WO2006001723A1

WO2006001723A1 - Point of sales terminal and way of paying via mobile cell phone network (or via other network, for example umts)

Info

Publication number: WO2006001723A1
Application number: PCT/PL2004/000086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur Koziol; Bohdan Tillack
Original assignee: Arthur Koziol; Bohdan Tillack
Priority date: 2004-06-25
Filing date: 2004-10-20
Publication date: 2006-01-05
Also published as: PL368774A1

Abstract

The invention is a mean for any goods or services via a cell phone network using only the buyer's cell phone and a point of sales terminal. Our invention is based on the possibility of communication between the two devices via IR (infrared port) ,Bluetooth (short distance radio connection) or cable connection. Using one of these ways, the devices can share identifying information. Then they can verify it in the dealing center. The method of working of the dealing center is based on rebooking the quoted amounts of money between the buyer's and the seller's bank accounts. Our invention needs creating an appropriate device for cash free transactions at points of sales and preparing appropriate programs for cell phones, that will enable to share, receive and send transaction data to the transaction server system. The device (further calles 'GSM terminal') is meant as an alternative for credit cards. Cash free payment systems based on our device should become safer and more comfortable by using a wireless connection between a cell phone and a GSM terminal, sharing identifying information and verifying it by the transaction operating system server. The information is transmitted between devices within the system, which is our invention, by radio connection, after having been encoded. Encrypting algorithms, existing for example in GPRS data transmission could be used for this purpose. The members of the cash free GSM payment system are as follows: 1) A bank customer who is at the same time a client of a GSM operator, and who is in possession of an ordinary cell phone, equipped with IR, Bluetooth or cable connection port and appropriate modified software suitable for cash free transactions. 2) A bank (transactional server operator) called further GSM bank. 3) A GSM network operator. 4) A salesperson. 5) Commercial banks.

Description

POINT OF SALES TERMINAL AND WAY OF PAYING VIA GSM MOBILE CELL PHONE NETWORK ( OR VIA OTHER NETWORK, FOR EXAMPLE UMTS )

Description of the invention:

This invention is a mean of paying for any goods or services via cell phone network using only the buyer's cell-phone and the terminal of the point of sales. Our invention is based on the possibility of communication between the two devices via IR (infrared port), Bluetooth (short distance radio connection) or cable connection. Using one of these ways, the devices can share identifying information. Then they can verify it in the dealing center. The method of working of the dealing center is based on rebooking the quoted amounts of money between the buyer's and the seller's bank accounts. Our invention needs creating, an appropriate device for cash free transaction at points of sales and preparing appropriate programs for cell phones, that will enable to share, receive and send transaction data to the transaction server system. The device (further called "GSM terminal") is meant as an alternative for credit cards. Cash free payment system based on our device should become safer and more comfortable by using a wireless connection between a cell phone and a GSM terminal, sharing identifying information and verifying it by the transaction operating system server. The information between devices within the system, which is our invention, are transmitted by radio connection, after having been encoded. Encrypting algorithms, existing for example in GPRS data transmission could be used for this purpose. Members of cash free GSM payment system are as follows: I) A bank customer who is at the same time a client of a GSM operator, and who is in possession of an ordinary cell phone, equipped with IR, Bluetooth or cable connection port and appropriate modified software suitable for cash free transactions). 2) A bank (transactional server operator) called further GSM bank. 3) A GSM network operator. 4) A salesperson. 5) Commercial banks. The efficiency of the system will depend on the following (excluding legal steps ): 1) Creating / modifying software used by the GSM network operator or the bank working together with the GSM network operator. 2) Cell phone software modification. 3) Creating the interface between the GSM network operator system ( or the bank system used for identifying connecting devices - ref. point 1) and the bank system. 4) Creating the GSM terminal of the point of sales

