GB2374711A - A mobile telephone for financial transactions - Google Patents

A mobile telephone for financial transactions Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2374711A
GB2374711A GB0109411A GB0109411A GB2374711A GB 2374711 A GB2374711 A GB 2374711A GB 0109411 A GB0109411 A GB 0109411A GB 0109411 A GB0109411 A GB 0109411A GB 2374711 A GB2374711 A GB 2374711A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mobile telephone
credit account
point
sale terminal
user
Prior art date
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Application number
GB0109411A
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GB0109411D0 (en
Inventor
Christian Kreps
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to GB0109411A priority Critical patent/GB2374711A/en
Publication of GB0109411D0 publication Critical patent/GB0109411D0/en
Publication of GB2374711A publication Critical patent/GB2374711A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/04Payment circuits
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/20Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G06Q20/322Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G06Q20/327Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/40Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
    • G06Q20/401Transaction verification
    • G06Q20/4014Identity check for transactions

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Abstract

A mobile telephone 1 comprises a memory storing details of a user's credit account and is operable to be connected directly to a point of sale terminal 3 to authorise payment for an item from the account. The mobile telephone 1 may be connected to a point of sale terminal 3 via a physical connection 4 or by wireless transmission. The details of a user's credit account stored in the memory may include a credit limit of the credit account. The mobile telephone 1 may be provided with an area on a surface thereof for the user to inscribe a signature upon. The mobile telephone 1 may transmit the number of a purchased voucher to the provider of the credit account thereby registering the purchase of the voucher by the user. In an alternative embodiment the invention comprises a point of sale terminal 3 operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone 1, and to receive details of a credit account of a user of the mobile telephone 1 from the mobile telephone 1. The point of sale terminal 3 may be operable to receive data encoding a signature of the user from the mobile telephone 1 and to display the signature to an operator of the point of sale terminal 3. In a further embodiment the invention comprises a method of payment for an item.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
"A Mobile Telephone" THIS INVENTION relates to a mobile telephone, and in particular to a mobile telephone which combines the conventional functions of a mobile telephone with those of a credit card.
A large number of people currently possess both a mobile telephone and a credit card, and many consider these two items to be indispensable in the conduct of their daily lives.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile telephone that performs the functions of a credit card, thereby reducing the number of items that a user of both mobile telecommunications and credit facilities must carry.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a mobile telephone having a memory storing details of a user's credit account and being operable to be connected directly to a point of sale terminal to authorise payment for an item from the account. d > Advantageously, the mobile telephone has a memory storing details of a user's credit account and being operable to be connected directly to a point of sale terminal to authorise payment for an item from the account.
Preferably, the mobile telephone is operable to be connected directly to a point of sale terminal via a physical connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
Conveniently, the mobile telephone is operable to be connected to a point of sale terminal by wireless transmission between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
Advantageously, the transmission is encrypted.
Preferably, the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include a credit limit of the credit account.
Conveniently, the mobile telephone will not authorise payment for the item if the credit limit has been exceeded.
Advantageously, the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include an authorisation code of the credit account.
Preferably, the user is prompted by the mobile telephone to enter the authorisation code on an input device of the mobile telephone, and wherein the mobile telephone will not authorise payment for the item if the user does not enter the authorisation code correctly.
I ; p Conveniently, the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include an account number of the credit account.
Advantageously, the account number is stored in the memory such that the user may not amend or delete the account number.
Preferably, the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include information relating to previous transactions.
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
Conveniently, the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include data encoding a representation of the user's signature.
Advantageously, the mobile telephone is provided with an area on a surface thereof for the user to inscribe a signature upon.
Preferably, the mobile telephone is operable to communicate with a provider of the credit account.
Conveniently, the mobile telephone is operable to communicate with a provider of the credit account to inform the provider of the credit account of the purchase of the item.
Advantageously, the mobile telephone is operable to refuse authorisation for payment of the item upon receipt of an instruction from the provider of the credit account.
Preferably, the mobile telephone is operable to transmit a unique code to the provider of the credit account.
