MOBILE TRANSIT FARE PAYMENT

• US 20080116264A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dixon, Phil, Hammad, Ayman
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4015 using location information
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for facilitating the payment and collection of transit system fares using a mobile device. The inventive system utilizes a contactless element embedded within a mobile wireless device, such as a mobile phone, PDA, or the like. The smart element is integrated with the circuitry of the mobile device to permit the data to be accessed and manipulated (e.g., read, written, erased) using the wireless communications network as the data transport channel. The data required to enable a user to access a transit system and for the system to conduct fare calculations may be provided to the memory in the contactless element using the wireless network. Such data may include access control data (keys, passwords, identification data) or data required for fare calculations (rates, historical data on system use).

Claims

1. A method of providing access to a system for a user of a mobile device, comprising:

generating system access control data for the user of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is capable of communication and data exchange over a wireless network, and communication and data exchange using a near field communications technology;

providing the system access control data to an element of the wireless network, whereby the access control data is caused to be transmitted over the wireless network to the mobile device;

receiving the access control data at a system collection terminal, the access control data being transferred from the mobile device to the collection terminal using a near field communications technology; and

processing the received access control data to determine if the user is provided access to the system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile wireless telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system access control data further comprises data used in an authentication process to authenticate that the user is entitled to access the system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the access control data further comprises data utilized in a transit fare computation operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the near field communications technology is a RFID technology.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the received access control data to determine if the user is provided access to the system further comprises:

using the received access control data to authenticate the user as a valid user of the system; and

permitting the user to access the system if the user is authenticated as a valid user of the system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the system access control data to an element of the wireless network further comprises storing the system access control data within a contactless element including a memory chip contained in the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the contactless element is capable of use as a transaction payment mechanism and as a transit system fare payment mechanism.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a second access control data to the system collection terminal, the second access control data being used in conjunction with the access control data in an authentication process.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the system is a transit system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transit system access control data is generated in response to determining a location of the mobile device.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is capable of accessing account information associated with the user, remotely monitor transit fare value or product status, review transit rider history, purchase new transit products, or obtain passes.

32. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the user has accessed a first transit system;

providing fare data for a second transit system, the fare data based at least in part on the user accessing the first transit system; and

providing the fare data for the second transit system to the element of the wireless network.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the fare data for the second transit system is one or more of a discount, a promotional offer, or reduced fare.

12. A system for providing access for a user of a mobile device, the mobile device capable of communication and data exchange over a wireless network, and communication and data exchange using a near field communications technology, the system comprising:

a system element in communication with a collection terminal and with an element of the wireless communications network;

a processor configured to execute a process to generate access control data, whereby the access control data is provided to the element of the wireless communications network and transferred over the wireless network to the mobile device; and

a communication module coupled to the collection terminal, the communication module configured to receive the access control data from the mobile device using the near field communications technology.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a contactless element associated with the mobile device, the contactless element including a chip configured to store data received over the wireless network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the contactless element is capable of use as a transaction payment mechanism and as a transit system fare payment mechanism.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile device is a wireless phone.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the near field communications technology is a RFID technology.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the access control data further comprises data utilized in a transit fare computation operation.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the chip is dynamically configurable.

34. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is coupled to the collection terminal, and further, wherein the processor is configured to execute a process to:

determine that the user has accessed a first transit system;

provide fare data for a second transit system, the fare data based at least in part on the user accessing the first transit system; and

provide the fare data for the second transit system to the element of the wireless communications network.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the fare data for the second transit system is one or more of a discount, a promotional offer, or reduced fare.

19. A method of providing access to a transit system for a user of a mobile device, comprising:

providing a wireless network element with access control data required for access to the transit system;

communicating the access control data to the mobile device over the wireless network;

transferring the access control data to a data storage element contained within the mobile wireless device;

communicating the access control data to the transit system using a near field communications technology; and

processing the communicated access control data to determine if the user is provided access to the transit system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data storage element is part of a contactless element.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the near field communications technology is a RFID technology.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the data storage element is dynamically configurable.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing the wireless network element with data required for a fare computation for the transit system; and

communicating the fare computation data to the mobile device over the wireless network.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the contactless element is capable of both a transaction payment and a transit system application.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is a wireless phone.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is capable of accessing account information associated with the mobile device, remotely monitor transit fare value or product status, review transit rider history, purchase new transit products, or obtain passes.

36. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining that the user has accessed a first transit system;

providing fare data for a second transit system, the fare data based at least in part on the user accessing the first transit system; and

providing the fare data for the second transit system to the wireless network element.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the fare data for the second transit system is one or more of a discount, a promotional offer, or reduced fare.

26. A mobile wireless device for use in accessing a system, comprising:

an interface for communicating via a wireless communications network; and

a contactless element coupled to the interface, and including a data storage element and a wireless communications element, wherein the wireless communications element is configured to communicate with a collection terminal via a near field communication medium, wherein the data storage element is configured to store access control data to access the system, and also financial data for conducting financial transactions with merchants.

27. The mobile wireless device of claim 26, wherein the system is a transit system and wherein the collection terminal is a transit fare collection terminal.

28. The mobile wireless device of claim 26, wherein the device is a wireless telephone.

31. The mobile wireless device of claim 26, wherein the wireless communications element is configured to provide access to account information associated with the mobile wireless device, remotely monitor transit fare value or product status, review transit rider history, purchase new transit products, or obtain passes.

38. A method of providing access for a user to a transit system, comprising:

receiving access control data for a first transit system at a system collection terminal, the access control data being transferred from a mobile device to the collection terminal using a near field communications technology;

processing the received access control data to determine if the user is provided access to the first transit system;

providing fare data for a second transit system, the fare data based at least in part on the user accessing the first transit system; and

providing the fare data for the second transit system to an element of a wireless network, thereby causing a transfer of the fare data for the second transit system to the mobile device over the wireless network.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the fare data for the second transit system is one or more of a discount, a promotional offer, or reduced fare.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the mobile device is a wireless phone.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the first transit system is a first transit system accessed by the user and a second transit system accessed by the user, and the fare for the second transit system is discounted if the first transit system accessed by the user and the second transit system accessed by the user are linked.