Provided that all participants concluded necessary agreements the transaction would be effected as follows (fig. 1): 1. The cell phone, using IR, Bluetooth or cable connection, contacts the GSM terminal of the point of sales and sends its own and customer data: • Customer name • Cell phone number 2. When the terminal receives these data, it is ready for the transaction. 3. The salesperson inputs the amount and confirms it by clicking on the "initiate" button. 4. GSM terminal connects with the customer's cell phone and sends the sellers data: • name (visible for customer) • account number (invisible) • transaction amount (visible) • GSM terminal number (in GSM network operator ) 5. The customer's cell phone displays transaction data on the cell phone screen 6. The customer approves the transaction by clicking on an appropriate button on cell phone keyboard and the cell phone proceeds with the following activities: • sends the customer identification data to GSM terminal and receives the salesperson's data. • connects with the GSM network and sends appropriate data about the transaction (payment order) 7. The GSM terminal identifies data and connects to the payment system server using GSM network operator system. 8. The GSM network system sends the transaction data to the GSM bank. 9. The GSM bank verifies both identification data streams (from the GSM terminal and the cell phone) and checks if there is enough money on the customers account. 10. After a positive verification the bank could "ask" for extra customer verification by sending him a question about the bank account PIN code. 11. The customer feeds in his own bank account PIN code using his cell phone keyboard and sends it to the bank. 12. After the positive verification the bank executes payment order. Both accounts (salesperson's and customer's ) are appropriately credited and debited respectively in accordance with the contracts signed with commercial banks, where the salesperson's and customer's accounts are held. The payment server operator (GSM bank) charges a commission for executing the transaction. 13. The bank, using the GSM network operator, sends both participants a confirmation of the execution of the transaction. 14. Information about the transaction can be printed, using printer connected to the GSM terminal or fed into the terminal memory (transaction is fed into the customers cell phone memory and it can be deleted or saved).

Device description

Device functions

The main purpose of terminal of the point of sales, created for realizing payment orders by GSM network is as follows : 1) Receive the transaction amount 2) Reconcile with the cell phone of the buyer the information necessary for a cash free transaction. 3) Send information that is necessary for the cash free transaction, using an encoded message, sent as data by data transfer system (such as GPRS) to the cash free transaction operator server. 4) Receive and decode the message from the cash free transaction operator. 5) Save (in memory) or move to data recorder the information about the performed transactions (accepted or rejected). GSM terminal logical scheme.

GSM terminal is an electronic device based on computer technology connected with GSM technology (or others, enabling radio connections, like UMTS). The main parts of device are as follows: 1) Processor for steering the whole device. 2) ROM memory (it contains necessary software and salesperson identification data) 3) GSM communication module, which makes it possible to proceed with transaction as described above. GSM communication module is a cell phone with a SIM card, but it can't connect with any other phone number, excluding the one that was saved by operator in its ROM memory. 4) RAM memory for saving executed transactions data. 5) Communication module ( to communicate with other devices, such as IR, that are used for connecting GSM terminal with the customer's cell phone) 6) Own I/O terminal devices (keyboard, screen)

(The logical scheme is presented on the fig.4).

Terminal could be powered by batteries or by electric network. The first possibility will make it possible to create a mobile version of GSM terminal (it shouldn't be much bigger then an ordinary cell phone). This version could be used when not in the vicinity of one's office (traveling salesperson).

Appearance.

GSM terminal is an electronic device the size of currently used credit card terminals. Fig.2 shows a possible configuration of the device.

The terminal could be equipped with: I) A numeric keyboard used for typing in numeric data (transaction amount). 2) Four buttons placed to the left side of the GSM terminal used for choosing tasks for the terminal 3) LCD display (as shown on fig.5) containing: o 3 lines (25 signs each) o battery level gauge (battery supports terminal memory) o GSM network range gauge o IR port indicator o Indicators of peripheral devices: • another keyboard • printer • computer 4) "Power" button (turning it on will cause the lighting of the control lamp at the device's top side) 5) Peripheral devices ports 6) IR port 7) Container (plastic with rubber props) 8) Power cable

At the top side of the container there is a LCD display. There display is divided into two sections (fig.5) :

A — place for extra devices indicators and terminal functions level. B — 3 text lines (25 signs each) display (5x7 pixels)

On the LCD, in text lines (B) area, there will appear information necessary for proceeding with the transaction. It will display customer's data, which were received from the cell phone via IR port. The transaction amount, which has been typed, will also be displayed there. LCD is used also for communication between the user and the GSM terminal, because it could be used as an ordinary computer device. Two buttons placed at the lower side of the keyboard (fig.2), marked with two arrows (up and down arrow), should let the user choose appropriate option from all displayed on the screen. "OK" button will be used for confirming the option choice. "INI" button will cause the initiation of the transaction, as it has been described earlier.

