DE10029337A1 - Method for remote updating of mobile phone accounts by connection, using a mobile phone, to a deposit automat that links to a central account management system and also depositing a payment in cash or cashless form - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for simplifying payment traffic in which an account (43) is called up so that a deposit can be made to it by a deposit management system (40). A user (21) makes a deposit to an automat (100) that has a communication link (30) to the management system which updates the account. Advantageously the user connects to the automat using his mobile phone (20) so that the users mobile phone account is updated. The invention also relates to an automat device for updating the account of a mobile phone user.

Description

The invention relates to a method for simplifying the payment process kehrs by setting up an account with an account management and deposit thereupon as well as a deposit machine to carry out the Process.  

Services often have to be prepaid in cash. The bar however, monetary payments are cumbersome, complex and risky. It is often not possible to grant credit or it is defaulting.

There are also credit accounts for the payment of services or the like for various applications. So there is on the one hand the classic bank accounts, which are managed by a bank and for the execution of debits, transfers and Aufbu can be used. There are also increasing numbers Credit accounts that are held via credit cards or cash cards the. Bank accounts, credit cards and cash cards, however, are not so universal sell usable or easy to use like cash. Is cash therefore still indispensable.

A special application of credit accounts that are increasingly being used by Be interpretation wins, is located in the field of mobile phones. in this connection can the user of a mobile phone (cell phone) with a network operator Buy with a microchip card with a certain credit amount and this credit after inserting the card into his phone kidneys (so-called prepaid card). After the credit has been used up the user must obtain a new one in a branch of the network operator Purchase a credit card and insert it into his mobile phone, which ver is relatively expensive.

Against this background, it was an object of the present invention Method and corresponding devices for simplifying the number traffic by opening an account and making a deposit to deliver.

This object is specified by a method with those in claim 1 resolved characteristics. A suitable one for carrying out the method Deposit machine is specified in claim 12. Advantageous Ausge Events are contained in the subclaims.  

In the process of setting up and / or depositing into an account, which is managed by an account management is transmitted by a user to a deposit machine data for the identification of the account and deposits an amount to be credited to the account. The deposit automat establishes a communication connection after entering the data to account management and shares this via communication the planned or already made deposit with. The account Administration will then set up the named account if it isn't already exists and / or credits the account with an amount that the one payment (if applicable after deduction of management fees or the same). Since the account management usually ent is located far from the deposit machine, it is the Communication link typically around a long distance connection.

An advantage of the method according to the invention is the simplification cash payments. This is done through the deposit Automatically set up an account when entering an account an identification number. After that, any cash will be added to this Amounts paid in amount and number and credited to this account wrote. The account is therefore permanently usable and replenished bar.

Another advantage of the method according to the invention is that that by using a deposit machine, the deposit on the account from different locations and basically to each can be done around the clock at any time. The user is there not forced to open a cash desk at to visit the account-holding company to advance the deposit to take. Due to the relatively low investment costs A deposit machine in a dense network is publicly accessible be set up so that for the user almost everywhere in less such a deposit machine provided spatial distance that can.  

Another advantage of the method is that the deposit tomato with a basically arbitrarily large number of different ones Account management of different types and different companies can work together. The correct assignment of the deposited Be Contributions to a specific account are made based on the user entered given data to identify the account. With the help of this data the Deposit machine also able to establish a communication link to build up the associated account management and thus ensure that the deposit is credited to the correct account.

The method according to the invention can thus be used on many machines Deposits made outside and independently of a bank become. Likewise, in any number of places for any number of cases have the account. The related payment transactions will practically centralized on these machines. About the credit can be there in particular by identifying the customer and / or the account, z. B. by keyboard input. This can be manipulation This is because a chip with a computer function is not required.

