WO2000058922A1 - Achat de services utilitaires par prepaiement - Google Patents

Achat de services utilitaires par prepaiement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000058922A1
WO2000058922A1 PCT/ZA2000/000059 ZA0000059W WO0058922A1 WO 2000058922 A1 WO2000058922 A1 WO 2000058922A1 ZA 0000059 W ZA0000059 W ZA 0000059W WO 0058922 A1 WO0058922 A1 WO 0058922A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
prepayment
consumer
utility services
token
meter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2000/000059
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hermanus Albertus Bos
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited filed Critical Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited
Priority to AU40828/00A priority Critical patent/AU4082800A/en
Publication of WO2000058922A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000058922A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G06Q20/325—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices using wireless networks
    • G06Q20/3255—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices using wireless networks using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
    • G06Q20/127—Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/22—Payment schemes or models
    • G06Q20/28—Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/36—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
    • G06Q20/363—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes with the personal data of a user
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F15/00—Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G07F7/0866—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means by active credit-cards adapted therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment and, more particularly, to the transfer of credit information from a vendor of utility services to a prepayment meter regulating the dispensing of the utility services.
  • the token may be such that it is physically inserted into the prepayment meter to provide a pre-defined quantity of credit for the utility services, or it may be an alphanumeric string which, when entered into the prepayment meter, transfers a quantity of the utility services purchased by the consumer into the memory of the prepayment meter. It is known for such an alphanumeric string to be a 20 digit number, and for the number to be coded specifically for a particular prepayment meter, thus rendering it ineffective when used in conjunction with any other prepayment meter.
  • This type of prior art prepayment methodology is disadvantageous in that the consumer is required to visit a vending outlet to obtain a token in order to ensure that a valid and correct alphanumeric token is entered into the prepayment meter.
  • a further disadvantage of this type of prepayment method is that it is quite possible for a consumer to erroneously enter the alphanumeric token via the prepayment meter keypad into the meter memory.
  • a method for the prepayment of utility services comprising the steps of: establishing a communication link between a consumer and a vendor of the utility services, the consumer having a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; providing to the vendor along the communication link, data relating to the identity of the consumer's prepayment meter; purchasing a selected quantity of utility services; generating a prepayment token as a function of the prepayment meter identity and the purchased quantity of utility services; and transmitting the generated prepayment token to the consumer along the communication link.
  • Still further features of the invention provide for purchasing the selected quantity of the utility services by entering data relating to the purchase on a key pad associated with the access terminal.
  • the invention extends to a system for the prepayment of utility services, comprising: a communication link between a consumer and a vendor of the utility services, the consumer having a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility sen/ices; identification means for enabling the vendor to establish an identity of the prepayment meter along the communication link; a generation facility for generating a prepayment token as a function of the prepayment meter identity and a selected quantity of utility services purchased by the consumer; and a transmitter for transmitting the generated prepayment token to the consumer along the communication link.
  • the communication link to be a Global System for Mobile telephony (GSM) telecommunication link
  • GSM Global System for Mobile telephony
  • the GSM telecommunication link to be accessible by means of an access terminal, preferably a GSM handset having a Subscriber Interface Module (SIM), for the identification means to establish the identity of the prepayment meter as a function of a unique telephone number on the SIM, and for the transmitter to transmit the generated prepayment token to the consumer by means of a Short Message Service (SMS) of the GSM telecommunication link.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile telephony
  • SIM Subscriber Interface Module
  • FIG.1 is a functional representation of a system for the prepayment of utility services.
  • a system for the prepayment of utility services is indicated generally by reference numeral (1).
  • the system (1) includes a prepayment meter (2) for dispensing utility services to a consumer and a vending site (4) at which a vendor sells the utility services.
  • a dial up GSM communication link (5) provides access to the vending site and is accessible by the consumer by means of an access terminal (6) in the form of a GSM handset.
  • the vending site (4) includes a generation facility (7) in the form of a processor arranged to generate a prepayment token (not shown) as a function of the prepayment meter identity and a selected quantity of utility services which the consumer wishes to purchase by means of prepayment
  • a consumer wishing to purchase a selected quantity of utility services from the vendor establishes communication with the vending site (4) by means of the GSM handset (6).
  • the consumer's identity is established by means of the calling party's GSM telephone number which is then utilised in a lookup table to derive therefrom the identity of the consumer's prepayment meter.
  • the consumer is then asked to indicate a selected quantity of utility services which he wishes to purchase and this information is utilised by the generation facility (7) to generate an alphanumeric prepayment token as a function of the prepayment meter identity and the selected quantity of utility services desired by the consumer.
  • the generated prepayment token is then transferred from the vending site along the GSM telecommunication link by means of the SMS service to the consumers GSM handset where it is displayed on a display of the GSM handset.
  • the consumer then enters the prepayment token into the prepayment meter (2) by means of the meter keypad (3), which is then configured to dispense the purchased quantity of utility services to the consumer.
  • the generation facility (7) may prompt the user to enter the selected quantity of utility services which he desires by means of a keypad (6) on his GSM handset. In this instance, all human interaction between the consumer and the vending site eliminated, thereby further reducing the possibility of generating an invalid prepayment token.
  • the step of manually transferring the generated prepayment token from the consumer's GSM handset (6) to the prepayment meter (2) can be eliminated altogether by utilising a data carrier to carry the prepayment token received via the GSM telecommunication link (5) to the prepayment meter.
  • the prepayment token generated and transmitted to the consumers GSM handset (6) is encrypted onto a separate smart card in the GSM handset (6).
  • the smart card may then be removed from the GSM handset (6) and introduced into a card reader (8) in the prepayment meter (2).
  • the invention therefore provides a system and a method for purchasing utility services by means of prepayment which will reduce the possibility of transferring invalid prepayment tokens into a prepayment meter of a consumer.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de prépaiement de services utilitaires comprenant une ligne de communication, et en particulier une ligne GSM (5), entre un consommateur et un vendeur de services utilitaires. Le consommateur dispose d'un compteur à prépaiement (2) pour la distribution de services utilitaires. Le système comprend également des organes d'identification permettant au vendeur d'établir l'identité du compteur de prépaiement sur la ligne de communication, un dispositif (7) servant à générer un jeton de prépaiement, et un émetteur (4) servant à transmettre au consommateur sur la ligne de communication le jeton de prépaiement généré, en particulier à l'aide du service d'envoi de messages courts (SMS) de la ligne GMS. Le jeton de prépaiement est généré en fonction de l'identité du compteur de prépaiement et d'une quantité sélectionnée de services utilitaires achetés par le consommateur.
PCT/ZA2000/000059 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Achat de services utilitaires par prepaiement WO2000058922A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU40828/00A AU4082800A (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Utility purchases by prepayment

