SYSTEM AND METHOD TO FACILITATE PURCHASES ON MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20130138558A1
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fortumo Ou
• Inventors: RANNU, Rain, TALIMAA, Tauno, DEMENTJEV, Andrei, PINK, Madis, KOSK, Tanel
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

System and method to enable and facilitate purchases through mobile communications on mobile devices, smartphones, feature phones, tablet computers, etc by allowing the user to interact with native interface and/or by eliminating the need of entering the MSISDN identifier by the user. MSISDN value is required to identify mobile subscriber and request a mobile billing transaction through carrier'"'"'s infrastructure. A system comprises at least one data computing facility, which is connected to mobile carrier billing, short code and networking infrastructure and a plurality of converters to communicate and interface with a plurality of controllers for various mobile device types and platforms.

Claims

1. A system to facilitate purchases on mobile devices comprises server component connected to mobile device component and database component, wherein the mobile device component comprises a device controller, configured to interface with operating system of the device, API'"'"'s and functions;

a purchase user interface controller, configured to interface with input and output components of mobile device;

the server component comprises user interface converter, at least one platform interface controller and at least one user interface controller.

2. A method to facilitate purchases on mobile devices, wherein the purchases are facilitated through mobile communications on mobile devices by allowing the user to interact with cross-platform native user interface comprises following steps:

transaction initiated by user;

transaction details requested from converter;

transaction details sent to controller;

transaction details displayed to user;

transaction confirmation obtained from user;

transaction confirmation forwarded to converter;

confirmation transaction details forwarded to carrier;

successful payment confirmed by carrier billing system;

payment confirmation sent to controller;

payment confirmation displayed to user.

3. A method to facilitate cross-platform purchases on mobile devices, wherein the purchases are facilitated through mobile communications on mobile devices by by MNC/MCC/MSISDN detection comprises following steps:

transaction initiated by user;

MNC and MCC values are sent to converter for coverage check;

MNC and MCC values are checked with DCF coverage database;

MNC and MCC support is confirmed by DCF to converter;

MNC and MCC confirmation forwarded to controller;

encoded transaction details are sent via SMS text message to short code using messaging component;

MSISDN value and transaction details are obtained by short code from incoming SMS text message and sent to DCF;

transaction details are decoded by DCF and sent to carrier billing system for making a MSISDN based transaction;

transaction billing status is confirmed by carrier billing to DCF;

4. A method to facilitate cross-platform purchases on mobile devices, wherein the purchases are facilitated through mobile communications on mobile devices by allowing the user to interact with cross-platform native user interface and/or by MNC/MCC/MSISDN detection comprises following steps:

initiating the purchase by the user;

creating respective process in purchase user interface controller;

requesting device and operating system information from device controller;

in response to receiving the request, device controller communicates with core platform of mobile device;

obtaining device information;

identifying the device and supporting appropriate user interface for purchase;

sending the respective data to purchase user interface controller;

sending device and operating system information via network from purchase user interface controller to user interface converter of server component;

obtaining device and operating system information;

comparing device and operating system information with the list of supported platforms and operating systems,

connecting user interface converter to respective platform native interface controller;

connecting native interface controller to database component;

obtaining respective native user interface data;

sending native user interface data to user interface converter;

converting native user interface data to common format;

forwarding purchase user interface controller on mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein requesting the universal user interface data from universal user interface controller if the platform or operating system is not detected by device controller or not supported by any of the existing native interface controllers;

obtaining the respective universal user interface data and elements from database component and sending back to user interface converter.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein obtaining the user interface comprises following steps:

starting the process by purchase user interface controller;

identifying the device platform and operating system;

passing the decision of selecting an appropriate user interface to user interface converter,

comparing device platform and operating system with the list of supported native user interfaces;

exposing obtained user interface data from user interface converter to the user through display of the device;

obtaining additional information from device controller to further facilitate the process of purchase on mobile device for the user;

forwarding resulting user interface to mobile device and completing the purchase.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein requesting the universal user interface from user interface converter and checking if a native user interface is available for respective platform and operating system.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein in case of a positive match requesting respective native user interface from appropriate platform user interface controller.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein in case a matching native user interface is not found, a universal user interface is requested from universal interface controller.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein obtaining additional information by purchase user interface controller comprises following steps:

obtaining user interface data from user interface converter;

obtaining MCC value from device controller or user is asked to select his country from a list and provide his network operator;

comparing obtained country and carrier information with the list of supported countries and carriers;

completing the purchase.