Electronic payment system using accounting function in a mobile communication network

• US 7,343,344 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tomoike, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISBERGER, RICHARD C
• Application Number:
  US09/921,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,409 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/17, 705/20, 705/39, 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions

Abstract

A method of readily realizing electronic payment service at low cost with a high level of convenience and security for a consumer is disclosed. A personal information input terminal notifies a purchase price, an MSN (Mobile Subscriber Number) of an MS (Mobile Station), and personal information for identifying a purchaser through a public mobile communication network to request payment processing. A payment center device compares the information from the personal information input terminal with personal information stored in the device to determine whether the purchaser is qualified for electronic payment. If the purchaser is qualified for electronic payment, the payment center device notifies the MS of the purchase price with the MSN to request the purchaser to verify the purchase price. Upon notification from the MS that the purchase price is verified, the payment center device notifies an HLR (Home Location Register) over the public mobile communication network of the purchase price to request update of accounting information in order to collect the purchase price together with the charge for the MS. After the request for update of accounting information, the payment center device notifies a store that the electronic payment is completed.

Claims

1. A method of electronically settling a purchase price to be paid by a purchaser in a store in an electronic payment system comprising a mobile station held and operated by said purchaser, a personal information input terminal in the store, and a payment center, the method:

at the personal information input terminal;

notifying the payment center, by the store personal information input terminal through a public mobile communication network, of the purchase price, a mobile subscriber number of the mobile station held by the purchaser, and personal information for identifying the purchaser to request payment processing;

at the payment center;

comparing the personal information notified by the store personal information input terminal with personal information stored in the payment center to determine whether the purchaser is eligible for the electronic payment; and

if the purchaser is qualified for the electronic payment, notifying the mobile station held and operated by the purchaser of the purchase price with the mobile subscriber number through the public mobile communication network to request the purchaser to verify the purchase price;

at the mobile station;

when the purchase price is verified, notifying the payment center of the fact;

notifying a home location register over the public mobile communication network by the payment center of the purchase price to request update of accounting information in order to collect the verified purchase price together with a charge for the mobile station; and

notifying the store by the payment center that the electronic payment has been completed after the request for update of the accounting information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the personal information is a fingerprint pattern.

3. An electronic payment system for electronically settling a purchase price to be paid by a purchaser in a store, the system comprising:

a mobile station held by the purchaser;

a personal information input terminal in the store for notifying the purchase price, a mobile subscriber number of the mobile station, and personal information for identifying the purchaser from the store personal information input terminal through a public mobile communication network to request payment processing; and

a payment center for comparing the personal information notified by the personal information input terminal with personal information stored in the payment center to determine whether the purchaser is eligible for the electronic payment, and if the purchaser is eligible for the electronic payment, for notifying the mobile station of the purchase price with the mobile subscriber number through the public mobile communication network to request the purchaser to verify the purchase price, and when the payment center receives a notification from the mobile station that the purchase price is verified, for notifying a home location register over the public mobile communication network of the purchase price to request update of accounting information in order to collect the verified purchase price together with a charge for the mobile station, and then notifying the store that the electronic payment has been completed.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the personal information is a fingerprint pattern.

5. A payment center device for electronically settling a purchase price to be paid by a purchaser in a store, the device comprising:

a personal information database for storing personal information to identify the purchaser;

comparing means for receiving and comparing personal information notified by the store with the personal information stored in the personal information database to determine whether the purchaser is eligible for the electronic payment;

bill format converting means for converting information on the purchase price into accounting information in a format unique to a public mobile communication network connectable to a mobile station held by the purchaser; and

payment processing control means for notifying the mobile station of the purchase price through the public mobile communication network to request the purchaser to verify the purchase price if the comparing means determines that the purchaser is eligible for the electronic payment in response to notification of the purchase price, a mobile subscriber number of the mobile station, and the personal information from the store through the public mobile communication network to request payment processing, and upon receipt of notification from the mobile station that the purchase price is verified, for notifying a home location register over the public mobile communication network of the purchase price to request update of accounting information in order to collect the verified purchase price together with a charge for the mobile station, the purchase price being converted by the bill format converting means into accounting information in the format unique to the public mobile communication network, and then notifying the store that the electronic payment is completed.

6. The payment center device according to claim 5, wherein the personal information is a fingerprint pattern.

7. A personal information input terminal for requesting payment of a payment center for electronically settling a purchase price to be paid by a purchaser in a store, the terminal comprising:

point-of-sale interface means for receiving notification of the purchase price from a point-of-sale terminal to which the purchase price is entered;

entry means for entering a mobile subscriber number of a mobile station held by the purchaser;

personal information detecting means for detecting personal information for identifying the purchaser; and

control means for notifying the payment center through a public mobile communication network connectable to the mobile station of the purchase price received from the point-of-sale terminal through the point-of-sale interface means, the mobile subscriber number entered through the entry means, and the personal information detected by the personal information detecting means to request payment processing.

8. The personal information input terminal according to claim 7, wherein the personal information is a fingerprint pattern.

9. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for enabling a computer to perform electronic payment of a purchase price to be paid by a purchaser in a store, the program comprising:

a first set of instructions for comparing personal information notified by the store with personal information stored in a database to determine whether the purchaser is qualified for the electronic payment;

a second set of instructions for converting information on the purchase price into accounting information in a format unique to a public mobile communication network connectable to a mobile station held by the purchaser; and

a third set of instructions for notifying the mobile station of the purchase price through the public mobile communication network to request the purchaser to verify the purchase price if the purchaser is qualified for the electronic payment in response to notification of the purchase price, a mobile subscriber number of the mobile station, and the personal information from the store through the public mobile communication network to request payment processing, and upon receipt of notification from the mobile station that the purchase price is verified, notifying a home location register over the public mobile communication network of the purchase price to request update of accounting information in order to collect the verified purchase price together with a charge for the mobile station, the purchase price being converted into accounting information in a format unique to the public mobile communication network, and after the request for update of the accounting information, notifying the store that the electronic payment is completed.

11. The program according to claim 9, wherein the personal information is a fingerprint pattern.

10. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for enabling a computer to perform a payment request to an electronic payment center for electronically settling a purchase price to be paid by a purchaser in a store, the program comprising:

a first set of instructions for receiving information input to a point-of-sale terminal to extract the purchase price from the information;

a second set of instructions for detecting an input a mobile subscriber number of a mobile station held by the purchaser;

a third set of instructions for detecting input personal information for identifying the purchaser; and

a fourth set of instructions for notifying the payment center through a public mobile communication network connectable to the mobile station of the purchase price, the mobile subscriber number, and the personal information to request payment processing.

12. The program according to claim 10, wherein the personal information is a fingerprint pattern.