PORTABLE COMPUTERIZED WIRELESS PAYMENT APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20120225639A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Mark J., Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/06 using voice
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 : Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00314 : Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 : Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 : Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 : for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 : for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 : the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 : the arrangements being full-front touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 : the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A mobile user apparatus and associated methods useful for conducting payment transactions wirelessly, such as at point-of-sale locations. In one embodiment, the mobile user apparatus is a cellular-enabled mobile device that includes a short-range passive radio frequency transceiver that when interrogated by a reader at the point-of-sale, issues a reply including information relating to an account of the user of the mobile apparatus that is to be debited for the payment. In one variant, the information stored on the mobile device is encrypted for security, and the mobile user apparatus is further configured to receive transaction data wirelessly in return.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A mobile user device enabled for wireless payment, comprising:

a cellular wireless interface;

a global positioning system (GPS)-based wireless receiver; and

a short range radio frequency device disposed on or in the mobile user device, the radio frequency device configured to be encoded with information specific to a user of the device, the information including payment source information allowing the user to use the mobile user device to wirelessly pay for at least one of goods or services by placing the mobile user device in proximity to an interrogation or reader apparatus at a point of sale of said goods or services;

wherein the short range radio frequency device with payment source information obviates the user from having to carry at least one other currency or payment source on their person; and

wherein the radio frequency device comprises a passive radio frequency identification device configured to utilize radio frequency energy incident thereon and generated from the interrogation apparatus or reader to generate a reply, the reply including at least a portion of the payment source information.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the short range radio frequency device is disposed on or in the mobile user device at time of manufacture of the mobile user device, the radio frequency device comprising an integrated circuit with data memory, and an antenna.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the short range radio frequency device is disposed on or in the mobile user device by the user after time of manufacture of the mobile user device, the radio frequency device comprising an integrated circuit with data memory, and an antenna, the radio frequency device further configured in a substantially flat and flexible substrate with at least a portion of circuitry disposed thereon being printed onto said substrate.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the encoding with information specific to a user of the device, the information including payment source information, comprises encoding of the radio frequency device by a third party after its manufacture.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the at least one of goods or services comprises shipping of goods to one location from another.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the at least one of goods or services comprises purchase of digital music media in a downloadable format.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the at least a portion of the payment source information used in the reply comprises credit card information that is stored in a secure database that restricts access to only one or more authorized persons.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the mobile user device comprises at least one commerce transaction related application computer program configured to run thereon.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the mobile user device further comprises a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 2.0 application process.

30. The device of claim 21, wherein the mobile user device comprises a smart-phone, and the payment source information comprises a billing account associated with the smart-phone.

31. The device of claim 21, wherein the payment source information comprises a pre-existing financial account, which is accessible to the interrogation apparatus or reader via an internetwork.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the payment source information comprises account information configured to enable access of a remote server with associated database with user credit card account information for verification and charging of the credit card account for the at least one goods or services.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein the payment source information comprises account information configured to enable use of at least one aspect of the services by one or more persons other than said user and which are one or more family members of the user.

34. The device of claim 21, further comprising at least one Java-based application computer program operative to run on the mobile user device, the at least one application computer program having a commerce transaction-based theme.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the at least one application computer program has been downloaded via a network onto the mobile user device.

36. The device of claim 21, wherein the payment source information comprises information associated with a pre-paid account, the user having previously financially compensated an issuer of the pre-paid account before the payment using the short range radio frequency device.

37. The device of claim 21, further comprising both a Bluetooth wireless interface and a WiFi wireless interface.

38. The device of claim 21, further comprising wireless apparatus having an associated client process operative to run on the mobile user device, the wireless apparatus and client process configured to conduct ad hoc short range wireless communications with another user'"'"'s mobile user device in order to exchange user-specific information to be used in a subsequent transaction.

39. The device of claim 21, further comprising a client application program configured for communication with a remotely disposed server program, communication between the client application and the server program being useful for communication of data to the mobile user device for storage thereon.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the communicated data comprises data relating to the payment for the goods or services.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein the server program is configured to require authentication of the user before any of said communication of said data is allowed.

