Identification by a central computer of a wireless telephone functioning as a transaction device

• US 6,195,542 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): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/127,395
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 705/18, 705/21, 705/26
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• 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: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Utilizing a wireless telephone to function as a transaction device in conjunction with central computer that establishes the validity of the wireless telephone to make transactions. In a first embodiment, a wireless telephone places a call to a central computer which provides a central verification of the wireless terminal'"'"'s authorization to make transactions. The central computer requests from the wireless telephone personal information of the user that can be used to verify a transaction. Once the wireless telephone is verified, the wireless telephone transmits to the central computer account information. The central computer then contacts a site computer that is controlling a transaction unit with which the wireless telephone wishes to complete a transaction. The site computer then transmits to the transaction unit and the central computer a transaction number. The central computer relays this transaction number to the wireless terminal which displays it to the user. The site computer relays the transaction number to the transaction unit, and the transaction unit also displays the transaction number. The user of the wireless terminal then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed. In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission medium to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place.

Claims

1. A method for conducting transactions by a wireless telephone under control of a central computer with a plurality of transaction units connected to a site computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a first telecommunication call to the central computer by the wireless telephone upon the wireless telephone preparing to engage in a transaction with one of the plurality of the transaction units;

establishing a second telecommunication call to the site computer by the central computer in response to the first telecommunication call;

transmitting a transaction number to the wireless telephone via the central computer and to the one of transaction units by site computer in response to the second telecommunication call;

displaying the received transaction number by the one of the transaction units;

displaying the received transaction number to the user of wireless telephone by the wireless telephone;

transmitting an acceptance message to central computer by wireless telephone in response to an action by the user of the wireless telephone confirming that the received transaction number displayed bv the one of the transaction units is identical to the received transaction number displayed by the wireless telephone; and

retransmitting the acceptance message to the site computer by central computer.

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

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises the steps of transmitting account information to the central computer by the wireless telephone;

verifying the account information by the central computer; and

transmitting the verified account information to the site computer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of transmitting transaction data to the central computer in response to the acceptance message from the central computer by the site computer where the transaction data specifies information about the transaction.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprises the step of retransmitting the transaction data to the wireless telephone by central computer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein a remote personal computer is used by the user and the method further comprises the step of retransmitting the transaction data to the personal computer by the wireless telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a remote personal computer is used by the user and the method further comprises the step of retransmitting the transaction data to the personal computer by the central computer in response to receipt of the transaction data from the site computer.

11. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 1.

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

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

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

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

16. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 7.

18. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 15.

19. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 16.

8. A method for allowing transactions by a central computer to be conducted via a wireless telephone with a plurality of transaction units connected to a site computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first telecommunication call from the wireless telephone by the central computer upon the wireless telephone preparing to engage in a transaction with one of the plurality of the transaction units;

establishing a second telecommunication call to the site computer by the central computer;

receiving a transaction number from the site computer;

retransmitting the transaction number to the wireless telephone for use by the wireless telephone to confirm the transaction; and

receiving account information from the wireless telephone;

verifying the account information by the central computer;

transmitting the verified account information to the site computer;

transmitting a complete message to the site computer by the central computer upon receiving a message from the wireless telephone that the transaction number received by the wireless telephone is identical to that received by the one of transaction units from the site computer.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprises the steps of receiving transaction data from the site computer by central computer where the transaction data specifies information about the transaction;

and

transmitting the received transaction data to the wireless telephone.

10. The method of claim 8 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 central computer.

17. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 8.

20. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 17.