. : Conveniently, the mobile telephone is operable to transmit the number of a voucher to the provider of the credit account, thereby registering the purchase of the voucher by the user.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a point of sale terminal operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone, and to receive details of a credit account of a user of the mobile telephone from the mobile telephone.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
Advantageously, the point of sale terminal is operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone via a physical connection between the point of sale terminal and the mobile telephone.
Preferably, the point of sale terminal is operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone by a wireless connection between the point of sale terminal and the mobile telephone.
Conveniently, the point of sale terminal is operable to refuse to accept payment for an item from the credit account unless an authorisation signal is received from the mobile telephone.
Advantageously, the point of sale terminal is operable to receive data encoding a signature of a user of the mobile telephone from the mobile telephone, and to display the signature to an operator of the point of sale terminal.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of payment for an item, the method comprising the steps of : storing details of a credit account in a memory of a mobile telephone; establishing a direct connection between the mobile telephone and a point of sale terminal ; and transmitting at least some of the details of the credit account from the mobile telephone to the point of sale terminal, thereby authorising payment for an item from the credit account.
Preferably, the step of establishing a connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal comprises the step of establishing a
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
physical connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
Conveniently, the step of establishing a connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal comprises the step of transmitting a wireless signal between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
Advantageously, the wireless signal is encrypted.
Preferably, the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing a credit limit of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone.
Conveniently, payment for the item will only be authorised if the credit limit of the credit account is not exceeded.
Advantageously, the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing an account number of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone.
Preferably, the step of storing the account number of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing the account number of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone such that the account number may not be amended or deleted by a user of the mobile telephone.
Conveniently, the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing information relating to previous transactions.
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
Advantageously, the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing data encoding a representation of a signature.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and a provider of the credit account.
Conveniently, the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of informing the provider of the credit account of the purchase of the item.
Advantageously, the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of receiving an instruction from the provider of the credit account to refuse authorisation for payment of the item.
Preferably, the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of transmitting a unique code to the provider of the credit account.
Conveniently, the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of transmitting the number of a voucher to the provider of the credit account, thereby registering the purchase of the voucher by the user.
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, examples thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the connection of a mobile telephone embodying the present invention in conjunction with a point of sale terminal ; and Figure 2 shows a flow chart representing the steps of payment for an item by a method embodying the present invention.
All modem mobile telephones are equipped with a memory, in which information such as names, telephone numbers and text messages may be stored. A mobile telephone embodying the present invention utilizes this memory facility to store details of a credit account of a user of the mobile telephone. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all of the information that is embossed on a conventional credit card (i. e. the name of the account holder, the account number, the credit card number and the expiry date are stored in the memory of the mobile telephone. However, the nature of the details that are stored in the memory of the mobile telephone may vary, as will be explained., During payment for an item with a conventional credit card, it is necessary to communicate details of the credit account to the person or entity who is selling the item. This may be achieved by the"swiping"of the credit card at a point of sale terminal in a retail outlet, by verbally communicating the information over the telephone, or by typing the information when prompted to do so on a computer screen.
<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
When using a mobile telephone embodying the present invention to authorise payment for an item from the user's credit account, some or all of the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory of the mobile telephone are communicated to a point of sale terminal automatically. This is achieved by establishing a direct communication between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
Turning to Figure 1, a mobile telephone I embodying the present invention is operable to be connected to a point of sale terminal 2 by a lead 3 which is provided on the point of sale terminal 2. The mobile telephone I is provided with a specially adapted socket 4, into which the lead 3 is adapted to be inserted. Once the lead 3 is inserted into the socket 4 of the mobile telephone 1, information may be transmitted through the lead 3 from the mobile telephone 1 to the point of sale terminal 2. This process replaces the conventional"swiping"of a credit card at a point of sale terminal 2 to transfer details of a credit account.
Alternatively, the point of sale terminal 2 may be provided with a bay, into which the mobile telephone I is placed in a predetermined orientation. Terminals are provided in a bottom surface of the bay such that, when the mobile telephone 1 is positioned in the bay in the predetermined orientation, the terminals may contact with the socket 4, thereby allowing information to pass between the mobile telephone I and the point of sale terminal 2.
