Apparatus for credential authorisation

• US 20020116345A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrison, Keith Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,107,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards

Abstract

A mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone (3), which comprises a processor which is configured to process requests for authorisation of use of a credential, such as a credit card, and the processor causes the device to emit a signal, such as an audible intermittent tone, the characteristics of which are indicative of the deemed importance of a particular use of the credential.

Advantageously the owner of the device is alerted to the deemed importance of a use of a credential. For example, an intermittent tone of characteristic frequency is emitted by a mobile phone in relation to the monetary value of a transaction using a credit card.

Claims

1. A user interface device which comprises a computer, the computer being configured to process requests for use of a credential which are transmitted to the device and the device being such that in use the computer is operative to cause the device to emit an alerting signal on receipt of a request for authorisation for use of the credential and the emitted alerting signal being indicative of the deemed importance of a particular use of a credential.

2. A user interface device as claimed in claim 1, in which the computer is operative to process information contained in the request so that the alerting signal emitted possesses characteristics which indicate the deemed importance of the use of a credential for which authorisation is sought.

3. A user interface device as claimed in claim 2, in which the device stores characteristics of an array of alerting signals, each alerting signal corresponding to a use of credential having a particular deemed importance.

4. A user interface device as claimed in claim 1, in which the alerting signal emitted by the device is an intermittent audible signal the frequency of which increases with increasing deemed importance of use of credential.

5. A user interface device as claimed in claim 1 which is a portable communication device.

6. A method of operating a user interface device in response to information received by the device relating to a request for authorisation of use of a credential, the device comprising a computer being configured such that in use the computer causes the device to emit an alerting signal which is indicative of the deemed importance of a particular use of a credential.

7. A mobile phone, the mobile phone comprising a processor which is operative in use to process information transmitted to the phone relating to a request for authorisation of use of a credential and to cause the phone to emit an audible alerting signal which is indicative of the deemed importance of the use of the credential for which authorisation is sought.

8. A telecommunications device comprising a computer, a data storage device and an alerting device, the telecommunications device being adapted to receive signals representative of a request for authorisation of use of a credential, the computer being adapted to compare data in a received signal representative of a request for authorisation with criteria data stored in the data storage device and consequently determine whether to activate the alerting device.

9. A network, the network comprising a router and a telecommunications device, the router comprising a data storage device which has stored therein identification data of a credential and a telecoms address of the telecommunications device, the telecommunications device comprising a computer, a data storage device and an alerting device, the network being such that in use the router transmits to the telecommunications device a signal which is representative of a request for authorisation of use of a credential, the computer being adapted to compare data in said signal with criteria data stored in the data storage device, and consequently determine whether to activate the alerting device.