MOBILE VENDING PURCHASING

• US 20080154735A1
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/749,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC 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

Abstract

A system and a method for using a portable consumer device such as a mobile phone for payments and the like are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising receiving a payment request message from a portable consumer device operated by a consumer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay for a product from a vending machine, sending an authorization response message back to the vending machine wherein the vending machine subsequently prompts the consumer to enter a selection if the authorization response message indicates that the consumer is authorized to make a purchase, and receiving an acknowledgement message from the vending machine that the product was purchased.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a payment request message from a portable consumer device operated by a consumer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay for a product from a vending machine;

sending an authorization response message back to the vending machine wherein the vending machine subsequently prompts the consumer to enter a selection if the authorization response message indicates that the consumer is authorized to make a purchase; and

receiving an acknowledgement message from the vending machine that the product was purchased.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the payment request message to determine if the consumer is authorized to pay for the product.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically calling the portable consumer device and requesting that the consumer enter a PIN into the device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment request message is received by a payment processing network, and wherein the payment request message does not pass directly from the portable consumer device to the vending machine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable consumer device is a wireless phone.

6. A computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving a payment request message from a portable consumer device operated by a consumer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay for a product from a vending machine;

code for sending an authorization response message back to the vending machine wherein the vending machine subsequently prompts the consumer to enter a selection if the authorization response message indicates that the consumer is authorized to make a purchase; and

code for receiving an acknowledgement message from the vending machine that the product was purchased.

7. A server comprising the computer readable medium of claim 6.

8. A method comprising:

reviewing contact information associated with a vending machine;

sending a payment request message using the contact information and a portable consumer device wherein the vending machine subsequently receives an authorization response message indicating that payment is authorized and the vending machine thereafter prompts the consumer to make a selection;

selecting a product in the vending machine; and

receiving the product from the vending machine.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the portable consumer device is a wireless phone.

10. A method comprising:

receiving an authorization response message indicating that the consumer is authorized to make a purchase;

prompting the consumer to enter a selection; and

delivering an item corresponding to the selection to the consumer if the consumer makes the selection within a given amount of time.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the given amount of time is twenty seconds or less.

12. A vending machine adapted to perform the method of claim 10.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a phone number associated with a vending machine; and

dialing the phone number, wherein after dialing, the vending machine subsequently receives authorization to dispense a product to a consumer operating the phone.

14. A computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving a phone number associated with a vending machine; and

code for dialing the phone number, wherein after dialing, the vending machine subsequently receives authorization to dispense a product to a consumer operating the phone.

15. A wireless phone comprising the computer readable medium of claim 14.

16. A method comprising:

automatically detecting a vending machine;

prompting a consumer to enter information associated with the vending machine; and

sending a payment request message wherein the vending machine subsequently receives authorization to dispense a product to the consumer.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising prompting the consumer to enter a PIN.

18. A computer readable medium comprising:

code for automatically detecting a vending machine;

code for prompting a consumer to enter information associated with the vending machine; and

code for sending a payment request message wherein the vending machine subsequently receives authorization to dispense a product to the consumer.

19. A wireless phone comprising the computer readable medium of claim 18.