WO2009066265A1

WO2009066265A1 - Cell phone based method and system for initiating and/or controlling a process

Info

Publication number: WO2009066265A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/054897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Georg Wilhelm Du Plessis
Original assignee: Hans Georg Wilhelm Du Plessis
Priority date: 2007-11-22
Filing date: 2008-11-21
Publication date: 2009-05-28

Abstract

A method of initiating a process comprises the steps of receiving at a central authorization station (22) from a first computerized communications device (12) associated with the process, first data associated with a prospective user of the process. The central authorization station utilizes the first data to prompt the prospective user to transmit to the central authorization station via a second and portable computerized communications device (14) associated with the prospective user, second data required to initiate the process. If the data meets with predetermined criteria, the central authorization station initiates the process. The process may be a payment transaction at a point of sale (POS) of a vendor of goods or services. The first device may be a POS apparatus and the second device may be a cellular phone of a payor.

Description

CELL PHONE BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INITIATING AND/OR CONTROLLING A PROCESS

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND This invention relates to a method and system for initiating a process.

The process may comprise, but is not limited to, a payment transaction; a rewards transaction; access to a website or an application executing on a computerized device, for example.

In US 2007/0203836A1 there is disclosed a computer-implemented method of effectuating an electronic on-line payment. The method comprises the steps of: receiving at a computer server system a text message payment request comprising a payment amount and a payee identifier sent by a payor via a payor device, such as a cell phone; debiting the payor account in the amount; crediting an account of the payee; and sending a message to a special device, such as a cell phone associated with the payee that the credit has been made into the account of the payee.

This system and method may be useful for low volume transactions such as at farmers' and flee markets, but is not suitable for transactions at large stores with large volumes of transactions. Furthermore, the method and system require the payee to carry a cell phone or the like and does not make proper or better use of the existing point of sale computerized infrastructure at such stores. However, for various reasons, the adoption of the mobile or cell phone into systems and methods of the latter ktnd have been hindered. One reason is the legacy of existing, tried and trusted infrastructures that enable traditional processes and methods and which are not easily adapted to provide for convergence to the cell phone. It is known that some of the traditional systems and methods are often cumbersome and susceptible to fraud. Furthermore, apart from the πsk factor, card based payment methods and systems are unnecessarily expensive, due to card costs and related overheads.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system with which the applicant believes the aforementioned disadvantages may at least be alleviated or which may provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a method of initiating a process comprising the steps of: - receiving at a central authorization station from a first computerized communications device associated with the process, first data associated with a prospective user of the process; - from the central authorization station and utilizing the first data, prompting the prospective user to transmit to the central authorization station via a second and portable computerized communications device associated with the prospective user, second data required to initiate the process; and at the central authorization station, utilizing the first data and the second data to initiate the process.

The process may be a payment transaction, the prospective user may be a prospective payor, the first device may comprise a point of sale (POS) apparatus at a supplier of goods or services and if the first data and the second data meet with predetermined criteria, the payment transaction is initiated by debiting an account associated with the prospective payor and crediting an account associated with the supplier.

The second device may comprise one of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant,

The first data may comprise data relating to one of a bank account number of the prospective payor and a number for the cellular phone or digital assistant. The second data may comprise a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the prospective payor.

The authorization station may prompt the prospective payor by sending to the second device a data message.

The prospective payer may be enabled to enter the second data via a keypad on the second device and to transmit the second data to the authorization station.

The method may comprise the step of transmitting data relating to an outcome of the transaction to at least the first device.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for initiating a process, the system comprising: a central authorization station; a first computerized communications device associated with the process and for forwarding to the central authorization station, first data relating to a prospective user of the process; a second and portable, wireless computerized communications device associated with the prospective user, the central authorization station being configured to utilize the first data to prompt the prospective user to transmit to the central authorization station via the second device, second data required to initiate the process; and - the central authorization station being configured to utilizing the first data and the second data to initiate the process.

The first device may be a point of sale apparatus at a supplier of goods and/or services and the second device may comprise one of a cellular phone and persona! digital assistant,

In another embodiment the first device may comprise a computerized kiosk and the second device may comprise one of a cellular phone and personal digital assistant.

In yet another embodiment first device may comprise a computerized banking machine and the second device may comprise one of a cellular phone and personal digital assistant.

