PAYMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD USING BARCODE STORED IN
MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a payment apparatus and method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a payment apparatus and method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, which stores a barcode in the mobile communication terminal, debits a charged amount of money through a wireless network or the Internet, and allows the user to pay a used amount of money at a later time.
Background Art
Generally, when users purchase commodities or are provided with services at places of business, such as convenience stores, chain stores, family restaurants, large-scale discount shops and department stores, they pay for the commodities or services by their credit cards, which are magnetically processed.
However, most users who purchase commodities or services suffer inconveniences that they must always carry with them conventional magnetic credit cards. Further, if users lose their credit cards, there are security problems in that other persons may easily purchase commodities by the lost credit cards. Accordingly, a smart card having an integrated circuit (IC) chip has been currently popularized so as to solve the inconveniences and security problems of carrying credit cards.
A smart card is advantageous in that, since it can store more information than a conventional magnetic credit card, various functions may be integrated within the smart card. However, the smart card is problematic in that a user must always carry the smart card like the conventional magnetic credit card, and if the user loses his smart card, more personal information than the magnetic credit card may be leaked, thus allowing the leaked personal information to be used in many
crimes.
Disclosure of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a payment apparatus and method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, which stores a barcode in a user's mobile communication terminal and allows the user to use a desired amount of money in a deferred payment manner using the barcode within a credit limit of a user's credit card, thus minimizing inconveniences due to the carrying of credit cards, preventing crimes due to the loss of credit cards and minimizing economic losses caused by imprudent use of credit cards.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, comprising a mobile communication terminal for outputting RF data by a key manipulation of an Internet user to be assigned a barcode, receiving and storing RF barcode data, and displaying a barcode based on the RF barcode data by a key manipulation of the Internet user; a mobile communication system for receiving the RF data outputted from the mobile communication terminal, outputting the RF data, receiving barcode information and outputting the barcode information as the RF barcode data to the mobile communication terminal; a WAP server for receiving and outputting the RF data outputted from the mobile communication system, receiving the barcode information and outputting the barcode information to the mobile communication system; a barcode server for receiving and outputting the RF data outputted from the WAP server, and outputting the barcode information corresponding to the RF data; a member database server for receiving the RF data outputted from the barcode server, storing personal information and authentication information of the Internet user based on the use of a barcode, and outputting a control signal corresponding to the stored information; a short message server for receiving the control signal outputted from the member database server and
outputting text information corresponding to commodity purchasing information in response to the control signal so as to allow the Internet user to receive the commodity purchasing information based on the use of the barcode through the mobile communication terminal; a barcode reader for reading the barcode displayed on the mobile communication terminal to output information related to the purchase of a commodity; a personal communication means for outputting data required to the purchase of a commodity so as to allow the Internet user to enter a barcode number and a secret number to purchase a commodity, receiving the commodity purchasing information based on the use of the barcode via email and displaying the commodity purchasing information to enable the Internet user to see the information; an electronic commerce site server for receiving data outputted from the personal communication means, providing information related to the purchase of a commodity by the Internet user, and outputting commodity purchasing information related to payment; a financial settlement system for receiving commodity purchasing information outputted from any of the barcode reader and the electronic commerce site server to process credit conditions based on the use of the barcode, and outputting authentication information corresponding to the processed results of the credit conditions through the Internet; a Web server for receiving data outputted from the personal communication means and the authentication information outputted from the financial settlement system and outputting the data and the authentication information to the member database server; and a mail server for receiving the control signal outputted from the member database server and sending email information to the personal communication means in response to the control signal so as to allow the Internet user to see the commodity purchasing information based on the use of the barcode.
Further, in order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a payment method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of downloading barcode information through a mobile communication terminal by an Internet user; determining whether the Internet user purchases a commodity using any of a barcode displayed on the mobile communication terminal and personal communication means; ending the
payment method if the Internet user does not purchase a commodity using any of the mobile communication terminal and personal communication means, and authenticating credit conditions of the Internet user by a financial settlement system if the Internet user purchases a commodity; storing, by a member database server, several pieces of information based on the purchase of the commodity performed by the Internet user through any of the mobile communication terminal and the personal communication means; and sending any of text information and email information to allow the Internet user to see commodity purchasing information based on the purchase of the commodity through any of the mobile communication terminal and the personal communication means.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a payment apparatus using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a payment method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a step for downloading a barcode in the payment method using a barcode of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a step for determining whether to purchase a commodity in the payment method using a barcode of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a step for sending text or email information in the payment method using a barcode of Fig. 2.