A further possibility is that the ability of the mobile telephone 1 to transmit and receive information by electromagnetic radiation, wireless communication, may be exploited, and the point of sale terminal 2 may be provided with means to receive such transmissions sent by the mobile telephone. The point of sale terminal 2 may also be provided with means to
<Desc/Clms Page number 9>
transmit signals back to the mobile telephone 1. Clearly, an additional security risk is posed by the transmission of signals of this type, since the signals may be intercepted by nearby receivers, and if details of the user's credit account can be derived from this information then the details may be used for fraudulent purposes. Hence, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all wireless communication between the mobile telephone I and the point of sale terminal 2 is encrypted.
Once appropriate details of the user's credit account have been communicated to the point of sale terminal 2, payment for the item is received as if the user had presented a conventional credit card which had been "swiped", and payment for the item is deducted from the user's credit account. The point of sale terminal 2 may communicate with a provider of the credit account, to acquire authorisation to deduct this payment from the credit account.
The point of sale terminal 2 may include, in the information transmitted to the mobile telephone, details of the transaction, which details can be stored in the memory of the mobile telephone 1.
In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a INN number of the credit account is held within the memory of the mobile telephone 1. In order to authorise payment for an item from the credit account, the user is prompted, at an appropriate stage in the payment process, to enter the PIN number on an input device of the mobile telephone 1. For conventional mobile telephones, this input device will be the key pad, however, it will be appreciated that any appropriate input device, for example, a touch-screen, may be employed to allow the user to enter his or her PIN number. Payment for the
<Desc/Clms Page number 10>
item will not be authorised if the user inputs his or her PIN number incorrectly on a predetermined number of occasions.
It will be clear that the requirement to input a PIN number provides additional security for the legitimate owner of the credit account, since a third party who has acquired the mobile telephone 1 without the user's permission and attempts to pay for an item with the credit account using the mobile telephone 1 is unlikely to have knowledge of the required PIN number. It is not, at present, a normal requirement to enter a PIN number to authorise payment from a credit account, and this feature provides valuable extra security for the credit account.
This embodiment of the present invention also allows additional security when making payments from the credit account by telephone. When making a telephone call to authorise payment from a credit account, instead of verbally quoting the required details of the credit account over the telephone, the user may simply, at an appropriate moment, key in his or her PIN number, which will trigger the transmission of the details of the credit account over the telephone line.
Conventional credit cards are provided with an area upoitowhich the holder of the credit card inscribes his or her signature. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone I is provided with an area on a surface thereof upon which the user may inscribe his or her signature. This signature would be used in the conventional way to be compared with a signature that a person purporting to be the holder of the credit account produces when prompted to do so during payment of an item.
<Desc/Clms Page number 11>
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a digitised representation of the user's signature is stored in the memory of the mobile telephone 1. During payment for an item using the mobile telephone 1, data encoding the digitised signature is transmitted to the point of sale terminal 2, where the signature is displayed on a screen provided on the point of sale terminal 2. Advantageously, this screen is only visible to an operator of the point of sale terminal 2, and not to the individual purporting to be holder of the credit account. This feature adds valuable extra security to the payment process since, if a conventional credit card is stolen, the person who has stolen the credit card has access to a representation of the signature of the holder of the credit card, and may practice reproducing the signature at leisure. In contrast, if the signature is stored in a digitised form in the memory of the mobile telephone 1, a person who has stolen the mobile telephone 1 will not be able to view a representation of the signature. Hence, when the person who has stolen the mobile telephone 1 approaches a point of sale terminal 2 and attempts to pay for an item from the credit account, he or she will not know what the signature of the holder of the credit account looks like, and is much less likely to be able to reproduce the signature sufficiently accurately to convince an operator of the point of sale terminal 2 to accept payment for the item. fit.
The above embodiment employs the memory facility of mobile telephones to introduce extra security that is not available during use of conventional credit cards.
