Method for using applications in a mobile station, a mobile station, and a system for effecting payments

• US 6,418,326 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rautiola, Markku, Marttila, Matti, Heinonen, Petri, Terho, Mikko
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean Alland
• Application Number:
  US09/092,828
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/557, 455/558, 455/403, 455/409, 455/419, 455/575, 455/412, 455/418, 379/91.03, 379/357, 379/144, 379/FOR.58, 379/28.18, 379/207, 379/88.21, 379/67, 379/88.16, 379/265, 379/212, 379/220, 379/242, 235/380, 235/376, 235/375, 235/381, 235/379, 235/472
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile 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 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 : using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 : for parking meters
• 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: G07G 1/12 : electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 : with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 : Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 : including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A method is provided for using an application (18) in a mobile station (1). The application has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation is passive. In the second mode of operation the application (18) controls a master control unit (MCU) of the mobile station (1). Also provided is a system for making payments, comprising at least one mobile station (1) which has an associated application (18), a component for using the application (18), and a first transceiver (IR, 20) for providing local data transfer. The system also comprises at least one cash register (21) or the like, which has a second transceiver for providing data transfer (IR2). The application (18) has a capability for causing data to be transferred from the first transceiver (IR) to the second transceiver (IR2).

Claims

1. A method for use in operating a mobile radio communication unit that comprises a controller coupled to an interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one storage device that stores at least one application program and identification information, wherein the identification information identifies a user of the mobile radio communication unit; and

mechanically and electrically coupling that at least one storage device to the interface so that the at least one storage device is attachable to the interface, for enabling the at least one storage device to be electrically coupled to the controller;

wherein the at least one application relates to an electronic money purse residing at the mobile radio communication unit and having a balance of digital cash for making payments, wherein an external storage location stores a second user account having a second balance, and wherein further steps are performed of;

retrieving at least a portion of the second balance from the second user account stored in the external storage location; and

increasing the balance of digital cash in the electronic purse by an amount that is equal to the portion of second balance retrieved from the second user account.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a step of registering a payment transaction with at least one of an external terminal and the at least one application program.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein prior to the performance of the registering step, further steps are performed of:

entering information into the mobile radio communication unit; and

in response to the entering step, the mobile radio communication unit performs a step of;

comparing the entered information to the identification information to determine if the entered information and the identification information are similar; and

, if they are similar, the registering step is performed.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the at least one application program has an associated account balance, and wherein the method further comprises a step of decreasing the associated account balance by an amount of said payment transaction.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein prior to the performance of the decreasing step, further steps are performed of:

receiving information representing the associated account balance from a network; and

storing the received information representing the associated account balance in the mobile radio communication unit.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein an external storage location stores information specifying a transaction credit value for the mobile radio communication unit, and wherein the method further includes steps of:

retrieving the information specifying the transaction credit value from the external storage location; and

storing the retrieved information specifying the transaction credit value in the mobile radio communication unit.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the external storage location is located within an external communication network.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the retrieving step includes communicating a Short Message Service (SMS) message from the mobile radio communication unit to the external storage location for retrieving the information specifying the transaction credit value from the external storage location.

9. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the mobile radio communication unit has an associated account balance, and wherein prior to the registering step, further steps are performed of:

providing information representing a credit value from a credit source to the mobile radio communication unit, the credit value being at least as great as a value of said payment transaction; and

increasing a value of the associated account balance by the credit value represented by the information provided to the mobile radio communication unit.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein after the step of registering is performed, a further step is performed of decreasing the value of the associated account balance by the value of said payment transaction.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising steps of:

entering information into the mobile radio communication unit specifying that a payment be made from i;

he mobile radio communication unit to an external terminal;

establishing a communication link between the mobile radio communication unit and the external terminal;

verifying that an account associated with the at least one application program has at least a predetermined balance; and

registering a payment transaction with at least one of the external terminal and the at least one application program.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein information indicating a balance of a user account is stored in an external storage device, the external storage device being external to said mobile radio communication unit, and wherein further steps are performed of:

entering information into the mobile radio communication unit requesting that the information indicating the balance of the user account be retrieved from the external storage device; and

in response to the mobile communication unit receiving the entered information, communicating between the mobile radio communication unit and the external storage device for retrieving from the external storage device the information indicating the balance of the user account.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein information indicating a balance of a user account is stored in a memory of the mobile radio station unit, and wherein further steps are performed of:

entering information into the mobile radio communication unit requesting that the information indicating the balance of the user account be retrieved;

in response to the mobile radio communication unit receiving the entered information, retrieving the information indicating the balance of the user account from the memory; and

providing the information indicating the balance of the user account to a user.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a step of decreasing the second balance by an amount that is equal to the portion of second balance retrieved from the second user account.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one storage device is removable from said interface.

16. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the identification information also identifies a telephone number of said mobile radio communication unit.

17. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic money purse is held in the mobile radio communication unit memory.

18. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic money purse is held in the at least one storage device.

19. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising using digital cash of the electronic money purse for making payments at an electronic point of sale.

20. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the retrieved second balance over wireless communication to the mobile radio communication unit.

21. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mobile radio communication unit is for wireless transmission and reception, and said unit is configured to transmit and receive data relating to said application program.