Computerized wireless payment methods

• US 8,613,390 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2012
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US13/727,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/379, 235/383, 705/14.64, 705/14.65
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/06 using voice
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 20/32 using wireless 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 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 : Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00314 : Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 : Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 : Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 : for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 : the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 : the arrangements being full-front touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 : the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods useful for conducting payment transactions wirelessly, such as at point-of-sale locations. In one embodiment, the mobile user apparatus is a cellular-enabled mobile device that includes a short-range passive radio frequency transceiver that when interrogated by a reader at the point-of-sale, issues a reply including information relating to an account of the user of the mobile apparatus that is to be charged for the payment. In one variant, the mobile user apparatus is further configured to instantiate a user interface window on its display such as for e.g., entry of a password.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a financial transaction using a mobile wireless enabled device having a display, the financial transaction comprising wireless payment for at least one of goods or services, the method comprising:

causing a wireless reader or interrogating device disposed at a point of sale for goods or services to, when the mobile wireless enabled device is placed in proximity thereto, interrogate a short range passive radio frequency device disposed on or in the mobile wireless enabled device at time of manufacture of the mobile wireless enabled device, the mobile wireless enabled device having been previously encoded after its manufacture with information specific to a user of the device, the information including information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user, the interrogation further causing the mobile wireless enabled device to instantiate at least one graphical user interface element on the display useful for enabling the user to take one or more actions relating to the financial transaction;

receiving at the wireless reader or interrogating device at least one data transmission from the passive radio frequency device, the transmission instigated at least in part by electromagnetic energy radiated by the reader or interrogating device interrogation, the at least one data transmission comprising at least a portion of the information relating to the existing payment account associated with the user; and

utilizing the at least portion of the information relating to the existing payment account to conduct a payment transaction for at least one of the goods or services from the at least one existing account;

wherein the mobile wireless enabled device having been encoded with the information relating to the existing payment account obviates the user from having to carry at least one other currency or payment source to complete the financial transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data related to the wireless payment transaction to the mobile wireless enabled device for storage thereon.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting data related to the wireless payment transaction to the mobile wireless enabled device for storage thereon comprises transmitting to the short range passive radio frequency device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the data related to the transaction includes at least one of (i) a date/time;

(ii) at least one of a) a user identification and/or b) a location of the transaction, and/or (iii) a payment method; and

transfer of the data to the mobile wireless enabled device is fully automated and requires no user action or intervention.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting data related to the transaction to be transmitted to a network entity for inclusion on a monthly account statement of the user.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting data related to the transaction to be transmitted to a network entity to charge the existing account for at least the value of the transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data related to the transaction to be transmitted to a network entity for inclusion on a monthly account statement of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data related to the transaction to be transmitted to a network entity to charge the existing account for at least the value of the transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless enabled device comprises a smart-phone having a GPS receiver, and the method further comprises:

producing data relating to a current location of the smart-phone; and

storing at least a portion of the produced data within the smart-phone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least a portion of the produced data within the smart-phone is configured to identify a location relating to the financial transaction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing interrogation comprises causing the mobile wireless enabled device to prompt the user for entry of a personal identification number (PIN) via the at least one window.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user comprises information associated with a pre-paid account, the user having previously financially compensated an issuer of the pre-paid account before conduct of the financial transaction.

13. A method of conducting a financial transaction relating to wireless payment for goods or services, the method comprising:

receiving from a point of sale for the financial transaction at least information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with a user of a wireless mobile host device also capable of being utilized for wireless communication via a cellular interface thereof, the wireless mobile device having been previously encoded with the information, the information having been wirelessly obtained from a passive short range radio frequency device disposed on or in the wireless mobile host device at the time of its manufacture through at least interrogation of the passive short range radio frequency device with electromagnetic energy generated by a reader or interrogation apparatus disposed at the point of sale when the wireless mobile host device was placed in proximity to the reader or interrogation apparatus, the mobile host device having been encoded with the information obviating the user from having to carry at least one other currency or payment source to complete the financial transaction;

transmitting at least a portion of the received information relating to the at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user to a network entity having an account information database in association therewith, for enabling charging of the existing account; and

causing said charging of the existing account utilizing at least the information relating to the existing payment account for at least a value of the goods or services purchased as part of the financial transaction.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting via a secure network data related to the transaction to an entity for inclusion of at least a portion of the data related to the transaction on a statement to be provided to the user.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing data related to the wireless payment transaction to be transmitted to the wireless mobile host device for storage thereon.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data related to the payment transaction includes at least one of (i) a date/time;