<Description of reference characters of important parts>
100: mobile communication terminal 200: mobile communication system
300: WAP server 400: barcode server
500: member database server 600: short message server
700: barcode reader 800: personal communication means
900: electronic commerce site server 1000: financial settlement system 1100: Web server 1200: mail server
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Hereinafter, a payment apparatus and method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a payment apparatus using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a payment method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a step for downloading a barcode in the payment method using a barcode of Fig. 2. Further, Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a step for determining whether to purchase a commodity in the payment method using a barcode of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a step for sending text or email information in the payment method using a barcode of Fig. 2.
As shown in Fig. 1, the payment apparatus of the present invention comprises a mobile communication terminal 100, a mobile communication system 200, a wireless application protocol (WAP) server 300, a barcode server 400, a member database server 500, a short message server 600, a barcode reader 700, a personal communication means 800, an electronic commerce site server 900, a financial settlement system 1000, a Web server 1100 and a mail server 1200. In this case, the mobile communication terminal 100 serves to output RF data by a key manipulation of an Internet user to be assigned a barcode, receive and store RF barcode data, and display a barcode based on the RF barcode data by a key manipulation of the Internet user.
Further, the mobile commimication system 200 receives the RF data
outputted from the mobile communication terminal 100, outputs the RF data, receives barcode information and outputs the barcode information as the RF barcode data to the mobile communication terminal 100. The WAP server 300 receives the RF data outputted from the mobile communication system 200 and outputs the RF data, and further receives the barcode information and outputs the barcode information to the mobile communication system 200.
Further, the barcode server 400 receives and outputs the RF data outputted from the WAP server 300, and outputs the barcode information corresponding to the RF data. The member database server 500 receives the RF data outputted from the barcode server 400, stores personal information and authentication information of the Internet user based on the use of the barcode, and additionally outputs a control signal corresponding to the stored information.
Further, the short message server 600 receives the control signal outputted from the member database server 500 and outputs text information corresponding to commodity purchasing information in response to the control signal such that the Internet user can receive the commodity purchasing information based on the use of the barcode through the mobile communication terminal 100.
Moreover, the barcode reader 700 reads the barcode displayed on the mobile communication terminal 100 to output information related to the purchase of a commodity. The personal communication means 800 outputs data required to the purchase of a commodity so as to allow the Internet user to enter a barcode number and a secret number to purchase a commodity. Further, the personal communication means 800 receives the commodity purchasing information based on the use of the barcode via email and displays the commodity purchasing information to enable the Internet user to see the information.
Further, the electronic commerce site server 900 receives data outputted from the personal communication means 800, provides information related to the purchase of a commodity by the Internet user, and outputs commodity purchasing information related to payment. The financial settlement system 1000 receives commodity purchasing information outputted from the barcode reader 700 or the electronic commerce site
server 900 to process credit conditions based on the use of the barcode, and outputs authentication information corresponding to the processed results of the credit conditions through the Internet.
Further, the Web server 1100 receives data outputted from the personal communication means 800 and the authentication information outputted from the financial settlement system 1000 and outputs the data and the authentication information to the member database server 500. The mail server 1200 receives the control signal outputted from the member database server 500 and sends email information to the personal communication means 800 in response to the control signal so as to allow the Internet user to see the commodity purchasing information based on the use of the barcode.
Hereinafter, the operation of the payment apparatus using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, having the above construction, is described in detail. When an Internet user manipulates a key button (not shown) of his mobile communication terminal 100 (for example, mobile phone, personal digital assistant: PDA, etc) so as to store a barcode in the mobile communication terminal 100 to purchase a commodity, the mobile communication terminal 100 outputs RF data by the key manipulation of the Internet user to be assigned a barcode. Accordingly, the mobile communication system 200 and the WAP server
300 receive the RF data outputted from the mobile communication terminal 100 and output the RF data. The barcode server 400 receives the RF data outputted from the WAP server 300, outputs the RF data, and further outputs barcode information corresponding to the RF data. Thereafter, the barcode information outputted from the barcode server 400 is inputted to the mobile communication terminal 100 through the WAP server 300 and the mobile communication system 200. The mobile communication terminal 100 receives and stores the barcode information outputted from the mobile communication system 200, and displays the barcode by the key manipulation of the user.
