METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR USING A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• US 20080195545A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: MOTOYAMA, Tetsuro
• Application Number:
  US11/673,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215

Abstract

A method of requesting information, including: receiving a request to process a transaction; identifying a user that sent the request; determining, based on a rule corresponding to the transaction and the identity of the user, that information needs to be obtained from the user before the transaction can be processed; accessing a database to obtain information corresponding to a mobile communication device of the user, the information indicating a contact address for the mobile communication device; contacting the mobile communication device using the information obtained from the database; and requesting additional information from the user.

Claims

1. A method of requesting information, comprising:

receiving a request to process a transaction;

identifying a user that sent the request;

obtaining a rule corresponding to the transaction;

determining, based on the rule corresponding to the transaction and the identity of the user, that information needs to be obtained from the user before the transaction can be processed;

accessing a database to obtain information corresponding to a mobile communication device of the user, the information indicating a contact address for the mobile communication device;

contacting the mobile communication device using the information obtained from the database; and

requesting additional information from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:

storing the contact address of the mobile communication device in correspondence with the identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is processing information on an image forming device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is processing information used in a purchase card transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the additional information matches data stored for the user;

processing the transaction if the additional information matches information; and

creating an audit record that includes at least one of an identity of the user, the additional information, and data related to the transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a type of the mobile communication device; and

obtaining, based on the determined type of the mobile communication device, an interface module used to communicate with the mobile communication device.

7. A system for requesting information, comprising:

a target unit configured to

receive a request to process a transaction,

identify a user that sent the request,

obtain a rule corresponding to the transaction,

determine, based on the rule corresponding to the transaction and the identity of the user, that information needs to be obtained from the user before the transaction can be processed,

access a database to obtain information corresponding to a mobile communication device of the user, the information indicating a contact address for the mobile communication device,

contact the mobile communication device using the information obtained from the database, and

request additional information from the user; and

a mobile communication device configured to supply the additional information to the target unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the target unit is configured to store the contact address of the mobile communication device in correspondence with the identity of the user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the transaction represents a process to be performed by an image forming device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the transaction represents a process to be performed in a purchase card transaction.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the target unit is configured to

determine whether the additional information matches data stored for the user;

process the transaction if the additional information matches information; and

create an audit record that includes at least one of an identity of the user, the additional information, and data related to the transaction.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the target unit is configured to

determine a type of the mobile communication device;

and

obtain, based on the determined type of the mobile communication device, an interface module used to communicate with the mobile communication device.

13. A computer program product encoded with instructions, which when executed by an information processing apparatus cause the information processing apparatus to perform a method of requesting information, the method comprising:

receiving a request to process a transaction;

identifying a user that sent the request;

obtaining a rule corresponding to the transaction;

determining, based on the rule corresponding to the transaction and the identity of the user, that information needs to be obtained from the user before the transaction can be processed;

accessing a database to obtain information corresponding to a mobile communication device of the user, the information indicating a contact address for the mobile communication device;

contacting the mobile communication device using the information obtained from the database; and

requesting additional information from the user.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the determining step comprises:

storing the contact address of the mobile communication device in correspondence with the identity of the user.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the transaction is processing information on an image forming device.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the transaction is processing information used in a purchase card transaction.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the additional information matches data stored for the user;

processing the transaction if the additional information matches information; and

creating an audit record that includes at least one of an identity of the user, the additional information, and data related to the transaction.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a type of the mobile communication device; and

obtaining, based on the determined type of the mobile communication device, an interface module used to communicate with the mobile communication device.

19. A system for requesting information, comprising:

means for receiving a request to process a transaction;

means for identifying a user that sent the request;

means for obtaining a rule corresponding to the transaction;

means for determining, based on the rule corresponding to the transaction and the identity of the user, that information needs to be obtained from the user before the transaction can be processed;

means for accessing a database to obtain information corresponding to a mobile communication device of the user, the information indicating a contact address for the mobile communication device;

means for contacting the mobile communication device using the information obtained from the database; and

means for requesting additional information from the user.