Peer-to-peer financial transaction devices and methods

• US 20100082481A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Rosenblatt, Michael, Nakajima, Taido Lantz, Mayo, Sean Anthony, Mikhak, Amir Mahmood
• Granted Patent: US 10,380,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• 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 20/3278 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• 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

Abstract

Various techniques are provided for carrying out peer-to-peer financial transactions using one or more electronic devices. In one embodiment, a request for payment is transmitted from a first device to a second device using a near field communication (NFC) interface. In response to the request, the second device may transmit payment information to the first device. The first device may select a crediting account and, using a suitable communication protocol, may communicate the received payment information and selected crediting account to one or more external financial servers configured to process and determine whether the payment may be authorized. If the payment is authorized, a payment may be credited to the selected crediting account. In a further embodiment, a device may include a camera configured to obtain an image of a payment instrument. The device may further include an application to extract payment information from the acquired image.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a payment in a peer-to-peer transaction using a handheld electronic device comprising:

acquiring payment information on the handheld electronic device, the payment information comprising at least one payment account selected by a payor;

determining a crediting account for receiving the payment; and

obtaining authorization for the payment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the payment information comprises receiving the payment information on a communication interface that is configured to establish a communication path with another communication interface on a separate device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the payment information is received in response to an electronic payment request transmitted from the handheld electronic device to the separate device using the communication interface, the electronic payment request including a requested payment amount.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the communication interface comprises a near field communication (NFC) interface, wherein the communication path comprises an NFC path, and wherein the NFC path is established using an NFC tap operation performed between the handheld electronic device and the separate device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected payment account comprises a smart card, and wherein acquiring the payment information comprises receiving payment information stored on the smart card using the communication interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the payment information comprises acquiring an image of a payment instrument and extracting payment information data from the acquired image.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment instrument comprises a credit card, and wherein the extracted payment information data comprises at least one of a credit card account number, an expiration date, an identity of a credit card provider, or an identity of a credit card account holder, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the payment instrument comprises a check, and wherein the extracted payment information data comprises at least one of a bank routing number, a bank account number, a payment amount, an identity of the bank account holder, or a check identifier number, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the crediting account comprises:

displaying a listing of crediting accounts stored on the handheld electronic device in response to a request by a user of the handheld electronic device;

receiving a selection input from the user of the handheld electronic device; and

selecting the crediting account from the listing based on the received selection input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining authorization for the payment comprises transmitting the payment information from the handheld electronic device to at least one external server separate from the handheld electronic device, the at least one external server being configured to authorize the payment based upon the transmitted payment information and to credit the payment to the crediting account if the payment is authorized.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected payment account comprises a credit card account, and wherein the at least one external server includes a server associated with a credit card provider.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected payment account is a bank account, and wherein the at least one external server includes a server associated with a banking provider.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected payment account is a non-cash account.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-cash account comprises an account associated with an online digital media provider, and wherein the at least one external server includes a server associated with the online digital media provider.

15. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor;

at least one communication interface, wherein the at least one communication interface comprises a first communication interface configured to establish a first communication path with a communication interface on a separate device; and

a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store at least one payment account, at least one-crediting account, and a transaction application executable by the processor, the transaction application being configured to transmit payment information received by the handheld electronic device to at least one external server to obtain authorization for a payment using the payment information using the second communication interface.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, the payment information is received using the first communication interface.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first communication interface comprises an NFC interface, and wherein the first communication path comprises an NFC path.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, wherein upon receiving the payment information, the transaction application is configured to prompt a user of the handheld electronic device for the selection of a crediting account.

19. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a camera configured to acquire an image of a payment instrument, wherein the payment information received by the handheld electronic device is extracted from the acquired image.

20. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a display, wherein display is configured to display the payment information received by the handheld electronic device and a listing of crediting accounts stored on the handheld electronic device.

21. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication interface comprises a second communication interface configured to establish a communication path with the at least one external server, and wherein the payment information received by the handheld electronic device is transmitted to the at least one external server using the second communication interface.

22. A method for providing a payment in a peer-to-peer transaction using a handheld electronic device comprising:

determining a payment account on the handheld electronic device; and

providing payment information, the payment information including the payment account, to a separate device configured to transmit the payment information to at least one external server configured to authorize a payment made using the payment account.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the payment account is performed in response to a payment request received from the separate device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the payment request is received on a communication interface configured to establish a communication path with another communication interface on the separate device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein providing the payment information to the separate device comprises transmitting the payment information to the separate device using the communication interface.

26. The method of claim 25, comprising prompting a user of the handheld electronic device to provide an authorization PIN prior to transmitting the payment information to the separate device, wherein the payment information is transmitted to the separate device if the correct authorization PIN is provided by the user of the handheld electronic device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the communication interface comprises an NFC interface, wherein the communication path comprises an NFC path, and wherein the NFC path is established using an NFC tap operation performed between the handheld electronic device and the separate device.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the payment account is determined based upon a previous configuration performed by a user of the handheld electronic device.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the payment account comprises:

displaying a listing of payment accounts stored on the handheld electronic device in response to a request by a user of the handheld electronic device;

receiving a selection input from the user of the handheld electronic device; and

selecting the payment account from the listing based on the received selection input.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the payment account comprises a credit card account, a bank account, or a non-cash account.

31. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store at least one payment account and a transaction application executable by the processor, the transaction application being configured to determine a payment account and transmit payment information to a separate device, the payment information comprising at least the determined payment account; and

a communication interface configured to establish a communication path with a communication interface on the separate device, wherein the payment information is transmitted to the separate device using the communication interface.

32. The handheld electronic device of claim 31, wherein the communication interface comprises an NFC interface, and wherein the communication path comprises an NFC path.

33. The handheld electronic device of claim 31, further comprising a display, wherein in determining the payment account, the transaction application is configured to display a listing of payment accounts stored on the handheld electronic device on the display and to select the payment account from the listing in response to a selection input received from a user of the handheld electronic device.

34. The handheld electronic device of claim 33, wherein prior to transmitting the payment information to the separate device, the transaction application is configured to provide a prompt on the display, the prompt requesting a user of the handheld electronic device to authorize the transmission of the payment information by providing an authorization PIN code, and wherein the payment information is transmitted to the separate device if a correct authorization PIN code is provided by the user.

35. The handheld electronic device of claim 31, wherein the at least one payment account stored in the memory device comprises at least one of a credit card account, a bank account, or a non-cash account, or any combination thereof.