M-commerce virtual cash system, method, and apparatus

• US 20070215687A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Waltman, Joan
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/065 using e-cash
• 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 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A virtual cash system, method, and apparatus has an account record containing a record of money amounts associated with a wireless device and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting to the wireless device predetermined information from the account record. Cash amounts can be spent from the account record directly from the wireless device via information derived from the wireless device via a bar code on the display, a short range radio signal, a light beam, or the like. A different security code is generated for each account transaction for verification.

Claims

1. A virtual cash system, comprising:

an account record containing a record of money amounts associated with a wireless device; and

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting to said wireless device predetermined information from said record, representing cash amounts that can be spent from said record directly from said wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a system for receiving money information to be added to and debited from said account record.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a system in which money can be added to said account record by a wireless direction from a third party.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a security code checking apparatus that can verify a different security code received from said wireless device with each transaction regarding said account record.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an account record update system for providing account record update information to said transmitter for transmission to said wireless device.

6. A wireless device, comprising:

a display screen;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving account information indicating a cash amount that may be spent; and

means for displaying available cash information on said display screen sufficient to enable at least a portion of said cash amount to be spent.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said information on said display screen includes a bar code.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein at least some of said information is displayed on said display screen in the form of a bar code.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein at least some of said information is displayed on said display screen in the form of human readable information.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said human readable information includes a number indicating an amount of cash available to be spent.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein said information includes information that restricts spending authorization to purchases at a particular point of sale.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said information further comprises information to restrict said spending authorization to a predetermined maximum cash amount.

13. A virtual cash system for use with a wireless device having a display screen and having a receiver for wirelessly receiving account information representing cash amounts that can be spent directly from said wireless device, comprising:

an account record specifying a cash amount associated with said wireless device that can be spent;

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said account information to said wireless device to enable a user determined portion of said cash amount to be spent directly from said wireless device; and

apparatus for receiving spending information from said wireless device directing said user determined portion of said cash amount be debited from said account record.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein at least some of said account information is displayed in a bar code on said display screen, and wherein said apparatus for receiving spending information is a bar code reader.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein at least some of said account information and a spent amount is wirelessly transmitted by said wireless device and wherein said apparatus for receiving spending information is an entity that maintains said account record.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein at least some of said account information is transmitted by an IR transmitter on said wireless device, and wherein said apparatus for receiving spending information is an IR receiver.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein at least some of said account information is transmitted by a short range radio transmitter on said wireless device, and wherein said apparatus for receiving spending information is a short range radio receiver.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said short range radio transmitter and receiver are part of a system selected from the group consisting of an 802.11, a Bluetooth, and a LAN system.

19. The system of claim 13 further comprising apparatus for delivering account update information to said transmitter indicating changes in said account record.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein said wireless device is further of the type that sends a rolling security code with each spending transaction regarding said account record, and further comprising security code checking apparatus that can verify the security code sent by said wireless device.

21. A method for operating a virtual cash system comprising:

wirelessly transmitting to a wireless device information concerning a funds balance in a money account to enable a user determined portion of said funds balance to be spent directly from said wireless device as cash;

reading information from said wireless device that enables said money account to be identified;

debiting said money account for said user determined portion of said funds balance; and

wirelessly updating said information concerning said balance in said wireless device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said reading comprises scanning a bar code on a display of said wireless device that enables said money account to be identified.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising reading a security code from said wireless device that enables a funds balance in said account be verified.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said security code is a rolling security code that changes after each debit transaction.

25. A method for operating a virtual cash system comprising:

maintaining a money account containing funds specified by a user of a mobile device;

wirelessly transmitting to said wireless device information concerning said funds;

receiving a direction from a merchant to debit a specified amount from said funds, said direction containing information received from said wireless device identifying said money account;

debiting said specified amount from said funds; and

crediting said debited specified amount to an account of said merchant.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein further comprising wirelessly transmitting to said wireless device update information concerning said funds after said specified amount has been debited from said funds.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said information received from said wireless device identifying said money account is information received from a bar code scanned by said merchant from a display of said wireless device.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising reading a security code from said wireless device that enables a funds balance in said account be verified.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said security code is a rolling security code that changes after each debit transaction.