ITMI20110722A1 - ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC TRANSACTIONS - Google Patents

Description

â € œELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC TRANSACTIONSâ €

The present invention relates to an electronic system for managing economic transactions. As is known, payment systems are currently available, for products or services provided to a customer, which require the use of a credit card: at the time of payment of the amount due, the customer agrees to a reading of his credit card by the merchant, and subsequently confirms his willingness to make the payment by affixing his signature on a receipt printed for this purpose, or by entering a PIN by means of a appropriate user interface.

Remote payment systems are also available, typically used for purchases on websites through the so-called virtual structures of â € œe-commerceâ €.

This second type of payment requires the user to communicate the number of his credit card to the recipient, or to a trusted intermediary, so that the latter can send a respective order to the credit card circuit for the carrying out the transaction.

Both systems briefly described above have clear operational drawbacks: in the first case it is essential that the customer has his credit card with him; in the second case, the customer must face significant risks linked to the transmission, via the internet, of a crucial data such as the number of his credit card.

In light of the above, the need is particularly felt in the sector for a system for the management of economic transactions that is easy to use, which does not oblige the customer to carry his credit card, and which is in any case safe. and reliable, both with reference to the identification of the parties involved and with reference to the confidentiality of the payment authorization data. These and other objects are substantially achieved by a system for the management of economic transactions according to what is described in the attached claims.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred and non-exclusive embodiment of the invention.

The description is provided hereafter with reference to the attached figure, also having a purely illustrative and therefore non-limiting purpose, in which a block diagram of the system according to the present invention is shown

With reference to the unit in Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a system in accordance with the present invention.

System 1 can be used in any situation where you want to make a payment for a service or product received.

The system 1 first of all comprises a plurality of portable electronic devices 10.

The portable electronic devices 10 are preferably new generation mobile phones (or smart phones).

Each portable electronic device 10 is preferably provided with a SIM card 16, to allow it to carry out communications, for example via GSM or UMTS network.

Each portable electronic device 10 can be used by a respective user for economic transactions.

Each portable electronic device 10 is identified by a respective identification code I1. Preferably, the identification code I1 can be the telephone number associated with the aforementioned SIM 16.

Preferably the identification code I1 can be the IMEI code natively associated with the mobile phone.

In one embodiment, the identification code I1 can be a set of data including the telephone number and / or the IMEI code and / or other identifiers that can be uniquely referred to the device in question.

Advantageously, each portable electronic device 10 has the possibility of remote connection, such as connection via the Internet network.

The system 1 further comprises at least one auxiliary device 20 positioned in a commercial establishment. The auxiliary device 20 can be conveniently used by a merchant or clerk in correspondence with the transactions managed by the system 1.

It should be noted that, in this context, `` commercial operation '' means any place where a service or product can be provided that requires, as a counterpart, a payment, or simply a place where a payment is made relating to a specific product / service which the customer can also use elsewhere.

Preferably the system 1 comprises a plurality of auxiliary devices, each positioned in correspondence with a respective commercial establishment. The present description, for the sake of clarity, will however make specific reference to a single auxiliary device 20. It is however clear that each of the further auxiliary devices which may be provided may have the same characteristics as the auxiliary device 20 which is described and claimed herein.

Advantageously, the auxiliary device 20 has at least one connection module 22 for a remote connection, which can take place via the Internet and / or more traditional telephone channels.

As will become clearer hereinafter, the auxiliary device 20 may comprise display means 21, used to allow the merchant to view the amount of the transaction.

Such display means 21 may comprise, for example, a monitor and / or a printer.

In practice, the auxiliary device 20 can be considered as a sort of "passive" POS station. The system 1 also comprises an electronic equipment 30.

The electronic equipment 30 can be practically realized as a server.

The electronic equipment 30 comprises at least one processing unit 31 and a memory 32.

The memory 32 in turn comprises a first register 32a and a second register 32b.

The first register 32a contains the following data: identification codes I1â € ™ of the portable electronic devices 10; SD security data associated with each of the I1â € ™ identification codes.