In this case, the member database server 500 receives the RF data
outputted from the barcode server 400 and stores personal information of the
Internet user and authentication information based on the use of the barcode.
As described above, when the Internet user purchases a commodity using the barcode stored in the mobile communication terminal 100, the barcode reader 700 reads the barcode stored in the mobile communication terminal 100 to interpret the information based on the purchase of the commodity, and outputs the information based on the purchase of the commodity.
The financial settlement system 1000 receives commodity purchasing information outputted from the barcode reader 700 to process credit conditions based on the use of the barcode, and outputs authentication information corresponding to the processed results of the credit conditions through the Internet.
The member database server 500 stores the authentication information corresponding to the purchase of the commodity, which is outputted from the financial settlement system 1000. Meanwhile, if the Internet user desires to purchase a commodity using a barcode number and a secret number without using the barcode stored in the mobile communication terminal 100, the Internet user accesses an electronic commerce site using a mouse (not shown) connected to the personal communication means 800 (for example, desktop computer, notebook computer, etc.) used by the Internet user, selects a desired commodity, and enters a barcode number, a secret number and data required to purchase a commodity using a keyboard (not shown).
The electronic commerce site server 900 then receives the data outputted from the personal communication means 800, displays information related to the purchase of the commodity by the Internet user, and outputs commodity purchasing information related to payment.
Thereafter, the financial settlement system 1000 receives the commodity purchasing information outputted from the electronic commerce site server 900, processes credit conditions of the Internet user, based on the use of the barcode number and the secret number, and outputs authentication information corresponding to the processed results of the credit conditions through the Internet.
The Web server 1100 receives data outputted from the personal communication means 800 and the authentication information outputted from the financial settlement system 1000 and outputs the data and the authentication information to the member database server 500. The member database server 500 stores commodity purchasing information of the commodity purchased using the barcode number and the secret number of the Internet user.
Further, the member database server 500 checks a commodity purchasing type of the Internet user. That is, the member database server 500 outputs a control signal corresponding to the commodity purchasing type according to whether the Internet user uses the barcode of the mobile communication terminal 100 or whether the Internet user uses the barcode number and the secret number through the personal communication terminal 800.
At this time, if the Internet user uses the mobile communication terminal 100, the short message server 600 receives the control signal outputted from the member database server 500 and outputs a text message based on the commodity purchasing information to the mobile communication terminal 100 in response to the control signal so as to allow the Internet user to see the information based on the purchase of the commodity.
Further, if the Internet user uses the personal communication means 800, the mail server 1200 receives the control signal outputted from the member database server 500 and outputs the commodity purchasing information to the personal communication means 800 via email so as to allow the Internet user to see the information based on the purchase of the commodity.
Meanwhile, after the Internet user purchases the commodity as described above, the price of the purchased commodity can be paid in a deferred or advance payment manner according to the Internet user's selection. For example, the deferred payment can be performed such that the Internet user presets the amount of money required to purchase a commodity using the barcode, within a credit limit of his credit card, and pays the price of the commodity at the same date as the payment of the credit card. Alternatively, the price of the purchased commodity can be paid later in a typical revolving service.
Further, for example, the advance payment is performed such that, when the Internet user purchases a commodity using funds in his account at a bank which the Internet user uses, an amount of money corresponding to a commodity purchasing price is automatically transferred to a dealer's account, thus enabling the commodity purchasing price to be paid in advance.
Hereinafter, a payment method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal is described in detail with reference to Fig. 2. The Internet user downloads barcode information from the barcode server 400 through the mobile communication terminal 100 at step SI 00. The financial settlement system 1000 then determines whether the Internet user purchases a commodity through the barcode displayed on the mobile communication terminal 100 or the personal communication means 800 at step S200.
At this time, if it is determined that the Internet user does not purchase a commodity through the mobile communication terminal 100 or the personal communication means 800 at step S200, this process ends. Further, if it is determined that the Internet user purchases a commodity, the financial settlement system 1000 authenticates credit conditions of the Internet user at step S300.
Further, the member database server 500 stores several pieces of information based on the purchase of the commodity carried out by the Internet user through the mobile communication terminal 100 or the personal communication means 800 at step S400, and sends text or email information so as to allow the Internet user to see commodity purchasing information based on the purchase of the commodity through the mobile communication terminal 100 or the personal communication means 800 at step S500.
