ U ~he cwtomer h~
entered an ~rea wi~h Collector 307 ~er ice. ~he mobile telephone unit 100 connec~s the call A~me meler expir;~thn te~tr~t~on Each mobile ~elephone unit 100 ~ equ~pped wi~h an urtime me~er that calculates the amount oi aittime being u~ The mobile ~elephone 3S unit 100 may be p~ogsammed ~o teco~ni~ ~ cettain amount o~ airtime a~

Wl) 91/1X4~ O ~ 3 5 1 3 PC r/l !s90/05736 being an airtime meter limit. When a customer exceeds the airtime meter limit, he must re-register in order to set the air~me meter back to zero (0).

The main difference between new senrice area registration and 5 airtime meter expiration registration is ~at the airtime meter expiration registration re~uires that the cus~mer's cedit card be approved again. If the credi~ card the customer used to re~ster cann~t be approved again, the airtime meter expiration involves custo~ner snterac~ion through the mobile telephone unit 100 wst~ the Voice Respor~e System 302. The 10 customer is required to submi~ a new aed~t card number for approval if he wishes to continue his cellular ren~al sennce.

The customer is alerted to ~he air~me meter expiration by a flash~ing roam light on the mobile telephone u~u~ 100 handset 203. The customer 15 must complete the air~ime me~er expiration registration before he can receive calls. The airtime meter expsra~son ~e~istration is irutiatecl when the customer presses the se~td ~ key on ~e handset 203. FICS.10~ and lOb illustrate the airtime me~er e~piration re~pstration. The cust~ner attempts to malce a call, or ssmply pres~es the send (SND~ key ~he mobile 20 telephone un~t 100 and the Voice Resp~nse Sys~em 302 exchange the initial Pl)Us such as the Synch-onize P~t~ ~d ~he Connect Reques~ PDU -this exchange is detailed in FtCS. 6~ and 6b ~tom s~a~e 608 through 613 The Phone Regis~ra~ion Pt:)U con~ains da~ indica~}ng tha~ ~his 25 registration is a airtime me~er e:l~pir;-tion r~istr~tion. The mobile ~elephone unlt stores the di~pts ~he cw~omer di~led, if any, s~e 1001, as i~
trangmits the Phone Registra~ion P~U, s~te 1000, so ~ha~ ~he cus~c~met s call may be connced when air~ime meter expira~ion reRistra~}on is complete.
The t~oice Response System 302 reee~ he Phone E~e~str~tion PDU, state 1002, ~nd requests ~er-~ice infonn~tion from the E~egistsation System 30~, s~ate 1003. The reques~ f~r senrice indudes a teques~ for credi~
card approv~l. The Rexistra~ion S~s~em 30~ con~cts ~ credi~ catd 3S clearinghouse.

WO 91/1X4~ 3 a :j PCI/US90/0~736 The Voice Response System 302 sends an Audio Control PDU, state 1004, to the mobile telephone unit 100. The mobile telephone unit 100 receives the Audio Control PDU and tun~s on its spealcer, state 1005. The mobile telephone unit 100 then sends an Acknowledgement PDU to the Voice Response System 302, state 1006. If the Voioe Response Systein 302 does no~ receive an Acl~nowledgement PDU &om the mobile telephone unit 100 within 10 seconts of Audio Cantrd PDU transmission, state 1004, the Voice Response System 302 transmits the Audio Control PDU, state 1004 again, up to two more times.
1~
When the Voice Response Systesn 302 receives the Acknowledgment PDU, s~ate 1W7, it p}ays a oioe message through ~he mobile ~elephone uni~ 100, instructing the customer ~o wait.

As soon as the Registration Sys~em 304 re~eives credit card approval/deciine, s~ate 806, from the credit c;~d deannghouse, i~ sends this information to the Voice Response S~s~em 302 . The process of PDU
transmissions ben~een the ~toice Respor~e System 302 and the mobile telephone uni~ 100 are different if c edit is d~ined. FlGS. 11~ and llb 20 detail the process when credit is declined. s~e 1009.

When credl~ i5 approted, s~a~e lO10, the Voice Response System 302 compiles this information into the Voice Response Sys~em Registra~on PDU and sends this PDU to the mobile telephone un~t 100, state 1011. The 25 mobile ~elephone unit 100 recei~es the Voice Response System Registration PDU, state 1012, and ~mds ~n Acknowledgemen~ P~t t, s~ate 1013. lf the Voice Respor~e Sy~tem do~ not tecei~ve an Acknowled~ment PDU from the mobi~e ~elephone uni~ tOO within lO seconds of ~tojce Respon~e Sys~em Registration P1)U ~on~ st~te 1011, the ~oice 30 Respon~e System 302 ~nds the ~oice R~pon~e S~n~em PDU. st~te tOtl ~g~in, up ~o ~wo more times~

When the ~toice Re~ponse S5~em 302 receives Ihe Acknowledgement P1~U, s~a~e 10~ send~ ~ Di~connect Reques~ P~U, 35 st~te 1015 ~o the mob~le telephone unil 100 The mobile ~elephone uni~
100 recei-~es the Dbconnect Reques~ P~ s~a~e 1016 ~nd send~ ~n wo 91/1~46/ 2 0 8 3 5 ~ ~ PCr/l,'S9OtO5736 Aclcnowledgment PDU, state 1017, to the Voice Response System 302 If the Voice Response System 302 does not receive an Acknowletgement PDU from the mobi3e telephone unit 100 within 10 seconds of Disconnect Request PDU transrnission, state 1015, the Voioe Response System 302 5 sends the Disconnect Request PDU, state 101; again, up to two more times.