In practice, the identification codes I1â € ™ are identical to the identification codes I1 described above with reference to portable electronic devices 10: the only difference lies in the fact that the codes I1 are physically stored inside the portable electronic devices 10, while the codes I1â € ™ are stored in the aforementioned first memory register 32a.

SD security data are data which, when sent to a credit card-type payment circuit, allow you to use a certain credit card for an amount that is indicated, without directly providing the number of the credit card itself. The SD security data may include data similar to the identification code I1.

The SD security data can also contain a so-called â € œtokenâ €, that is a unique code generated in substantially real time by the electronic equipment 30 and which has the following characteristics:

- It is uniquely associated with the single operation that is activated;

- has a limited validity in time.

As mentioned, the token is generated by the equipment 30; it is then sent both to the payment circuit and to the portable electronic device 10.

When the portable electronic device 10 forwards the token it has received to the payment circuit, it allows the payment circuit to verify the correspondence between the token that the payment circuit itself has received from the equipment 30, and the one that has received from the electronic device 10. If there is correspondence, then the payment circuit has confirmation that the parties involved are the correct ones and can proceed with the transaction.

In greater detail, the transaction can be set up according to three macro-phases:

- request: sent by equipment 30 to the payment circuit; this request contains the identification data of the portable electronic device 10, a token, any additional data; the payment circuit responds with the same token, and with an OK message (or KO if for some reason the transaction cannot be activated);

- validation: consisting of the aforementioned sending of the token by the electronic device 10 to the payment circuit, together with a PIN; the payment circuit, in turn, responds with the token and with an OK / KO;

- confirmation: the equipment 30 sends a confirmation request to the payment circuit which, in the case of matching the received tokens, will be able to consent to the continuation of the transaction.

It should be noted that in this context, referring to a â € œpayment circuitâ € means to refer to an IT structure on which the functioning and operability of the payment circuit is based.

The second register 32b contains identification data I2â € ™ of the aforementioned auxiliary device 20. The latter can consist, in practice, of the virtual address (telephone number, IP address, etc.) with which the auxiliary device 20 can be identified and eventually achieved.

The identification data I2 'are associated, in the second register 32b of the memory 32, with the identification data I3 of the commercial operation.

The identification data I3 may include descriptive data of the business (eg one or more of the company name, address, VAT number, etc.).

The data present in memory 32 can be entered, by the various parties involved, in a preliminary phase of registration / accreditation to the system: each potential "payer", ie holder of a credit card, can register by entering the appropriate data in the first register 32a, while each merchant can register by entering the required data in the second register 32b.

Each portable electronic device 10 advantageously comprises a reading apparatus 11 for detecting identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20.

The identification data I2 detected by the reading device 11 are substantially identical to the identification data I2 'which can be found in the second register 32b of the memory 32: the only difference is that the data I2 are those physically detected by the aforementioned reading device 11, while the data I2 'are physically stored in the memory 32. Preferably, the reading device 11 can comprise image detection means cooperating with suitable processing means to detect and interpret QR codes (all the details relating to the QR code technology are available at http://www.qrcode.com/index-e.html).

Some smart phones are already equipped with the hardware / software structure necessary for reading and interpreting these codes.

In this embodiment, the QR code is represented graphically at the business. A first example can be constituted by a print on an adhesive sheet, which is then applied to the inside of the shop (eg on a wall of the cash register, if present). A second example could be an electronic representation on a monitor.

In practice, the QR code can constitute a graphic coding of at least the aforementioned identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20.

The reading apparatus 11 is therefore configured to detect the QR code and decode it, obtaining said identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20.

In a different embodiment, the identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20 are stored in an RFID tag, suitably set up at the business itself. In this case, the reading device 11 is configured to read data stored in RFID tags. Preferably, the reading device 11 and the RFID tag operate with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.

RFID technology, and in particular NFC technology, are well known in themselves, and therefore do not need to be further described. Some smart phones currently on the market are already equipped with this type of connectivity.