It has been envisaged that difficulties may arise when using the mobile telephone 1, if the battery of the mobile telephone becomes exhausted. This may lead to the owner of the mobile telephone I being unable to make payments from the credit account. In order to overcome this difficulty, in a
<Desc/Clms Page number 12>
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone is operable to cease the provision of power-intensive activities, for example, the making of telephone calls, once the level of the battery falls below a certain predetermined limit. Once the battery level falls below this limit, a warning is presented to the user of the mobile telephone 1. Hence, the risk of the battery in the mobile telephone 1 being exhausted completely, such that payments may no longer be made from the credit account, is minimised.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone 1 may receive power directly from the point of sale terminal 2 when the mobile telephone 1 is physically connected to the point of sale terminal 2. Hence, the internal battery of the mobile telephone 1 is not required to use the mobile telephone 1 to authorise payments from the credit account.
In the above discussion, the ability of the mobile telephone 1 to authorise payments from a credit account has made no use of the ability of the mobile telephone I to connect to a mobile network. However, this latter ability of the mobile telephone 1 may be usefully employed in the present invention, as will be explained in greater detail below.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone 1, is operable to connect, via a mobile network, to the provider of the credit account, and exchange information with the provider of the credit account. In one example of this embodiment, payment for an item on the credit account through the mobile telephone 1 may only be authorised when the mobile telephone 1 is connected to the mobile network in this manner. An additional benefit with regard to security is conferred by this feature since, if the holder of the credit account discovers that his or her mobile telephone I has been stolen, he or she may contact the provider of the credit account and inform
<Desc/Clms Page number 13>
the provider of the credit account of the theft. Once the provider of the credit account has been made aware of the theft of the mobile telephone 1, the provider of the credit account is able to refuse authorisation for payments made by the mobile telephone 1. Clearly, if payments may be authorised using the mobile telephone 1 without connection to the provider of the credit account over a mobile network, this facility could not be possible.
A further advantage of the connection of the mobile telephone to the provider of the credit account over a mobile network is that the provider of the credit account may refuse to authorise payments from the credit account if a credit limit of the credit account has been exceeded. Thus, this feature of the present invention allows the provider of the credit account to maintain a close control over payments that are made from the credit account. This control is not always available over payments made using conventional credit cards.
Yet a further advantage of establishing communication between the mobile telephone 1 and the provider of the credit account is that the mobile telephone I may transmit a unique identification code to the provider of the credit account at predetermined intervals. This feature allows the provider of the credit account to ensure that no duplicate mobile telephones 1 are in existence. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Ae unique identification code incorporates at least one of the details of the credit account, for example, the account number thereof.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, records of previous transactions involving the credit account are stored in the memory of the mobile telephone 1. Preferably, this information is transmitted directly from the point of sale terminal where the transaction took place to the mobile telephone for storage. This information may be used solely for the information of the holder
<Desc/Clms Page number 14>
of the credit account, and may be discarded after a certain time or recorded, for instance by downloading the information into the memory of a PC.
However, the ability of the mobile telephone 1 to record previous transactions relating to the credit account may be used advantageously in conjunction with the ability of the mobile telephone I to communicate with the provider of the credit account over a mobile network. From time to time (typically once each month) the holder of the credit account will send a payment to the provider of the credit account to reimburse the provider of the credit account for payment that had been made from the credit account. When such a payment is made, the provider of the credit account may transmit this information to the mobile telephone 1. The mobile telephone 1 may use this information, along with the stored information regarding previous transactions, to calculate an up to date balance of the credit account. It is likely that this balance calculated by the mobile telephone 1 will be more accurate than that held by the provider of the credit account, since the balance calculated by the mobile telephone will be re-calculated each time a payment is authorised from the credit account. In contrast, there can be a delay before any purchase is billed to, and registered by, the provider of the credit account.
It will be appreciated that the provision of an up to date balance of the credit account that is viewable on a display of the mobile telephone 1 will be most useful to the holder of the credit account, and will enable him or her to regulate spending. In addition to this, the fact that the mobile telephone 1 has access to an up to date balance of the mobile telephone allows the mobile telephone I to determine whether or not, at any given moment, the user has exceeded his or her credit limit. If the user has exceeded his or her credit limit, then the mobile telephone may refuse to authorise payment from the credit
<Desc/Clms Page number 15>
account until the balance of the credit account falls below the credit limit thereof.
This form of authorisation has advantages over the above-discussed method in which payments are only authorised when the mobile telephone I is in communication with the provider of the credit account. For instance, payment from the credit account is still possible when communication with the provider of the credit account cannot be established (if the mobile telephone 1 is out of range of the nearest transmitter, or if the mobile telephone 1 is underground).