In this case, as shown in Fig. 3, at step SI 00 for downloading a barcode, the barcode server 400 determines whether the Internet user accesses the barcode server 400 so as to be assigned a barcode through the mobile communication terminal 100 at step SI 10. If it is determined that the Internet user does not access the barcode server 400 through the mobile communication terminal 100 at step SI 10, this process returns to step SI 10 for determining whether the Internet
user accesses the barcode server 400. Further, if the Internet user accesses the barcode server 400, the barcode server 400 determines whether the Internet user is a member at step SI 20.
In this case, if it is determined that the Internet user is not a member at step SI 20, the barcode server 400 requests the Internet user to register as a member, while if it is determined that the Internet user is a member at step SI 20, the barcode server 400 determines whether the Internet user applies to the barcode server 400 for assignment of a barcode at step SI 30.
If it is determined that the Internet user does not apply for the assignment of a barcode at step SI 30, this process ends, while if it is determined that the
Internet user applies for the assignment of a barcode, the barcode server 400 stores barcode information and personal information of the Internet user through the member database server 500 and downloads a barcode at step SI 40.
Further, as shown in Fig. 4, at step S200 for determining whether the Internet user purchases a commodity, the financial settlement system 1000 determines whether the Internet user purchases a commodity using the barcode stored in the mobile communication terminal 100 at step S210.
Further, if it is determined that the Internet user purchases a commodity using the barcode stored in the mobile communication terminal 100 at step S210, the financial settlement system 1000 processes credit conditions of the Internet user based on the purchase of the commodity, and stores authentication information in the member database server 500 through the Web server 1100 at step S220.
Meanwhile, if it is determined that the Internet user does not purchase a commodity using the barcode stored in the mobile communication terminal 100 at step S210, the financial settlement system 1000 determines whether the Internet user purchases a commodity at an electronic commerce site using a barcode number and a secret number through the personal communication means 800 at steρ S211. Further, if it is determined that the Internet user does not purchase a commodity using a barcode number and a secret number through the personal
communication means 800 at step S211, this process ends. Further, if it is determined that the Internet user purchases a commodity using a barcode number and a secret number through the personal communication means 800, the financial settlement system processes credit conditions of the Internet user, based on the purchase of the commodity, and stores authentication information in the member database server 500 through the Web server 1100 at step S212.
Further, as shown in Fig. 5, at step S500 for sending a text message or an email, the member database server 500 determines whether the Internet user purchases a commodity using the mobile communication terminal 100 at step S510.
If it is determined that the Internet user purchases a commodity using the mobile communication terminal 100 at step S510, the member database server 500 outputs a control signal corresponding to the purchase of the commodity at step S520. At this time, the short message server 600 receives the control signal outputted from the member database server 500 and outputs commodity purchasing information to the mobile communication terminal 100 by a text message in response to the control signal so as to allow the Internet user to see information based on the purchase of the commodity at step S530.
Further, if it is determined that the Internet user does not purchase a commodity using the mobile communication terminal 100 at step S510, the member database server 500 determines whether the Internet user purchases a commodity through the personal communication means 800 at step S511.
If it is determined that the Internet user doest not purchase a commodity through the personal communication means 800 at step S511, this process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the Internet user purchases a commodity through the personal communication means 800, the member database server 500 outputs a control signal corresponding to the purchase of the commodity at step S512. The mail server 1200 receives the control signal outputted from the member database server 500, and sends commodity purchasing information to the personal communication means 800 via email to allow the Internet user to see information based on the purchase of the commodity at step S513.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, the present invention provides a payment apparatus and method using a barcode stored in a mobile communication terminal, which stores a barcode in a user's mobile communication terminal, allows the user to use a desired amount of money in a deferred payment manner using the barcode within a credit limit of a user's credit card, and allows the user to use this apparatus by entering a barcode number stored in the mobile commimication terminal and a secret number through a personal communication means (desktop computer, notebook computer, etc.), thus minimizing inconveniences due to the carrying of credit cards, preventing crimes due to the loss of credit cards, and enabling the user to pay a commodity purchasing price later or in advance according to the user's selection. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that it provides an alternative payment means which does not alter a conventional working process related to the use of credit cards, so it can reduce a burden caused by the use of credit cards by a credit card user, thus enabling the user to conveniently and safely pay for commodities and services.