After the identification data I2 have been detected and possibly decoded by the reading device 11, they can be sent to the electronic device 30, which will be able to respond to the portable electronic device 10 providing the descriptive data I3 of the associated commercial operation to the auxiliary device 20 identified by the detected data I2.

The portable device 10 can therefore make such data I3 usable to the user by means of suitable display means (such as for example a display): in this way the user can directly verify that the data collected actually refer to the commercial establishment in which the user is found.

Each portable electronic device 10 further comprises an operating module 12 for determining an amount M of the transaction to be executed.

In one embodiment, the operating module 12 comprises a user interface 12a, provided for example with a physical keyboard or touch-screen, which allows the user to manually enter the amount M. In addition or alternatively, the operating module 12 cooperates with the reading device 11 to detect and / or decode the amount M. In this case, the amount M can be advantageously encoded inside the QR code that defines the identification data I2 of the commercial operation, or it can be stored in the memory of the aforementioned RFID tag.

In both cases, the operating module 12 is able to retrieve the information relating to the amount M in cooperation with the detection structure (and possible decoding) provided by the reading device 11.

By way of example, you can imagine system 1 applied to a paid car park: the QR code, which codes not only the recipient of the payment, but also the amount, is displayed on a screen or monitor at the exit of the car park , so that it is accessible through the window by a user driving a car. The user brings his own portable electronic device 10 close to the monitor, allows the reading device 11 to detect and interpret the QR code, and the transaction can be directly approved and executed.

A similar result, in the context of the paid parking example, can be obtained by using an RFID tag in place of the monitor that depicts the QR code.

In a different embodiment, the operating module for determining the amount M is included in the auxiliary device 20, so that the transaction amount is entered by the merchant or clerk.

Each portable electronic device 10 is also provided with a transmission module 13 configured to send an operating signal OS to the aforementioned electronic equipment 30.

The operating signal OS contains the following data: data representative of the identification code I1 of the portable electronic device 10; data representative of the identification data I2 detected by the reading device 11; data representative of the amount M. In this way, the electronic equipment 30 receives all the relevant data to allow the setting of the transaction.

In particular, the processing unit 31 of the electronic equipment 30 is configured to perform the following functions:

1. as said, select in the second register 32b of memory 32 the identification data I3 of the commercial operation associated with the identification data I2 detected by the reading device 11; in other words, having received the identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20 detected by the reading apparatus 11, the electronic unit 31 compares such data I2 with the pre-stored data I2 'and retrieves, within the second register 32b, the corresponding data identifiers I3, to then provide them to the portable electronic device 10. This aspect can be interesting, in particular, in the case in which the system 1 is not applied to a single commercial establishment, but to a plurality of commercial establishments;

2. send to the auxiliary device 20, identified by the identification data I2, data representative of the amount M; preferably the auxiliary device 20 makes the value of the amount M accessible to the merchant or shop assistant by means of the aforementioned display means 21. In this way the merchant (or the shop assistant) can directly verify the correctness of the amount set by the customer, or automatically detected by the portable electronic device 10;

3. sending to a payment circuit a main signal MS containing: the security data SD associated, in the first register 32a, with the identification code I1 of the portable electronic device 10; identification data of the commercial operation, determined on the basis of the identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20; the M amount of the transaction. The payment circuit can be, for example, a credit card circuit. The SD security data allow identification of the credit card associated with the portable electronic device 10, so that the transaction can be carried out according to the data received.

The identification data of the commercial operation which are inserted in the main signal MS may contain in whole or in part the identification data I3 which can be found in the second memory register 32b.

More generally, the identification data of the commercial activity that are inserted in the main signal MS data are data corresponding to those that, previously, ie at the time of registration of the commercial activity to the system, had been entered. These data are clearly stored in the memory 32 and are identifiable because they are associated with the identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20.

Preferably, the main signal MS is generated and transmitted by the processing unit 31 following the insertion of a confirmation into its portable electronic device 10 by the user.

