WO2018194531A1

WO2018194531A1 - A network-based payment system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2018194531A1
Application number: PCT/TR2017/050441
Authority: WO
Inventors: Göksenin AKDENİZ
Original assignee: Pospay Fi̇nansal Teknoloji̇ Hi̇zmetleri̇ Anoni̇m Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2017-04-17
Filing date: 2017-09-22
Publication date: 2018-10-25
Also published as: BR112019021737A2; EP3613002A1; BR112019021737A8

Abstract

The present invention provides a payment system comprising a server apparatus, wherein data on a payment with installment transferred from a POS terminal by means of a communication network is read by at least one electronic control unit and is entered into a database under an account of future receivables records in which the data on payment with installment is matched with a unique first creditor record corresponding to that POS terminal. In the payment system, the electronic control unit (22) is configured to address in the database (24) a unique second creditor information which it transfers from a receivable assignment terminal 50 to which it provides encrypted connection with the server apparatus (22) such that the first creditor access is verified, and to select a future receivables record (26) according to a model sent from the receivable assignment terminal (50) and to match it with the second creditor record.

Description

A NETWORK-BASED PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD Field of Invention

The present invention relates to systems wherein payment orders, which are received from a terminal using credit cards or NFC or a similar payment method through a communication network such that the orders are matched with unique identity data, are collected in a database that can be electronically accessed remotely, and the data collected is transferred to other networks electronically, as well as to an implementation method based on the use of such systems.

Prior Art

In commercial transactions, payments against goods or services made from a purchaser to a seller using a credit card, NFC or a similar means by means of a point-of-sale terminal are based on that the point-of-sale terminal gets access through Internet or a private network to a server configured behind a firewall, and a confirmation or refusal signal is produced and reported back to the terminal as a result of a verification step for the respective payment transaction conducted by a bank or an intermediary to complete or terminate the transaction, respectively.

US7702582 discloses a payment system comprising a server apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving information via a communication network, a first terminal apparatus for a purchase application, a second terminal apparatus for an installment payment organization and a third terminal apparatus for a settlement service organization. The first terminal apparatus is provided with an inputting device for prompting to input desirable one of a plurality of payment plan information each indicating a combination of (i) a payment plan portion according to which the purchaser pays a price of a product, which the purchaser is to buy, in installments through the installment payment organization, and (ii) a payment plan portion according to which the purchaser settles a price of a service continually provided to the purchaser through the product by means of a credit card issued by the settlement service organization and owned by the purchaser, as well as for prompting to input a certain kind of personal information about the purchaser and a credit card information indicating at least a card number of the credit card. At least one of the server apparatus and the first terminal apparatus is provided with: a processing device for extracting (i) information relating to an item or items predetermined for an installment payment application including at least a part of the personal information and the payment plan information and (ii) information relating to an item or items predetermined for a settlement service application including at least a part of the personal information, the payment plan information and the credit card information, separately from among the information inputted via the inputting device; a communication device for transmitting the information relating to the item or items for the installment payment application extracted by the processing device to the second terminal apparatus via the communication network, transmitting the information relating to the item or items predetermined for the settlement service application extracted by the processing device to the third terminal apparatus via the communication network, receiving installment payment examination result information indicating an acceptance or refusal of an installment payment transmitted via the communication network from the second terminal apparatus in response to the transmitted information relating to the item or items for the installment payment application, and receiving settlement service examination result information indicating an acceptance or refusal of a settlement service transmitted via the communication network from the third terminal apparatus in response to the transmitted information relating to the item or items for the settlement service application; and a confirming device for confirming a payment plan indicated by the payment plan information inputted via the inputting device, on the basis of the installment payment examination result information and the settlement service examination result information received by the communication device. Thanks to the developing payment systems which allow payments to be made in installments, the consumers are enabled to instantly purchase goods or services they need and to make future payments according to installment plans which they find suitable. Settlement services are generally provided by the banks and are guaranteed by those banks which are affiliated with the payment system and mediate the payment of the receivables of goods or services which the seller provides in installments.

Brief Description of Invention The object of the present invention is to provide the transfer or assignment of POS receivables resulting from sales with installments to third parties through the assignment of receivables, remission of receivables, transfer of receivables, blocking, inter-account transfers (virement) or any other method leading to similar results (to be referred to as "assignment of receivables" hereinafter) in an electronic environment so that a minimum server load is generated.

