IT201800005677A1 - A system of generation, compilation and exchange of electronic checks - Google Patents

Description

Description accompanying the patent application for industrial invention entitled:

A SYSTEM OF GENERATION, COMPILATION AND EXCHANGE OF

ELECTRONIC CHECKS

Scope of the invention

The present invention relates to the technical sector relating to electronic instruments for managing payments.

In particular, the invention refers to an innovative method that allows a digital payment.

Brief notes on the known art

The paper check and / or cashier's check has been known for a long time. It is a rectangular paper sheet similar to a banknote and bearing prints that vary from banking group to banking group. The check contains specific empty fields that must be filled in appropriately, including the date of completion, the amount and the person who must collect the check. In addition, the check shows a sequential identification number. Finally, the check must be signed by the person who issues it, so that the person who receives it can cash it.

In this way it becomes a sort of currency that can be safely collected in the bank by the beneficiary.

That said, the traditional use of a paper check has many technical drawbacks.

First of all, there is a considerable consumption of paper, which is necessary for its realization.

In addition, the check, as is the case with banknotes, can be accidentally lost and moreover, being in paper form, it can easily be forged and / or damaged.

No less important, the paper check requires filling in by hand and unclear writing can make it impossible to receive the collection.

Finally, the paper check obliges an exchange mechanism that is not very flexible. For example, once it has been collected, it is necessary to physically go to the bank to collect it and, moreover, there is no certainty that it will be covered. In fact, it could happen that the check is actually devoid of corresponding economic coverage and therefore results in a non-collectible check.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an innovative method, and relative payment system, which allows the above-mentioned technical drawbacks to be solved at least in part.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method, and relative payment system, capable of reducing paper consumption, which is flexible and which reduces the risk of loss of the payment document and / or the possibility of fraud.

These and other objects are therefore achieved with the present method for carrying out an electronic payment transaction by generating an electronic check (50), according to claim 1.

This method includes the following operations:

- Access, by a first subject (User_1) to a software application (15), managed by a special central Server (100) connected to the internet, and insertion of one or more data in one or more appropriate electronic fields (51, 52, 53) which are generated by the software, in such a way as to generate said electronic check (50), said data comprising at least one amount, ie a figure to be collected;

- Generation of a first electronic security code (60) through a specific algorithm associated with said generated electronic check;

- And in which a collection operation is envisaged, which can be carried out by a second subject (User_2), and which provides for electronic access, via the Internet, to said central server (100) and the insertion of at least said code electronic security code (60) in such a way that the central server (100) verifies the correspondence of the electronic security code (60) entered with that associated with the specific electronic check (50) generated by the first subject (User_1).

In this way all the aforementioned technical drawbacks are easily solved.

In particular, the software method conceived allows for electronic creation of the check and the possibility of electronic exchange of the same which is secure through the generation of the security code, in accordance with a predetermined algorithm.

This also solves all the problems of possible fraud, the inconvenience of on-site collection at the bank and problems related to an illegible compilation.

Further advantages can be deduced from the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of this method, and related system, according to the invention, will become clearer with the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile telephone device in which the software application object of the present invention is present; - Figure 2 shows a schematic of the generation of an electronic check to be filled in;

- Figure 3 and Figure 3A show the phases of withdrawal of the amount indicated by the debtor and the generation of an identification code of the electronic check and a security code to perform the withdrawal;

- Figure 4 shows access to the software application by a user who must collect the amount of the electronic check intended for him;

- Figure 5 and Figure 6 schematically show the phases of electronic compilation of the fields and the verification of compatibility between the completed electronic check and the data entered by the second person to whom the check is intended;

- Figures 7 and 8 summarize the operating steps according to a flow chart.

Description of some preferred embodiments The present invention relates to an electronic payment method which provides for the electronic generation of a virtual check 50 and its subsequent management.

With reference to Figure 1, a mobile telephone device 10 is schematised, such as for example an I-Phone from Apple, a Smartphone and / or the like.

Such mobile phone devices, as is well known, have processors capable of processing a lot of data and therefore allow you to download special software generically indicated with the acronym of App., I.e. applications, which software are able to work in the specific mobile phone on which are downloaded.

The present invention can therefore be easily realized through the construction of a special App. Downloadable on any mobile phone device.

In this way there is a continuous usability of the method described below.

However, accessibility of this system from any electronic device capable of making an internet connection and processing data, including Personal Computers such as laptops, laptops, notebooks, etc. is by no means excluded.