The system may comprise a first telecommunications infrastructure for carrying the first data from the first device to the central authorization station and a second telecommunications infrastructure for carrying the second data from the second device to the authorization station. In some embodiments the first and second telecommunications infrastructures may be the same. In other embodiments the first and second telecommunications infrastructures may be different.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAMS

The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrams wherein: figure 1 is a basic block diagram of a first example embodiment of the system according to the invention figure 2 is a block diagram of a second example embodiment of the ystem; figure 3 is a flow diagram of steps of one example form of a method according to the invention; and figure 4 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A first example embodiment of a system according to the invention for initiating and/or controlling a process, in this case a payment transaction, is generally designated 10 in figure 1 .

The system 10 comprises a first computerized communications device in the form of a computerized point of sale (POS) apparatus 12 at a supplier or vendor 13 of goods or services. Each customer or prospective payor (not shown) is associated with a respective second and wireless, portable computerized communications device, such as a mobile telecommunications device, preferably in the form of a ceil phone 14. The cell phone is configured selectively to execute a banking application, which provides on a display 16 of the cell phone an interactive mobile banking front-end 18 for the user.

The cell phone is configured to communicate via a second communications infrastructure 20, which is at least partially wireless and which may typically be a conventional cellular phone infrastructure, with a central authorization station 22 comprising a cooperating back-end 24 for the front-end. The back-end comprises a main server. Computerized systems including databases of a plurality of financial institutions 26.1 to 26. n are connected to the authorization station. Customers have respective accounts at one or more of the institutions,

A modem 28 at the POS apparatus 12 is connected to a first communications infrastructure, which may at least partially be the same as the second communications infrastructure 20. in other embodiments the first infrastructure is different from the second infrastructure. An optional dedicated printer 30 may be connected to the modem 28 and located at the POS.

Referring to figure 3, when a customer is requested at 60 by a til) operator to pay for goods or services, the customer would at 62 indicate to the till operator that the customer intends to make payment in accordance with the method, as more fully described hereinafter. The operator then at 64 obtains from the customer a number, such as a bank account number or cell phone number, associated with the customer, and enters the number on a keypad of the POS apparatus

12. The operator then at 66 causes first data relating to the number to be transmitted from the POS apparatus 12 via the first infrastructure to the authorization station 22. At 68, the authorization station automatically identifies from a suitable database other relevant data associated with the aforementioned number, such as data relating to a financial institution holding an account of the vendor, the account number, the identity of the customer, the identity of the till and the portable device 14 of the customer.

At 70 and in real time, the authorization station 22 then causes a message to be sent to the customer's portable device 14 via the second infrastructure. Having received the message and at 72, the customer standing at the POS, decides whether he wants to continue with the transaction and make payment as will hereinafter described. If yes, the customer utilizes the aforementioned application on the cell phone 14 and causes at 74, 76 and 78 second data comprising data relating to a personal identification number (PIN) and the value of the transaction to be transmitted from the device 14 via the second infrastructure to the authorization station 22. At 80, the authorization station identifies from the second data received, other associated data such as data relating to the financial institution where an account of the customer is held, the account number, the identity of the customer, and the device 14.

At 82, the authorization station 22 compares the first data received from the POS apparatus, the second data received from the customer and the data in the database If the data complies with predetermined criteria and there are sufficient funds available in the customer's account as shown at 86, the authorization station 22 causes the customer's account to be debited with the amount of the transaction and the vendor's account to be credited with a corresponding amount. Confirmation or outcome data relating to the aforementioned positive determination, alternatively negative determination, is forwarded by the authorization station 22 via the first infrastructure and modem 28 to at least the POS, to indicate to the attendant and the user that the payment was successfully initiated or not. At the POS, a slip may be printed by the printer 30. The slip may be used for cash-up as in known and trusted systems.

The cell phone 14 not only replaces the conventional card token, but aiso serves to provide the required identification. Because the pay option is hosted in the mobile banking application, it offers security of a PIN and a password. The push direction and nature of the payment transaction ensures that a real time balance in the account of the customer is available on the systems of the financial institution. The actual deposit into the bank account of the vendor may still be done as part of an aggregated deposit, at the end of a business day, for example. The payment is hence effected utilizing tried and trusted infrastructures. The main server uses a secure link, such as a PKI based infrastructure to ensure that the data is communicated securely to the POS, where it is decrypted. Because the payment is pushed from the financial institution, the risk of "charge back" should be reduced.

