Interactive system for and method of performing financial transactions from a user base

• US 6,363,364 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPEG LLC
• Original Assignee: Pierre H. Nel
• Inventors: Nel, Pierre H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harle, Jennifer I
• Application Number:
  US09/048,216
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 705/42, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/42
• 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 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1025 Identification of user by a PIN code

Abstract

There is disclosed and claimed a system for and a method of performing interactive data exchange, for example as part of a financial transaction, between a user base and a remote network. The system includes a request data input device 20. A telephone network 22 is connected to the device for transmitting the request data to the network 28. At the user base there is also provided a receiver for receiving response signals from the network and which signals include encoded response data. A signal decoder 14 is provided at the user base to decode the response data. A display 12 displays the response data interactively with the request data.

Claims

1. A system for performing an interactive data exchange function from a user base, the system including:

a telephone instrument at the user base for entering request data relating to the data exchange function;

a telephone network for transmitting the request data to a computer network including one or more of a computer network of at least one financial institution;

a computer network of at least one vendor; and

a computer network of at least one service provider;

a receiver at the user base for receiving broadcast response signals broadcasted to many user bases simultaneously from the network and which signals include encoded response data effectively accessible only at the user base; and

a signal decoder and display at the user base connected to the receiver, said signal decoder decoding, for access only at the user base, the response data and the display displaying the data in real time and interactively with the request data entered.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receiver include an antenna for receiving signals transmitted from the network via an earth orbiting satellite.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal decoder decodes subscription television broadcasts and wherein the display comprises a screen of a television set connected to the decoder.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the decoder comprises a module forming part of a personal computer connected to the receiver and wherein the display comprises a screen of the personal computer.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 further including a transmitter at the user base connected to an antenna to transmit the request data via an earth orbiting satellite to the computer network.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer network includes all of a computer network for at least one financial institution, at least one vendor, and at least one service provider.

13. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said computer network includes all of a computer network for at least one financial institution, at least one vendor, and at least one service provider.

6. A method of performing from a user base station interactive data exchange functions with a network including one or more of:

a computer network of at least one financial institution;

a computer network of at least one vendor; and

a computer network of at least one service provider, the method including the steps of;

(a) transmitting from the user base station request data relating to the interactive data exchange function;

(b) receiving the request data at the network and generating response data to the request data;

(c) broadcasting the response data to many user base stations simultaneously in encoded form so that it can only be decoded by a decoder designated by the user;

(d) receiving the broadcasted encoded response data at the user base station, and decoding the data using the designated decoder; and

(e) presenting the data in real time and interactively with the request data transmitted.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein step (b) is practiced by receiving the request data at each of at least one financial institution, at least one vendor, and at least one service provider.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein step (c) is practiced at least in part by broadcasting via an earth orbiting satellite.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein step (a) is practiced at least in part by transmitting the request data to the network via an earth orbiting satellite.

7. A system for performing an interactive data exchange function from a user base, the system including:

an input arrangement at the user base for entering request data relating to the data exchange function;

a transmitter coupled to the input arrangement, the transmitter transmitting the request data to a computer network including one or more of a computer network of at least one financial institution;

a computer network of at least one vendor; and

a computer network of at least one service provider;

a receiver receiving broadcast response signals broadcasted to many receivers simultaneously from the network and which signals include encrypted response data; and

a signal decryptor connected to the receive for decrypting the response data and presenting the response data in real time and interactively with the request data entered.

12. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said computer network includes all of a computer network for at least one financial institution, at least one vendor, and at least one service provider.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the receiver receives encrypted response data broadcast to many users simultaneously.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the display is disposed on the mobile telephone instrument.

15. A system for performing an interactive data exchange function from a user base, the system including:

a mobile telephone instrument at the user base for entering request data relating to the function,

a mobile telephone network for transmitting the request data to a computer network including one or more of a computer network of at least one financial institution, a computer network of at least one vendor, and a computer network of at least one service provider;

a receiver at/in the mobile telephone instrument for receiving broadcast response signals broadcasted to many receivers simultaneously from the network and which signals include encoded response data and intended for access by the mobile phone,

a signal decoder and a display at/in the mobile phone connected to the receiver for decoding the response data and displaying the data in real time and interactively with the request data entered.

17. A method of performing from a mobile telephone instrument interactive data exchange functions with a network including one or more of:

a computer network of at least one financial institution,

a computer network of at least one vendor; and

a computer network of at least one service provider, the method including the steps of;

transmitting from the mobile telephone instrument request data relating to the function;

at the network receiving the request data and generating response data;

broadcasting the response data to many mobile telephone instruments simultaneously in an encoded form so that it can only be decoded by a decoder of the mobile instrument from where the request data was transmitted;

receiving the encoded data and decoding the data by means of the mobile telephone instrument; and

displaying the data in real time and interactively with the request data transmitted.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the displaying step is preformed via display means of the mobile telephone instrument.