Figure 1, therefore, in a non-limiting manner, shows a mobile telephone device 10 on which there are various applications 15 downloaded by the user or pre-existing in the mobile phone system.

The application -App.- object of the present invention actually communicates with a central server 100 which manages the various operations described below, in such a way as to be able to process the data as described below.

In particular, as shown in figure 2, once the application has been launched, it generates an electronic image on the mobile phone which schematically represents a virtual check 50 on which several fields (51, 52, 53) are shown that will be filled in by the user, i.e. User_1.

Alternatively, the image relating to the virtual check can simply be replaced with a display of said series of fields (51, 52, 53) that will be filled in, within one or more electronic pages.

The fields can be one or more than one and preferably are fields that allow the insertion of all data relating to the subject to whom the check is intended, in addition to the data of the compiling subject, amounts, etc.

Therefore, data can be entered such as:

- Amount;

- Expiry date of the check;

- Tax Code and / or name and surname and / or personal data of the person filling in (User_1) and of the person who must collect (User_2).

The list of data entered above is obviously not to be considered exhaustive and other data may be added or some of them may be omitted or replaced with others.

More detail is given immediately below. The electronic compilation, of course, takes place through the electronic keyboard that appears or is integrated in the mobile telephone device or, if a PC is used, through the PC keyboard.

The electronic data that must be entered in the appropriate fields are one or more of the following:

- Amount;

- Expiry date to carry out the collection;

- Beneficiary tax code or other personal identification of the beneficiary (User_2);

- Telephone number and / or e-mail address of the beneficiary (User_2) and / or of the person who fills in (User_1);

- Indication from where to withdraw the sum for example: - Iban o

- User_1 Credit Card;

In this way, the software has two important data that refer to the current account or in any case to the card from which to withdraw the amount owed by the debtor (i.e. the one who electronically fills in the check - User_1) and one or more identification data of the subject to whom the amount is intended for (User_2), including an electronic contact data.

Figure 3, in fact, schematically shows the electronic acquisition, by the server 100, of the electronic data relating to the withdrawal address of the amount. The server electronically contacts the server of bank 200 indicated and carries out the withdrawal in accordance with electronic protocols well known in the state of the art for these operations, such as for example the Sepa Credit Transfert or SCT protocol.

At this point, as shown in the following figure 3A, the central server generates two codes (60, 65), according to predetermined algorithms.

The first code is a security code similar to the code that is generated with "Token" systems.

Basically, based on a predetermined algorithm, a numerical or alpha-numerical sequence is generated. In this particular case, this code can be generated only once and remain fixed or, exactly as in the case of tokens, it can change periodically within the time period within which to complete the collection operation (see above "expiry date" ).

A further code 65 is instead a serial that identifies the specific electronic check generated to which this identification code 65 and the aforementioned security code 60 are associated.

The security code 60 and identification 65 can advantageously be sent electronically to the recipient (User_2), for example through a mobile phone device with sms or via e-mail.

As mentioned, in fact, among the initial compilation data described with reference to figure 2, some useful data concern electronic contacts (therefore telephone and / or internet email) of the beneficiary.

If the system for generating the security code 60 is of the Token type, in the sense that it changes periodically, then the recipient will periodically receive a text message and / or email with the updated code.

At this point, the electronic check can be safely withdrawn.

For this purpose, with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the person (User_2) who must collect the check connects to the same application, that is, to the same management software 100 or through their mobile phone device or through a PC.

As shown in figures 4 and 5, the user_2 who has to collect opens his application 15 'from his mobile phone device 10', in order to connect to the central system management server 100. A special page appears to user_ 2 which can have any type of layout but which allows the insertion of one or more data in specific fields to request the collection of a sum.

Of course, among the various data to be entered, the security code 60 and the identification code 65 which identifies the virtual check, as well as the identification data of the person to be collected and any other data, must be entered.

The user, indicated in this case as User_2, enters this data.

The server 100 obviously has in its memory the data initially entered by User_1 to which it has associated the specific identification code 65 and the security code 60.

At this point, as shown in Figure 6, the server carries out an electronic comparison between the data entered by User_2 with those compiled by User_1 to verify correspondence.

In particular, it compares the identification code 65 and the security code and checks whether the security code entered corresponds to that specific identification 65.

In this way, if the correspondence is successful, the server 100 makes the transfer to the account in charge and, for example, entered by the requestor (User_2).

If obviously the data entered is incorrect (one or more than one, such as the amount or the name and surname, the aforementioned security and identification code), the system returns an error message and therefore impossibility of collection.

