SE522009C2 - Authorization system and procedure for granting authorization as well as procedure for automatic and targeted advertising - Google Patents

Abstract

A CLI number provided to the telephone device allocated to juridical person (80), is retrieved from service unit (82) or clearing unit telephone device (88). The call refused at the service unit communicates to the clearing unit (88). The clearing unit decides whether the CLI number retrieved has access to the service by checking with database (40) and provides service, if access is established. The service unit (82) and clearing unit telephone device (88) are not adapted to establish communication during phone call connection trial (84). An Independent claim is also included for system for identifying juridical person.

Description

522 009 2 telephone sales. One of the obstacles has been that SMS ads lack tangible value like the value provided by, for example, a paper coupon, which means that people simply don't want them.

Patent US 5,590,197 describes a cyber wallet in the form of stored and protected accounting information that can be "carried" on a tamper-proof, portable electronic storage medium such as a smart card, or that is stored in the customer's computer (or personal digital assistant, PCMCIA card browser/mosaic, and which is manufactured for a customer to be able to make electronic or similar) together with the software for payments from the wallet owner to a merchant at a remote site on the Internet.

The information in the wallet is protected by a public key file containing public keys to be used for encoding the payment information in an authorization receipt sent by the wallet to the merchant and then forwarded to the account service provider for decryption, the decryption key being in the form of a private key held only by the account service provider and to which the merchant and other parties have no access. The public key file preferably includes a plurality of public keys that can be selected by an identifier associated with the key itself but which does not form part of it so that the account service provider can control, by having the merchant send an identifier to the wallet, the selection of uncompromised keys where no one except the service provider knows which key is selected. This solution is relatively complicated.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems. This is achieved by means of an authorization system comprising at least one source unit and at least one destination unit, for granting authorization to said source unit to fully perform a specific task with respect to said destination units in accordance with claim 1.

The authorization system may comprise communication means for communication between said source unit and said destination unit, characterised in that said authorization system also comprises an authorization unit and communication means for communication between both said authorization unit and said source unit and said authorization unit and said destination unit, said authorization unit comprising a memory means in which validity information is stored source unit, authorization unit checks said validity information before a decision is made as to whether said source unit is given authorisation to perform said specific task. with regard to said with regard to said The above-mentioned problems are also solved by a method for granting authorisation with regard to payment from a consumer to a seller in accordance with claim 30.

The method comprises the following steps: - said consumer enters a payment identification for a relevant seller, whereby an authorization unit receives said payment identification for said relevant seller and said consumer's identification; - a point of sale unit for said relevant seller sends all payment data to said authorization unit; - a database in said authorization unit checks validity information regarding said consumer and said relevant seller before a decision is made as to whether said authorization for payment is to be issued; and - if said authorization for payment is issued, said point of sale unit issues some form of proof of purchase for said relevant seller and/or for said consumer and/or some other party.

The problems associated with automation and/or targeting of advertisements are solved by a method for an advertising system connected to an electronic payment system. This method provides an advertiser with a targeted and automatic means for sending an advertising message, a benefit connected to an advertising message or a financial benefit connected to a message and relating to certain things such as products and/or services, to a group of target consumers according to claim 41. The method comprises the following steps: - said advertising system uses information stored in memory means of said electronic payment system or from some other source or base to define said target consumer, so-called "data washing"; - the advertising system then uses an electronic messaging system (e.g. SMS, a system based on the Internet/mobile Internet, e-mail, voice messages, telephone calls) to send said advertising message to said target consumers and modifies the information in said memory means (called an advertising log) of said electronic payment system in such a way that said electronic payment system and/or some other party can retrieve information about whether a specific consumer is targeted, whether said benefit has been linked to said advertisement and/or whether a financial benefit has been linked to said advertisement; - said target consumer uses said electronic payment system to purchase said item, whereby said electronic payment system checks its memory means to find out whether said consumer was targeted with respect to said items and whether a financial benefit has been linked to said targeted advertising message; and - if said financial benefit is linked to said advertising message, said electronic payment system takes the necessary measures to take into account said financial benefit and to remove the advertising log from said memory means.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying figures.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figure 1 is a block diagram of an authorization system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic example of a specific application of an authorization system according to the present invention; 10 15 20 25 30 35 522 009 4 Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for granting authorization with respect to payment from a consumer to a merchant in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic example of a specific application of a targeted automatic advertising system according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows an authorization system 10 in accordance with the present invention.

The system 10 includes at least one source unit 12 and at least one destination unit 141, ..., 14,,.

