PAYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20140164031A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartcom Labs OY
• Original Assignee: Bookit Oy Ajanvarauspalvelu
• Inventors: SALONEN, Jukka
• Granted Patent: US 11,144,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• 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 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A method and system for communicating over a telecommunications network between a service provider and one or more users, wherein the service provider can have access to multiple distinct addresses I the telecommunications network and each user is identified by an address, more specifically, where a first message can be sent over at least a portion of the telecommunications network to a user'"'"'s address and based on a response from the user determining the message to which the response is a reply.

Claims

1. A payment method for payment of a product or service purchased from a service provider apparatus comprising

enabling a user to input a phone number to the apparatus,

providing the product or service to the user, and

transmitting or causing transmission of a message to the phone number suggesting to the user to open an electronic purse or account to be used for debiting for the product or service and/or future products or services.

2. A payment method of claim 1, comprising in response to the user accepting to open an electronic purse or account sending a request to the user to provide at least one of credit card information and bank account information which is to be linked to the electronic purse or account for transfer of monetary funds to the electronic purse or account.

3. A payment method of claim 2, comprising sending a message to the phone number suggesting at least one amount of monetary funds to be transferred to the electronic purse or account, and allowing the user to respond with a message indicating the selection of the amount of the at least one amount of monetary funds.

4. A payment method of claim 1, wherein the message is one of a short text message, push data packet message, voice message, and e-mail message.

5. A payment method of claim 1, comprising

the service provider apparatus interacting with a mediator to cause transmission of a payment approval message to a terminal device of the user.

6. A payment method of claim 1, wherein the service provider apparatus is a server having at least one of a connection to the internet and a telephone connection.

7. A service provider apparatus comprising

information on at least one product or service that is being offered for purchase to a user,

a user interface to be used by a user for providing a phone number to the apparatus, wherein the apparatus further comprises

at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code co-operating with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to

provide the user with the product or service, and

transmit or cause transmission of a message to the phone number suggesting to the user to open an electronic purse or account to be used for debiting for the product or service and/or future products or services.

8. A service provider apparatus of claim 7, comprising

a communication module for communication with external devices, the communication module being used for at least one of

i. transmitting the message to the phone number suggesting to the user to open the electronic purse or account, and

ii. communicating with a service provider or a moderator and providing the user'"'"'s phone number to the service provider or moderator in order to cause the service provider or moderator to transmit the message to the phone number suggesting to the user to open an electronic purse or account to be used for debiting for the product or service and/or future products or services.

9. A service provider apparatus of claim 8, comprising the communication module sending a message to the phone number suggesting at least one amount of monetary funds to be transferred to the electronic purse or account, and allowing the user to respond with a message indicating the selection of the amount of the at least one amount of monetary funds.

10. A service provider apparatus of claim 7, wherein the message is one of a short text message, push data packet message, voice message, and e-mail message.

11. A service provider apparatus of claim 7, comprising

the service provider apparatus interacting with a mediator to cause transmission of a payment approval message to a terminal device of the user.

12. A service provider apparatus of claim 7, wherein the service provider apparatus is a server having at least one of a connection to the internet and a telephone connection.

13. A mediator coupled to a telecommunications system and providing an interface between at least one mobile device and at least one application coupled to the telecommunications system, wherein

the mediator sends messages and receives messages at a plurality of reply addresses,

the mediator sending a message to a mobile device by selecting a reply address for the message from the plurality of reply addresses, wherein

the mediator prepares a message comprising the selected reply address as a sender'"'"'s address and sends the prepared message to the mobile device via the telecommunications system, wherein the mediator receives a reply message from the mobile device via the telecommunications system at the selected address and identifies the sent message to which the received reply message corresponds based on the selected reply address at which the reply message is received and also based on the mobile device'"'"'s address contained in the received reply message.

14. The mediator of claim 13, wherein the application is an application allowing purchasing at least one of items and services.

15. The mediator of claim 13, wherein the message prepared and sent by the mediator includes an inquiry based on information received by the mediator from the at least one application.

16. The mediator of claim 13, wherein the message prepared and sent by the mediator is part of a dialogue.

17. The mediator of claim 16, wherein the dialogue includes an inquiry to another entity communicating with the mediator.

18. The mediator of claim 16, wherein the dialogue includes at least one message that informs a user of the mobile device receiving the mediator prepared and sent message of information.

19. The mediator of claim 16, wherein the dialogue includes an inquiry directed to a user of the mobile device receiving the mediator prepared and sent message.

20. The mediator of claim 19, wherein the inquiry pertains to a choice to be made by the user of the mobile device receiving the mediator prepared and sent message.

21. The mediator of claim 20, wherein the choice is based on information received by the mediator from the at least one application.

22. The mediator of claim 13, wherein the mediator stores received reply messages in a multi-dimensional data structure with a relationship between the mobile device address of the mobile device sending a reply message and the selected reply address at which the reply message is received.