SINGLE ACTION MOBILE TRANSACTION DEVICE

• US 20120197743A1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• 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, England, Tony, Bertanzetti, Peter John
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• 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 20/36 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 transaction information from the transaction device related to a transaction;

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 if 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. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the payment information stored the memory further comprises transaction parameters, wherein the transaction parameters determine the user defined input required to authorize a transaction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transaction parameters are selected from at least one of the amount of the transaction, the merchant, the items being purchased, the user'"'"'s transaction history, the available funds in the user'"'"'s financial accounts, the location of the apparatus, or the presence of an identified individual.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

analyze the transaction information; and

correlate the transaction information to the transaction parameters.

12. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable code comprising;

a first code portion stored in the memory and configured to receive transaction information related to a transaction from a transaction device;

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

a third 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 fourth code portion configured to use a communication device to wirelessly transmit predetermined payment information and authorize payment if the first input matches the user defined action stored in the memory.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the transaction device is a merchant point-of-sale terminal.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the communication device is a near field communication device.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, 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.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, 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.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, 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.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer-executable code further comprises:

a fifth 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 sixth 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 seventh 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 eighth 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 ninth 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 tenth 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.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer-executable code further comprises a code portion stored in the memory and configured to receive from the user transaction parameters, wherein the transaction parameters determine the user defined input required to authorize a transaction.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the transaction parameters are selected from at least one of the amount of the transaction, the merchant, the items being purchased, the user'"'"'s transaction history, the available funds in the user'"'"'s financial accounts, the location of the apparatus or the presence of an identified individual.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer-executable code further comprises a code portion stored in the memory and configured to analyze the transaction information from the transaction device and correlate the transaction information to the transaction parameters.

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

receiving a security protocol from a user, the security protocol comprising a permission module and authentication modules, wherein the authentication modules comprise user defined actions for authorizing wireless payments;

determining, via a processor, that the user is conducting a transaction;

comparing the transaction with the permission module;

determining, via the processor, the authentication module required to authorize the wireless payment based on the comparison of the transaction with the permission module;

receiving a first input from the user;

comparing the first input with the required authentication module;

communicating predetermined payment instructions and authorizing the transaction if the first input is consistent with the required authentication module.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the permission modules comprise transaction parameters and receiving a security protocol from a user comprises receiving instructions for prompting the permission module and receiving transaction parameters from the user.

24. The method of claim 22, 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.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the transaction parameters are selected from at least one of the amount of the transaction, the merchant, the items being purchased, the user'"'"'s transaction history, the available funds in the user'"'"'s financial accounts, the location of the apparatus, or the presence of an identified individual.

26. The method of claim 24, 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.

27. The method of claim 22, 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.

28. The method of claim 22 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.