Vending machines can be deposited in particular at all "points of sales" such as be present in every department store, being on these machines can preferably also be paid cashless. Ver vending machines such as B. cigarette machines, ticket machines, Photo booths, photocopiers, vouchers and the use the same by the method according to the invention, provided that they with a line connection or a radio connection of the account-holding company Agency (clearing house). The same applies to payment of costs for fees of various types such as B. for electricity, telephone or water.

Finally, the method according to the invention also has the advantage that account management is enabled for such people, which is more normal for legal or factual reasons, assign none or only him have difficult access to a bank account or customer account. in this connection  may be children, unemployed or non-business in particular able to act. Unemployed people in particular often have problems with the Set up a bank account as banks given the little profit pregnant sales on the current accounts or credit accounts and one lack of acceptance of this group of people by the rest of the customer The public is often not ready to set up such an account are. It is also essential that problem-free controlling is possible Lich and that the failure rate is improved proportionately, because be is paid.

The deposit of the amount to be credited to the deposit ATMs can be entered by entering cash in the form of coins and / or banknotes or cashless. Procedure for About Checking and determining the value of cash entered are known. It is also known to use a credit card, check card or the like make a cashless deposit. Ultimately, this takes place a transfer of credit from one belonging to the card Account instead of the target account designated by the user. At bar The deposit machine determines the amount paid in independent. In the case of cashless deposits, however, the user has to Enter the amount to be booked.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, it identifies itself the user towards the deposit machine. That means the User provides the deposit machine with information that verifiable individually only to one user or possibly one limited user group is assigned. This ensures that the deposit made by the user is not anonymous, but that the origin of the deposit is fundamentally attributable. Furthermore, the identification reduces the risk that the user due to an incorrect entry accidentally paid into a wrong account.

The identification of the user towards the deposit machine According to a development of the method, it allows the deposit machine  asks the account manager whether the named user to make deposits into the account specified by him is justified, and that the deposit machine accepts the deposit refused if, according to the account management, no authorization of the user for a deposit. Because by a single the beneficiary is not harmed but enriched, in most cases the payer is not identified. However, with the proposed identification of the payer, too such applications are carried out in which deposits of any side should not be allowed. Such an application An example of this is the payment to a customer's credit account Cellular phones when a child uses the cellphone should and the parents make an arbitrary payment to the account want to prevent by the child. In this case, typically se only parents can be entitled to the cell phone credit account Deposit phones so they are in control of sales at all times of the account.

The identification of the user towards the deposit machine can be entered by entering an identification code and / or in a biome trical procedures. An identification code is typically one Combination of digits and numbers that are individual to the user ne secret number is assigned (so-called PIN: personal identification onsnummer). The allocation and control of such identification codes is carried out by the account-maintaining body, which is based on the saved data an assignment of the entered code to that standing users can make. Furthermore, the Identifi cation based on biometric processes, which a certain unchangeable and individual biological parameters of the Be sensed by the user and based on this information and a Database recognize the user. Typical examples of suitable bio metric sizes are a fingerprint or anatomical features of the eye.  

In another development of the method, the user has an egg Nen assigned data carrier, which with the deposit automate via a cable or wirelessly a communication link establishes and over this communication connection data for identification on the user and / or the account on which he is credited should follow. A user-brought data carrier has the advantage that the data required by the deposit machine is auto can be transferred matically from the data carrier and the user This data does not need to be remembered. The danger of a verge sens of the secret numbers and accounts, which are usually difficult to remember drawings are therefore excluded. A disk also has the The advantage that he can identify the Be user, since the information used for identification in the form of Hardware can be realized. Ultimately, the individual Da Carrier identified and the user's authorization deduced therefrom directs that he has control over this disk. Around additional protection against misuse of the To ensure data carrier, such as after a theft, can additionally Lich the query of a secret number from the user, this However, the PIN is kept relatively short and easy to remember can be.

When using a data carrier to transmit information at the deposit machine is the one between the data carrier and the communication connection established with the deposit machine after data transmission has been completed, after a specified NEN time limits and / or by an appropriate input by the user canceled. A limitation of the communication connection to one maximum period of time or for the execution of the data Transmission of the necessary period of time helps prevent miss use of the data carrier by giving the time for the authorization of Trans actions are kept as short as possible.  