42. The device of claim 21, wherein said GPS receiver enables provision of location data associated with a particular location relating to the goods or services.

43. A method of using a cellular-enabled smart-phone enabled for wireless payment to pay for at least one of goods or services, the method comprising:

obtaining a cellular-enabled smart-phone, the smart-phone comprising a short range passive radio frequency device disposed thereon or therein and which is distinct from a cellular interface of the smart-phone, the radio frequency device configured to be encoded with information specific to a user of the device;

causing encoding of the radio frequency device with said information specific to the user, the information including information allowing correlation to an existing payment source associated with the user; and

placing the smart-phone with encoded radio frequency device in proximity to an interrogation or reader apparatus disposed at a point of sale of goods or services, the placing allowing the user to use the smart-phone to wirelessly pay for at least one of the goods or services from the existing payment source by way of at least one data transmission from the radio frequency device instigated by electromagnetic energy radiated by the interrogation or reader apparatus, the at least one data transmission comprising at least a portion of the information allowing correlation to an existing payment source associated with the user.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the existing payment sources comprises one of (i) an existing credit or debit account;

or (ii) a prepaid account, and said use of the smart-phone to wirelessly pay for at least one of the goods or services enables the user to avoid carrying at least one other currency or payment source on their person associated with the foregoing (i) existing credit or debit account;

or (ii) prepaid account.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said obtaining a cellular-enabled smart-phone comprising a short range passive radio frequency device disposed thereon or therein comprises the user:

obtaining a cellular-enabled smart-phone;

obtaining a short range passive radio frequency device; and

affixing the radio frequency device to the smart-phone.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing a PIN code or password, the PIN code or password being useful to obtain authorization from a financial institution associated with the existing payment source of the user.

47. A method of causing enabling a cellular-enabled smart-phone for wireless payment for at least one of goods or services, the method comprising:

providing a cellular-enabled smart-phone, the smart-phone comprising a short range passive radio frequency device disposed thereon or therein at time of manufacture of the mobile device, the radio frequency device configured to be encoded with information specific to a user of the device; and

enabling encoding of the radio frequency device by the user with said information specific to the user, the information including information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user;

wherein the smart-phone with encoded radio frequency device is configured to, when placed in proximity to an interrogation or reader apparatus disposed at a point of sale of goods or services, allow;

the user to use the smart-phone to conduct a wireless payment transaction for at least one of the goods or services from the at least one existing account by way of at least one encrypted data transmission from the radio frequency device, the transmission instigated at least in part by electromagnetic energy radiated by the interrogation or reader apparatus, the at least one data transmission comprising at least a portion of the information relating to the existing payment source associated with the user; and

the smart-phone to receive data related to the wireless payment transaction for storage thereon.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising causing at least a portion of the data related to the transaction to be transmitted to a network entity for inclusion on a monthly account statement of the user.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein:

the data related to the transaction includes at least one of (i) a date/time;

(ii) at least one of a) a user identification and/or b) a location of the transaction, and/or (iii) a payment method; and

the transfer of the data to the smart-phone is fully automated and requires no user action or intervention.

50. A method of conducting a wireless payment transaction for at least one of goods or services using a cellular-enabled mobile device, the method comprising:

providing an interrogation apparatus at a point of sale, the interrogation apparatus configured to interrogate a short range passive radio frequency device disposed on or within the cellular-enabled mobile device at time of manufacture of the mobile device, the radio frequency device encoded with information specific to a user of the device, the information including information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user;

interrogating the radio frequency device when the mobile device is placed in proximity to the interrogation apparatus, the interrogating transmitting radio frequency energy to the radio frequency device to enable the radio frequency device to subsequently respond thereto with at least a portion of the information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user;

causing the user to enter user-specific authentication or security information necessary to further process the payment transaction;

after the user has entered the user-specific authentication or security information, utilizing at least the at least portion of the information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user to complete processing of the payment transaction; and

transmitting data related to the payment transaction to an account associated with the user or the mobile device, the data including a transaction date and/or time; and

at least one of (a) a user identification, (b) a location of the transaction, and/or (c) a debit or credit or prepaid account used for the payment.