When the Voice Response Syst~rn 342 reoe~ves the Acknowletgement PDU, state 101~ s communication with the mobile telephone unit 100 is complete. Upon trans~ission of an lO Ac~nowledgement PDU, state 1017, ~o the Voice Response Sys~em 302, the mobile telephone unit 100 ends cornmur~ication with the Voice Response System 302, state 1019. The mobile telephone uni~ 100 resets the air~me meter to zero ~0), state 1020. The mobile ~eiephone unit 100 turns on its spealcer, microphone, and keypad, state 1~1, so the customer's call may 15 proceed The mobile telephone ~ laO or ~e Voice Response System 30 then connects the customer s call, state 1022.

The '~Joice Re~ponse System 302 determines whether the mobile telephone unlt 100 or ~he Voice Res~nse Sys~em 302 ~hol~ld connect ~he 20 customer's call, sta~e 1022. I~ the ~toice Response Sys~em 302 has the dialed digits and can make ~he connec~ion quickl~ toice Response Sys~em 302 connects the call. O~herwise, ~he mobile ~e3ephone uni~ 100 connects Ihe call The process ~or credi~ dec~ine, s~a~e lO09~ during an ai~ime ~e~er expiration re8istration in-/ol~ obt~ing new credi~ card infon~tion from the customer. As depiaed in FIG.ll~, ~he Voice Response Sys~e~m 302 recei~es sen~ice informa~ion from ~he Regis~ation Sy~em 3U ~nd credit card decllne, state 1009. The ~foice Response Sys~em 3~Q ~ends an Audio Control P1~U, ~tate llO0, to ~he ~obUe ~elephone unit lO0~ The mobile ~elephone un~t 100 recei~e~ ~he Audio Cont;rot Pl)U ~nd nlrns on the speak snd keyp~d, ~t~te llOl. The mobile ~elephone uni~ laO sends an Acknowled~nen~ PDU, s~a~e 1102~ ~o conf`lsm that the Audio Cont~ol PDU wa~ rece~veci. If the ~toice Response Sy~tem 302 does not receive an Acknowledgment Pt)U from the mobi~e ~dephone uni~ 100 withirl lO
seconds of Audio Control PDU transnussicm, s~a~e 1~00, the ~toioe WO 91/1~46/ 2 ~ 8 3 5 1 ~ PCr/US90/05736 Response System 302 sends the Audio Control PDU, state 1100 again, up to two more times.

When the Voice Response System 302 receives the 5 Aclcnowledgement PDU, state 1103, it phys a voioe message through the mobile telephone unit 1aO prompting the custu~s to enter a new credit card number, credit casd expisa~ion date, asld a loclc code, state 1104. When the Voioe Response System 302 recei~es cedit card information from the cu~tomer through the mobile telephone unit 100, the Voice Response 10 System 3n2 requests credit card ~alidation ~rom the Registration Sys~em 304, state 1105.

The Registration Sys~em 304 con~ac~ a csedi~ card clearingho~e to obtain cretit card approval or tecline. If credit is declisled, this registration 15 fails ant the mobile telephone unit locks. ~he customer must press the I
~one) key and the send ~SN~) key on the keypad o~ the mobUe telephone unit 100 h order to initiate a new re~3pstra~on process.

I~ credit is appro~ed, state 1106, the ~t~ce Response Sys~em 31X2 20 compile~ thi~ Wot nation into the ttoice Re~pon~e Sys~em Registration PDU ant ~nds It, state 110'7, ~o the mobile ~elephone uni~ 100. The mobile telephone unit 100 recei~es the ~1oice Respon~e System Regis~ra~an POU
state 1108 and sends an Acknowledgement POU st~te 1109~ to the Voke Response System 302. If the Voice R~pon~e System 302 doe~ not tecei~e 25 an Acknowledg~nent PDU irom the mobile telephone unit 100 w~thin 10 seconds of Voice Response Sy~tem Regi~ tion P~U transmi~ion ~a~e 1107 the Voke Rapon~e Sy~tem 302 ~nd~ the ~/oice R~pome S~tem Regjstratton PDU ~a~e 1107 aRair,. up ~o ~wo more time ~

When the ~Joice Re~pon~ Sy~ 2 receit~e~ ~he Acknowledgemen~ PDU~ s~ate 1100 it ~nd~ ~ Di~connect Reque~t PDU.
state 1111 to the mobile telephone unit 100. The mobile telephon~ u u~
100 recei~e~ the Dbconnect RQquQst P~U ~t~te ~112 and ~end~ ~n Acknow1edgment PDU sta~e 1113~ ~o the ~ ice R~POtYIQ S~n~em 3~2. U
3S ~he ~Joice Response Sys~n 302 doQ5 not tecei~OE an AcknowIedg~nen~
PDU from the mobile ~elephone uni~ 100 within l0 seconds of Oi~connect w~9~ 467 ~a83~ Pcr/lisso/0s736 Request PDU transmission, state 1111, the Voioe Response System 302 sends the l~isconnect Request PDU, state 1112, aga~n, up to two more times.