When using a data carrier, the method can preferably do so be further developed that the disk from the deposit the updated balance of the account is automatically communicated, and that the data carrier stores this transmitted information. Since the The user receives data carriers in the control of the user users in this way at any time with appropriate reading devices accessible information about the balance of his account. The Disk can also be set up to be connected access to the account balance with other devices possible, so that a consumption of the credit for corresponding Services such as making calls, copying or the like Chen is possible.

In a preferred development of the invention, said Da Arranged in a mobile phone, the communication between the data carrier and the deposit machine preferably takes place via a cell phone connection and the cell phone to the Deposit machine transmits his phone number among other things. This has the advantage that it already exists in a cell phone those facilities for data storage and data processing as well can be used to establish a communication connection NEN to a disk with the functionality explained above to deliver. Furthermore, the phone number of the mobile phone an information individualizing the device or the user mation, which is highly forgery-proof and therefore from the deposit machine used to identify the user can be.

In particular, it can be the case with the method according to the invention or managed account for the account for the available goods have to act on the use of a mobile phone. A well known Ta Mobile phone design is based on the provision of goods have accounts in the form of chip cards (prepaid cards) which are used for telephone calls  can be. This can be done with the method according to the invention known system significantly improve, because to refresh the phone not just cumbersome a new card in a branch purchased from the network operator and inserted into the phone, but only on a deposit machine the balance the account needs to be increased. Prepaid cards and chip cards will be so superfluous. When using the mobile phone, the Abbu takes place account. Automatic deposit machines can be used with large density and stand around the clock for a Be use available. Therefore, if the user of the cellular phone increase the credit available to him for making calls he can use a deposit machine for this. virtue it becomes wise between the mobile phone and the deposit Automatically established a communication link, which in particular via an infrared interface, via a cable connection between the Deposit machines and the mobile phone or via a mobile radio connection can take place. Identifi over the connection mentioned the mobile phone adorns the deposit machine, which in particular with the help of the Tele assigned to the cellular phone phone number can be made. Furthermore, the user can use his PIN or Enter the parent PIN to misuse it of the mobile phone, for example after theft. The ones from User made cash deposit or a cashless The deposit will then be credited to the cell phone account. Alternatively, the account of another mobile subscriber can also be sent to to whom the amount is to be credited. In which such beneficiary third parties can, for example, be children deln, whose phone credit should be increased by the user.

The management of the account for a mobile phone can be done centrally on the network administrator. In addition, it is possible that the administration of the account in parallel or exclusively from the mobile phone itself  is carried out, the balance of the account in a memory of the Mobile phone is stored.

The invention further relates to a deposit machine for performing the above-described method, which contains the following elements:

• An input unit for the input of data by the user,
• - A communication unit for establishing communication connection to account management,
• - a deposit acceptance unit for acceptance and verification of deposits by the user.

By using such a deposit machine the advantages described above in connection with the method achieve. In particular, that means that a user in a large spatial Finds dense and around the clock opportunities with the help of an on ATMs to increase the credit on any account hen. You can use the input unit of the deposit machine the data for the necessary identification of the account are provided. The communication unit allows the deposit machine to use the applicable account management to get in touch and comply exchange information. The communication link can in particular as a remote connection via a line or via radio (for GSM or SMS).

Units for accepting deposits are generally known and can coins, banknotes or cashless means of payment such as check cards or credit cards.

In the simplest case, the input unit contains a keyboard, via which the user can enter alphanumeric or numeric data. The input unit preferably contains an interface for the setup a communication link with a data carrier of the user.  

The data carrier can be, for example, a chip card deln, which at appropriate access contacts from the interface is contacted. The interface is preferably for communication cation connection via cable, radio and / or infrared set up. A Such an interface allows the data carrier of the user necessary information is automatically transmitted.

