CHIP-ENHANCED BATTERY

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A chip-enhanced battery for a machine type communication (MTC) device, the chip-enhanced battery comprising:

a battery; and

a microchip integrated with the battery,

wherein the microchip comprises a subscriber identification module (SIM) with stored instructions to establish communication with a mobile network operator (MNO) upon an insertion of the chip-enhanced battery into the MTC device.

28 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 , comprising:

a unique identification code associated with a data service plan,

wherein the SIM module comprises stored instructions to authenticate the chip-enhanced battery with the MNO based on the unique identification code.

28 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 27 , further comprising:

a storage element configured to store the unique identification code.

29 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 28 ,

wherein the SIM module comprises stored instructions to establish the communication with the MNO based on the unique identification code.

30 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 27 ,

wherein the unique identification code is disposed on an outer surface of the chip-enhanced battery.

31 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the microchip is an integral part of the battery that is destructible if the battery is dissembled to access the microchip.

32 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the battery is non-rechargeable.

33 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 32 ,

wherein the battery comprises an internal resistance configured to vary its nominal value based on a charging process.

34 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 33 , comprising:

a disabling logic configured to disable operation of the microchip based on a deviation of the internal resistance from a threshold value.

35 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the battery comprises at least one electrochemical cell.

36 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the battery is formed as a coin cell.

37 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the battery comprises a set of battery cells connected in series.

38 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the battery comprises a first connector configured to provide the MTC device with a positive supply voltage and a second connector configured to provide the MTC with a negative supply voltage.

39 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 , comprising:

two galvanic power supply contacts configured to supply DC power to the MTC device,

wherein the microchip is configured to communicate with the MTC device based on multiplexing a signal to the DC power.

40 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 , comprising:

at least one electrical contact,

wherein the microchip is configured to communicate with the MTC device by using the at least one electrical contact.

41 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 , comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED),

wherein the microchip is configured to communicate with the MTC device by transmitting light between the LED and a light sensitive sensor comprised in the MTC device.

42 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 , comprising:

a near field communication (NFC) device,

wherein the microchip is configured to communicate with the MTC device by radio communication between the NFC device and another NFC device comprised in the MTC device.

43 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 26 ,

wherein the battery comprises a compartment configured to mount the microchip.

44 . The chip-enhanced battery of claim 43 ,

wherein the compartment is configured to mount additional circuitry for providing communication between the microchip and the MTC device.

45 . A method for using a chip-enhanced battery comprising a battery and a microchip integrated with the battery for communication with a mobile network operator (MNO), wherein the microchip comprises a subscriber identification module (SIM), the method comprising:

inserting the chip-enhanced battery into a machine type communication (MTC) device; and

initiating a communication channel with the mobile network operator (MNO) responsive to the insertion of the chip-enhanced battery into the MTC device based on a subscriber identification process initiated by the SIM module of the microchip.

46 . The method of claim 45 , comprising:

authenticating the chip-enhanced battery with the MNO based on a unique identification code representing a pre-paid data service charge.

47 . The method of claim 46 , comprising:

checking the unique identification code of the chip-enhanced battery with the MNO; and

if the unique identification code is checked as valid, enabling the communication of the MTC device with the MNO.

48 . The method of claim 46 , comprising:

checking an amount of data service charge represented by the unique identification code; and

enabling the communication of the MTC device with the MNO if the amount of data service charge exceeds a threshold value.

49 . A machine type communication (MTC) device, the MTC device comprising:

a modem configured to initiate a communication channel with a mobile network operator (MNO);

a chip-enhanced battery comprising a battery and a microchip integrated with the battery; and

a subscriber identification module (SIM) comprised in the microchip, wherein the SIM module is configured to initiate communication with the MNO via the modem responsive to an insertion of the chip-enhanced battery into the MTC device.

50 . The MTC device of claim 49 , comprising:

a unique identification code representing a pre-paid data service charge,

wherein the SIM module is configured to authenticate the chip-enhanced battery with the MNO based on the unique identification code.