Interaction of a wireless telephone with a transaction unit

• US 6,195,541 B1
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Griffith, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/127,394
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/406, 455/414, 455/413, 705/26, 705/27, 379/93.12
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

Abstract

Utilizing a wireless telephone to function as a transaction device. In a first embodiment, the wireless telephone places a call to the transaction unit directly. For example, the transaction unit may be a cash register at a supermarket. The wireless telephone then transfers to the transaction unit account information specifying the type of account against which the transaction is to be billed and identification of that transaction. The transaction unit responds with a transaction number that is transmitted to the wireless telephone. The user of the wireless telephone then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed on the transaction unit. After the transaction is completed, the transaction unit transmits the data defining the transaction to the wireless telephone which stores this information in a database associated with the account against which the transaction was charged. In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission media by the transaction unit to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place.

Claims

1. A method for conducting transactions by a wireless telephone with a transaction unit, comprising the steps of:

establishing a telecommunication call to the transaction unit by the wireless telephone upon the wireless telephone preparing to engage in a transaction for purchase of goods with the transaction unit;

transmitting account identification information via the telecommunication call to the transaction unit by the wireless telephone before engaging in the transaction;

verifying the account identification information by the transaction unit with an account database system via a data path distinct from the telecommunication call before engaging in the transaction;

generating a transaction number defining a purchase cost of the goods by the transaction unit;

transmitting the transaction number to the wireless telephone by the transaction unit via the telecommunication call;

transmitting acceptance of the transaction to the transaction unit via the telecommunication call by the wireless telephone upon a user of the wireless telephone confirming that the transaction number received from the transaction unit is correct;

transmitting the transaction number to the account database system via the data path by the transaction unit upon receipt of the acceptance of the transaction; and

charging an account defined by the account identification information for the cost of purchasing the goods by the account database system upon receipt of the transaction number from the transaction unit.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of verifying personal identification information of a user of the wireless telephone by the wireless telephone before the step of establishing is performed.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises the step of transmitting transaction data to the wireless telephone in response to the acceptance message by transaction unit where the transaction data specifies information about the transaction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a remote personal computer is used by the user and the method further comprises the step of transmitting the transaction data to the personal computer by the wireless telephone.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a remote personal computer is used by the user and the method further comprises the step of transmitting the transaction data to the personal computer by the transaction unit in response to the acceptance message.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprises the step of transmitting by the transaction unit the generated transaction number to the wireless telephone via a transmission medium other than the transmission medium used by the wireless telephone to make the telecommunication call.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprises the step of transmitting transaction data to the wireless telephone in response to the acceptance message by the transaction unit where the transaction data specifies information about the transaction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a remote personal computer is used by the user and the method further comprises the step of transmitting the transaction data to the personal computer by the wireless telephone.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprises the step of transmitting transaction data to the wireless telephone in response to the acceptance message by the transaction unit where the transaction data specifies information about the transaction.

10. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 2.

11. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 6.