A further embodiment of the present invention allows the use of a voucher-based pre-payment system. Using this system, the user of the mobile telephone 1 may purchase vouchers of predetermined denominations, each of which displays a unique code number. Upon buying a voucher, the user establishes a communication with the provider of the credit account and enters the unique code number on the input device of the mobile telephone 1. The user's credit account is then credited with the appropriate sum of money. In this way, the mobile telephone 1 may perform more like an"electronic purse" than a credit card. This embodiment of the present invention may be particularly useful to those who are unable to obtain credit facilitiesor who are unwilling to expose themselves to the possibility of entering into debt.
It will be appreciated that the present invention provides an enormously useful and flexible method of payment for items from a credit account, and that many advantages with regard to convenience and security arise from the features of the present invention.
<Desc/Clms Page number 16>
In the present specification"comprise"means"includes or consists of" and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (43)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A mobile telephone having a memory storing details of a user's credit account and being operable to be connected directly to a point of sale terminal to authorise payment for an item from the account.
  2. 2. A mobile telephone according to Claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to be connected directly to a point of sale terminal via a physical connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
  3. 3. A mobile telephone according to Claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to be connected to a point of sale terminal by wireless transmission between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
  4. 4. A mobile telephone according to Claim 3, wherein the transmission is encrypted.
  5. 5. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include a credit limit of the credit account.
    d >
  6. 6. A mobile telephone according to Claim 5, wherein the mobile telephone will not authorise payment for the item if the credit limit has been exceeded.
  7. 7. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include an authorisation code of the credit account.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 18>
  8. 8. A mobile telephone according to Claim 7, wherein the user is prompted by the mobile telephone to enter the authorisation code on an input device of the mobile telephone, and wherein the mobile telephone will not authorise payment for the item if the user does not enter the authorisation code correctly.
  9. 9. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include an account number of the credit account.
  10. 10. A mobile telephone according to Claim 9, wherein the account number is stored in the memory such that the user may not amend or delete the account number.
  11. 11. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include information relating to previous transactions.
  12. 12. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the details of the user's credit account stored in the memory include data encoding a representation of the user's signature.
    d >
  13. 13. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the mobile telephone is provided with an area on a surface thereof for the user to inscribe a signature upon.
  14. 14. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to communicate with a provider of the credit account.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 19>
  15. 15. A mobile telephone according to Claim 14, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to communicate with a provider of the credit account to inform the provider of the credit account of the purchase of the item.
  16. 16. A mobile telephone according to Claim 14 or 15, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to refuse authorisation for payment of the item upon receipt of an instruction from the provider of the credit account.
  17. 17. A mobile telephone according to any one of Claims 14 to 16, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to transmit a unique code to the provider of the credit account.
  18. 18. A mobile telephone according to any one of Claims 14 to 17, wherein the mobile telephone is operable to transmit the number of a voucher to the provider of the credit account, thereby registering the purchase of the voucher by the user.
  19. 19. A point of sale terminal operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone, and to receive details of a credit account of a user of the mobile telephone from the mobile telephone.
    d >
  20. 20. A point of sale terminal according to Claim 19, wherein the point of sale terminal is operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone via a physical connection between the point of sale terminal and the mobile telephone.
    ft'
  21. 21. A point of sale terminal according to Claim 19, wherein the point of sale terminal is operable to be connected directly to a mobile telephone by a
    <Desc/Clms Page number 20>
    wireless connection between the point of sale terminal and the mobile telephone.
  22. 22. A point of sale terminal according to any one of Claims 19 to 21, wherein the point of sale terminal is operable to refuse to accept payment for an item from the credit account unless an authorisation signal is received from the mobile telephone.
  23. 23. A point of sale terminal according to any one of Claims 19 to 22, wherein the point of sale terminal is operable to receive data encoding a signature of a user of the mobile telephone from the mobile telephone, and to display the signature to an operator of the point of sale terminal.
