MOBILE TELEPHONE TRANSACTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090281904A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Global 1 Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Global 1 Enterprises
• Inventors: PHARRIS, DENNIS J.
• Application Number:
  US12/412,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281904A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• 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 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in 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 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• 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 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for a mobile telephone, in conjunction with a payment transaction server, to be used directly as a payment device for a variety of financial transactions. Further, the transaction systems and methods for mobile telephone devices described herein allow a mobile telephone to participate in payment transactions in a manner that helps prevent identify theft and without relying on transferring amounts to/from one stored value account to another.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for using a mobile telephone as a payment device, comprising:

receiving, by a payment application executing the mobile telephone, a request to engage in a payment transaction using the mobile telephone as the payment device;

prompting a user of the mobile telephone to specify a payment source for the payment transaction;

transmitting the request to initiate the payment transaction and the specified payment source to a transaction server;

receiving a payment code from the transaction server; and

displaying, on a display screen of the mobile telephone, a representation of the payment code, wherein the representation of the payment code is presented to a point-of-sale system of a merchant participating in the payment transaction, wherein the point-of-sale system is configured to transmit an indication of the payment code and a transaction amount to the transaction server, and wherein the transaction server is configured to perform the payment transaction using the specified payment source for the payment amount.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the request to initiate the payment transaction using the mobile telephone as the payment device, establishing a bank account for the mobile telephone, wherein the bank account is tied to both an individual user of the mobile telephone and a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the payment source is the bank account established for the mobile telephone.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the transaction server is further configured to:

upon determining sufficient funds are available in the bank account established for the mobile telephone to cover the transaction amount;

transfer funds from the bank account established for the mobile telephone to an account associated with the merchant, and

transmit, to both the mobile telephone and the point of sale system, a confirmation that the payment transaction was completed successfully.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the payment code displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone comprises a machine readable barcode scanned by the point-of-sale system at the merchant.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the payment code displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone comprises an alphanumeric string keyed into the point-of-sale system at the merchant.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the payment source comprises ghosted account stored on the mobile telephone, wherein the ghosted account data identifies a payment account for processing the payment transaction without revealing an account number associated with the payment account.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the transaction server is further configured to:

identify the payment account associated with the ghosted account data received from the payment application on the mobile phone;

initiate a charge to the identified payment account for the transaction amount; and

upon determining that the charge to the payment account has been approved, transmit, to both the mobile telephone and the point of sale system, a confirmation that the payment transaction was completed successfully.

9. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program, which, when executed on a processor performs an operation for using a mobile telephone as a payment device, the operation comprising:

receiving, by a payment application executing the mobile telephone, a request to engage in a payment transaction using the mobile telephone as the payment device;

prompting a user of the mobile telephone to specify a payment source for the payment transaction;

transmitting the request to initiate the payment transaction and the specified payment source to a transaction server;

receiving a payment code from the transaction server; and

displaying, on a display screen of the mobile telephone, a representation of the payment code, wherein the representation of the payment code is presented to a point-of-sale system of a merchant participating in the payment transaction, wherein the point-of-sale system is configured to transmit an indication of the payment code and a transaction amount to the transaction server, and wherein the transaction server is configured to perform the payment transaction using the specified payment source for the payment amount.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises, prior to receiving the request to initiate the payment transaction using the mobile telephone as the payment device, establishing a bank account for the mobile telephone, wherein the bank account is tied to both an individual user of the mobile telephone and a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the payment source is the bank account established for the mobile telephone.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the transaction server is further configured to:

upon determining sufficient funds are available in the bank account established for the mobile telephone to cover the transaction amount;

transfer funds from the bank account established for the mobile telephone to an account associated with the merchant, and

transmit, to both the mobile telephone and the point of sale system, a confirmation that the payment transaction was completed successfully.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the representation of the payment code displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone comprises a machine readable barcode scanned by the point-of-sale system at the merchant.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the representation of the payment code displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone comprises an alphanumeric string keyed into the point-of-sale system at the merchant.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the payment source comprises ghosted account stored on the mobile telephone, wherein the ghosted account data identifies a payment account for processing the payment transaction without revealing an account number associated with the payment account.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the transaction server is further configured to:

identify the payment account associated with the ghosted account data received from the payment application on the mobile phone;

initiate a charge to the identified payment account for the transaction amount; and

upon determining that the charge to the payment account has been approved, transmit, to both the mobile telephone and the point of sale system, a confirmation that the payment transaction was completed successfully.

17. A mobile telephone device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a payment application, which when executed by the processor performs an operation for using the mobile telephone as a payment device, the operation comprising;

receiving a request to initiate a payment transaction using the mobile telephone as the payment device;

prompting a user of the mobile telephone to specify a payment source for the payment transaction;

transmitting the request to initiate the payment transaction and the specified payment source to a transaction server;

receiving a payment code from the transaction server; and

displaying, on a display screen of the mobile telephone, a representation of the payment code, wherein the representation of the payment code is presented to a point-of-sale system of a merchant participating in the payment transaction, wherein the point-of-sale system is configured to transmit an indication of the payment code and a transaction amount to the transaction server, and wherein the transaction server is configured to perform the payment transaction using the specified payment source for the payment amount.

18. The mobile telephone device of claim 17, wherein the operation further comprises, prior to receiving the request to initiate the payment transaction using the mobile telephone as the payment device, establishing a bank account for the mobile telephone, wherein the bank account is tied to both an individual user of the mobile telephone and a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

19. The mobile telephone device of claim 18, wherein the payment source is the bank account established for the mobile telephone.

20. The mobile telephone device of claim 19, wherein the transaction server is further configured to:

upon determining sufficient funds are available in the bank account established for the mobile telephone to cover the transaction amount;

transfer funds from the bank account established for the mobile telephone to an account associated with the merchant, and

transmit, to both the mobile telephone and the point of sale system, a confirmation that the payment transaction was completed successfully.

21. The mobile telephone device of claim 17, wherein the representation of the payment code displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone comprises a machine readable barcode scanned by the point-of-sale system at the merchant.

22. The mobile telephone device of claim 17, wherein the representation of the payment code displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone comprises an alphanumeric string keyed into the point-of-sale system at the merchant.

23. The mobile telephone device of claim 17, wherein the payment source comprises ghosted account stored on the mobile telephone, wherein the ghosted account data identifies a payment account for processing the payment transaction without revealing an account number associated with the payment account.

24. The mobile telephone device of claim 23, wherein the transaction server is further configured to:

identify the payment account associated with the ghosted account data received from the payment application on the mobile phone;

initiate a charge to the identified payment account for the transaction amount; and

upon determining that the charge to the payment account has been approved, transmit, to both the mobile telephone and the point of sale system, a confirmation that the payment transaction was completed successfully.