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA99/2347 1999-03-26
ZA992347 1999-03-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000058922A1 true WO2000058922A1 (fr) 2000-10-05

Family

ID=25587646

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2000/000059 WO2000058922A1 (fr) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Achat de services utilitaires par prepaiement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4082800A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000058922A1 (fr)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2364420A (en) * 2000-05-22 2002-01-23 Secure Electrans Ltd A prepayment utility metering system
DE10034597A1 (de) * 2000-07-14 2002-01-24 Nicolas Adolph Verfahren zur bargeldlosen Zahlung
WO2002080119A1 (fr) * 2001-03-13 2002-10-10 Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited Generation de jetons d'achat
ES2190878A1 (es) * 2001-07-19 2003-08-16 Airtel Movil S A Un sistema para realizar transacciones en maquinas expendedoras, solicitadas desde terminales de telefono movil.
DE10228016A1 (de) * 2002-06-22 2004-01-08 Franz Hans Peter Bauer Verfahren und System zur Bereitstellung einer Versorgungsleistung
WO2004008414A1 (fr) * 2002-07-12 2004-01-22 Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited Reseau de communication de donnees pour compteurs d'installations
WO2006011019A1 (fr) * 2004-07-21 2006-02-02 Actaris Measurement & Sytems (Proprietary) Limited Systeme de paiement a base de bons et composants de ce systeme
GB2438888A (en) * 2006-06-06 2007-12-12 Actaris Uk Ltd Purchasing credit for a prepay utility meter through a transaction unit
US8725657B2 (en) 2000-05-22 2014-05-13 Secure Electrans Limited Utility metering system incorporating a transaction authorisation system
US11481852B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2022-10-25 Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network
US11481851B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2022-10-25 Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network
US11790349B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2023-10-17 Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997031306A1 (fr) * 1996-02-23 1997-08-28 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Procede pour obtenir au moins un element de donnees d'authentification d'un utilisateur
WO1997039430A1 (fr) * 1996-04-12 1997-10-23 Lg (Uk) Limited Systemes de compteurs
WO1998047112A1 (fr) * 1997-04-15 1998-10-22 Stratex/Paradigm (Uk) Limited Procede de vente electronique, de distribution, et de recharge d'une valeur prepayee, appareil de vente et systeme electronique s'utilisant dans cet appareil