  24. 24. A method of payment for an item, the method comprising the steps of : storing details of a credit account in a memory of a mobile telephone; establishing a direct connection between the mobile telephone and a point of sale terminal; and transmitting at least some of the details of the credit account from the mobile telephone to the point of sale terminal, thereby authorising payment for an item from the credit account.
    t
  25. 25. A method according to Claim 24, wherein the step of establishing a connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal comprises the step of establishing a physical connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
    - -
  26. 26. A method according to Claim 24, wherein the step of establishing a connection between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal
    <Desc/Clms Page number 21>
    comprises the step of transmitting a wireless signal between the mobile telephone and the point of sale terminal.
  27. 27. A method according to Claim 26, wherein the wireless signal is encrypted.
  28. 28. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 27, wherein the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing a credit limit of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone.
  29. 29. A method according to Claim 28, wherein payment for the item will only be authorised if the credit limit of the credit account is not exceeded.
  30. 30. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 29, wherein the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing an account number of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone.
  31. 31. A method according to Claim 30, wherein the step of storing the account number of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing the account number of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone such that the account number may not be amended or deleted by a user of the mobile telephone.
  32. 32. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 31, wherein the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing information relating to previous transactions.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 22>
  33. 33. A method according to Claim 32, wherein details of the or each transaction are transmitted from the point of sale terminal directly to the mobile phone for storage in the memory.
  34. 34. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 32, wherein the step of storing details of the credit account in the memory of the mobile telephone comprises the step of storing data encoding a representation of a signature.
  35. 35. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 34, further comprising the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and a provider of the credit account.
  36. 36. A method according to Claim 35, wherein the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of informing the provider of the credit account of the purchase of the item.
  37. 37. A method according to Claim 35 or 36, wherein the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of receiving an instruction from the provider of the credit account to refuse authorisation for payment of the item. t
  38. 38. A method according to any one of Claims 35 to 37, wherein the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of the credit account comprises the step of transmitting a unique code to the provider of the credit account.
  39. 39. A method according to any one of Claims 35 to 38, wherein the step of establishing a communication between the mobile telephone and the provider of
    <Desc/Clms Page number 23>
    the credit account comprises the step of transmitting the number of a voucher to the provider of the credit account, thereby registering the purchase of the voucher by the user.
  40. 40. A mobile telephone substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  41. 41. A point of sale terminal substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  42. 42. A method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  43. 43. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.
GB0109411A 2001-04-17 2001-04-17 A mobile telephone for financial transactions Withdrawn GB2374711A (en)

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GB2391681A (en) * 2002-08-01 2004-02-11 Ncr Int Inc Self service terminal with biometric security
WO2004097758A2 (en) * 2003-04-25 2004-11-11 Electronic Data Systems Corporation Techniques for protecting financial transactions
WO2005017795A1 (en) * 2003-08-18 2005-02-24 Prime King Investments Ltd Payment transaction system and method
AU2004265855B2 (en) * 2003-08-18 2010-08-12 U-Marketing Intellectual Properties Pte Ltd. Payment transaction system and method

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WO2001073575A1 (en) * 2000-03-27 2001-10-04 In2M.Com Corporation Methods and apparatus for wireless point-of-sale transactions

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US5878337A (en) * 1996-08-08 1999-03-02 Joao; Raymond Anthony Transaction security apparatus and method
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EP0950968A1 (en) * 1997-08-13 1999-10-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd Mobile electronic commerce system
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GB2391681A (en) * 2002-08-01 2004-02-11 Ncr Int Inc Self service terminal with biometric security
US6793134B2 (en) 2002-08-01 2004-09-21 Ncr Corporation Self-service terminal
GB2391681B (en) * 2002-08-01 2005-09-21 Ncr Int Inc Self-service terminal
WO2004097758A2 (en) * 2003-04-25 2004-11-11 Electronic Data Systems Corporation Techniques for protecting financial transactions
WO2004097758A3 (en) * 2003-04-25 2005-02-17 Electronic Data Syst Corp Techniques for protecting financial transactions
WO2005017795A1 (en) * 2003-08-18 2005-02-24 Prime King Investments Ltd Payment transaction system and method
AU2004265855B2 (en) * 2003-08-18 2010-08-12 U-Marketing Intellectual Properties Pte Ltd. Payment transaction system and method

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