The interface of the deposit machine is also preferably for set up communication with a mobile phone. hereby it becomes possible to use a cellular phone as a data carrier, wel ches the information needed to identify the user and / or the account to be processed. In particular, it can Account also the phone credit for the corresponding mobile radio phone itself.

Furthermore, the input unit can have a module for recording biometric Contain parameters, in particular for recording fingerprints and / or features of the eye.

The invention is explained below by way of example with the aid of the figure. The figure shows a schematic of the processes involved in making a deposit a credit account with the help of a deposit according to the invention machines.

In an account management 40 , which due to its central role can also be referred to as a "clearing house", various accounts 43 with credit are kept in a memory, the credit being assigned to a particular user and generally only being used for certain purposes can be. For example, the account to 43 can be used to compensate for services such as debiting telephone charges. The accounts 43 are managed by an administration module 42 which is bidirectionally connected to an interface 41 .

Setting up an account and / or making a deposit to increase the credit on the account 43 can be carried out with the aid of the automatic deposit machine 100 according to the invention. Such deposit machines 100 can be set up in large numbers in a dense grid at publicly accessible points and are then available to the users around the clock. The deposit machine 100 has an interface 12 , via which a communication connection 30 with the interface 41 to the account manager 40 can be established. The communication link can be established via a line or via radio (for example GSM).

The deposit machine 100 also contains means for receiving a deposit. In the example shown, this is a coin slot 13 , a bill acceptance 15 and a card acceptance 14 . By means of the facilities mentioned, cash (coins, notes) and / or cashless payment can be made in a manner known per se using a credit card or EC card. A display device 10 is provided for displaying information to the user, for example operating instructions. Furthermore, the deposit machine 100 has a keyboard 11 , via which the user can enter numbers and / or letters in order to identify himself and / or the account 43 and to control the processing operation. In particular, the keyboard 11 should have an "end". Contain key with which the deposit can be interrupted at any time.

In the example shown, the deposit machine 100 also contains an interface 16 , via which a radio connection 31 to a mobile phone 20 of the user 21 can be established. Alternatively, the communication connection 31 can also be established via a cable connection or an infrared connection.

A deposit into the account 43 takes place in the system shown in the figure as follows: The user 21 approaches a ready-to-use deposit machine 100 and establishes a communication connection to it. In the example, this is done via a radio link 31 between the mobile phone 20 of the user and the interface 16 of the deposit machine.

In particular, the user 21 or his mobile radio telephone 20 is identified by the deposit machine 100 . Among other things, the identification number is the telephone number of the mobile radio telephone 20 . In addition, the PIN of the user 21 can be queried, which the user can enter via the keyboard of his mobile radio telephone 20 or via the keyboard 11 of the deposit machine. Furthermore, the account 43 is named via the communication link 31 or via the keyboard 11 of the deposit machine 100 , which should benefit from the deposit to be made. Together with the account 43 , the associated account management device 40 is also identified. If the account 43 specifically represents the credit account for the mobile telephone 20, are with the identification of the mobile radio phone's 20 already all the necessary information before.

The deposit machine 100 can then establish a connection to the account manager 40 via the communication link 30 . The account manager 40 is first asked whether the user 21 should be authorized to pay into the account 43 . If it is not, the deposit is rejected and the deposit machine 100 aborts the process. On the other hand, if the user 21 is authorized to deposit into the account 43 , the deposit machine 100 prompts the user 21 to make the deposit. Alternatively, the deposit can be made before the communication connection 30 to the account management 40 is established.

If the user deposits cash via the coin slot 13 and / or the bill acceptance 15 , the deposit machine 100 determines the amount deposited independently. After the user has not made a deposit for a predetermined period of time and / or has given a confirmation that the deposit has ended, the deposit machine 100 transmits the information that the deposit has been received and the booking to the account manager 40 via the communication link 30 the account 43 can be made.