When the Voice Response Sys~em 302 reoeives the Acknowledgement PDU, state 1114, ~ts communication with the mobile telephone unit 100 is complete. Upon tr~ of an Acknowledgement PDU, sh~e 1113, to the Voice Response System 302, the mobile telephone unit 100 ends co~unu~ucation with the Voice Response System 302, state 1115. The mobile ~elephone unit 100 resets the airtime meter to zero ~0), sta~e 1116. ~he ~wbiie telephone unit 100 turns on its speaker, microphone, and keypad s~ate 1117 so the customer s call may proceed The mobile telephone ~ 100 or ~he Voice Response System 302 then connects the customer s call, sta~e 111 The Voice Response System 302 determines whether the mobile telephone un~t 100 or the Voioe Respon~e Sy~em 302 should con~ect the cwtomer's call"ltate 1118. U the ~oice Response S~rstem 302 h~s the di~led digi~s and can make the cor nec~on quic~y, the Voice Response System 302 connects the caU. Otherwise ~he mobile ~elephone unit 100 connects the call.

M~n8 calls In ue~ without Colle~tot S~te~ ser~tc~
CaLls made ~n an area wit~out a CoLtor 3~? may be ~ced by ~he 2; lndirect System 303. When a cus~o~r rq~ter~ in an ~re~ withou~
Collector 307 servlce, the nonnal regi~t~ration p~oces~ occurs~ ~he only difference is tha~ the calls made a~ter tegsstra~on is complete ar~ ra~ed by the Indirect System 303 instead o~ ~ Collect~r 3~7 When a reglstered customer ~n~ke~ ~ c~ll in ~n uea wtthou~ ~
Collec~or 307, a process of P~U tr~nsrru~ion occun that ~llows ~he c~ o be coru~ected ~nd ra~ed by the Indit~ S~tttn 303~ FtCS. 12~ ~nd Ub illustrate this proce~. Initially, the mobile n!lephone unit 100 i~ idle. s~ate 1200. When the c~tomer makes 3 I;~ he nwbile telephone ~it 100 dlals and attempts to connect ~n the S~nte~s- on which it w3s registeréd, state 1201. If this dial attempt fails. s~ate U~2, the mobile telephone unit wo 9~ 46- PCr/usso/o~
2083~ t ~ ;

100 reverts to the idle state 1200. The customer must dial again. If the dial attempt is successful it connects to the Indirect System 303 state 1203.

l~e Indirec~ System 303 rece ves the call state 1204 and sends the Synchronize PDU state 1205 to the mob~e telephone unlt 100. If the Sync}~onize PDU does not tran~it sua~sh-lly w thin 30 seconds of connec~on state 1203 a time out occuss that causes the mobile telephone unit 100 to end comrnunication wi~h the Ind~ect System 303.

The mobile telephone unit 100 receives ~he Synchronize PDU state 1206 and sends the Connect Request Pl:)U state ~07 to the Indirect System 303. The Indire System 303 recei~es ~he Connect Re~uest PDU
state 1208 and sends the Connect Confirnl PDU s~ate 1209 to the mobile telephone unit 100. If the mobile telephone uni~ 100 does not recei~e the 15 Connect Confirm PDU within 30 seconds oi the transrnission of the Connect Request PDU state 1207 the mobile telephone unit 100 sends the Connect Request PDU state 1207 again. up to two more times.

When the mobile telephone unit 100 receives the Connec~ Confitm 20 PDU state 1210 it sends the Phone Re~stra~on PDU state 1211 to ~he lntirect S~stem 303. If the Indirect System 30B does not recei~e the Phone Registsation PDU within 10 seconds of ~he ~ ussion of the Connect Confinn PDU state 12~9 the lndirect Sys~em 303 sends ~he Connect Confinn PDU state 1209 aga~n up to two more titnes.
~;
When the Indirect S~stern 303 r~cei~fes ~he Phone Regists;~tion PDU
sta~e 1212 it send~ sn Audio Con~rol P~U. state 1213 to ~he mobiIe telephone unlt 100. The mobile te~ephone uni~ 100 receives the Audio Contsol Pt)U state 1214 and ~&nd~ an Ac~owled~ement POU. ~ e 12t5 30 ~o the Ind~rect System 303. If the Indirect S~em 303 does not receive an Acltnowledgement PDU within 10 s~cond1l o~ Audio Control P~U
transmission st~e 1213 the lndirect Stn~an 303 send the AudioControl PDU state 1213 agDin up to two more tim~

As soon as ~he lndirect Sys~em 303 tecei~es ~he Acknowledgemen~
PDU s~a~e 1216 i~ plays a voice mes~ge ~ough the mobile telephone WO 91/1X4~5- 2 0 d 3 ~ ~ ~ PCr/US90/05736 unit 100 telling the customer to wait while the call is completed The Indirect System 303 also requests service info~mation from the Registration System 304, state 1218. The Registration System 304 provides servioe information and sends it to the Indirect System 303. The Indirect 5 System 303 receives the service in~'ormation, state 1219, lt then makes the three way connection to the called parq and drops out, leaving the customer connected, state D. Any calls made by the customer while in this service area are monitored and rated by ~he Indirect System 303.

Areas without Collector Sy~tem ot Indirect System sen~ic~
Some areas are without Co~lector 307 or lnd~ect System 303 service.
When a new customer atternpts ~o re~ster or a registered cus~omer attempts to make a call in one ot these areas, a PDU transmission occurs that allows the Voice Response System 3aQ to send a ~roice message to the 15 mobile telephone unit 100, aler~ing ~he cus~omer to the fact that no ser~ice is available.