This confirmation can be conveniently entered only after the auxiliary device has received the data relating to the M amount of the transaction. In this way, in the event that the amount is not correct, the merchant or clerk has the possibility to notify the customer in time and to prevent an erroneous transaction from being carried out.

Preferably, each portable electronic device 10 comprises a memory register 14 for storing the identification data I2 of the auxiliary device 20 detected by the reading apparatus 11. In this way the portable electronic device 10 can be used to perform subsequent transactions in the same commercial operation without necessarily make use of the reading apparatus 11. For this purpose, the portable electronic device 10 preferably comprises a selection module 15, to allow the user to select the identification data I2 stored for a subsequent identification of the auxiliary device 20 and the relative operation commercial without using the reader 11.

This last feature is particularly interesting if system 1 is applied to a plurality of commercial establishments.

It is clear that the identification data of any number of commercial establishments may be stored in register 14; through the selection form 15 the user can then select the business in which he actually wishes to activate and carry out a transaction.

In a preferred embodiment, provision is made for a group of portable electronic devices 10 to be associated with the same credit card. In this case, the memory 32 of the electronic equipment 30 comprises an auxiliary register 32c to contain rules and limits for the use of said credit card by the portable electronic devices 10 of this group.

In greater detail, the limits and rules of use may vary according to the single device taken into consideration: for example, imagine a family, consisting of two parents and any number of children. Parents will be able to have maximum freedom of action, compatibly with the thresholds imposed by the banking institution or by the credit card circuit, while children may be prevented from exceeding much more stringent maximum limits, assessed both on the individual transaction and in a certain time interval. To carry out an operation of this type, specific rules will be associated in the auxiliary register 32c with the identification of each portable device (that of the father, that of the mother, and each of those of the children), which will then be automatically enforced, preventing the '' sending to the payment circuit of transaction orders that do not respect the set parameters.

Advantageously, these limits and rules can be set through any internet station, by means of a remote connection to the electronic equipment 30.

Preferably, the credit card holder will play the role of "master", while all the other users associated with the same credit card will see their portable electronic devices assume the status of "slave".

As mentioned above, each of the portable electronic devices 10 can comprise a SIM card 16; preferably each portable electronic device 10 is configured to generate and transmit a notification signal NS when the SIM card 16 is replaced.

The NS notification signal, which in practice can consist of an alert SMS, can be addressed to a pre-stored number. In this way, in the face of a theft of the device and the subsequent attempt to use it with a different SIM (for example by ordering transactions by exploiting the fact that the device is recognized exclusively through its IMEI), an alert is generated that can then allow you to take action quickly. Advantageously, this notification signal NS may contain the telephone number associated with the new SIM, so as to facilitate the identification of the person who is carrying out an illegal action.

The invention achieves important advantages.

First of all, the system according to the invention does not oblige the customer to carry his credit card with him, thus avoiding the risk of it being lost.

Furthermore, the system is extremely simple and practical when used, both by the person in charge of whom the transaction is ordered, and by the person who receives the payment.

Another advantage emerges considering that the system is safe and reliable. In fact, even if the portable device is lost, it is possible to prevent fraudulent use of the system without necessarily blocking the credit card. Furthermore, the system allows a substantially certain identification of the subjects involved, further reducing the risk of unauthorized transactions.

