Secure online purchasing

• US 7,110,987 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Engelhart, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US10/160,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 705/44, 705/75, 705/76, 705/77, 705/78, 379/114.1, 379/114.12
• US Class Current: 705/75
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

In a method of purchasing online, a client device of a customer communicates a purchase selection which is received by a vendor computer system. The vendor computer system, in response, communicates a cost of the purchase selection and fund confirmation address to the client device. The client device communicates a payment authorization for the cost that is received by a fund guardian. The client device also communicates biometric information. The fund guardian confirms the availability of sufficient funds to pay the cost. The biometric information is applied along with a stored biometric print to authenticate the customer. The vendor computer system communicates a fund confirmation address which is received by the fund guardian. When sufficient funds are available to pay the cost, and when the customer is authenticated, the fund guardian communicates a fund confirmation to the vendor computer system at the fund confirmation address.

Claims

1. A method of purchasing online, comprising:

a client device of a customer communicating a purchase selection, the purchase selection received by a vendor computer system;

the vendor computer system in response communicating a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address, the cost and fund confirmation address received by the client device;

the client device communicating a payment authorization for the cost and biometric information, the payment authorization received by a fund guardian, the payment authorization also received by a billing system;

the billing system suspending network access charges for the customer in response to receiving the payment authorization;

the fund guardian operating to confirm the availability of sufficient funds to pay the cost, the biometric information applied along with a stored biometric print to authenticate the customer;

the client device communicating the fund confirmation address, the fund confirmation address received by the fund guardian; and

when sufficient funds are available to pay the cost, and further when the customer is authenticated, the fund guardian communicating a fund confirmation to the vendor computer system at the fund confirmation address without using the client device as an intermediary.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the vendor computer system enabling a download to the client device in response to the fund confirmation.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the vendor computer system communicating to the fund guardian that the download completed successfully; and

the fund guardian causing funds to transfer to the vendor computer system in response to the download completing successfully.

4. A method of purchasing online, comprising:

a client device of a customer communicating a purchase selection, the purchase selection received by a vendor computer system;

the vendor computer system in response communicating a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address, the cost and fund confirmation address received by the client device;

the client device communicating a payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection, the payment authorization received by a fund guardian;

the fund guardian operating to confirm the availability of sufficient funds to pay the cost, the payment authorization also received by a billing system;

the billing system suspending network access charges for the customer in response to receiving the payment authorization;

the client device communicating biometric information, the biometric information applied along with a stored biometric print to authenticate the customer;

the client device communicating the fund confirmation address, the fund confirmation address received by the fund guardian; and

when sufficient funds are available to pay the cost, and when the customer is authenticated, the fund guardian communicating a fund confirmation to the vendor computer system at the fund confirmation address.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

the vendor computer system enabling a download to the client device in response to receiving the fund confirmation; and

the vendor computer system communicating an indication that the download completed successfully, the billing system receiving the indication that the download completed successfully and in response resuming network access charges for the customer.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the network access charges are against a prepaid wireless access account.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the network access charges are in terms of network access time.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the network access charges are in terms of data volume.

9. A method of transacting online, comprising:

communicating a purchase selection to a vendor computer system;

receiving from the vendor computer system a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address;

communicating biometric information;

communicating the fund confirmation address and a payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection to a fund guardian;

communicating the payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection to a billing system; and

with the billing system, suspending network access charges in response to receiving the payment authorization.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving content which is the subject of the purchase selection from the vendor computer system as a result of the fund guardian providing a fund confirmation for the cost to the fund confirmation address.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein a client device communicates to the vendor computer system, to the fund guardian, and to the billing system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the client device is a handheld computer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the client device is a mobile telephone.

14. A method of transacting online, comprising:

communicating a purchase selection to a vendor computer system;

receiving from the vendor computer system a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address;

communicating biometric information;

communicating a payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection to a billing system; and

with the billing system, suspending network access charges in response to receiving the payment authorization.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

communicating the fund confirmation address to a fund guardian; and

receiving content which is the subject of the purchase selection from the vendor computer system as a result of the fund guardian providing a fund confirmation for the cost to the fund confirmation address.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein a client device communicates to the vendor computer system and to the billing system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the client device is a handheld computer.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the client device is a mobile telephone.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the network access charges are against a prepaid wireless access account.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the network access charges are in terms of network access time.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the network access charges are in terms of data volume.