PIGS.13~ and 13b illu~trate this PDU transrnission. The customer mo~es into an area ~nthou~ Collector 307 or Indirect Sys~em 303 s~rvice.
20 The mobile ~elephone unit 100 and the ~Ifoice Response System 302 exchange the lnltial PDUs such as ~he Synchronize Pl~U and the Conne Request PDU - this exchange is de~ailed in FlGS. 6~ and 6b in states 608 through 613, The mobile telephone un~ 100 ~hen sends the Phone Reg~stration PDU to the Voice Response Sy~tem, ~tate 1300. The Voice 25 Response System 302 recei~es the Phone Re~trat}on POU, state 1301 and requests ser~nce information from the Re~rstion S~stem 30~, state 130 The ReRistration Sys~em 30~ ~ends Ihe tnformDtion ~c) the ~oice Response System 302. The Voice Respo~e Sys~an 302 recei~es ~he service 30 inform3tion, state 1303, which cont~ d~t~ indic~tin~ that the customer is in an area wlthout Collector 30~ or ln~irec~ Sy~tem 303 ser~ic~. The Voice Response System 302 send~ an Audio Can~rol PDU, g~a~e t304, to the mobile telephone unit 100.

The mobile telephone unit tO0 recei~s ~he Audio Contsol POU and turns on the speaker, sta~e 1305. The mobile telephone uni~ tO0 sends an wo 91/1846/ 2 V 8 3 5 ~L ~ PCr/US90/05/36 --Acknowledgment PDU, state 1306 to the Voioe Response System 302. If the Voice Response System 302 does not receive an Acknowledgement PDU within 10 seconds of transmission of the Audio Control PDU, shte 1304, the Voioe Response Systesn 302 sends the Audio Control PDU, state 1304, again, up to two re ~

When the Voice Response System 302 receives the Acknowledgement PDU, state 1307, from the mobile telephone u~ut 100, the Voice Response System 302 plays a ~oice message through the mobile 10 telephone unit 100 indicating to the customer that no service is available.
sta~e 1308. Upon completion of the ~oice message, the Voice Response System 302 sends a Voioe Response S~ em Registration PDU, state 1309 to the mobile telephone unit 100. nlis ~toice Response System Registration PDU contaw data indicating ~here is no Collector 307 or Indirect Sys~m 1; 303 service in the cus~omer s calling area The mobile telephone unit 100 recei~res the Voice Response Sys~ern R~stration PDU, state 1310, and sends an Acknowledgement PDU, s~a~e 1311, to the Voice Response Sy~tem 302. If the Voice Re~ponse System doe~ not receive an Acknowledgement PDU within 10 seconds of transmission of t~e ~oice 20 Re~pon~e System Registration Pl~U, sta~e 1309, ~he Voice Response Sys~ern 302 sends the Voice Response Sys~em Re~s~ration P1)U, state 1309 ag~in.
up to two more times Upon receipt of the Ack~owledgement P~U, state 1312 irom ~he 2S mobile telephone unit 100, ~he ~oice Response S~stem 302 sends a Disconnect Reques~ PDU, sta~e U13, ~o ~he mobile telephone uni~ tOQ. The mobile telephone unit 100 recei~ he t)ixonne Request P~U. state 131q, and sends an Acknowledgemcnl Pt)t.t, st~e 1315, to the ~/oice Respon~e System 302. lf the Voice R~!sp~n~ S~em 302 does not teceive 30 an Acknowledgemen~ PDU wit~in T0 seconds of tran~m~ion of ~he Dlsconnect Request PDU"~ate 1313, ~he t,tolce Response S~tem 302 ~ends the Disconnect R~ques~ PDU, state 1313 ~8;~ n, up ~o two more tinu~.

When the ttolce Response Sys~em 3~2 recei-~es ~he 35 Acknowledgement PDU, state 1316, i~s communica~ion with ~he mobile ~elephone unit 100 ig complete. Upon trmsmission o~ an 3 ~_ J
WO 91/1~46, PCI/I,'S90/05736 2~

Acknowledgement PDU, state 1315, to the Voice Response System 302, the mobile telephone unit 100 ends commun~cation with the Voice Response System 302, state 1317. The mobile telephone unit 100 begins to flash the no service light on the mobile telephone unit 100 handset 203, state 1318.
Incoming c~lls A customer must complete the initial regilstration prwss in order to receive calls. I~ the mobile ~elephone unit 100 has not been registered, it will not ring.
When a customer en~ers a new ser~rice area, or the airtime meter in the mobile telephone unit 100 has expired, :~e customer must complete a call before receiving calls. Completing a call in~5a~es the re-re~pstration proce~. Customers are lerted5 to a new 51D or air~me meter expiration by 1~ a flashing roam ligh~ on ~he mobile telepnone unit 100 handset 203.