The system 10 may include, although not necessarily, a communication means 16 for communication between the source unit 12 and said destination units 121, ..., 14,,. Said system 10 also includes an authorization unit 18 and communication means 20 for communication both between said authorization unit 18 and said source units 12 and 14,1. Said authorization unit 18 includes a memory means 22 in which validity information about said said authorization unit 18 and said destination units 141, ..., at least one source unit 12 is stored. Said validity unit 18 checks the validity information before a decision is made as to whether said source unit is authorized to perform said specific task. Said memory means 22 may, for example, be in the form of a database 22. Said system 10 also includes a clearing means 24 which is connected to said authorization unit 18. Said clearing means 24 secures and/or executes a payment transaction between, for example, a consumer and a seller with or without the use of any intermediary.

In this regard, it should be noted that in the present application the term consumer means anyone who pays and the term seller means anyone who receives money within a payment schedule.

One of said communication means 16, 20 may, for example, consist of optical or infrared communication links, an electronic bus system, or mobile communication means.

Said mobile communication means may, for example, consist of microwave communication means, radio communication means or communication means based on the NMT, GSM or WCDMA standard.

Said communication means 16, 20 may also consist of telephone means or be based on the Internet standard.

In accordance with an embodiment hereinafter referred to as the first embodiment, said source unit 12 is allocated to a specific consumer and each destination unit 141, ..., 14,, is a point of sale unit. Said system 10 also comprises a clearing means 24 connected to said memory means 22. In the first embodiment, said validity information comprises the creditworthiness of each consumer. Said authorization unit 18 utilizes the creditworthiness of each consumer and payment data received from a point of sale unit 141, ..., 14,, as a basis for making a decision as to whether or not to approve the payment. When said payment is approved, said point of sale unit 141, ..., 14,, issues some form of proof of purchase to the relevant vendor and/or to said consumer. This proof of purchase can, for example, be a cash receipt.

According to an embodiment, which is hereinafter referred to as the second embodiment and which is based on the first embodiment, said system 10 also includes an advertising system 26 connected to said memory means 22. In the second embodiment, said validity information includes information about advertisement-related financial benefits for each consumer. Said authorization unit 18 utilizes information about advertisement-related financial benefits for each consumer and purchase data received from a point-of-sale unit 141, ..., 14,, as a basis for making a decision as to whether or not to approve the payment and whether a financial benefit is to be taken into account by the clearing unit 24.

According to another embodiment, which is hereinafter referred to as the third embodiment, each source unit 12 is allocated to a user of a specific machine and each destination unit 141, ..., 14, is a single component of a specific machine. Said validity information includes the state of said component and data about each machine user.

Figure 2 shows a specific application of the authorization system according to the present invention.

The patent seeks to protect an authorization procedure in communication schemes in which a particular source attempts to communicate with a particular entity (destination) that forms part of a distribution system. First, a brief explanation of the above-mentioned terms follows.

Communication scheme this is a special application where a certain communication between source and destination is desired and which requires some form of authorization.

Some examples of such distribution systems are: - Electronic parking meters that are paid for using the driver's mobile phone.

- A machine in which, for example, each individual component of the machine can be remotely controlled by a user or different machine users.

- A remote control system (Internet/telephone/GSM) for electronic equipment in a building or more specifically a house (compare the "bluetooth" communication standard).

- An electronic payment system.

- A targeted advertising system.

- Components connected through an electronic bus system.

- Vending machines that are paid for using the buyer's mobile phone.

The physical information carrier for communication can be of various types: telephone, all mobile communication systems (NMT, GSM, WCDAM, microwave communications, infrared communications, etc.), optical communication links, radio, 10 15 20 25 30 35 5 522 009 6 the Internet, some type of electronic (computer) bus system, etc.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method for authorizing a payment from a consumer to a merchant in accordance with the present invention.

The method begins at block 40. The method then continues at block 42 by said consumer entering with the selector buttons, e.g. by using his GSM telephone, a payment identification, e.g. a specific GSM number, for a concerned seller, whereby an authorization unit receives said payment identification for said concerned seller and said consumer identification, e.g. by retrieving the consumer's GSM number and the specific GSM payment number from the consumer's telephone call without opening a telephone connection. The method then continues at block 44 by a point of sale unit for said seller sending all payment data to said authorization unit. Thereafter, at block 46, a database in said authorization unit checks the validity information regarding said consumer and said concerned seller before a decision is made as to whether said payment authorization shall be granted. Then, at block 48, if said authorization for payment has been given, said point of sale unit issues some form of proof of purchase for said affected seller and/or said consumer. At block 50, the procedure ends.

