MOBILE INFORMATION APPARATUS SUPPORTING MOBILE PAYMENT THAT INCLUDES SECURITY BASED, AT LEAST PARTLY, ON USER PUSHBUTTON, USER BIOMETRICS, DATA ENCRYPTION, AND SHORT PHYSICAL DISTANCE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20150356565A1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Granted Patent: US 10,592,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-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 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 : Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 : Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 : Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 : Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 : Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 : Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 : Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile information apparatus for making mobile payments associated with a credit card, via a near distance radio frequency wireless communication unit, is herein disclosed and enabled. At least part of the payment information is stored in the mobile information apparatus with an encryption technique. To make a payment, the user approximates the mobile information apparatus to within a limited local physical distance of a wireless output controller, and the biometrics of the user is obtained by the mobile information apparatus as a security measure. The user authorizes the payment by using a push button on the mobile information apparatus, and subsequent to the having received the biometric authentication and user push button, the mobile information apparatus releases the payment information that includes encrypted data associated with a transaction over a short range radio frequency communication link to the wireless output controller for payment and transaction processing.

Claims

1. A mobile information apparatus operable for making mobile payments by short range wireless communication with a wireless controller device that is within a limited physical distance, the wireless output controller being a distinct device from the mobile information apparatus, the mobile information apparatus comprising:

a processing unit;

operating system software;

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user;

an antenna for transmitting short range radio frequency signals to wireless controller devices that are within a limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus;

a wireless communication unit for managing local wireless communication with wireless controller devices that are within a limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus;

a memory or storage unit storing at least part of payment information at the information apparatus, the payment information being associated, at least in part, with a credit card or a bank card related to the user of the mobile information apparatus;

wherein the mobile information apparatus is configured for;

discovering, over the antenna of the mobile information apparatus, the wireless output controller, the discovering of the wireless output controller is limited to when the mobile information apparatus is within a limited local physical distance from the wireless output controller;

establishing, by the wireless communication unit over the antenna, a short range radio frequency communication link directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller;

generating, at the mobile information apparatus, encrypted output data for ensuring security of communication from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller for transaction management, the encrypted output data is associated with the payment information stored at the memory or storage unit of the mobile information apparatus, and the payment information is associated, at least partly, with a credit card;

obtaining, from the user of the mobile information apparatus, biometric information as an authentication;

receiving at least an indication from the user of the mobile information apparatus via pushbutton interface authorizing the release of payment information from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller; and

subsequent to the biometric authentication and the indication from the user via a pushbutton interface authorizing payment, the mobile information apparatus is operable for wireless transmitting at least part of the encrypted output data, over the short range radio frequency communication link directly from the mobile information apparatus, to the wireless output controller for processing payment associated with a transaction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the security of the mobile payment is implemented with all of the following:

(1) a physical distance restriction directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller;

(2) an encryption technique applied on data being transmitted from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller; and

(3) biometric authentication of the user of the mobile information apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which accessing the mobile payment service further comprises obtaining, at the mobile information apparatus, at least one of a password, a PIN code, a personal identification number, or an ID number, individually or in any combination.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising instructing the user of the mobile information apparatus to physically point the mobile information apparatus directly to the wireless output controller to be within a limited physical distance for establishing short range radio frequency communication link directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the mobile information apparatus is a smart phone that includes:

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user;

a graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen;

a digital camera for taking pictures; and

one or more applications installed, wherein the operating system software supports an application programming interface (API) to facilitate operations of the one or more applications at the mobile information apparatus, and the smart phone further allows the user to install additional applications for expanding the functionalities of the smart phone.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the mobile information apparatus is embodied as a digital pad or an Internet pad.

7. A method for mobile payment operable with a mobile information apparatus, the mobile information apparatus having:

a processing unit,

operating system software that is executable, at least partly, by the processing unit of the mobile information apparatus,