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997031306A1 (fr) * 1996-02-23 1997-08-28 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Procede pour obtenir au moins un element de donnees d'authentification d'un utilisateur
WO1997039430A1 (fr) * 1996-04-12 1997-10-23 Lg (Uk) Limited Systemes de compteurs
WO1998047112A1 (fr) * 1997-04-15 1998-10-22 Stratex/Paradigm (Uk) Limited Procede de vente electronique, de distribution, et de recharge d'une valeur prepayee, appareil de vente et systeme electronique s'utilisant dans cet appareil

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
ANDERSON R J ET AL: "CRYPTOGRAPHIC CREDIT CONTROL IN PRE-PAYMENT METERING SYSTEMS", PROCEEDINGS OF THE SYMPOSIUM ON SECURITY AND PRIVACY,US,LOS ALAMITOS, IEEE COMP. SOC. PRESS, vol. SYMP. 16, 1995, pages 15 - 23, XP000547688, ISBN: 0-7803-2540-0 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8725657B2 (en) 2000-05-22 2014-05-13 Secure Electrans Limited Utility metering system incorporating a transaction authorisation system
GB2364420B (en) * 2000-05-22 2002-11-20 Secure Electrans Ltd A prepayment utility metering system
GB2364420A (en) * 2000-05-22 2002-01-23 Secure Electrans Ltd A prepayment utility metering system
DE10034597A1 (de) * 2000-07-14 2002-01-24 Nicolas Adolph Verfahren zur bargeldlosen Zahlung
WO2002007109A2 (fr) 2000-07-14 2002-01-24 Intercard Clearing Gmbh Procede de paiement sans numeraire et procede d'autorisation associe
WO2002080119A1 (fr) * 2001-03-13 2002-10-10 Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited Generation de jetons d'achat
ES2190878A1 (es) * 2001-07-19 2003-08-16 Airtel Movil S A Un sistema para realizar transacciones en maquinas expendedoras, solicitadas desde terminales de telefono movil.
DE10228016A1 (de) * 2002-06-22 2004-01-08 Franz Hans Peter Bauer Verfahren und System zur Bereitstellung einer Versorgungsleistung
WO2004008414A1 (fr) * 2002-07-12 2004-01-22 Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited Reseau de communication de donnees pour compteurs d'installations
WO2006011019A1 (fr) * 2004-07-21 2006-02-02 Actaris Measurement & Sytems (Proprietary) Limited Systeme de paiement a base de bons et composants de ce systeme
AP2235A (en) * 2004-07-21 2011-05-18 Actaris Measurement And System Proprietary Ltd A voucher based payment system and components thereof.
GB2438888A (en) * 2006-06-06 2007-12-12 Actaris Uk Ltd Purchasing credit for a prepay utility meter through a transaction unit
US11481852B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2022-10-25 Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network
US11481851B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2022-10-25 Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network
US11790349B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2023-10-17 Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network
US11915330B2 (en) 2019-10-18 2024-02-27 Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4082800A (en) 2000-10-16

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