Single action mobile transaction device

• US 8,666,895 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Grigg, David M., Tuders, John Franklin, Bertanzetti, Peter John, England, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel, Vanel
• Application Number:
  US13/401,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 705/44, 705/16, 705/64, 705/40, 705/39, 705/26.35, 705/34, 379/114.01, 455/413, 455/466, 370/352, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• 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 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention allow a user to wirelessly transmit payment information from a mobile device to a point-of-sale terminal by the user performing only a minimum number of inputs, such as a single input. Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus comprising an input device configured to receive input from a user, a communication device configured to transmit wireless signals to a transaction device, a memory comprising predetermined payment information stored therein and a processor communicably coupled to the input device, the communication device and the memory and configured to: receive transaction information from the transaction device related to a transaction; receive a first input from the user; determine if the first input matches a user defined action stored in memory, and use the communication device to wirelessly transmit the predetermined payment information and authorize payment if the first input matches the user defined action stored in memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input device, configured to receive input from a user;

a communication device configured to transmit wireless signals to a transaction device;

a memory comprising predetermined payment information stored therein comprising a user defined action for authorizing a wireless payment; and

a processor communicably coupled to the input device, the communication device and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to operate computer instruction code to;

receive a parameter from the user, wherein the parameter comprises a maximum time since a previous authentication;

receive transaction information from the transaction device related to a transaction, wherein the transaction information comprises a current time;

determine a time of a most recent authentication;

determine a duration between the time of the most recent authentication and the current time;

compare the duration to the parameter to determine when the duration is less than the maximum time since the previous authentication;

receive a first input from the user;

determine if the first input matches the user defined action for authorizing a wireless payment; and

use the communication device to wirelessly transmit the predetermined payment information and authorize payment when the duration is less than the maximum time since the previous authentication and the first input matches the user defined action stored in the memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction device is a merchant point-of-sale terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a near field communication device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user defined action is selected from at least one of a button operatively coupled to the processor, a single key of the input device, combination of keys on the input device actuated simultaneously, a combination of keys on the input device actuated in a pattern, the actuation of a specific key of the input device after a predetermined number of random key strokes, a voice pattern, a spoken word, a spoken phrase, language patterns, biometric data, a specific movement of the apparatus, a specific change in the orientation of the apparatus or a selectable icon presented on a display of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory device further comprises an electronic wallet application stored therein and wherein the processor is further configured to use the wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit default payment information to the transaction device without requiring the launching of the electronic wallet application prior to wirelessly transmitting the default payment information if the first input matches the user defined action stored in the memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to send a denial notification to the merchant system if the first user input does not match the user defined action saved in the memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

request a user defined username and password;

store the username and password in the memory;

request the user provide the username and password if the first input received from the user does not match the user defined action saved in the memory;

receive a second input from the user, wherein the second input comprises a username and password;

determine if the second user input matches the username and password saved in the memory; and

send an allowance notification to the transaction device if the second user input matches the username and password saved in the memory;

or

send a denial notification to the transaction system if the second user input does not match the username and password saved in the memory.

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable code stored in memory, the computer-executable code comprising;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to receive a parameter from the user, wherein the parameter comprises a maximum time since a previous authentication;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to receive transaction information related to a transaction from a transaction device wherein the transaction information comprises a current time;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to determine a time of a most recent authentication;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to determine a duration between the time of the most recent authentication and the current time;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to compare the duration to the parameter to determine when the duration is less than the maximum time since the previous authentication;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to receive a first input from the user;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to determine if the first input matches a user defined action for authorizing a wireless payment stored in a memory; and

a code portion configured to use a communication device to wirelessly transmit predetermined payment information and authorize payment when the duration is less than the maximum time since the previous authentication and the first input matches the user defined action stored in the memory.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the transaction device is a merchant point-of-sale terminal.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the communication device is a near field communication device.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the user defined action is selected from at least one of a button operatively coupled to the processor, a single key of the input device, combination of keys on the input device actuated simultaneously, a combination of keys on the input device actuated in a pattern, the actuation of a specific key of the input device after a predetermined number of random key strokes, a voice pattern, a spoken word, a spoken phrase, language patterns, biometric data, a specific movement of a mobile device, a specific change in the orientation of the mobile device or a selectable icon presented on a display of the apparatus.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable code further comprises a code portion comprising an electronic wallet application configured to use the communication device to wirelessly transmit the predetermined payment information to the transaction device without requiring the launching of the electronic wallet application prior to wirelessly transmitting the default payment information if the first input matches the user defined action stored in the memory.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable code further comprises a code portion configured to send a denial notification to the transaction device if the first input does not match the user defined action saved in the memory.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable code further comprises:

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to request a user defined username and password and store the user defined username and password in the memory;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to request the user provide the username and password if the first input received from the user does not match the user defined action saved in the memory;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to receive a second input from the user, wherein the second input comprises a username and password;

an code portion stored in the memory and configured to determine if the second user input matches the username and password saved in the memory;

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to send an allowance notification to the transaction device if the second input matches the username and password saved in the memory; and

a code portion stored in the memory and configured to send a denial notification to the transaction system if the second input does not match the username and password saved in the memory.

16. A method of authorizing a mobile transaction device payment, the method comprising:

receiving a parameter from the user, wherein the parameter comprises a maximum time since a previous authentication;

receiving transaction information from a transaction device related to a transaction, wherein the transaction information comprises a current time;

determining a time of a most recent authentication;

determining a duration between the time of the most recent authentication and the current time;

comparing the duration to the parameter to determine when the duration is less than the maximum time since the previous authentication;

receiving a first input from the user;

determining if the first input matches a user defined action for authorizing a wireless payment; and

wirelessly transmitting predetermined payment information and authorizing payment when the duration is less than the maximum time since the previous authentication and the first input matches the user defined action.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving a security protocol from a user comprises receiving instructions for prompting the authentication modules and receiving user defined actions for authorizing wireless payments.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the user defined actions are selected from a button operatively coupled to the processor, a single key of the input device, combination of keys on the input device actuated simultaneously, a combination of keys on the input device actuated in a pattern, the actuation of a specific key of the input device after a predetermined number of random key strokes, a voice pattern, a spoken word, a spoken phrase, language patterns, biometric data, a specific movement of the apparatus, a specific change in the orientation of the apparatus or a selectable icon presented on a display of the apparatus.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein determining that the user is conducting a transaction comprises receiving a signal from a point-of-sale device indicating that the user is attempting to conduct a transaction.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving a username and password from the user;

prompting the user to enter the username and password if the first input is not consistent with the required authentication module;

receiving a second input from the user;

comparing the second input to the username and password; and

communicating predetermined payment instructions and authorizing the transaction if the second input is consistent with the username and password.