SMART CARD PURCHASING TRANSACTIONS USING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20090030842A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cutino, Suzanne C., Hoffman, Steven R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/353 Payments by cards read by M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/12 Usage or charge determination
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load. Finally, the handset validates the second cryptographic signature and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. First, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the purchase instruction message locally, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends a debit message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to debit the smart card. Finally, the handset validates the cryptographic signature and debits the smart card.

Claims

1. A method of purchasing an item from a merchant server computer by a user over a wireless telecommunications network using a mobile telephone handset, said method comprising:

formulating a draw request message at said handset that includes a purchase amount of said item and an identifier of a smart card that is in communication with said handset via a card reader interface;

sending said draw request message over said telecommunications network from a subscriber identification module (SIM) of said handset to a payment server computer associated with said merchant server computer;

receiving a debit message at said handset from said payment server computer that includes a cryptographic signature S2 and an approval to debit said smart card by said purchase amount, said cryptographic signature S2 being generated using a first cryptographic key shared between said smart card and an issuer of said smart card;

verifying said cryptographic signature S2 at said smart card using said first shared cryptographic key;

debiting a stored-value application of said smart card by said purchase amount;

sending a debit result message from said smart card to said payment server computer that includes a cryptographic signature S3, said cryptographic signature S3 being generated using a second cryptographic key shared between said smart card and said issuer of said smart card, said signature S3 uniquely identifying said smart card and indicating that said stored-value application of said smart card has been debited by said purchase amount; and

receiving said item by said user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

sending an order request message to said merchant server computer from said handset for the purchase of said item; and

receiving a purchase instruction message at said SIM of said handset from said merchant server computer, said purchase instruction message including said purchase amount of said item.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

decrementing a value of said smart card in a database of an administration system computer by said purchase amount using said identifier of said smart card; and

transferring said purchase amount to an acquiring bank associated with said merchant server computer.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

sending said draw request message, receiving said debit message and sending said debit result message via a processing gateway computer, said gateway computer using a different message protocol for communication with said handset than with said payment server computer.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

said user confirming said purchase amount before said sending of said draw request message.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

initializing said smart card for purchase; and

receiving an answer to reset (ATR) from said smart card before said sending of said draw request message.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first cryptographic key and said second cryptographic key are the same key.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

displaying said item on a display of said handset; and

receiving an indication from said user to purchase said item via said display or a keypad of said handset.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

validating a confirmation message from said payment server computer by said merchant server computer; and

releasing said item to said user only if said confirmation message is validated.

10. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

including a merchant identifier in said purchase instruction that identifies said merchant server computer; and

including said merchant identifier in said draw request message, said merchant identifier being used by said payment server computer to identify said merchant server computer.

11. A method of processing a purchase of an item from a merchant server computer by a user over a wireless telecommunications network using a mobile telephone handset, said method comprising:

receiving a draw request message over said telecommunications network from a subscriber identification module (SIM) of said handset at a payment server computer associated with said merchant server computer, said draw request message including a purchase amount for said item and an identifier of a smart card that is in communication with said handset via a card reader interface;

generating a cryptographic signature S2 at said payment server computer using a first cryptographic key shared between said smart card and an issuer of said smart card;

sending a debit message from said payment server computer to said smart card in said handset including said cryptographic signature S2 and an approval to debit said smart card by said purchase amount;

receiving a debit result message from said smart card at said payment server computer that includes a cryptographic signature S3, said cryptographic signature S3 uniquely identifying said smart card and being generated using a second cryptographic key shared between said smart card and said issuer of said smart card;

verifying said cryptographic signature S3 from said smart card using said second shared cryptographic key, wherein verification of said signature S3 indicates that said signature S2 has been verified by said smart card and that a stored-value application of said smart card has been debited by said purchase amount; and

sending a confirmation message from said payment server computer to said merchant server computer indicating that said smart card has been debited by said purchase amount, whereby said merchant server computer releases said item to said user.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

receiving an order request message at said merchant server computer from said handset for the purchase of said item; and

sending a purchase instruction message from said merchant server computer to said SIM of said handset, said purchase instruction message including said purchase amount of said item.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

decrementing a value of said smart card in a database of an administration system computer by said purchase amount using said identifier of said smart card; and

transferring said purchase amount to an acquiring bank associated with said merchant server computer.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

receiving said draw request message, sending said debit message and sending said debit result message via a processing gateway computer, said gateway computer using a different message protocol for communication with said handset than with said payment server computer.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

said user confirming said purchase amount before said receiving of said draw request message.

16. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

initializing said smart card for purchase; and

receiving an answer to reset (ATR) at said SIM from said smart card before said receiving of said draw request message.

17. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first cryptographic key and said second cryptographic key are the same key.

18. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

displaying said item on a display of said handset; and

receiving an indication from said user to purchase said item via said display or a keypad of said handset.

19. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

validating said confirmation message by said merchant server computer; and

releasing said item to said user only if said confirmation message is validated.

20. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

including a merchant identifier in said purchase instruction that identifies said merchant server computer; and

including said merchant identifier in said draw request message, said merchant identifier being used by said payment server computer to identify said merchant server computer.

21. A purchasing system for purchasing an item for a user, said purchasing system comprising:

a wireless telecommunications network for providing communication between entities;

a mobile telephone handset in communication with said telecommunications network, said handset including

a card reader for communicating with said smart card,

a subscriber identification module (SIM), and

an input interface;

a smart card that is in communication with said handset via a card reader interface, said smart card including a stored value, a cryptographic key shared with an issuer of said smart card, wherein said smart card is arranged to verify a first cryptographic signature S2 and to generate a second cryptographic signature S3;

a merchant server computer arranged to generate a purchase instruction message intended for said SIM, said purchase instruction message including a purchase amount of said item and a merchant identifier; and

a payment server computer arranged to receive a draw request message from said SIM, to generate a debit message intended for said smart card that includes said first cryptographic signature S2, to verify said second cryptographic signature S3, and to generate a confirmation of payment by said smart card for said merchant server computer, whereby said item is purchased over said wireless telecommunications network and is released to said user associated with said smart card.

22. A system as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

an administration system computer having a database that holds a value of said smart card using said smart card identifier, wherein said value of said smart card in said database is decremented by said purchase amount; and

an acquiring bank associated with said merchant server computer to which is transferred said purchase amount.

23. A system as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

a gateway computer that provides an interface between said handset and said merchant and payment server computers, said gateway computer using a different message protocol for communication with said handset than with said merchant and payment server computers.

24. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said first cryptographic key and said second cryptographic key are the same key.

25. A system as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

a display of said handset onto which is displayed said item; and

a keypad of said handset arranged to receive an indication from said user to purchase said item.

26. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said merchant server computer is further arranged to validate said confirmation of payment from said payment server computer and to release said item to said user only if said confirmation of payment is validated.

27. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said smart card may be disconnected from said handset without affecting the telecommunications functionality of said handset.