If said payment authorization has not been given, said authorization unit stops the procedure.

Figure 4 shows a schematic example of a specific application of the method for automatic and targeted advertising, whereby a consumer 62 takes advantage of a financial benefit linked to an advertisement sent to him through the advertising system 72.

The advertising system 2 is connected to a certain electronic payment system 74, for example the payment system described for the first embodiment above.

The process begins at step 50. Steps 50 to 60 follow one another in time.

At step 50, an advertiser 64 requests the advertising system 72 to send a specific advertising message to a specific group of consumers and specifies a financial benefit associated with the advertisement.

At step 52, the database 68 of the advertising system 72, which for example utilizes previous consumer purchasing habits stored in the database of the electronic payment system, is utilized to define the consumer target group. The advertising system 72 also logs in its database 68 which consumers are the target of the advertising message.

At step 54, the advertising system computer unit 66 receives the list of target consumers from its database 68. At step 56, the advertising system 72 sends the specific advertising messages to all target consumers.

At step 58, a target consumer 62 purchases a number of items, including one or more items for which the consumer has received an advertising message. The consumer utilizes the electronic payment system 74 for this purchase.

At step 60, which forms part of the clearing of the purchase in the electronic payment system 74, the electronic payment system retrieves the information about the advertising discount from the advertising system 72 and automatically takes the discount into account.

A specific embodiment of the second embodiment includes a GSM-based payment system, wherein the advertising system provision is the same as the provision for the electronic system, the database 68 is the same as the memory means 22, and the advertising messages are in the form of SMS messages.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the present patent claims.

Claims (41)

