Method and system for mobile services

• US 7,766,223 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arlen J Van Draanen, John A. Dion, Steven M. Mello
• Original Assignee: Arlen J Van Draanen, John A. Dion, Steven M. Mello
• Inventors: Dion, John A., Van Draanen, Arlen J., Mello, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/263,865
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/383, 235/492, 235/493, 713/166, 713/182, 705/67, 705/44
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks

Abstract

A method for providing mobile services, such as mobile financial services, includes providing a wireless handset or other device as an adjunct access device for a user account. The device is assigned a unique identification number, such as an MDN, MEID, or both. The unique identification number is associated with the account and in an exemplary embodiment, comprises at least a portion of the account number(s) with the service provider. Transactions are conducted with the handset access device and enhanced multi-factor and biometric security authentication may be provided. Handset voice, data, or other usage is settled and billed within the financial account. The service provider is able to download software, advertising, or content applications to the adjunct device and maintains the capability to disable the device. In a further aspect, a system for the execution of mobile transactions is provided.

Claims

1. A system for executing transactions in connection with a user-account-based service by a user having a user account, said system comprising:

a wireless adjunct device for receiving and transmitting information relating to the service via a wireless communication network, said wireless adjunct device having a unique identification number of a type which enables said wireless adjunct device to access the wireless communication network, said wireless adjunct device further having a first input device for inputting alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric data for transmission over the wireless communication network when the user attempts to execute a transaction and a second input device for inputting user biometric data for transmission over the wireless communication network when the user attempts to execute a transaction;

a first level authentication database having stored therein said unique identification number, said unique identification number being associated with the user account;

a first level authentication processor for verifying that the unique identification number transmitted by said wireless adjunct device matches said unique identification number stored in said first level authentication database and associated with the user account;

a second level authentication database having stored therein an alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password, said alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password being associated with the user account;

a second level authentication processor for verifying that alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric data input by the user and transmitted by the wireless adjunct device matches said alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password stored in said second level authentication database and associated with the user account;

a third level authentication database having stored therein a biometric data unit, said biometric data unit being associated with the user account;

a third level authentication processor for verifying that the user biometric data transmitted by the wireless adjunct device matches said biometric data unit stored in said third level authentication database and associated with the user account.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless adjunct device is a cellular telephone and the wireless communication network is selected from one or both of a cellular telephony network and a text messaging network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said unique identification number is selected from one or both of an MDN and an MEID.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said account number includes one or both of the MDN and MEID.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first input device is an alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric keypad and said second input device is a microphone.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an ownership rights module including one or more of;

a software download module for downloading software to said wireless adjunct device;

an advertising download module for downloading advertising content to said wireless adjunct device; and

a disabler module for selectively disabling the wireless adjunct device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-account-based service is selected from the group consisting of a financial service and a banking service.

8. A method for facilitating wireless transactions executed in connection with a user-account-based service offered by a service provider, said method comprising:

registering by a user by accepting registration information from a user and creating a creating a user account;

assigning a unique identification number to a wireless adjunct device, said unique identification number being of a type which enables the wireless adjunct device to access a wireless communication network;

providing the wireless adjunct device to the user for executing transactions via the wireless communication network;

storing said unique identification number in a first level authentication database and associating the unique identification number with the user account;

storing an alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password in a second level authentication database and associating the alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password with the user account; and

capturing a user biometric data unit and storing said user biometric data unit in a third level authentication database.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

establishing communications between said wireless adjunct device and said service provider;

receiving transmission of a transmitted identification number from the wireless adjunct device;

determining whether a match exists between the transmitted identification number and said unique identification number stored in said first level authentication database; and

if a match exists between the transmitted identification number and said unique identification number stored in said first level authentication database, accepting transmission of at least one of an input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password and an input biometric data unit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving transmission of an input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password;

comparing the input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password to said stored alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password; and

granting access to said user account if a match exists between the input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password and said stored alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving transmission of an input biometric data unit;

comparing the input biometric data unit to said stored user biometric data unit; and

granting access to said user account if a match exists between the input biometric data unit and said stored user biometric data unit.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said wireless adjunct device is a cellular telephone and the wireless communication network is selected from one or both of a cellular telephony network and a text messaging network.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said unique identification number is selected from one or both of an MDN and an MEID.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said account number includes one or both of the MDN and MEID.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password is input via an alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric keypad or said adjunct device and said input biometric data unit is voice print data input via a microphone of said adjunct device.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

establishing communications between said wireless adjunct device and said service provider;

for each transaction sought to be executed, receiving transmission of an identification number from the wireless adjunct device and determining whether a match exists between the transmitted identification number and said unique identification number stored in said first level authentication database;

if a match exists between the transmitted identification number and said unique identification number stored in said first level authentication database, accepting transmission of an input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password;

comparing said input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password to said stored alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password;

if a match exists between the input alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password and said stored alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric password determining whether the transaction sought to be executed meets a preselected criterion;

if the transaction does not meet said preselected criterion, granting access to said user account; and

if the transaction meets said preselected criterion, accepting transmission of an input biometric data unit;

comparing said input biometric data unit to said stored user biometric data unit; and

granting access to said user account if a match exists between said input biometric data unit and said stored user biometric data unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

said user account is selected from the group consisting of a financial account and a bank account and said preselected criterion is a dollar amount.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the user account is selected from the group consisting of a financial account and a bank account and said method further comprising:

conducting settlement for financial transactions on said user account; and

settling charges associated with the user'"'"'s usage of the wireless adjunct device into said account.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

downloading one or both of software applications and advertising to said wireless adjunct device.

20. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

disabling said wireless adjunct device when certain conditions are met.