Apparatus, systems and methods for wirelessly transacting financial transfers , electronically recordable authorization transfers, and other information transfers

• US 20030149662A1
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sentegra, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jon Shore
• Inventors: Shore, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods to wirelessly pay for purchases, electronically interface with financial accounting systems, and electronically record and wirelessly communicate authorization transactions using Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”)(also referred to as Personal Intelligent Communicators (PICs), and Personal Communicators), palm computers, intelligent handheld cellular and other wireless telephones, and other personal handheld electronic devices configured with infrared or other short range data communications (for referential simplicity, such devices are referred to herein as “PDA'"'"'s”). The present invention further provides apparatus, firmware, software programs and computer-implemented methods for making service and/or sale service charge payments for credit card charges, debit card charges, electronic cash transfers, ticket and other like financial transactions and for other types of transactions, such as for electronic coupons, where the amount of the transaction is for a small amount of money, such as, for example, less than $5.00.

Claims

1. A computer system programmed for wirelessly electronically paying for purchases, said computer system programmed to:

wirelessly electronically communicate with a financial institution system to download electronic money;

wirelessly electronically communicate with a merchant financial system for a merchant; and

wirelessly electronically transfer said downloaded electronic money to an account for the merchant to pay for a purchase.

2. A computer system for wirelessly electronically transferring authorization transactions, said computer system programmed to:

wirelessly electronically download an electronic transaction authorization; and

wirelessly electronically redeem said electronic transaction authorization.

3. A computer-implemented method for wireless point of purchase payment, said method comprising:

providing a first point of purchase payment device for storing payment authorization data;

storing said payment authorization data on said first device;

providing a second point of purchase payment device for receiving said payment authorization data;

sending said payment authorization data from said first point of purchase payment device to said second point of purchase payment device through a wireless communications connection;

sending confirmation of payment to said first point of purchase payment device from said second point of purchase device through said wireless communications connection.

4. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

sending payment authorization data through a wireless communications connection;

receiving confirmation of payment through said wireless communications connection.

5. A point of purchase payment computer system, said computer system comprising:

a point of purchase device comprising a computer processing device, a wireless communications interface connected to said computer processing device, and a memory device containing program instructions, said memory device connected to said computer processing device, said computer processing device being operable to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

a set of program instructions for sending payment authorization data through said wireless communications interface; and

a set of program instructions for receiving confirmation of payment through said wireless communications interface.

6. A point of purchase payment computer system, said computer system comprising:

a handheld device comprising a computer processing device, a wireless communications interface connected to said computer processing device, and a memory device containing program instructions, said memory device connected to said computer processing device, said computer processing device being operable to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

a set of program instructions for receiving payment authorization instructions through said wireless communications interface;

a set of program instructions for executing the received payment authorization instructions; and

a set of program instructions for sending a payment authorization in response to said executed payment authorization instructions through said wireless communications interface.

7. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer for wirelessly electronically paying for purchases, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

receiving payment authorization instructions through a wireless communications interface;

executing received payment authorization instructions; and

sending a payment authorization in response to said executed payment authorization instructions through the wireless communications interface.

8. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer for wirelessly electronically paying for purchases, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

sending executable payment authorization instructions through a wireless communications interface; and

receiving through the wireless communications interface an electronic payment authorization corresponding to said sent payment authorization instructions.

9. A computer system for redeeming electronic authorization certificates, said computer system comprising:

a handheld device comprising a computer processing device, a wireless communications interface connected to said computer processing device, and a memory device containing program instructions, said memory device connected to said computer processing device, said computer processing device being operable to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

a set of program instructions for receiving authorization certificate transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface;

a set of program instructions for executing the received authorization certificate transfer instructions; and

a set of program instructions for sending an authorization certificate transfer in response to said executed authorization certificate transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface.

10. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer for wirelessly electronically redeeming authorization certificates, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

receiving authorization certificate transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface;

executing the received authorization certificate transfer instructions; and

sending an authorization certificate transfer in response to said executed authorization certificate transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface.

11. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer for wirelessly electronically redeeming authorization certificates, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

sending executable authorization certificate transfer instructions through a wireless communications interface; and

receiving through the wireless communications interface an electronic authorization certificate transfer corresponding to said sent authorization certificate transfer instructions.

12. A computer-implemented method for wirelessly electronically paying for purchases, said method comprising:

receiving a request for payment of an amount from an intermediary terminal of a merchant, said request accompanying data identifying a customer and a customer device;

generating a set of executable payment authorization instructions for paying the requested amount directed to the customer;

sending the set of executable payment authorization instructions to the intermediary terminal directed for delivery to the customer device.