Hence, the cell phone substitutes for the user's conventional credit or debit card and PIM, with the important difference that the user never parts with the cell phone and is in control of the payment transaction. The slip is not really necessary, but may serve a useful purpose as hereinbefore described. No secret P!N or the like need to be entered into publicly or till operator accessible terminals, as in the currently available credit card and debit card systems.

A hand-sake is therefore created on the main server when the POS apparatus indicates to the main server that a cell phone message is forthcoming and which is then met by the message from the cell phone 14 with the second data comprising the PIN and data relating to the amount.

The system and method used with the embodiment in figure 2 is substantially similar to that describe hereinbefore. A difference is that instead of the dedicated printer 30, the modem 28 may either be connected to an integrated POS system 34 comprising a printer 36 or a conventional credit card terminal 38 with associated telephone 40 comprising a printer.

It will be appreciated that the process may not necessarily involve a transfer of funds and that the authorization station 22 need not be connected to a financial institution or the like. The process may instead involve crediting or debiting of points or miles in a rewards program, for example a loyalty rewards program. Referring to figure 4, access to a website may be obtained via PC 40 by entering via the PC a number, such as a bank account number or cell phone number, associated with the prospective user. Data relating to the number is transmitted from the PC via the first infrastructure to the authorization station 22. The authorization station 22 then in real time causes a message to be sent to the prospective user's portable device 14 via the second infrastructure. The message prompts the prospective user to enter a PIN or the like on the device and to forward data relating to the PIN from the device 14 via the second infrastructure to the authorization station 22. The authorization station identifies from the data received, other associated data such as data relating to the financial institution where an account of the customer is held, the customer, and the device 14. If the data complies with predetermined criteria, access is provided.

In a similar manner, first data relating to a number associated with a prospective user of a kiosk 44 or a banking machine, such as an ATM 46, is entered by a prospective user onto the kiosk/ATM and transmitted via the first infrastructure to a central authorization station. The station is configured automatically and in real time to prompt the prospective user on mobile communications device 14 for second data in the form of a PlN to be transmitted to the authorization station. The second data is entered onto the device 14 and transmitted via the second infrastructure to the authorization station. If the data complies with predetermined criteria, access is obtained to an application running on the kiosk 44 or on the ATM 46. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary or required to enter the secret PIN via a publicaily accessible, visible or monitorable keypad associated with the ATM.

Claims

1 . A method of initiating a process comprising the steps of: receiving at a central authorization station from a first computerized communications device associated with the process, first data associated with a prospective user of the process; - from the central authorization station and utilizing the first data, prompting the prospective user to transmit to the central authorization station via a second and portable computerized communications device associated with the prospective user, second data required to initiate the process; and at the central authorization station, utilizing the first data and the second data to initiate the process.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the process is a payment transaction, wherein the prospective user is a prospective payor, wherein the first device comprises a point of sale (POS) apparatus at a supplier of goods or services and wherein, if the first data and the second data meet with predetermined criteria, the payment transaction is initiated by debiting an account associated with the prospective payor and crediting an account associated with the supplier.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second device comprises one of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first data comprises one of a bank account number of the prospective payor and a number for the cellular phone or digital assistant.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the second data comprises a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the prospective payor.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the authorization station prompts the prospective payor by sending to the second device a data message.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the prospective payor is enabled to enter the second data via a keypad on the second device and to transmit the second data to the authorization station.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 comprising the step of transmitting data relating to an outcome of the transaction to at least the first device,

9. A system for initiating a process, the system comprising: a central authorization station; a first computerized communications device associated with the process and for forwarding to the central authorization station, first data relating to a prospective user of the process;

- a second and portable, wireless computerized communications device associated with the prospective user,

- the central authorization station being configured to utilize the first data to prompt the prospective user to transmit to the central authorization station via the second device, second data required to initiate the process; and the central authorization station being configured to utilizing the first data and the second data to initiate the process.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first device comprises a point of sale apparatus at a supplier of goods and/or services and the second device comprises one of a cellular phone and personal digital assistant.

1 1 . A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first device comprises a computerized kiosk and the second device comprises one of a cellular phone and personal digital assistant.

12. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first device comprises a computerized banking machine and the second device comprises one of a cellular phone and personal digital assistant.

13. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 comprising a first telecommunications infrastructure for carrying the first data from the first device to the central authorization station and a second telecommunications infrastructure for carrying the second data from the second device to the authorization station.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first and second telecommunications infrastructures are the same.

5. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first and second telecommunications infrastructures are different.