Payment application download to mobile phone and phone personalization

• US 8,620,260 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Saunders, Peter D., Peart, Lee J., JONES, Jessica U., Beenau, Blayn W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US11/741,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20080268811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 705/14.64, 705/14.38, 705/404, 705/26, 705/30, 705 39- 41, 705/14.65, 705/26.1, 705/35, 705/42, 705/43, 235379-380, 235/472, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3265 characterised by personalisation for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• 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: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

A method and system of personalizing a mobile phone over a wireless network is provided. The method is fast, reliable, and eliminates the need for an uninterrupted online connection to a host server in order to achieve successful download of user information. With the method and system, a mobile phone can be personalized for various purposes, such as for conducting financial transactions.

Claims

1. A method of personalizing a device over a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer-based system for personalizing the device, a request to personalize the device with user-specific information;

preparing, by the computer-based system and in response to the request to personalize the device, a unique personalization file for use with the device;

providing, by the computer-based system, a description file to the device over the wireless network, the description file comprising a URL pointing to a web-hosting environment containing a resource file comprising a software module;

providing, by the computer-based system and in response to a user contacting the web-hosting environment using the URL, the resource file to the device over the wireless network, wherein in response to receiving the resource file, the device installs the software module in a first internal memory of the device, wherein the device comprises the first internal memory, a second internal memory and a secure memory element; and

in response to the software module being executed by the device, providing, by the computer-based system, the unique personalization file to the device over the wireless network, wherein the unique personalization file is stored in the second internal memory of the device, wherein, based upon instructions included in the resource file, the personalization file is copied to the secure memory element of the device and deleted from the second internal memory, and wherein the software module accesses the personalization file in the secure memory element in order to enable the device to operate-as a financial transaction instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software module configures the device, based upon the personalization file, to operate as the financial transaction instrument.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the software module operates to instruct the device to transmit, via radio frequency (RF), financial transaction account information to a point of sale device (POS), wherein the financial account information is included in the personalization file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the description file further comprises information regarding downloading the unique personalization file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the description file is by Short Message Service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating a request from the device to retrieve the description file.

8. A system comprising:

a web-hosting environment containing a software module;

a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor for personalizing a device over a wireless network; and

the processor, when executing the software module, performs operations comprising;

receiving, by the processor, a request to personalize the device with user-specific information;

preparing, by the processor and in response to the request to personalize the device, a unique personalization the for use with the device;

providing, by the processor, a description file to the device over the wireless network, the description tile comprising a URL, pointing to a web-hosting environment containing a resource file comprising a software module;

providing, by the processor and in response to a user contacting the web-hosting environment using the URL, the resource file to the device over the wireless network, wherein in response to receiving the resource file, the device installs the software module in a first internal memory of the device, wherein the device comprises the first internal memory, a second internal memory and a secure memory element; and

in response to the software module being executed by the device, providing, by the computer-based system, the unique personalization file to the device over the wireless network, wherein the unique personalization file is stored in the second internal memory of the device, wherein, based upon instructions included in the resource file, the personalization file is copied to the secure memory element of the device and deleted from the second internal memory, and wherein the software module accesses the personalization file in the secure memory element in order to enable the device to operate as a financial transaction instrument.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the software module configures the device, based upon the personalization file, to operate as the financial transaction instrument.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the software module operates to instruct the device to transmit, via radio frequency (RF), financial transaction account information to a point of sale (POS) device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the description file further comprises information regarding downloading the unique personalization file.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide the description file to the device by Short Message Service.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to authenticate a request from the device to retrieve the description file.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (CRM) having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer for personalizing a device over a wireless network, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the computer, a request to personalize the device with user-specific information;

preparing, by the computer and in response to the request to personalize the device, a unique personalization file for use with the device;

providing, by the computer, a description file to the device over the wireless network, the description file comprising a URL pointing to a web-hosting environment containing a resource file comprising a software module;

providing, by the computer and in response to a user contacting the web-hosting environment using the URL, the resource file to the device over the wireless network, wherein in response to receiving the resource file, the device installs the software module in a first memory of the device, wherein the device comprises the first internal memory, a second internal memory and a secure memory element; and

in response to the software module being executed by the device, providing, by the computer-based system, the unique personalization file to the device over the wireless network, wherein the unique personalization file is stored in the second internal memory of the device, wherein, based upon instructions included in the resource file, the personalization file is copied to the secure memory element of the device and deleted from the second internal memory, and wherein the software module accesses the personalization file in the secure memory element in order to enable the device to operate as a financial transaction instrument.

16. The CRM of claim 15, wherein the software module is a payment application that configures the device, based upon the personalization file, to operate as a financial transaction instrument.

17. The CRM of claim 15, wherein the software module operates to instruct the device to transmit financial transaction account information to a reader, using RFID.

18. The CRM of claim 15, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

19. The CRM of claim 15, wherein the description file further comprises information on downloading the unique personalization file.

20. The CRM of claim 15, wherein the third computer readable program code means causes the computer to provide the description file to the device by Short Message Service.

21. The CRM of claim 15, wherein the control logic further comprises sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to authenticate a request from the device to retrieve the description file.