When a customer~s calls are connected and ra~ed ~nthout involving the Ind~rect Sy~em 303, calls are en~ direc~Sr to the mobUe ~elephone unit 100. The mobile telephone unit 100 rings, ~he customer piclts up the 20 handset 203 or pre~ses the send (SND~ ke~, and the call may proceed~ ;~;o PDU transmis~ion i~ necessary When a customer's calls are connecte~ and rated ~hrough the Indirect S~stem 303, connection oi inconung c~lls tequiret Pl)U
25 transmission~ This transmission is ill is~ratecl in FtC;S. 1~ and 14b The call comes in for the cus~omer, s~3te l~ nd the Indirect Sys~em 303 recelves the call, state 1~01~ The Indirect Sy~n 303 deternùnes the destination of the call and e~abli~hes ~ conn~ion w~h the mobile telephone unit 100 to which the c~ s going, s~at~ 1402~ The mobiJe 30 telephone unit 100 rlng~ a~e l~ When ~h~! cus~omer pick~ up ~he h~ndset 203 or pre~es ~he ~end ~Sl~ ke~f. the mobile ~eIephone uni~ aoo waits for a Synchronlze PDU"~ e l404 The Indlrect S~s~em 303 sends t~he S~nchronize P~U, sta~e ~405. to 3S the mobile telephone unit lO0~ The mobile ~elephone unit 100 receives the Synchronize PDU, s~ate 1406, and ~nds the Connect Reques~ P~U, W() 91/1%46/ 2 n 8 3 5 ~ ~ PCr/l'S90/05736 _ state 1407, to the Indirect System 303. If the Indirect System 303 does not receive the Connect Request PDU within I~ seconds of transmission of the Synchronize PDU, state 1405, the Indirect System 303 sends the Synchronize PDU, state 1405 again, up to tw~o more times.

l~e Indirect System 303 reoeives the Connect Request PDU, state 1408, ant sends the Connes~t Confirm PDU, state 1409, to the mobile telephone unit 100, If the mobile seiephone usut 100 does not recei~e the Connect Con~irm PDU within 30 seconds of t~ansmission of the Connect Request PDU, sta~e 1407, the mobile telephone unit 100 sends the Connect Request PDU, state 1407 again, up ~o two ~nore t~mes.

When the mobile telephone unie 100 receives the Cor~nect Confsrm PDU, state 1410, it sends the Phone Reg~scration PDU, state 1411, to the 1~ Indirect Syste n 303, When the ~ndirect Systern 303 receives the Phone Registration PDU, state 1412, it sends an Audio Control PDU, state 1~-3, to the mobile telephone uni~ 100. The mobi~e ~dephone unit 100 receives the Aut~o Control PDU and turns on the ~p~, miaophone, and keypad, state 1414 . The mobile ~elephone unit 303 then sends an 20 Achlowledgement PDU, state 1~1S, to t~e Indirect Syste n 303. U the Indirect System 303 does not recei~e an Ac5~owledgemen~ Pt:)U within tO
seconds of transmission of the Audio Control Pl)U, s~ate 1~13, the Indirec~
System 303 sends the Audio Con~rol POt,'. s~a~e 1~13 a~air., ~sp ~o two more times.
As soon as the Indi ect S~ern 303 r~ei~ es the Acknowle~ment PDU, state 1416, it drops ou~ oi conununic; ~ion, leavinx the mobiie teléphone unit 100 and the caller connect~. sta~e l~It The tndirect System 303 rata this call when i~ is compiet~.
Mob~le Telephone Unit Convet~lon When a ~ehicle with the ins~alled rnobile telephone unit IOO is sold by the rental agency, the mobile telephon~ 100 mus~ be cont~erted in cellular mobile telephone unit 100 progr;unmed lor use outside ot the 3S present in~ention's rental network. To ~o t~is. the reseller obt;ains the Mobile Identification Number ~M~S) ot ~e mobile telephone u~ut I00 ~o WO 91/1~ J PCr/l 'S90/Q~736 be converted. The Voice Response System 302 is ~en programmed to flag this M~l as a conversion M~J, e.g. the next tiine this M~J is sent to the Voice Response System 302, the mobile telephone unit 100 to which it belongs is programmed to identify the moWe telephone unit 100 as owned by the buyer and to be administered accordingly.

This process is illustrated in FIGS.15~ and 15b. The mobile telephone unit 100 is initially in an idle sta~e 1500. When the Send (SND) key is pressed on the mobile telephone urut 100, the mobile telephone 10 dials and attempts to connect on the currenc A/8 system, state 1501. ~ this attempt fails, the mobile ~elephone unit 100 attempts ~o connect on the opposite system, state 1502. If this a~tempt a~so fails, the mobile ~elephone unit 100 reverts to idle sta~e lS00 unsil ~he send ~SNIO key is pressed again.

When the attempt is success~, ~e cal~ connects, state 150~, to the Voice Response System 302. The ~o~ce E~esponse Sys~em 302 recei~es the call, state 1505 and sends the Synchronize P~U, sta~e 1506, to the ~nobUe telephone unit 100, lf the mobtle telephone unit 100 does not recei~e the S~nchron~ze PDU ~nthin 30 seconds oi connection, state lS04, a time out 20 occurs which causes the mobile telephone uni~ 100 to end communica~ion with the ~1Oice Response System 302 When ~he mobile ~elephone usu~ 100 tecei~ he Svnchron~
PDU, state 1507, i~ sends a Connect Re~ues~ Pl:)U, s~a~e IS08, to ~he t~oice 2; Response Sys~em 302. If the Voicr Response S~tesn 302 d~es no~ teceive the Connect Request PDU ~thin tO seconds o~ mission o~ ~he Synchronke PDU, sta~e 1506, the ~oice R~ponse System 302 sends ~he Synchronize PDU, s~ate 1506 a~a~n. up to nYo mote times.