More specifically, in an example of use and with reference to the flow chart of Figures 7 and 8, the creditor user "User_1" opens the application and fills in the required electronic data including:

Data_1 = Amount

Data_2 = Due date

Data_3 = Beneficiary tax code

Data_4 = Telephone number (optional)

Data_5 = Indication from where to withdraw the sum

Iban

Credit card

At this point the server 100 connects to the server system associated with Data_5 and performs the withdrawal. Subsequently, or before this phase, it generates a code 65 identifying the generated check and a security code 60.

In this way, the electronic check with a predetermined identification code (Cod_Id_1) is associated with a predetermined security code (Cod_ Sir_1) and the entire series of data (Dato_1 ... Dato_n) introduced above.

The user_2 who must collect, therefore, fills in the required data in the appropriate electronic fields of the application, including the Dato_n that identifies him, an electronic Iban on which to receive the amount and obviously the identification code (Cod_Id_1) and the security code (Cod_Sir_1) received preferably electronically and / or by telephone sms or similar.

Server 100, as shown in Figure 6, makes a comparison of these data entered with those in memory pre-compiled by the user_1 and in case of correspondence it confirms a positive outcome and follows up on the transaction.

In particular, as mentioned above, check that the security code and identification code associated with the specific virtual check generated match those entered by the user who must collect the amount (User_2).

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. A method of carrying out an electronic payment transaction and comprising the following operations: - Connection, with a special electronic device (10, 10 '), to a central Server (100) connected to the internet and insertion of one or more data within one or more electronic fields (51, 52, 53) which are generated and displayed on said electronic device (15, 15 ') in such a way as to create an electronic check (50), preferably said data comprising at least one amount; - Generation of an electronic security code (60) through a suitable algorithm and association of said electronic security code to said generated electronic check; - And in which a collection operation is envisaged which provides for electronic access, via the internet, to said central server (100) with a special electronic device (15, 15 ') and the insertion of at least said electronic security code ( 60) in such a way that a verification of correspondence of the electronic security code (60) entered with that associated with the specific electronic check generated takes place. 2. A method, according to claim 1, in which, in addition to the electronic security code, the step of generating an identification code (65) which uniquely identifies the generated virtual check, the identification code and said electronic security code (60) both being electronically associated to said electronic check (50) so that, in the collection phase, the central server (100) requests the insertion of both the identification and security codes and verifies the correspondence of the electronic security code (60) inserted with respect to the identification code (65). 3. A method, according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a mobile phone device on which there is a software application (15, 15 ') appointed to connect with said central server (100). A method, according to claim 1, wherein said data within one or more electronic fields (51, 52, 53) further comprise at least one identification data of a second subject (User_2) who must collect said check (50 ). 5. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the central server, following the generation of said electronic check (50), carries out an electronic withdrawal operation of the indicated amount through a standard electronic withdrawal protocol. 6. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which an operation of sending via sms and / or mms and / or e-mail and / or telephone is provided for the identification code and the security code to the subject (User_2) who must collect the electronic check (50) in such a way that at least such data can be entered for the collection of the amount. 7. An assembly to perform an electronic payment transaction and comprising: - An electronic device (10, 10 ') suitable for an internet connection; - A central server (100); - The central server being programmed in such a way as to generate an electronic check visible on said electronic device following connection to the central server, said electronic check (50) comprising one or more electronic fields (51, 52, 53) visible on the screen of the electronic device and can be filled with one or more data, preferably said data comprising at least one amount; - A device for generating an electronic security code (60) which is associated with said electronic check generated in such a way that, following electronic access via the internet to said central server (100) and the insertion of at least said electronic security code (60) a correspondence check of the electronic security code (60) inserted with respect to the one generated and associated with said electronic check takes place. 8. An assembly, according to claim 7, in which said electronic device is a mobile telephone device on which there is a software application (15, 15 ') appointed to connect with said central server (100). 9. An assembly, according to claim 7 or 8, in which, in addition to the electronic security code, an identification code generation device (65) is further provided which uniquely identifies the generated virtual check, the identification code and said electronic security code (60) both being electronically associated with said electronic check (50) in such a way that, in use when a collection phase is to take place, the central server (100) requests the insertion of both identification codes and security and verifies the correspondence of the electronic security code (60) with the identification code (65). 10. An assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims 7 to 9, in which the device for generating said identification code (65) and / or the device for generating said electronic security code (60) is / are in form of a processor belonging to said central server (100).