13. A computer system for wirelessly electronically transferring medical information, said computer system comprising:

a handheld device comprising a computer processing device, a wireless communications interface connected to said computer processing device, and a memory device containing program instructions, said memory device connected to said computer processing device, said computer processing device being operable to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

a set of program instructions for receiving medical information transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface;

a set of program instructions for executing the received medical information transfer instructions; and

a set of program instructions for sending medical information in response to said executed medical information transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface.

14. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer for wirelessly electronically redeeming authorization certificates, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

receiving medical information transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface;

executing the received medical information transfer instructions; and

sending medical information in response to said executed medical information transfer instructions through said wireless communications interface.

15. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer for wirelessly electronically transferring medical information, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

sending executable medical information transfer instructions through a wireless communications interface; and

receiving through the wireless communications interface medical information corresponding to said sent medical information transfer instructions.

16. A point of purchase payment computer system, said computer system comprising:

a point of purchase device including a computer processing device, a wireless communications interface connected to said computer processing device, and a memory containing program instructions connected to said computer processing device, said computer processing device being operable to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

a set of program instructions for receiving payment authorization data through said wireless communications interface; and

a set of program instructions for sending confirmation of payment through said wireless communications interface.

17. A point of purchase payment computer system, said computer system comprising:

a storage means for storing payment authorization data;

a receiving means for receiving said payment authorization data;

means for sending said payment authorization data from said storage means to said receiving means through a wireless communications means; and

means for sending confirmation of payment to said storage means from said receiving means through said wireless communications means.

18. A computer-implemented method for transferring authorization certificates, said method comprising:

providing a first computer processing device configured with a first memory storage device for storing an electronic authorization certificate;

storing said electronic authorization certificate on said first memory storage device of first computer processing device;

providing a second computer processing device for receiving an electronic transmission of said electronic authorization certificate;

sending said electronic authorization certificate from said first computer processing device to said second computer processing device through a wireless communications connection.

19. A computer program product embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer, said computer program product comprising instructions for:

sending an electronic authorization certificate through a wireless communications connection.

20. A computer-implemented authorization certificate transfer system, said system comprising:

a device comprising a computer processing device, a wireless communications interface connected to said computer processing device, and a memory containing program instructions connected to said computer processing device, said computer processing device being operable to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including a set of program instructions for sending an authorization certificate through said wireless communications interface.

21. A computer-implemented authorization certificate transfer system, said computer system comprising:

a storage means for storing an authorization certificate;

a receiving means for said authorization certificate;

means for sending said authorization certificate from said storage means to said receiving means through a wireless communications means.

22. A computer-implemented method for making small amount service charge payments for small amount transactions, said method comprising:

establishing a user micropayment account for each of a plurality of users;

funding each user micropayment account with electronic funds wherein said electronic funds are in an amount equal to funds on deposit in a bank account for a particular micropayment processing provider in favor of each particular user.

23. A wireless handheld device for making small amount service charge payments for small amount transactions, said device comprising:

an executable program for calculating a percentage amount equal to a pre-established percentage of a transaction amount; and

an executable program for reducing an amount dedicated for service charge micropayment by the calculated percentage amount.

24. A wireless handheld device for making small amount service charge payments for small amount transactions, said device comprising:

a memory storage device for storing data;

an executable memory;

a microprocessor;

short-range wireless communication hardware;

program instructions to support short-range wireless communication;

an executable program for calculating a percentage amount equal to a pre-established percentage of a transaction amount; and

an executable program for reducing an amount dedicated for service charge micropayment by the calculated percentage amount.

25. A computer-implemented method for processing small amount service charge payments for small amount transactions, said method comprising:

calculating a percentage amount equal to a pre-established percentage of a transaction amount; and

reducing an amount dedicated for service charge micropayment by the calculated percentage amount.

26. A computer-implemented method for collecting small amount service charge payments for small amount transactions, said method comprising:

receiving through a wireless interface with a merchant a transaction amount;

calculating a percentage amount equal to a pre-established percentage of the transaction amount; and

generating a transaction to a financial clearinghouse system to reduce an amount in an account of the merchant by the calculated percentage amount and to deposit said calculated percentage amount in an account for collection of micropayments.

27. A computer-implemented method for collecting small amount service charge payments for small amount transactions, said method comprising:

receiving through a wireless interface with a merchant a plurality of transaction amounts;

totaling said plurality of transaction amounts;

calculating a percentage amount equal to a pre-established percentage of the total of said transaction amounts; and

generating a transaction to a financial clearinghouse system to reduce an amount in an account of the merchant by the calculated percentage amount and to deposit said calculated percentage amount in an account for collection of micropayments.