After the Voice Re~ponse S~tem 3aQ ~ec~eq ~he Connect Requ~
PDU, sta~e 1S09, from the mobile ~elephone m t lO0, ~he tJotce Re~p~nse System 302 sends a l:::onnect C:onfirm PVU. sta~ ISI0, ~o ~he mobile telephone unlt 100. lrhe mobile telephone uni~ tO0 tecei- es ~he Connect Confinn PDU, state IS11, and sends ~he P~ne Re~sttation P~U ~o the - 35 Voiee Response System 302, s~a~e IS12. tf the V~ice Response S~ m 302does not receive the Phone Re~tstration Pl:)U within I0 seconds oi WO 91/1846~ PCl/l~S90/05736 ,-208351 a 3û

transrnission of the Connect Confirm PDU state 1510 the Voice Response System 302 sends the Connect Conf~rm PDU state 1510 again up to two more times.

The Voioe Response Systesn 302 receives the Phone Registration PDU, state 1513. This Phone Registration PDU contains the ~N of the mobile telephone unit 100 which the Voioe Res~ System 30Q
recognizes as a conversion M~N. The ~oi~e Response System 302 begins transrnitting all the re-prograrnming informa~ion the mobile telephone unit 100 needs stase 1514. This process cont~nues as follows unti~ all the re-programming information is transmitted. A Phone Conversion PDU is sent by the Voice Response System 302 s~ate 1515 to ~he mobile telephone unit 100 The mo~ile ~elephone unit 100 receives the Phone Conversion PDU, state 1516 and sends an Acknowiedge~ment PDU state 1517 to 1~ confirm the Phone Conversion PDU was received. If the ~foice Response System 302 does no~ receive an Acitnowled~men~ P~U within 10 seconds of transmission of the Phone Conversion P~U s~a~e 1515 the ~Joice Respor~e Sys~em 302 sends ~he Phone Comrenion Pl)U s~ate 15~S again.
up to two more t~mes If the re~programsr~ing information is no~
con~ainecl in ~ust one Phone Conversion P~U this process continues un~il all of the information is transrni~ted to the mobile ~elephone uni~

When all of the re pragr~mming in~o~matinn has been ~r~nsm~e~
~o ~he mobile ~elephone unit 100 thro~gh cr~nsmission of aJl Ph~ne Conversion PDUs successful~y aclw~owledge~ by the mobile telephone uni~
100 the Hn~l process of convenion be~s. s~ate tStg~ The tJoice Response S~ste~n sQnd3 ~he Term~nating Phone Comes~on PDU s~e 1520. ~o ~he mobile telephone uni~ 100~ The rnobl~e ~elephon~ ~nit 100 recei~ he Termin~t~ng Phone Com~enion PDU ~ e lS~I ~nd ~end~ ~n Aeknowledgemen~ PDU ~tate lSn to ~he ~oiee Re~ponse Sy~n 30~ 1 ~he \toice Response S$~ste~n 302 does no~ re~ve ~n Acknowle~gen~ent PDU withln lO second~ of ~r~nsmis~ion ot the Termindting Phone Con-terslon PDU s~te 1520 ~he tJoice f~esp~nse Sys~em 302 sends the Tern~nat~ng Phone Conversion POU. s~a~e 1S~0 aga~n up ~o two more 3S times.

W(> ~1/1X1fi- 2 0 ~ PCT/~S90/05736 -After sending an Acknowledgement PDU, state 1522, to the Voice Response System 302, the mobile telephone unit 100 ends communication with the Voioe Response System 302, state 152~ The mobile telephone unit 100 uses ~e information it received in each of the Phone Conversion 5 PDUs to pro~am itself with new values. These new values enable the mobile telephone unit 100 to op~ate outside the present invention's rental net,work.

In mmm~, the present invention in characterized by a moWe 10 telephone rental system installed in rental vehicles and utilizing a computer system hr credit card appro~rai, call monitoring, call rating and billing in real tirne. Particular embodirnen~s of the said systern and the components therein have been illustrated and desaibet, These include, without limitation, the transmi~sion o~ ~oioe messages through a mobile 1~ telephone unit ~o a customer to ab~ain aedi~ card mformation as par~ of a user registration process; the acti- ation and deac~ation of a mobUe telephone unit, ba~ed on a customer'~ apprtn~ed or denied aedi~; the acff~tation and deacti~ation of a mobile telephone unit, based on a customer's wishes, the supervicion of a mobile telephone uni~ as i~
2a per~aing to cellular s~tem identification ~S~, mobile telephone unit airtime limits, and operation in cellulat senrice areas outside of the such service; the supenri~ion of incoming caLls ~o ~ mobile tdephone ~i~; ~;nd the billing of a cus~omer's ~ccumulated ce~lulat airtime in real ~ime.

