METHODS OF AUTHORIZING ACTIONS
First Claim
1. A method of authorizing an action, the method comprising, in any permissible order, at least the acts of:
- receiving from a person having authority to authorize the action, an identification of a first phone number for obtaining authorization for the action;
receiving from a person seeking the action, a request for authorization of the action;
after the receiving the identification of the first phone number, and after the receiving of the request for authorization, sending an automated first message through a mobile phone network to a first mobile phone having the first phone number, wherein the first message includes a description of the action for which authorization is requested; and
after the sending of the first message, receiving from the first mobile phone, having the first phone number, a second message, wherein the second message authorizes the action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for authorizing actions using mobile phones. Embodiments include receiving from a person having authorize the action, an identification of a phone number for obtaining authorization for the action, receiving from a person seeking the action a request for authorization of the action, sending an automated first message through a mobile phone network to the mobile phone, including a description of the action for which authorization is requested, and receiving, from the first mobile phone, a second message, which authorizes the action. Actions that are authorized, in different embodiments, include computer access, physical access, and financial transactions. In various embodiments, the phone number may be received through the mobile phone network through the Internet, through a local signal, or directly from the user.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of authorizing an action, the method comprising, in any permissible order, at least the acts of:
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receiving from a person having authority to authorize the action, an identification of a first phone number for obtaining authorization for the action;
receiving from a person seeking the action, a request for authorization of the action;
after the receiving the identification of the first phone number, and after the receiving of the request for authorization, sending an automated first message through a mobile phone network to a first mobile phone having the first phone number, wherein the first message includes a description of the action for which authorization is requested; and
after the sending of the first message, receiving from the first mobile phone, having the first phone number, a second message, wherein the second message authorizes the action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of authenticating a transaction, the method comprising in any order at least:
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receiving through at least one of an Internet website and a mobile phone network, from each of at least a plurality of users, an indication of a criteria for the user for obtaining authorization for transactions;
for each of at least a plurality of the users, sending a first automated message through the mobile phone network to a mobile phone of the user, the message containing an amount of the transaction and requesting an affirmative action to indicate authorization of the transaction; and
for each of at least a plurality of the users, receiving from the mobile phone of the user a second message indicating that the user of the mobile phone has taken the affirmative action to indicate authorization of the transaction.
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Specification