Vehicle Wallet

• US 20090024525A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkobin, Eric C., Blumer, Frederick T.
• Application Number:
  US12/174,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024525A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems related to electronic purchase transactions.

Claims

1. A method for electronic purchase transactions, comprising:

receiving a request for purchase approval at a user device from a point of sale device;

receiving purchase approval at the user device from a user;

transmitting the purchase approval to an in-vehicle device for purchase authorization;

receiving a purchase authorization at the user device from the in-vehicle device; and

transmitting the purchase authorization to the point of sale device, thereby completing the electronic purchase.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle device is a vehicle telematics unit (VTU).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for purchase approval at a user device comprises receiving the request on at least one of, a PDA, a cellular phone, a “

smart”

phone, or a wireless communications enabled key fob.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for purchase approval comprises receiving the approval request over at least one of, a Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or satellite communications link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving purchase approval comprises receiving at least one of, a PIN code, a password, biometric password, or voice authorization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the approved purchase to an in-vehicle device comprises transmitting the approved purchase over at least one of, a Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or satellite communications link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a purchase authorization at the user device from the in-vehicle device comprises:

requesting purchase authorization, by the in-vehicle device, from an external server;

receiving, at the in-vehicle device, purchase authorization from the external server; and

transmitting the authorization to the user device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a purchase authorization at the user device from the in-vehicle device comprises:

determining a current funds amount in a proprietary payment system; and

authorizing a reduction in the funds amount.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the purchase authorization to the point of sale device comprises receiving the approved purchase over at least one of, a Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or satellite communications link.

10. A method for electronic purchase transactions comprising:

receiving a request for purchase approval at an in-vehicle device from a point of sale device;

receiving purchase approval at the in-vehicle device from a user;

authorizing the purchase; and

transmitting the purchase authorization to the point of sale device, thereby completing the electronic purchase.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the in-vehicle device is a vehicle telematics unit (VTU).

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a request for purchase approval at an in-vehicle device comprises providing the request to a user over at least one of, a vehicle speaker system, a vehicle display device, or a light.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the request for purchase approval comprises receiving the approval request over at least one of, a Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or satellite communications link.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving purchase approval comprises receiving at least one of, a PIN code, a password, biometric password, voice authorization, and the like.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein authorizing the purchase comprises:

requesting authorization, by the in-vehicle device, from an external server;

receiving, at the in-vehicle device, authorization from the external server; and

transmitting the authorization to the user device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein authorizing the purchase comprises:

determining a current funds amount in a proprietary payment system; and

authorizing a reduction in the funds amount.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the purchase authorization to the point of sale device comprises receiving the approved purchase over at least one of, a Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or satellite communications link.

18. A vehicle wallet apparatus, comprising:

a memory, configured for storing financial transaction data;

a wireless transceiver, configured for transmitting and receiving financial transaction data to a user device; and

a processor, coupled to the memory and the wireless transceiver, wherein the processor is configured for receiving the financial transaction data from the memory, for providing the financial transaction data to the wireless transceiver, and for enabling purchase completion between the vehicle wallet apparatus and a point of sale device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a GPS transceiver coupled to the processor.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user device is at least one of, a PDA, a cellular phone, a “

smart”

phone, or a wireless communications enabled key fob.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless transceiver is at least one of, a Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or satellite communications transciever.

22. A vehicle wallet system, comprising:

a user device, configured for receiving and approving a purchase request from a point of sale device and for obtaining a purchase authorization from an in-vehicle device;

an in-vehicle device, configured for receiving a purchase authorization request from the user device, for obtaining a purchase authorization from a remote server, and for providing the purchase authorization to the user device; and

a remote server, configured for providing a purchase authorization to the in-vehicle device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user device is at least one of, a PDA, a cellular phone, a “

smart”

phone, or a wireless communications enabled key fob.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the in-vehicle device is a vehicle telematics unit (VTU).

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the remote server is a financial institution server.