METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND TENDERING ELECTRONIC CASH USING A PHONE WALLET

• US 20010011248A1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: HIMMEL, MARIA AZUA, RODRIGUEZ, HERMAN
• Application Number:
  US09/240,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method in a communications system for transferring cash is provided. The cash is sent in an electronic form to a phone. The cash may be requested from a financial institution using a cash transfer request. The phone stores the electronic cash for use in purchasing goods and services from a merchant. The cash is transferred to a merchant by calling a Payment Access Number.

Claims

1. A method in a communications system for transferring cash, the method comprising:

sending cash in an electronic form to a phone using a wireless communications link, wherein the cash is electronic cash; and

storing the electronic cash in a memory within the phone.

2. The method of 1 further comprising transferring the electronic cash by calling a Payment Access Number.

3. The method of 2 further comprising matching the electronic cash received at the Payment Access Number as a payment for a purchase.

4. A method for processing an electronic transfer of funds in a distributed data processing system, the method comprising:

receiving a request for funds from a phone, wherein the request comprises a phone number; and

sending funds in electronic form to a phone identified by the phone number, wherein the funds are stored within the phone as electronic funds.

5. The method of

claim 4

wherein the electronic cash request is received at a phone number of a financial institution.

6. The method of

claim 5

wherein the financial institution restricts the electronic cash request to a set of registered phone numbers.

7. A data-processing-enabled phone:

receiving means for receiving electronic cash; and

redeeming means for redeeming the electronic cash.

8. The phone of

claim 7

further comprising sending means for sending electronic cash by calling a Payment Access Number.

9. The phone of

claim 8

wherein the Payment Access Number provides an ability to pay for a purchase recorded within a data processing system comprising the payment access number.

10. The phone of

claim 7

further comprising disabling means for disabling the use of the electronic cash in the phone as a security feature.

11. A data processing system in a communications system for transferring cash, the data processing system comprising:

sending means for sending cash in an electronic form to a phone using a wireless communications link, wherein the cash is electronic cash; and

storing means for storing the electronic cash in a memory within the phone.

12. The data processing system of 11 further comprising transferring means for transferring the electronic cash by calling a Payment Access Number.

13. The data processing system of 12 further comprising reconciling means for reconciling the electronic cash received at the Payment Access Number as a payment for a purchase.

14. A data processing system for processing an electronic transfer of funds, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request for funds from a phone, wherein the request comprises a phone number; and

sending means for sending funds in electronic form to a phone identified by the phone number, wherein the funds are stored within the phone as electronic funds.

15. The data processing system of

claim 14

wherein the electronic cash request is received at a phone number of a financial institution.

16. The data processing system of

claim 15

wherein the financial institution restricts the electronic cash request to a set of registered phone numbers.

17. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing an electronic transfer of funds, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a request for funds from a phone, wherein the request comprises a phone number; and

second instructions for sending funds in electronic form to a phone identified by the phone number, wherein the funds are stored within the phone as electronic funds.

18. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use with a data-processing-enabled phone, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving electronic cash; and

second instructions for redeeming the electronic cash.