25 While the foregoing degcribe1 certain speàfic components and feature~ of the preferred embodiments of this invention. further modifications~
adaptathns, var~ations, and impto~ement~ which include or incotporate - the basic undèrl~nng principle~ d~cio~ed will occur to ~hose ~l~ill~ in the art to wh~ch the invention is addse~ed ~nd 3re ~o be con~idetecl ~s wi~hin 30 ~he scope of the invention at defined tn ~he iol~owin~ cl~im~.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a mobile telephone rental system comprising mobile telephone transceiver units installed in rental vehicles and operated in conjunction with cell sites and mobile telephone switching offices (MTSOs) which route calls to and from the mobile telephone unit through the public switched telephone network (PSTN), with the system also comprising a voice response system, a registration system, and one or more collectors, the method of call processing utilizing such registration system and collectors to approve and bill charges to a user supplied credit card, comprising the steps of:
transmitting the mobile telephone unit customer transaction data from the mobile telephone unit to the voice response system, such data including credit card number, credit card expiration date, the mobile telephone unit's identification number (MIN), and the date and time of the transaction;
communicating such data from the voice response system to the registration system;
validating, through the registration system, the credit card information through a credit card clearinghouse;
responsive to validation, programming the mobile telephone unit to respond to a user specified lock code;
capturing, through the one or more collectors, the mobile telephone unit's call data through real time examination of the automatic message accounting data generated at the MTSOs;
calculating in the one or more collectors the toll and airtime charges for such captured call data and transmitting such data to the registration system;
calculating, in the registration system, the taxes applicable to such captured call data;
transmitting the call data in the form of transaction records to the administration system; and producing in the administration system, billing records from the said transmitted transaction records.

WO 91/1846? PCT/US90/05736

2. The method of operating a mobile telephone rental system comprising the steps of:
communicating data between a mobile telephone unit and a voice response system for the purpose of customer registration and remote programming of the mobile telephone unit features;
communicating data between the voice response system and a registration system to obtain customer credit card validation;
communicating data between the registration system and a credit card clearinghouse to obtain customer credit card approval or declline;
communicating data between the registration system and one or more collectors for the purpose of call rating;
communicating data between the registration system and an administration system for the purpose of providing rated call information to the reseller of the rental mobile telephone service for the purpose of billing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating data between the mobile telephone unit and an indirect system for the purpose of establishing service in cellular areas without collectors.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein data communicated between components of the system are in the form of variable length, encrypted and error protected packet data units (PDUs).

5. The method of claim 2. comprising programming numeric assignment module (NAM) positions in the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

6. The method of claim 2, comprising programming a six-digit code in the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

7. The method of claim 2, comprising controlling the speaker, microphone, and handset of the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

8. In a mobile telephone rental system, the method of operation comprising the steps of:
transmitting voice prompted messages from the voice response system to the mobile telephone unit customer for the purpose of eliciting customer credit card information;
transmitting to the voice response system customer credit card information keyed in by the customer entry at the mobile telephone unit handset;
transmitting such customer credit card information from the voice response system to the registration system for the purpose of credit card validation;
utilizing the registration system to contact a credit card clearinghouse for credit card approval;
upon approval of credit activating the mobile telephone unit by the customer entering at the mobile telephone unit handset a six-digit personal activation code;
capturing, through the one or more collectors, the mobile telephone unit's call data through real time examination of the automatic message accounting data generated at the MTSOs;
calculating in the one or more collectors the toll and airtime charges for such captured call data and transmitting such data to the registration system;
calculating, in the registration system, the taxes applicable to such captured call data and transmitting of call data in the form of transaction records to the administration system; and producing by the administration system billing drafts or submission to the customer's credit card provider.

9. In a mobile telephone system comprising mobile telephone transceiver units installed in rental vehicles and operated in conjuction with cell sites and mobile telephone switching offices (MTSOs) which route calls to and from the mobile telephone units through the public switched telephone network (PTSN), with the system also comprising a voice response system, a registration system, and one or more collectors, said telephone system being characterized by call processing utilizing such registration system and collectors to approve and rate charges to be billed to a user supplied credit card, including;
means for capturing the mobile telephone unit customer transaction data from the mobile telephone unit, including credit card number, credit card expiration date, the mobile telephone unit's mobile identification number (MIN), and the data and time of the transaction;
means for validating the credit card information through a credit card clearinghouse;
means for programming the mobile telephone unit to respond to a user specified lock code;
means for capturing call data from the mobile telephone unit in real time by examining automatic message accounting data generated by the MTSOs;
means for calculating toll and air time charges for captured calls;
and means for calculating applicable taxes and transmitting rated call data to a system billing transactions directly to a customer's credit card account.

10. A mobile telephone rental system, comprising:
means for communicating data between a mobile telephone unit and a voice response system for the purpose of customer registration and remote programming of the mobile telephone unit features;
means for communicating data between the voice response system and a registration system to obtain customer credit card validation;
means for communicating data between the registration system and a credit card clearinghouse to obtain customer credit card approval or decline;
means for communicating data between the registration system and one or more collector systems for the purpose of call rating;
means for communicating data between the registration system and an administration system for the purpose of billing customers and providing rated call information to the reseller and customers of the rental mobile telephone service.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for communicating data between the mobile telephone unit and an indirect system for the purpose of establishing service in cellular areas without a collector system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein data communicated between components of the system are in the form of variable length, encrypted and error protected packet data units (PDUs).

13. The system of claim 10, comprising means for programming numeric assignment module (NAM) positions in the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

14. The system of claim 10, comprising means for programming a six-digit lock code in the telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

15. The system of claim 10, comprising means for controlling the speaker microphone, and handset of the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

16. A mobile telephone rental system comprising;
a computer system wherein customer credit card information is entered through a voice prompted data communicated between a mobile telephone unit and a voice response system;
means in the computer system for contacting a credit card clearinghouse for credit card approval, and to monitor calls, rate calls, and bill calls in real time;
upon approval of credit, means for activating the mobile telephone unit by the customer entering at the mobile telephone unit handset, a six-digit personal activation code; and means for rating call information and transmitting the rated call information to a computer system generating billing drafts for submission to the customer's credit card provider.

