FR2806191A1 - Trustee instrument of gift-voucher type for use as a conventional gift voucher or for paying for goods over the Internet has an identifying zone that can be uncovered by scratching and then used to authenticate the voucher - Google Patents

Abstract

Internet trustee gift-voucher comprises two information zones containing validation codes, one of which is concealed and marked prior to use. A key correlates between the zones and the concealed zone is uncovered and an identifier transmitted via Internet to a server for authentication of the voucher. The voucher can also be hand delivered and a validation code sent over the Internet.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of payment by prepaid cards and delivery means or gift vouchers.

It is known in the state of the art the general principle of cards or gift vouchers are issued a store or sign, and can be used as a means of payment for items that allow discounts on the price of a purchase.

These means of payment are generally anonymous guarantee the merchant the settlement of a purchase. They can be published by the merchant, a third party centralizing the issuance of such checks, means of delivery or prepaid cards for several brands, and managing financial flows and control.

The merchant checks the validity of the gift voucher visually. For this purpose, the support includes signs of more or less elaborate security, such as filigree inscription, hologram or marking with special inks.

Also known is the patent FR2780339 describing a method for producing on a data medium such as a card (C) a masking of a zone (Z2) containing information (I2) previously written on this medium. This method consists in fixing on this zone (Z2) a label (EG) of transparent material on which a scratchable opaque ink has been previously printed. The information (I2) to be masked and the attachment of the scratch-off label (EG) to the masking zone (Z2) are preferably carried out in a single operation.

Also known is the patent FR2779381 concerning a telephone code card reported. It is intended to make available to a user a telephone credit determined by one of the access numbers' a server and a specific code printed on two separate supports assembled by gluing. The main support is intended to receive the fixed and constant characteristics of the server in particular and can also receive information or messages of a promotional or advertising nature. The secondary support is intended to receive the characteristics specific to a given credit, and therefore variable.

These solutions are not suitable for payment online, on the Internet or other telecommunication networks (WAP, Minitel, mobile phone, etc.).

French patent FR2739322 has also proposed a network payment security, in particular the Internet network, comprising a flat rectangular support carrying a serial number as an identification means. The medium also includes a number of sub-amounts the sum of which constitutes the value of the said payment instrument, a box being associated with each sub-amount and this box carrying a masked code number that can be discovered by scraping. The value of the said payment order is reduced by the sub-amount (s) associated with the box (es) whose code number was discovered by scratching. This solution allows online payment, but it is a source of errors for the user, and the multiplication of the number of code numbers on each card distributed increases the risk of fraud, or requires the use of coding keys elaborated therefore more difficult to exploit.

elsewhere, this payment title is not suitable for mixed use, for online payment and also in the real world, in a store.

The object of the present invention is to propose a prepaid card or a simple delivery means to be used for a user wishing to be able to use it as well for online purchases on the Internet or any other telecommunication network as for actual purchases in a store.

For this purpose, the invention relates first of all to a payment or delivery method comprising a step of giving one user a prepaid means and a second step of transmitting at least one identifier of said prepaid means to a payment server. characterized in that the prepaid means is constituted by a material medium comprising a first information zone in which there is a unique identifier and a second masked information area before use, in which there is a single correlated to said unique identifier and what 'payment stage is to transmit online the identifier and the key in the second information area after having unmasked it, or, for a payment in the physical world, to deliver a support comprising a zone of information unmasked second step is performed at the time of the transaction in the case of use online or later by the merchant , when used in the real world.

 In a preferred variant, the server comprises a secure database in which are registered the unique identifier of each card sold, as well as an indicator on the state of use of said cards sold.

Advantageously, the indicator of the state of use is constituted by the balance of broken cards partially used.

According to a preferred variant, the payment step further comprises the transmission of an identifier of an order and in that the server transmits to the merchant associated with the order identifier a payment notification after verification of the validity of the order. identifier of the card and the associated key.

The invention also relates to a prepaid card for the implementation of the method, which comprises at least one part having a first information zone in which there is a unique identifier and a second masked information area before use, in which FIG. a key correlated to said unique identifier.

Preferably, the card is constituted by a support having a tear line passing said second information zone.

According to a variant, it is constituted by a plurality of adjacent portions each comprising a first information zone in which there is a unique identifier and a second masked information zone before use, in which a key correlates with the unique identifier.

The invention also relates to an Internet payment system or any other telecommunication network for implementing the invention, characterized in that it comprises a server comprising means for receiving messages from users, with less than one user identifier. a card, an associated key and identifier of an order, the server comprising a database in which the identifiers of the cards sold are stored, as well as means for verifying the validity of an identifier and the associated key and notification payment in case of positive verification.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description of a non-limitative example of embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a view from above of a first embodiment of the card according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents a view from above of a second embodiment of the card according to the invention. The management organization of the payment system according to the invention publishes prepaid cards or pre-paid checks that are sold normally or online. in exchange for payment of a nominal amount on the card or check. Each card includes in addition to the nominal amount and advertising or professional information first open information, forming a unique serial number, and an area masked by a scratch ink. The serial number is assigned at the time of card manufacture so that two cards never bear the same number. They can be randomly assigned with a unicity check or even a serial one. The serial numbers printed at the time of manufacture of the card are also recorded in a database. In this same database, it also records, in the proposed example, the date of release. The validity period may be limited in time.