10 15 20 25 30 35 i 5 = 22 009 8 Patent claims Authorization system comprising at least one source unit and at least one destination unit, for authorizing said source unit to fully perform a specific task with respect to said destination unit, the authorization system may comprise communication means for communication between said source unit and said destination unit, characterized by said authorization system also comprises an authorization unit and communication means for communication between both said authorization unit and said source unit and said authorization unit and said destination unit, said authorization unit comprising a memory means in which validity information is stored regarding said destination unit and said source unit and wherein at least a part of validity said destination unit is provided by said source unit, said authorization unit checking said validity information before a decision is made as to whether said d destination unit and said source unit shall be authorized to perform said specific tasks. Authorization system according to claim 1, characterized in that said validity information consists of at least a consumer identification and a payment identification for a relevant seller. 3. An authorization system according to claim 2, characterized in that said payment identification and said consumer identification are arranged to be retrieved by the authorization unit via a communication channel which is closed at one end. An authorization system according to claim 2, characterized in that said payment identification and said consumer identification are arranged to be picked up by the authorization unit over a telephone connection which is closed at one end. Authorization system according to claim 2, characterized in that said payment identification and said consumer identification are arranged to be picked up by the authorization unit via a telephone call from a consumer without opening a telephone connection. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that said memory means in said authorization unit is in the form of a database. 7. An authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means are in the form of optical communication links. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means are in the form of infrared communication links. 9. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means is in the form of an electronic bus system. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means are mobile communication means. 11. ll. Authorization system according to claim 10, characterized in that one or more of said mobile communication means are microwave communication means. 10 15 20 25 30 35 i 522 009 9 An authorization system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that one or more of said mobile communication means are radio communication means. Authorization system according to any one of claims 10 - 12, characterized in that one or more of said mobile communication means are based on NMT, GSM or WCDMA standard. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means are telephone means. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means are based on the Intemet standard. Authorization system according to claims 1-5, characterized in that one or more of said communication means are based on a packet switching network. An authorization system according to any one of claims 7 - 16, characterized in that said communication means is any combination of the alternatives given in claims 7 - 16. Authorization system according to any one of claims 1 - 17, characterized in that one or more of said source units have been assigned to a specific consumer, and in that one or more of your destination units is a point of sale unit (POS). Authorization system according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that said authorization system comprises a clearing means which is connected to the database / memory means. An authorization system according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that said validity information includes each consumer's creditworthiness, said authorization unit using each consumer's creditworthiness and payment data received from a point of sale unit as a basis for deciding whether to approve the payment. or not. An authorization system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that said system also comprises an advertising system connected to said memory means, said validity information also including information on advertising-related financial benefits for each consumer. An authorization system according to claim 21, characterized in that said clearing means comprises information in said database / memory unit in order to automatically consider each financial advantage. Authorization system according to any one of claims 17 - 22, characterized in that said point of sale unit issues, when payment has been approved, some kind of proof of purchase for the user of the point point of sale unit and / or for the consumer. Authorization system according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that each source unit has been assigned to a specific machine user, a specific machine or a specific machine component, and in that each destination unit is a single component in the same specific machine or another machine. 10 15 20 25 30 35 1 522 009 10 An authorization system according to claim 24, characterized in that said validity information comprises information about the condition of each of said specific machines or specific machine components and / or information about one or more of said specific machine users. 26. An authorization system according to any one of claims 22 and 24, characterized in that said memory means or database in the authorization unit is in the form of a network with at least one information storage device. An authorization system according to claim 26, characterized in that said at least one information storage device is in the form of a database. Authorization system for granting authorization according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that said at least one information storage device is in the form of a card comprising a memory means and a data processing unit which is connected to said memory means. An authorization system according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that said source unit or said destination unit or said consumer or said seller has access to said specific information relating thereto in said database. A method of granting authorization for payment from a consumer to a seller, the method comprising the steps of: - said consumer entering a payment identification for a relevant seller, an authorization unit receiving said payment identification for said relevant seller and said consumer identification; ; a point-of-sale unit for said relevant seller sends all payment data to said authorization unit; a database in said authority unit checks the payment identification of said seller concerned and validity information concerning said consumer and said seller concerned before deciding whether to grant said authority for payment; and - if said authorization for payment is granted, said point of sale shall issue some kind of proof of purchase to said seller concerned and / or to said consumer. A method of granting authorization for payment from a consumer to a seller according to claim 30, characterized in that said method also comprises the following steps: - said payment identification and said consumer identification being retrieved by the authorization unit via a communication channel which is closed at one end. A method for authorizing payment from a consumer to a seller according to claim 30, characterized in that said method also comprises the following steps: - that said payment identification and said consumer identification are retrieved by 10 15 20 25 30 35 522 009 11 the authorization unit over a telephone connection which is closed at one end. A method of granting authorization for payment from a consumer to a seller according to claim 30, characterized in that said method also comprises the following steps: - said payment identification and said consumer identification being retrieved by the authorization unit via a telephone call from the consumer without opening a telephone connection. A method of granting authorization with respect to payment from a consumer to a seller according to claim 30, characterized in that said method also comprises the following steps: - if said authorization for payment is not granted, the authorization unit stops the procedure. A method of granting authorization for payment from a consumer to a seller according to claim 30, characterized in that said method also comprises the following steps: - if said authorization for payment is not given, said payment unit sends an appropriate error message to said point of sale unit and / or to said consumer. A method of authorizing payment from a consumer to a seller according to any one of claims 30 to 35, wherein said payment unit also comprises a switching means or a computer unit connected to said database, characterized in that said method also comprises the following steps: - said computer unit orders said switching means to open a connection with said point sales unit, and - said computer unit requests said payment data. A method for granting authorization in respect of payments from a consumer to an affected seller according to any one of claims 30 - 36, characterized in that said computer unit stores / updates data with respect to said consumer and / or said seller. A method of granting authorization with respect to payment from a consumer to an affected seller according to any one of claims 30 to 37, characterized in that said computer unit sends an authorization signal to said point sales unit if authorization is granted. A method of granting authorization in respect of payment from a consumer to a seller concerned, according to any one of claims 30 to 38, recognizes that said payment identification for said seller is a GSM telephone number. A method of granting authorization in respect of payment from a consumer to an affected seller according to any one of claims 30 to 39, characterized in that said authorization unit does not open a two-way communication channel or telephone connection with said consumer to retrieve said payment identification for 10 15 '* 522 009 12 said seller concerned or said consumer identification. A method of automatic and targeted advertising between at least one consumer (62) and an advertising system (72), the advertising system (72) being connected to an electronic payment system (74), the method comprising the steps of: - an advertiser (64) requesting the advertising system (72) to send a specific advertising message to a specific group of consumers (62) and specify a financial benefit associated with the advertisement; - a database (68) in the advertising system (72) defines the consumer target group (62), and the advertising system (72) also logs in its database (68) the consumers (62) who constitute targets for said advertising message; - a computer unit (66) in said advertising system (72) receives a list of said target consumers (72) from its database; - said advertising system (72) sends the specific advertising messages to all target consumers (62), - a target consumer (62) buys a number of items for which the consumer has received an advertising message and uses the electronic payment system (74) for the purchase; and - the electronic payment system (72) retrieves the financial benefit information in the advertisement from the advertising system (72) and automatically takes it into account.