Electronic means of payment with individually settable security features for the internet or for mobile networks

• US 20050149456A1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volker Rudolph
• Original Assignee: Heiko Plohn, Karsten Schulze, Ralf Hochwimmer, Volker Rudolph
• Inventors: Rudolph, Volker, Plohn, Heiko, Hochwimmer, Ralf, Schulze, Karsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• 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 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks

Abstract

Electronic means of payment require specific procedures concerning the use thereof as well as set security features. Disclosed is a means of payment allowing the user to add individual security features, comprising the use of specific devices that are available to the user, the purchasing procedure, and additional general conditions pertaining to purchasing goods and services. The electronic means of payment can combine existing payment systems by making the payment systems selectable and allowing individual security features to be adjusted. The popular credit card can become far more secure when purchasing goods and services by combining the credit card with devices providing increased security, for a mobile phone, and adequate general conditions. The user of the means of payment can make payments in an individual manner according to the individual merchandise or service that he/she would like to purchase.

Claims

1. Method of generating electronic means of payment with individually settable security features for the internet or for mobile networks,

wherein the means of payment is requested from a financial institution by the customer by means of a technical facility (in particular a computer connected to the internet or a mobile phone or an automatic bank terminal);

wherein the means of payment is generated on the computer of the financial institution using individual security features desired by the customer, wherein a computer program is used for the input of the security features, wherein the security features are stored in a data object, wherein the security features are made available by the program individually or grouped together in selection lists, or are added to the data object by manual data input;

wherein the means of payment is transmitted electronically and signed, to the customer'"'"'s technical facility (in particular to a computer connected to the internet or to a mobile phone).

2. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 1 wherein, through payment of cash at the financial institution (in particular through payment at an automatic bank terminal), and lack of authorization (since not required) by the customer, an anonymous means of payment is created with simultaneous setting up of a virtual account.

3. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 2, wherein during the generation of the means of payment the data exchanged between the technical systems are secured by encryption and optionally digitally signed in one or more steps.

4. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 3, wherein one or more of the steps taken by the customer are implemented within independent programs or as plug-ins, or are effected with the aid of a program provided in the means of payment.

5. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 4, characterized in that, in addition to bank-specific details, it possesses individual security features definable by the customer, which determine the course of the payment transaction or are released by it.

6. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 5, wherein it possesses the security feature defining the person who may use this means of payment.

7. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 6, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the institutions or persons who may accept this means of payment.

8. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 7, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the category of goods or services which may be acquired by the means of payment.

9. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 8, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the technical facility via which the means of payment must be used.

10. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 9, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the institutions or persons who must agree to the purchase.

11. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 10, wherein it is defined as a means of payment for multiple use, wherein the multiple use is characterized by a property which allows a multiple copy of the means of payment, or the means of payment has a property which allows the debiting of several partial amounts which may be credited to several dealers and represent the original value of the means of payment only in the totality of the partial amounts.

12. Method of using a means of payment generated according to claim 11,

wherein the customer, following transmission of a price quotation for goods or services, transmits the means of payment from his technical facility (in particular from a computer connected to the internet or from a mobile phone) to the computer of the seller;

wherein this means of payment is transmitted by the computer of the seller to a checking system (in particular a bank computer which may be dialled up over a network) for checking;

wherein the checking system checks the means of payment for validity and creditworthiness, and transmits information on the payment procedure to the seller;

wherein the seller on receipt of information from the checking system is able to check and accept the defined payment procedure (risk assessment);

wherein the seller after making a risk assessment delivers the goods or service;

wherein the customer on receipt of the goods or service releases the means of payment and thereby actuates the financial transaction.

13. Method of using a means of payment according to claim 12, wherein the security feature of releasing the means of payment by the customer is dispensed with.

14. Method of using a means of payment according to claim 13, wherein, during the use of the means of payment, the data exchanged between the technical systems are in one or more steps secured by encryption and optionally digitally signed.

15. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 1, wherein during the generation of the means of payment the data exchanged between the technical systems are secured by encryption and optionally digitally signed in one or more steps.

16. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the steps taken by the customer are implemented within independent programs or as plug-ins, or are effected with the aid of a program provided in the means of payment.

17. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 1, characterized in that, in addition to bank-specific details, it possesses individual security features definable by the customer, which determine the course of the payment transaction or are released by it.

18. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 17, wherein it possesses the security feature defining the person who may use this means of payment.

19. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 17, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the institutions or persons who may accept this means of payment.

20. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 17, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the category of goods or services which may be acquired by the means of payment.

21. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 17, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the technical facility via which the means of payment must be used.

22. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 17, wherein it possesses the individual security feature defining the institutions or persons who must agree to the purchase.

23. Method of generating electronic means of payment according to claim 17, wherein it is defined as a means of payment for multiple use, wherein the multiple use is characterized by a property which allows a multiple copy of the means of payment, or the means of payment has a property which allows the debiting of several partial amounts which may be credited to several dealers and represent the original value of the means of payment only in the totality of the partial amounts.

24. Method of using a means of payment generated according to claim 17,

wherein the customer, following transmission of a price quotation for goods or services, transmits the means of payment from the technical facility (in particular from a computer connected to the internet or from a mobile phone) to the computer of the seller;

wherein this means of payment is transmitted by the computer of the seller to a checking system (in particular a bank computer which may be dialled up over a network) for checking;

wherein the checking system checks the means of payment for validity and creditworthiness, and transmits information on the payment procedure to the seller;

wherein the seller on receipt of information from the checking system is able to check and accept the defined payment procedure (risk assessment);

wherein the seller after making a risk assessment delivers the goods or service;

wherein the customer on receipt of the goods or service releases the means of payment and thereby actuates the financial transaction.

25. Method of using a means of payment according to claim 24, wherein the security feature of releasing the means of payment by the customer is dispensed with.

26. Method of using a means of payment according to claim 24 wherein, during the use of the means of payment, the data exchanged between the technical systems are in one or more steps secured by encryption and optionally digitally signed.

27. Method of using a means of payment according to claim 24, wherein one or more of the steps on the customer side are implemented within independent programs or as plug-ins, or are effected with the aid of a program provided in the means of payment.

28. An electronic payment method providing customer settable security features, the method comprising

requesting payment from a financial institution by the customer

generating a payment on a computer of the financial institution using individual security features that are specified by the customer, wherein a computer program is used for the input of the security features;

and

transmitting the payment electronically.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of requesting payment is performed by the customer using a computer connected to the internet.

30. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of requesting payment is performed by the customer using a mobile phone.

31. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of requesting payment is performed by the customer using an automatic bank terminal.

32. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the security features are stored in a data object and made available by the program individually.

33. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the security features are stored in a data object and made available grouped together in selection lists.

34. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the security features are added by manual data input.

35. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of generating the payment comprises including bank-specific details and individual security features definable by the customer, which determine the course of the payment transaction, in the payment.

36. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

the customer, following transmission of a price quotation for goods or services, transmitting the means of payment to a seller, wherein the means of payment is transmitted by the seller to a checking system that checks the means of payment for validity and creditworthiness, and transmits information on a payment procedure to the seller;

the seller, on receipt of information from the checking system, indicating whether the payment procedure is acceptable;

the seller after making a risk assessment delivering the goods or service; and

the customer on receipt of the goods or service choosing to release the means of payment to complete the financial transaction.