METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ONLINE PAYMENTS

• US 20100250443A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vuorinen, Jyri, Karlsson, Matti
• Application Number:
  US12/412,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

An approach is provided for making and handling online payments. An indication that information identifying a bill is available is received. A user credential associated with the bill is retrieved. A request for the bill is generated, wherein the bill includes the user credential and the information. A bill authorization message is then generated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that information identifying a bill is available;

retrieving a user credential associated with the bill;

generating a request for the bill, including the user credential and the information; and

generating a bill authorization message.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the user credential includes encrypted information.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the bill; and

initiating displaying of the bill.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the user credential is retrieved from a memory of an a handset configured to communicate over a communication network that includes a wireless network.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining contextual information related to the bill.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a purchase of a service corresponding to the bill; and

receiving the service.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the bill relates to a purchase whose payment is shared by a plurality of users.

8. A method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a respective identity of the plurality of users;

determining a portion of the bill to be paid by each of the plurality of users; and

wherein the bill is for an amount equal to the portion.

9. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least perform the following steps:

receiving an indication that information identifying a bill is available;

retrieving a user credential associated with the bill;

generating a request for the bill, including the user credential and the information; and

generating a bill authorization message.

10. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the user credential includes encrypted information.

11. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further including instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least perform the following steps:

receiving the bill; and

initiating displaying of the bill.

12. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the user credential is retrieved from a memory of an a handset configured to communicate over a communication network that includes a wireless network.

13. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further including instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least perform the following steps:

determining contextual information related to the bill.

14. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further including instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least perform the following steps:

initiating a purchase of a service corresponding to the bill; and

receiving the service.

15. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the bill relates to a purchase whose payment is shared by a plurality of users.

16. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that if executed cause the apparatus to at least perform the following:

receiving an indication that information identifying a bill is available;

retrieving a user credential associated with the bill;

generating a request for the bill, including the user credential and the information; and

generating a bill authorization message.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is included in a handset configured to communicate over a communication network that includes a wireless network.

18. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user credential includes encrypted information.

19. An apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a memory and wherein the user credential is retrieved from the memory.

20. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the bill relates to a purchase whose payment is shared by a plurality of users.