A further advantage consists in the fact that the system according to the invention allows to manage in a simple, precise and reliable way a plurality of users associated with the same credit card.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. System for the management of economic transactions, comprising: - portable electronic devices (10), which can be used by respective users for economic transactions, each of said portable electronic devices (10) being identified by a respective identification code (I1); - at least one auxiliary device (20), positioned in a respective commercial establishment and usable by a merchant or clerk for said economic transactions; - an electronic device (30) comprising: a processing unit (31); a memory (32) comprising: at least a first register (32a) containing identification codes (I1â € ™) of said portable electronic devices (10), and security data (SD) associated with each of said identification codes (I1â € ™) ; in which: - each of said portable electronic devices (10) comprises: a reading apparatus (11) for detecting identification data (I2) of said auxiliary device (20); an operating module (12) to determine the amount (M) of a transaction to be executed; a transmission module (13) configured to send to said electronic equipment (30) an operating signal (OS) containing: data representative of the identification code (I1) of said portable electronic device (10), data representative of the identification data (I2) detected by said reading apparatus (11), and data representative of said amount (M); - said processing unit (31) is configured to: send a main signal (MS) to a payment circuit containing: the security data (SD) associated, in the first register (32a), with the identification code (I1â € ™ ) of said portable electronic device (10); identification data of the commercial operation determined on the basis of said identification data (I2); the amount (M) of the transaction. 2. System according to claim 1 wherein: - said memory (32) comprises a second register (32b) containing identification data (I2â € ™) of said auxiliary device (20) associated with identification data (I3) of said commercial operation; - said processing unit (31) is also configured to select in the second register (32b) the identification data (I3) of the commercial operation associated with the identification data (I2) of said auxiliary device (20) detected by said reading (11); and to send said identification data (I3) to said portable electronic device (10). System according to claim 2 wherein said processing unit (31) is configured for: - sending said amount (M) to said auxiliary device (20); -generating and sending said main signal (MS) following a confirmation entered by said user after the auxiliary device (20) has received the data representing said amount (M). System according to any one of the preceding claims in which the identification data (I2) of said auxiliary device (20) are encoded in a QR code graphically represented in said commercial operation, said reading apparatus (11) being configured to detect said QR code and decode it, obtaining said identification data (I2) of the auxiliary device (20). 5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the identification data (I2) of said auxiliary device (20) are stored in an RFID tag, said reading apparatus (11) being configured to read data stored in RFID tags, said reading apparatus (11) preferably operating with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said operating module (12) comprises a user interface (12a) which allows said user to manually enter said amount (M). System according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said operating module (12) cooperates with said reading apparatus (11) to detect and / or decode said amount (M). System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each portable electronic device (10) comprises a memory register (14) for storing the identification data (I2) of said auxiliary device (20) detected by said reading apparatus (11) , said portable electronic device (10) further comprising a selection module (15), to allow a user to select said identification data (I2) stored for a subsequent identification of said auxiliary device (20) without using said reading apparatus (11 ). System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said auxiliary device (20) comprises display means (21) for displaying at least said amount (M). System according to any one of the preceding claims in which a group of portable electronic devices (10) is associated with the same credit card; the memory (32) of said electronic equipment further comprising an auxiliary register (32c) for containing rules and limits of use of said credit card by the portable electronic devices (10) of said group. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of said portable electronic devices (10) comprises a SIM card (16), said portable electronic device (10) being configured to generate and transmit a notification signal (NS) when said SIM card (16) is replaced. 12. System for the management of economic transactions, including: - portable electronic devices (10), which can be used by respective users for economic transactions, each of said portable electronic devices (10) being identified by a respective identification code (I1); - at least one auxiliary device (20), positioned in a respective commercial establishment and usable by a merchant or clerk for said economic transactions, said auxiliary device (20) comprising an operating module to determine the amount (M) of a transaction to be to execute; - an electronic device (30) comprising: a processing unit (31); a memory (32) comprising: at least a first register (32a) containing identification codes (I1â € ™) of said portable electronic devices (10), and security data (SD) associated with each of said identification codes (I1â € ™) ; in which: - said auxiliary device comprises a reading device for detecting identification data (I1) of one or more of said portable electronic devices; - said auxiliary device is configured to send data representative of said amount (M) to said electronic equipment (30); - said auxiliary device comprises a transmission module configured to send to said electronic equipment (30) an operating signal (OS) containing: data representative of the identification code (I1) of said portable electronic device (10), data representative of the identification data ( I2) detected by said reading apparatus (11), - said processing unit (31) is configured to: send a main signal (MS) to a payment circuit containing: the security data (SD) associated, in the first register (32a), with the identification code (I1â € ™ ) of said portable electronic device (10); the identification data of the business (I2); the amount (M) of the transaction.