Electronic wallet for wireless computing device

• US 20040122768A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Creamer, Thomas E., Moore, Victor S., Winters, Scott L., Nusbickel, Wendi L.
• Application Number:
  US10/324,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• 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 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

Using a wireless computing device, a method of conducting commerce can include storing a secure code and an associated balance amount within an electronic wallet application executing within the wireless computing device. The secure code can specify a financial institution and an account managed by the financial institution. The method further can include receiving within the electronic computing device an amount of a potential transaction and a personal identification code from a user, correlating the personal identification code with the secure code, and providing the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code to a merchant transaction processing system. The amount of the potential transaction can be deducted from the balance amount stored within the electronic wallet.

Claims

1. Using a wireless computing device, a method of conducting commerce comprising:

storing a secure code and an associated balance amount within an electronic wallet application executing within the wireless computing device, wherein the secure code specifies a financial institution and an account managed by the financial institution;

within the wireless computing device, receiving from a user an amount of a potential transaction and a personal identification code;

correlating the personal identification code with the secure code;

providing the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code to a merchant transaction processing system; and

deducting the amount of the potential transaction from the balance amount stored within the electronic wallet.

2. The method of claim 1, said storing step further comprising:

establishing a wireless communications link with the financial institution;

requesting funding of the electronic wallet for the balance amount to be deducted from the account; and

receiving the secure code from the financial institution.

3. The method of claim 2, said step of establishing a wireless communications link comprising:

establishing a wireless data communications link with the financial institution, wherein said requesting and receiving steps are performed using the wireless data communications link.

4. The method of claim 2, said step of establishing a wireless communications link comprising:

calling the financial institution over a wireless telephony link, wherein said requesting and receiving steps are performed using the wireless telephony link.

5. The method of claim 1, said providing step further comprising:

dynamically representing the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code as a graphic image; and

presenting the graphic image upon a display of the wireless computing device, such that the merchant transaction processing system can read the graphic image.

6. The method of claim 1, said providing step further comprising:

establishing a short range wireless communications link with the merchant transaction processing system; and

sending the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code over the short range wireless communications link.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a transmission from the merchant transaction processing system via the short range wireless communications link indicating the status of the proposed transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the secure code using a predetermined modification scheme after each transaction.

9. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

storing a secure code and an associated balance amount within an electronic wallet application executing within a wireless computing device, wherein the secure code specifies a financial institution and an account managed by the financial institution;

within the wireless computing device, receiving from a user an amount of a potential transaction and a personal identification code;

correlating the personal identification code with the secure code;

providing the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code to a merchant transaction processing system; and

deducting the amount of the potential transaction from the balance amount stored within the electronic wallet.

10. The machine readable storage of claim 9, said storing step further comprising:

establishing a communications link with the financial institution;

requesting funding of the electronic wallet for the balance amount to be deducted from the account; and

receiving the secure code from the financial institution.

11. The machine readable storage of claim 10, said step of establishing a communications link comprising:

establishing a wireless data communications link with the financial institution, wherein said requesting and receiving steps are performed using the wireless data communications link.

12. The machine readable storage of claim 10, said step of establishing a communications link comprising:

calling the financial institution over a wireless telephony link, wherein said requesting and receiving steps are performed using the wireless telephony link.

13. The machine readable storage of claim 9, said providing step further comprising:

dynamically representing the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code as a graphic image; and

presenting the graphic image upon a display of the wireless computing device, such that the merchant transaction processing system can read the graphic image.

14. The machine readable storage of claim 9, said providing step further comprising:

establishing a short range wireless communications link with the merchant transaction processing system; and

sending the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code over the short range wireless communications link.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a transmission from the merchant transaction processing system via the short range wireless communications link indicating the status of the proposed transaction.

16. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further comprising:

modifying the secure code using a predetermined modification scheme after each transaction.