At the time of manufacture, it also calculates, by a cryptographic algorithm, for example, a key correlated non-determinably to the serial number.

This key is printed in an area covered by a scratch-off ink or by any other means of removable sealing by an irreversible action.

The holder who buys this card or who holds it (following a gift or a flight) can use it as well for a traditional purchase, on presentation of the card where the key has not been unmasked, than for an online purchase.

In the latter case, it will proceed in known manner to an online order. Payment will be made by transmitting the serial number on the card and entering the key that will be read after unmasking the area covered with the ink to scratch. The transmission of this information can be done securely in an SSL session. The message sent by the server user therefore comprises - the serial number the card used, - the masked key, - an identification information of the order, - and if possible an identifier of the merchant, for example its IP address, - and possibly amount to pay.

The server receives this information and checks whether the serial number is valid and whether it appears in the serial number database of the cards issued. In the case of a positive check, the server checks whether the key corresponds to a key that has been recalculated from the transmitted serial number. In a positive response, the server will notify the merchant of the completion of the payment, and will assign the serial number in the database a consumption indicator. This indicator can be binary indicator yes / no.

It can also be constituted by the credit balance after subtracting the previous balance of the amount to be paid. This variant makes it possible to manage the fractions for payments of an amount different from the nominal value of the card.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the card. The card is formed by a support (1) cardboard or plastic. The card has an area (3) containing an identifier of the card and a second area (4) covered by opaque material that can be removed by scratching, but only permanently. This area (4) contains number that can be used in two forms. For card use for payment or online delivery, the user unmasks this area and transmits the number that appears on the Internet.

For use in the real world, the cardholder gives the unmasked card to the merchant who cuts it at the breaking line (2), insofar as this line passes the zone (4), the merchant makes the map thus unusable for transmission over the Internet, it retains the detached part of the card for destruction or filing for archiving.

 Optionally, gives a pane to the customer. In either case, the original holder can no longer use it for an online transaction.

The merchant retains the part containing the identifier of the cart, and will communicate it later to the server or a central organizer who will inhibit corresponding card by removing it from the server database.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment, where the card is composed of three parts (8 to 10). The two lateral flaps (8, 10) are separated from the central flap (9) by rupture lines (11, 12). Each side panel (8, 10) can be used as a previously described card.

Claims (1)

 CLAIMS 1 - Method of payment by prepaid cards and means of delivery or gift vouchers or cards or random game processes including step of giving the user a prepaid means and second step of transmitting at least one identifier of said means prepaid to a server characterized that the prepaid means is constituted by a hardware medium comprising a first information area in which there is a unique identifier and a second masked information area before use, in which a unique key correlates to said unique identifier and what the second step consists, for a first mode use on a communication network [Internet, Minitel, mobile phone, ...] to unmask the second z of information and to transmit to the server 'identifier and the key and for a second mode possible use with the same means, to deliver to a recipient of the real world the mo payment yen presenting second zone imperatively undetected. 2 - Method of payment by prepaid cards and delivery means or gift vouchers or cards or random game processes on a communication network [Internet, WAP, Minitel, mobile phone, ...] according to claim 1, characterized in that server comprises a secure database in which are recorded the unique identifier of each card sold, and an indicator on the state of use of said cards sold. - Method of payment by prepaid cards means of delivery or gift vouchers or random game process cards on communication network [Internet, WAP, Minitel, mobile phone, ...] according to claim 2 characterized in that 'indicator The utilization state is constituted by the balance of broken cards partially used. - Method of payment by prepaid cards means of delivery or gift vouchers or random game process cards on communication network [Internet, WAP, Minitel, mobile phone, ...] according to claim 1 characterized in that second step further comprises transmitting an identifier of a command and in that the server transmits merchant associated with the order identifier a payment notification after verification of the validity of the identifier of the card and the associated key. 5 - Payment card by prepaid cards and means of delivery or gift vouchers or cards or random game processes for mixed use on a communication network [Internet, WAP, Minitel, mobile phone, ...] and in the physical world for the implementation of at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one part having a first information zone in which there is a unique identifier and a second information zone masked before use, in which a key correlates with said unique identifier. 6 - Payment card by prepaid cards means of delivery or gift vouchers or random game process cards for mixed use on communication network [Internet, WAP, Mini, mobile phone, ...] and in the world physical device according to claim 5, characterized in that it is constituted a support having a tear line passing said second information zone. 7 - Card payment by prepaid cards means of delivery or gift vouchers or cards random game processes for mixed use communication network [Internet, WAP, Mini, mobile phone, ...] and in the physical world according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of adjacent portions each comprising a first information zone in which there is a unique identifier and a second masked information area before use, in which a correlated key is shown to said unique identifier. 8 - System for payment by prepaid cards and means of delivery or gift vouchers or cards or random game processes on a communication network [Internet, WAP, Minitel, mobile phone,. for the implementation of at least one of the claims to 4 characterized in that it comprises at least one server comprising means for receiving user messages, comprising at least one card identifier, an associated key and a identifier of an order, the server comprising a database in which the identifiers of the cards sold are recorded, as well as means of verifying the validity of an identifier and the partner and notification of the payment in the event of a positive verification.