(ii) at least one of a) a user identification and/or b) a location of the transaction, and/or (iii) a payment method.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing data related to the wireless payment transaction to be transmitted to the point of sale so that the reader or interrogation apparatus can transmit at least a portion of the data related to the payment transaction to be transmitted to the mobile host device for storage thereon.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the data related to the transaction includes at least one of (i) a date/time;

(ii) at least one of a) a user identification and/or b) a location of the transaction, and/or (iii) a payment method; and

transmission of the data to the wireless mobile device is fully automated and requires no user action or intervention.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing encoding of the wireless mobile host device with the information prior to conduct of the financial transaction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the causing encoding of the wireless mobile device with the information prior to conduct of the financial transaction is performed at least in part by the user.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting via a secure network data related to the transaction to an entity for inclusion of at least a portion of the data related to the transaction on a statement to be provided to the user.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting via a secure network data related to the transaction to an entity for inclusion of at least a portion of the data related to the transaction on a statement to be provided to the user.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user comprises a pre-paid account, and the method further comprises establishing the pre-paid account prior to conduct of the financial transaction.

24. A method of conducting a financial transaction using a cellular-enabled mobile device, the financial transaction comprising wireless payment for at least one of goods or services, the method comprising:

placing a cellular enabled mobile device in proximity to a wireless reader or interrogating device disposed at a point of sale for goods or services, the mobile device comprising a short range passive radio frequency device disposed on or in the mobile device at time of manufacture of the mobile device, the mobile device having been previously encoded with information specific to a user of the device, the information including information relating to at least one of an existing credit or debit or prepaid account associated with the user;

receiving, at the short range passive radio frequency device, electromagnetic energy in the form of an interrogation signal, from the wireless reader or interrogating device; and

enabling sending, from the short range passive radio frequency device to the wireless reader or interrogating device, of at least one data transmission, the transmission instigated at least in part by the interrogation signal radiated by the reader or interrogating device, the at least one data transmission comprising at least a portion of the information relating to the existing payment account associated with the user;

wherein the mobile wireless enabled device having been encoded with the information relating to the existing payment account prior to conduct of the financial transaction obviates the user from having to carry at least one other currency or payment source to complete the financial transaction; and

wherein the enabling sending of at least one data transmission comprises entering user-specific security information into an instantiated software user interface element generated on a display of the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising encoding of the wireless mobile device with the information prior to conduct of the financial transaction.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the encoding is performed at least in part by the user.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the entering user-specific security information into an instantiated software window generated on a display of the mobile device comprises entering at least one of a password and/or personal identification number (PIN).

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless payment for at least one of goods or services comprises payment for an MP3 or music download to the mobile device.

29. A method of conducting a financial transaction relating to wireless payment for goods or services, the method comprising:

providing a downloadable software application suitable to enable encoding of a wireless mobile host device having a passive short range radio frequency device disposed on or in the wireless mobile host device at the time of its manufacture with information relating to a financial account, so that the mobile host device and the short range device can be used by an owner of the financial account to wirelessly pay for goods or services at one or more points of sale without having to carry at least one other payment source or currency with which to pay for the financial transaction;

receiving from a point of sale for the financial transaction at least a portion of the information relating to the account, the wireless mobile device having been previously encoded with the information using at least the software application, the information having been wirelessly obtained from the passive short range radio frequency device through at least interrogation of the passive short range radio frequency device with electromagnetic energy generated by a reader or interrogation apparatus disposed at the point of sale when the wireless mobile host device was placed in proximity to the reader or interrogation apparatus;

transmitting, via a secure communications modality, at least a portion of the received information relating to the account to a network entity having an account information database in association therewith, for enabling charging of the account; and

causing said charging of the account utilizing at least the information relating to the account for at least a value of the goods or services purchased as part of the financial transaction.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising causing data related to the wireless payment transaction to be transmitted to the wireless mobile host device for storage thereon, the data related to the payment transaction comprising at least one of (i) a date/time;

(ii) at least one of a) a user identification and/or b) a location of the transaction, and/or (iii) a payment method.