17. A mobile telephone rental system comprising mobile telephone transceiver units installed in rental vehicles and operated in conjunction with cell sites and cellular switches in mobile telephone switching offices (MTSOs) which route calls to and from the mobile telephone units through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) with the system also comprising one or more collectors connected to the one or more cellular switches, a voice response system, and a registration system, such rental system including:
means in the mobile telephone unit for dialing a specific, pre-programmed voice response system;
means in the mobile telephone unit and the voice response system for establishing a bi-directional dual tone modulating frequency (DTMF) communication protocol upon connection of the call between the mobile telephone unit and the voice response system;
means in the mobile telephone unit for transmitting mobile identification number (MIN) and status information to the voice response system;
means for establishing data encryption of DTMF packet data units (PDUs) as well as keyed entry by the user at the unit handset;
means for data communication error detection using checksum calculation;
menas for programming a digital lock code upon command from the voice response system;
means for locking the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system;
means for controlling the speaker, microphone, and handset of the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system;
means for enabling the voice response system to detect user key presses on the handset upon command from the voice response system;
means for termination of the connection between the mobile telephone unit the voice response system upon command from the voice response system or the mobile telephone unit;
means for directing the mobile telephone unit's use to the A or B Band upon command from the voice response system;

WO 91/1846? PCT/US90/05736 means for forcing the mobile telephone unit to contact the voice response system upon entering a new cellular service area;
means for allowing the mobile telephone unit to make calls;
means for locking the mobile telephone unit when power is removed from the mobile telephone unit and means for unlocking the mobile telephone unit upon entry of a valid digital lock code by user key pressed entry at the handset

18. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17, further including means for programming speed dial positions in the mobile telephone unit from the voice response system.

19 A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17, further including means for programming any and all NAM positions in the mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

20. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17.
further including means for turning the mobile telephone unit into a standard mobile telephone unit upon command from the voice response system.

21. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17.
further including means for setting an airtime meter level and resetting the airtime meter in the mobile telephone upon upon command from the voice response system

22. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17.
further including means for forcing the mobile telephone unit to contact the voice response system upon reaching a specific airtime meter level.

23. A mobile telephone rental systems in accordance with claim 17.
further including means for directing incoming and outgoing calls through an indirect system connected to a public branch exchange (PBX) with access to the PSTN upon command from the voice response system.

WO 91/1846? PCT/US90/05736

24. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the mobile telephone unit and the voice response system accomplish a registration process, with the voice response system including;
means to identify and validate the mobile telephone unit for rental use;
means for reading the credit card number and expiration date from key presses entered by the user at the handset;
means for validating the open credit on the credit card through direct inquiry by the registration system;
means for locking the mobile telephone unit upon a credit decline from the credit card clearinghouse.
means for reading a digital lock code from the key presses entered by the user and programming the lock code in the mobile telephone unit;
means for allowing calls to be placed from and received by the mobile telephone unit when the user has unlocked the mobile telephone unit;
means for supervising the registration process;
means for communicating with the mobile telephone unit for programming purposes;
means for sending voice messages through the mobile telephone unit during the registration process; and means for communicating with the registration system for remote programming of the mobile telephone unit.

25. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17, comprising a registration system including:
means for communicating with a credit card clearinghouse to obtain credit card validation and approval/decline;
means for communicating with the collectors to obtain said stored transaction data;
means for applying tax rates to the stored transaction data; and means for transmitting said the transaction data to the administration system for processing WO 91/1846? PCT/US90/05736

26. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17, comprising a plurality of collectors each including:
means for receiving, filtering, and calculating long distance toll for call data and digesting data into billable call records;
means for organizing said billable call records into customer transactions and storing said customer transactions; and means for retrieving and transmitting the stored transaction data to remote processors using the PSTN.

27. A mobile telephone rental system in accordance with claim 17, comprising an administration system including:
means for processing and billing customer transactions directly to customers' credit cards;
means for managing the network of installed rental phones:
and means for providing customer service and management reporting.

28. A mobile telephone system in accordance with claim 17, further comprising an indirect system including:
means for directing incoming and outgoing calls through public branch exchange (PBX) with access to the PSTN;
means for receiving, filtering, and calculating long distance toll for call data in cellular geographical areas ice areas (CGSAs) without collectors;
means for organizing said billable call records into customer transactions and storing said customer transactions in CGSAs without collectors; and means for retrieving and transmitting said stored transaction data to remote processors using the PSTN in CGSAs without collectors.

29. The method of mobile telephone unit call processing in a mobile telephone unit call processing system which utilizes a registration system PCT/US90/95?36 and a plurality of collectors to approve and bill charges to a user identified credit card comprising the steps of:
capturing the mobile telephone unit customer transaction data from the mobile telephone unit including the credit card number the credit card expiration date the mobile telephone unit's mobile identification number (MIN), and the date and time of the transaction;
validating the credit information through a credit card clearinghouse;
programming the mobile telephone unit to respond to a user specified lock code entered by the user s selective actuation of keys of the unit handset;
capturing calls made to or from the mobile telephone with in real time by examining automatic message accounting data generated by the cellular switching system located at MTSOs;
calculating toll and air time charges for captured calls; and entering the rental transaction charges directly to the user's credit card account.