Motion based payment confirmation

• US 8,364,590 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Casey, Brandon J, Wipfler, Gary, Cressall, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): RANKINS, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US13/564,671
• Time in Patent Office: 181 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/42
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment

Abstract

Methods and devices for confirming payment transactions are provided. In one embodiment, an electronic device may include a graphical user interface (GUI) with one or more graphical elements that may be moved by a user to confirm or decline a payment transaction using a selected payment instrument. For example, a user may drag the graphical element to a confirmation position via a touch screen of the electronic device. In another example, a motion sensing device, such as an accelerometer, may sense movement of the electronic device and move the graphical element in response to the motion. Upon confirmation, payment information for the payment transaction may be transmitted to a merchant or payment recipient. Various additional methods, machine-readable media, and devices for confirming payment transactions are provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising an electronic device performing the following steps:

receiving a user input selecting a payment instrument;

displaying a confirmation screen for confirming a payment with the selected payment instrument, wherein the confirmation screen comprises a slide bar with three discrete positions and no intermediate positions therebetween, wherein the three discrete positions comprise a payment confirmation position disposed at a first end of the slide bar, a decline position disposed at a second end of the slide bar opposite of the first end, and an initial position disposed on the slide bar between the payment confirmation position and the decline position, and wherein the slide bar can be swiped from the initial position to a payment confirmation position and from the initial position to the decline position;

detecting movement of the slide bar from the initial position to the payment confirmation position through a touch screen of the electronic device;

confirming, via a processor of the electronic device, the payment with the selected payment instrument based on the movement of the slide bar; and

transmitting payment information to a financial institution to process the payment transaction in response to confirming the selected payment instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment information comprises at least one of a payment confirmation message, an account number, a sender identifier, a recipient identifier, a payment instrument identifier, remittance advice details, or an authorization key.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the slide bar is moveable from the initial position to the payment confirmation position in a first direction and moveable from the initial position to the decline position in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment confirmation screen displays an order summary describing articles for purchase with the payment.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising:

displaying a prompt that instructs a user to tap the electronic device to a receiving device; and

transmitting the payment information to the receiving device through a near field communication connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting movement of the slide bar comprises sensing a direction of motion through sensed levels of pressure received via the touch screen.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting movement of the electronic device through a one, two, or three axis accelerometer, and contemporaneously varying the slide bar based on the detected movement of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming the payment comprises transmitting at least one of a payment confirmation message, an account number, a sender identifier, a recipient identifier, a payment instrument identifier, remittance advice details, or an authorization key to a financial institution to process a payment transaction.

9. An electronic device comprising:

an input device configured to receive a user input selecting a payment instrument;

a display configured to display a confirmation screen for confirming a payment with the selected payment instrument, wherein the confirmation screen comprises a slide bar with three discrete positions and no intermediate positions therebetween, wherein the three discrete positions comprise a payment confirmation position disposed at a first end of the slide bar, a decline position disposed at a second end of the slide bar opposite of the first end, and an initial position disposed on the slide bar between the payment confirmation position and the decline position, wherein the slide bar can be swiped from the initial position to a payment confirmation position and from the initial position to the decline position;

a motion sensing device configured to detect movement of the slide bar from the initial position to the payment confirmation position;

a processor configured to confirm the payment with the selected payment instrument based on the movement of the slide bar;

one or more communication interfaces configured to transmit payment information for selected payment instrument to a financial institution to process the payment transaction in response to confirmation of the selected payment instrument.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the slide bar comprises an image of a bar draggable along a track disposed between the payment confirmation position and the decline position, wherein an initial position of the bar is substantially at a center of the track.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the motion sensing device is configured to sense a direction of motion through a touch screen of the display or through sensed levels of pressure received via the touch screen.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to compare sensed levels of pressure with a stored range of pressure levels, wherein the stored range of pressure levels is user-customizable.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the motion sensing device comprises one or more one, two, or three axis accelerometers configured to detect physical movement of the electronic device, and wherein the user input comprises a physical movement of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the input device includes a graphical touch keypad configured to receive a personal identification number corresponding to the selected payment instrument.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the one or more communication interfaces comprises a near field communication device configured to establish a close range connection with a second electronic device of a merchant and a network device configured to establish a long range connection with the financial institution.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to generate a displayable message indicating that the payment transaction has been confirmed.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer executable code stored thereon, the code comprising:

a routine executable to display a slide bar with three discrete positions and no intermediate positions therebetween, wherein the three discrete positions comprise a payment confirmation position disposed at a first end of the slide bar, a decline position disposed at a second end of the slide bar opposite of the first end, and an initial position disposed on the slide bar between the payment confirmation position and the decline position, wherein the slide bar can be swiped from the initial position to a payment confirmation position and from the initial position to the decline position;

a routine executable to confirm a payment when the graphical element is moved to the confirmation position.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 encoding executable code comprising a routine executable to display one or more payment options that may be selected to identify a payment instrument for making the payment.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 encoding executable code comprising a routine executable to decline the payment when the graphical element is moved to the decline position.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 encoding executable code comprising a routine executable to display the graphical element in an initial position on a slide bar, wherein the slide bar extends between the payment confirmation position and the decline position.