Mobile electronic payment terminal

• US 20010037249A1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Knight, Peter Fitzgerald
• Original Assignee: Paul Knight, Peter Fitzgerald
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Peter, Knight, Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/888,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037249A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675

Abstract

A mobile electronic payment terminal to which a standard mobile communications device such as a cellular telephone may be connected to enable full mobile EFTPOS transactions to occur. The assembly of terminal and communications device is able to be held by hand. The invention conveniently reduces or eliminates the need for a merchant to purchase a dedicated communications device for EFTPOS transactions thus reducing cost.

Claims

1. A hand held mobile financial transaction terminal, said terminal including a first card reader for reading a customer card;

a secure keypad;

display means;

processing means for receiving data from said first card reader and said secure keypad, so as to conduct any required local processing, display appropriate messages on said display, and communicate with a remote host if required;

interface means for enabling communication and control signals to be sent to and received from a communications device; and

mechanical retaining means integral with said terminal for selective attachment of said communications device to said terminal providing operational contact with said interface means, wherein the communications device and terminal operatively form an integrated hand held unit, allowing selective removal of said communications device, said communications device being capable of independent operation when separated from said terminal.

2. The hand-held financial transaction terminal according to

claim 1

, wherein said communications device is a conventional cellular telephone with a connection which enables command and communication signals to be input from an external device.

3. The hand-held financial transaction terminal according to

claim 2

, further comprising readers for cards, said cards including merchant smartcards, customer smartcards and customer magnetic swipe cards.

4. The hand-held financial transaction terminal according to

claim 3

, further comprising interfaces for peripheral devices.

5. The hand-held financial transaction terminal according to

claim 4

, further comprising a printer for providing a receipt.

6. The hand-held financial transaction terminal according to

claim 5

, further comprising means for receiving a data storage device or a connection thereto.

7. The hand-held financial transaction terminal according to

claim 6

, further comprising a holder for holding SAMs.