Wireless payment methods and systems

• US 7,124,937 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garrison, Sara, Myers, Joan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/040,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/493, 235/486, 705/186, 705/16, 705/67, 705/40, 705/26, 705/44, 705/41
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method for conducting a transaction is disclosed. The method includes using a first portable electronic device, and directly transmitting a request for payment to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link. Then, the second portable electronic device transmits an approval of the request for payment to the first portable electronic device. One of the first and the second portable electronic devices then sends the request for payment to a payment hub service. The payment hub service then facilitates the transfer of funds from a payer institution to a payee institution to complete the transaction.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium comprising:

code for directly transmitting a request for payment from a first portable electronic device to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link;

code for receiving approval of the request for payment, wherein the approval is sent directly from the second portable electronic device to the first portable electronic device trough the wireless link; and

code for sending the request for payment to a payment hub service.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the wireless link comprises an RF or IR link.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the first portable electronic device is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising code for establishing trust between the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device before using the first portable electronic device to directly transmit the request for payment to the second portable electronic device.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising code for establishing trust between the payment hub service and either the first portable electronic device or the second portable electronic device.

6. A portable electronic device comprising the computer readable medium of claim 1.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6 further comprising a transmitter and a receiver.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 6 wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device are mobile phones.