If the user 21 wants to make a cashless payment via a card, he must insert the card into the card slot 14 and enter the amount to be rebooked in a known manner and, if appropriate, prove his authorization to use the card. The deposit machine 100 can be connected to the account-maintaining office for the card used for payment via further connections (not shown).

After successful completion of the booking on the account 43 , the communication connections 30 to the account management 40 and 31 to the mobile radio telephone 20 are closed.

If the account 43 represents the credit of the mobile radio telephone 20 , the account management 40 can be provided in copy or exclusively in the mobile radio telephone 20 . In this case, through the interface 16 and the communication link 31 between the payment terminal A 100 and the mobile phone 20 having communicated to the height of the commodity on the account 43 to the mobile phone 20th If the account management 40 is implemented in the mobile radio telephone 20 , the communication connections 30 and 31 are identical.

reference numeral

100

deposit machine

10

display

11

keyboard

12

interface

13

coin

14

card slot

15

Bill acceptor

16

interface

20

mobile phone

21

user
so communication link

31

radio link

40

account management

41

interface

42

management module

43

account

Claims (15)

1. A method for simplifying payment transactions by setting up an account ( 43 ) with an account manager ( 40 ) and making a deposit thereon,
wherein a user ( 21 ) transmits data for identification of the account to a deposit machine ( 100 ) and deposits an amount to be credited,
and wherein the deposit machine establishes a communication connection ( 30 ) to the account management and notifies the deposit thereof, whereupon the account manager sets up the identified account ( 43 ) and / or credits an amount corresponding to the deposit. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the payment of the amount to be credited to the deposit machine ( 100 ) is carried out by entering cash or cashless. 3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the user ( 21 ) identifies himself to the deposit machine ( 100 ). 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the deposit machine ( 100 ) asks the account manager ( 40 ) whether the user ( 21 ) is authorized to make payments and that he accepts the deposit in the event of a lack of authorization denied. 5. The method according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the user ( 21 ) identifies himself to the deposit machine ( 100 ) by entering an identification code and / or by a biometric method. 6. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a data carrier ( 20 ) assigned to the user ( 21 ) establishes a communication link ( 31 ) with the deposit machine ( 100 ) and data for identifying the user and / or of the account ( 43 ). 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the communication connection ( 31 ) between the data carrier ( 20 ) and the one payment machine ( 100 ) after completion of data transmission, after a predetermined time limit and / or after a corresponding command by the user ( 21 ) is canceled. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the data carrier ( 20 ) from the automatic payment machine ( 100 ) is informed of the updated credit of the account ( 43 ) and the data carrier stores this information. 9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the data carrier is arranged in a mobile radio telephone ( 20 ), that the communication between the data carrier and the deposit machine ( 100 ) takes place via a mobile radio connection ( 31 ), and that Cellular phone transmits its phone number to the deposit machine. 10. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the account ( 43 ) represents the available credit for using a mobile radio telephone ( 20 ). 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the management of the account ( 43 ) from the mobile radio telephone ( 20 ) is carried out in a memory of the mobile phone. 12. A deposit machine ( 100 ) for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 11, containing
an input unit ( 11 , 16 ) for inputting data by the user ( 21 ),
a communication unit ( 12 ) for establishing a communication connection ( 30 ) for account management ( 40 ),
a deposit acceptance unit ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) for accepting and checking deposits by the user. 13. A deposit machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the input unit has an interface ( 16 ) for establishing a communication connection ( 31 ) to a data carrier ( 20 ) of the user ( 21 ), the interface preferably for a communication connection via cable, radio and / or infrared is set up. 14. Deposit machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the interface ( 16 ) is set up for communication with a mobile radio telephone ( 20 ). 15. Deposit machine according to at least one of claims 12 up to 14 characterized in that the input unit is a module for Acquisition of biometric parameters contains, in particular of Fingerprints and / or features of the eye.