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user,

an antenna for transmitting short range radio frequency for wireless communication with wireless controller devices that are within a limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus,

a wireless communication unit for managing local wireless communication with a wireless controller device that is within a limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus,

a memory or storage unit storing at least part of payment information at the information apparatus, the payment information being associated, at least in part, with a credit card or a bank card related to the user of the mobile information apparatus,

the method comprising;

establishing, by the wireless communication unit and over the antenna, a short range radio frequency communication link directly between the mobile information apparatus and a wireless output controller, the wireless output controller being a distinct and separate device from the mobile information apparatus, and the establishing of the short range radio frequency communication link is limited to when the mobile information apparatus is within a limited physical distance from the wireless output controller;

generating, at the mobile information apparatus, encrypted output data for ensuring security of communication from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller, the encrypted output data is associated with the payment information, and the payment information is associated, at least partly, with a credit card or a bank card;

obtaining, from the user of the mobile information apparatus, biometric information as an authentication;

receiving at least an indication from the user of the mobile information apparatus via pushbutton interface authorizing the release of payment information from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller; and

subsequent to the biometric authentication and the indication from the user via a pushbutton interface authorizing payment, wireless transmitting at least part of the encrypted output data, over the short range radio frequency communication link directly from the mobile information apparatus, to the wireless output controller for processing payment associated with a transaction.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the security of the mobile payment method relies, at least in part, on all of the following:

(1) a physical distance restriction directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller;

(2) an encryption technique applied on the data being transmitted from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller; and

(3) biometric authentication of the user of the mobile information apparatus.

9. The method of claim 7 in which accessing the mobile payment service further comprises obtaining, at the mobile information apparatus, at least one of a password, a PIN code, a personal identification number, or an ID number, individually or in any combination, for authorizing payment service.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising instructing the user of the mobile information apparatus to physically point the mobile information apparatus directly to a wireless output controller to be within the limited physical distance for establishing the short range distance wireless communication link.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising discovering the wireless output controller device when the mobile information apparatus is within the limited physical distance directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller.

12. The method of claim 7 in which, after the wireless output controller receives output data from the mobile information apparatus, the method further comprises the wireless output controller implementing a payment service and a transaction management service.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising obtaining a signature from the user of the information apparatus for authorizing payment.

14. A mobile information apparatus system for mobile payment, the system comprising:

a processing unit;

software executable by the processing unit for obtaining, at the mobile information apparatus system, biometric information associated with the user of the mobile information apparatus;

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user;

a pushbutton interface for interacting with the user;

a memory or storage unit storing at least part of payment information at the information apparatus, the payment information being associated, at least in part, with a credit card or a bank card related to the user of the mobile information apparatus system;

an antenna for transmitting short range radio frequency signals; and

a wireless communication unit for establishing short range radio frequency communication, and wherein subsequent to having obtained the biometric information from the user and having received an indication via the pushbutton interface authorizing payment, the wireless communication unit is configured for;

managing local wireless communication with a wireless output controller that is within a limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus;

establishing, a short range radio frequency communication link directly between the mobile information apparatus and a wireless output controller, the wireless output controller being a distinct and separate device from the mobile information apparatus, and the establishing of the short range radio frequency communication link is limited to when the mobile information apparatus is within a limited physical distance from the wireless output controller;

obtaining payment information from the memory or storage unit, the payment information is associated, at least partly, with a credit card or a bank card;

encrypting data for communication, the encryption being for ensuring security of communication from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller; and

transmitting the payment information that includes encrypted data, over the short range radio frequency communication link directly from the mobile information apparatus, to the wireless output controller for processing payment.

15. The system of claim 14 in which the security of the mobile payment relies, at least in part, on all of the following:

(1) a physical distance restriction directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller;

(2) an encryption technique applied on the data being transmitted from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller; and

(3) biometric authentication of the user of the mobile information apparatus for authorizing payment.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the user of the information apparatus is charged a fee for using the payment service.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising instructing the user of the mobile information apparatus to physically point the mobile information apparatus directly to a wireless output controller to be within the limited physical distance for establishing the short range radio frequency communication link.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the encryption of data is implemented by both software and hardware as a security implementation.

19. The system of claim 14 in which accessing the mobile payment service further comprises obtaining, at the mobile information apparatus, at least one of a password, a PIN code, a personal identification number, or an ID number, individually or in any combination, for authorizing payment.

20. The system of claim 14 in which the mobile information apparatus is a smart phone that includes:

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user;

a graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen;

a digital camera for taking pictures;

one or more applications installed; and

operating system software that supports an application programming interface (API) to facilitate operations of the one or more applications at the mobile information apparatus, wherein the smart phone further allows the user to install additional applications for expanding the functionalities of the smart phone.