There should also be symbols indicating the status of device on the display in the area marked (A).on fig.5:

1) Battery gauge (as shown on Fig.3(a) ) presents battery level (battery is used for memory support).

When all batteries are fully charged all segments are displayed. The disappearance of particular segments signals change of the battery level. When the battery is nearly flat the last segment starts pulsing. This means that the batteries needs to be replaced.

2) GSM network range is displayed, by means of the following indicator shown on Fig.3 (b).

3) The IR port symbol appears when the IR port is activated. Clicking on the OK button, will open the terminal's main menu. Active options are displayed. The user choose the option, that will cause the opening of the IR port . It is meant to be also the beginning of transaction. By clicking OK on the IR port button, the user turns on the IR communication, which is shown by the symbol depicted on Fig.3 (c).

When the transaction is finished (after receiving the information about changes on the customer's account from the bank) the IR port turns off and its symbol is not displayed any longer.

4) There is a possibility to connect an external keyboard to the GSM terminal. It would facilitate adding extra text information to the GSM terminal's memory and would provide better communication between the user and the device. Connecting an external keyboard to PS2 or USB port will cause the symbol of the external keyboard to appear on the screen (see Fig.3 (d)). The disappearance of the external keyboard symbol will signal disconnecting the external keyboard or its malfunction.

5) Connecting a printer (by LPT or USB port) will cause the display of the corresponding symbol. The printer could be used for printing transaction confirmation or any other messages, logs, and any other information displayed or stored by the GSM terminal software. The symbol is shown on Fig.3.(e).

6) There is also a possibility to connect the GSM terminal to a PC using a USB port. It would allow moving any transaction data to a computer. A PC could also be used for updating salesperson's data, but not all of them. Salesperson's data should be secured by the multilevel password system and the user would not be able to change all of them. Only a bank employee, for security reasons, knowing all needed passwords, using a PC, could change whole information. The display of the following mark signals connecting the computer to the GSM terminal: Fig.3. (f) shows the gauge displayed when the PC is connected to the terminal.

The presented symbols are only suggestions. The device should be able to display peripheral devices' symbols and indicators, which are used to show the device's status. It would give the user a possibility to supervise the device's status. If any symbol is not displayed after turning on an appropriate function or connecting peripheral devices, it would mean, that GSM terminal or peripheral device is out of order. In both situation the user's intervention is absolutely necessary.

At the bottom side of the container, there is place for the GSM operator SIM card. This place is the same as in cell phones and it is secured by the plastic cover with a slam and wriggle. The terminal memory needs support in case of power failure. For this reason there is also place, at the bottom side of the terminal, for two LR6 batteries. A plastic cover with a slam and wriggle also secures this slot. This extra support is absolutely necessary for saving all important data. There is a possibility For recreating this device in a number of shapes, functions and dimensions. The device presented below is only an example and it is not the invention itself.

Claims

Patent claims

1) The method of executing cash free transactions, using cell phone, distinguished from others. The buyer only confirms the transaction amount, after connecting cell phone with the terminal of the point of sales using short distance connections (IR, Bluetooth, cable connection or others); the both devices share identification information , and then they contact with the cash free transactions system operator server-the GSM bank, using the GSM system operator, that provides an appropriate way of data transmission, such as GPRS. 2) The method described in the first point, distinguished from others. The identification information of both transaction participants is exchanged automatically. 3) The payment method, described in the first point, distinguished from others. The buyer only one time types in PIN code for identity confirmation. It is very comfortable, because the customer must use his cell phone keyboard for only one time. 4) The method of communication between the cell phone and the terminal distinguished from others. Using the short distance connections constricts the possibility of detecting the transmission by unauthorized person (especially the IR connection, which could be protected from detection by the special "cover" and the cable connection, which is absolutely safety from unauthorized detection). 5) The method of exchanging information leading to executing effective payment operation distinguished from others. The information between the customer, the salesperson, the GSM bank, the GSM network operator and commercial banks is exchanged as it was presented on Fig.l. In this system, the payment server operator (the GSM bank) is responsible for squaring up the transaction for its participants and their banks.