22. A method of purchasing online, comprising:

a client device of a customer communicating a purchase selection, the purchase selection received by a vendor computer system;

the vendor computer system in response communicating a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address, the cost and fund confirmation address received by the client device;

the client device receiving biometric information and comparing the biometric information with a stored biometric print to authenticate the customer;

the client device communicating a payment authorization for the cost and an indication of the authentication, the payment authorization and indication of authentication received by a fund guardian;

the payment authorization and the indication of authentication also received by a billing system

the fund guardian operating to confirm the availability of sufficient funds to pay the cost;

the billing system suspending network access charges for the customer in response to receiving the payment authorization and the indication of authentication;

the client device communicating the fund confirmation address, the fund confirmation address received by the fund guardian; and

when sufficient funds are available to pay the cost, and further when the indication indicates that the customer is authenticated, the fund guardian communicating a fund confirmation to the vendor computer system at the fund confirmation address without using the client device as an intermediary.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

the vendor computer system enabling a download to the client device in response to the fund confirmation.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

the vendor computer system communicating to the fund guardian that the download completed successfully; and

the fund guardian causing funds to transfer to the vendor computer system in response to the download completing successfully.

25. A method of purchasing online, comprising:

a client device of a customer communicating a purchase selection, the purchase selection received by a vendor computer system;

the vendor computer system in response communicating a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address, the cost and fund confirmation address received by the client device;

the client device receiving biometric information and comparing the biometric information with a stored biometric print to authenticate the customer;

the client device communicating a payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection and an indication of the authentication, the payment authorization and the indication of authentication received by a fund guardian;

the fund guardian operating to confirm the availability of sufficient funds to pay the cost, the payment authorization and the indication of authentication also received by a billing system;

the billing system suspending network access charges for the customer in response to receiving the payment authorization and the indication of authentication;

the client device communicating the fund confirmation address, the fund confirmation address received by the fund guardian; and

when sufficient funds are available to pay the cost, and when the customer is authenticated, the fund guardian communicating a fund confirmation to the vendor computer system at the fund confirmation address.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

the vendor computer system enabling a download to the client device in response to receiving the fund confirmation; and

the vendor computer system communicating an indication that the download completed successfully, the billing system receiving the indication that the download completed successfully and in response resuming network access charges for the customer.

27. A method of transacting online, comprising:

communicating a purchase selection to a vendor computer system;

receiving from the vendor computer system a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address;

comparing biometric information with a stored biometric print to produce an indication of authentication;

communicating the fund confirmation address, indication of authentication, and a payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection to a fund guardian;

communicating the payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection to a billing system; and

with the billing system, suspending network access charges in response to receiving the payment authorization.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

receiving content which is the subject of the purchase selection from the vendor computer system as a result of the fund guardian providing a fund confirmation for the cost to the fund confirmation address.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein a client device communicates to the vendor computer system, to the fund guardian, and to the billing system.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the client device is a handheld computer.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the client device is a mobile telephone.

32. A method of transacting online, comprising:

communicating a purchase selection to a vendor computer system;

receiving from the vendor computer system a cost of the purchase selection and a fund confirmation address;

comparing biometric information with a stored biometric print to produce an indication of authentication;

communicating a payment authorization for the cost of the purchase selection to a billing system; and

with the billing system, suspending network access charges in response to receiving the payment authorization.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

communicating the fund confirmation address to a fund guardian; and

receiving content which is the subject of the purchase selection from the vendor computer system as a result of the fund guardian providing a fund confirmation for the cost to the fund confirmation address.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein a client device communicates to the vendor computer system and to the billing system.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the client device is a handheld computer.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the client device is a mobile telephone.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the network access charges are against a prepaid wireless access account.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the network access charges are in terms of network access time.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein the network access charges are in terms of data volume.

40. A method of transacting online, the method comprising:

communicating a purchase selection for receipt by a vendor computer system;

receiving a cost of the purchase selection, the cost communicated by the vendor computer system;

communicating biometric information;

communicating an indication of the purchase selection for receipt by a billing system; and

with the billing system, suspending network access charges in response to receiving the indication of the purchase selection.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein a client device communicates to the vendor computer system and to the billing system, and wherein the client device is a handheld computer.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein a client device communicates to the vendor computer system and to the billing system, and wherein the client device is a mobile telephone.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the network access charges are against a prepaid wireless access account.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein the network access charges are in terms of network access time.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein the network access charges are in terms of data volume.