In order to achieve said object, the present invention provides a payment system comprising a server apparatus, wherein data on a payment with installment transferred from a POS terminal by means of a communication network is read by at least one electronic control unit and is entered into a database under an account of future receivables records in which the data on payment with installment is matched with a unique first creditor record corresponding to the POS terminal. The payment system is configured so that the electronic control unit addresses in the database a unique second creditor information which it transfers from a receivables assignment terminal to which it provides encrypted connection with the server apparatus such that the first creditor access is verified, and selects a future receivables record according to a model sent from the receivables assignment terminal and matches it with the second creditor record. The model sent from the receivables assignment terminal permits to directly record those installment payment data with desirable due dates and amounts from the whole installment payment data on behalf of a second person as a receivables assignment using the same server apparatus. Thus, receivables assignment terminal and the server apparatus, which intercommunicate, provide by themselves an adequately-secure infrastructure to carry out a receivables assignment, without requiring a verification intermediary. The receivables assignment terminal can be a computer, a smart phone, or a mobile device with network connection, and the POS terminal itself can function as a receivables assignment terminal when a different connection is used. The electronic control unit comprises preferably a processor. According to a possible embodiment, the processor is in communication with a memory module and with other digital controllers. The server apparatus is configured behind a firewall.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, based on a model with a date interval sent from the receivables assignment terminal, the electronic control unit is configured to select those future receivables records which, in terms of time, are most close to the date information received and to deliver the records to the receivables assignment terminal in an encrypted manner using an end-to-end encryption algorithm that can be decrypted in the receivables assignment terminal and then to await for a verification command. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, in response to the verification command sent from the receivables assignment terminal, the electronic control unit is configured to match the most fitting future receivables records, selected according to the date interval and amount, with a second creditor record. Thus, the receivables assignment terminal is provided with a dual selection system for the assignment of receivables. Those future receivables which are to be assigned and are most fitting to the date criteria are either selected automatically by the server apparatus, or a user can display all future receivables by means of the receivables assignment terminal and select the most fitting receivables manually.

A preferred embodiment according to the present invention comprises an intermediary server, which is set up to be in communication with the server apparatus through an encrypted first secure network connection and configured to transmit the future receivables records received from the database to a second database, provided on a second server apparatus and comprising unique second creditor information, through a second secure network connection. The intermediary server constitutes a reliable third party and thus provides the electronic transfer of installment payment receivables between more than one secure network, e.g. between the server systems of different banks. The intermediary server can either constitute a reliable channel in terms of information transfer only, or, according to an alternative embodiment, can save the installment payables information of both banks and provide a reliable exchange infrastructure.

A preferred embodiment according to the present invention comprises a second electronic control circuit, which is disposed on the second server apparatus and, when a future receivables record transmitted to the second database is entered to the second database, generates a confirmation message and delivers it to the intermediary server through the second secure network connection or to the server apparatus through the communication network such that it can be read by the receivables assignment terminal. The second server apparatus can either be included in different network systems so as to be remote to the server apparatus, or alternatively be configured under the same network mask to be used for backing up the data in the server apparatus instantly or in a time-dependent manner.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the electronic control unit is configured to generate a unique identification number, which is saved in the database after being matched with a future receivables record selected by the electronic control unit from the database according to a model. The unique identification number provides direct access to future receivables records selected according to each model in the database for alteration or transmission purposes.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the receivables assignment terminal is configured to transmit an instruction signal with the unique identification number and an account record number saved on a second database installed on a second server apparatus to the server apparatus, and in response to the instruction signal, the electronic control unit is configured to transfer the future receivables record corresponding to the unique identification number to the second server apparatus. Thus, it is ensured to securely transmit the future receivables record from one server system to another under the confirmation of a user conducting the transaction.

In order to achieve said object, a preferred implementation according to the present invention comprises the procedural steps of entering the data on payment with installment as received from the POS terminal through the communication network to the database in the form of a future receivables entry in a first creditor record matching with that POS terminal; gaining access to the future receivables record by means of the receivables assignment terminal; filtering the future receivables records so as to define a sub-dataset according to a model determined by the assignment terminal; matching the filtered sub-dataset by means of the electronic control unit with a unique record number in the database; and following a command sent from the receivables assignment terminal, matching the unique record number and the future receivables record set with a second creditor account information in the database. The model determined by the assignment terminal can be obtained using a query set configured according to any one or a combination of data classes in the receivables assignment database. For instance, a model can be generated by determining a due date and entering an amount as an amount to be assigned by the assignment terminal and then filtering those future receivables which are most fitting in terms of due dates until that amount is reached, thereby resulting in those future receivables having proper due dates. The unique record number provides convenience in terms of addressing when the results set conforming the model is displayed by a terminal, or in terms of its transfer between databases.

A preferred implementation according to the present invention comprises the procedural steps of providing an end-to-end encrypted network connection between the server apparatus and the assignment terminal; displaying the sub-dataset and future receivables records on the receivables assignment terminal; altering the sub-dataset in the receivables record according to a second model determined in the receivables assignment terminal; saving the sub-dataset, which is altered by maintaining its unique record number, in the database. This allows to easily alter or change a predetermined model with a subsequently-formed model. For instance, while the future receivables up to a certain due date are listed in the first model, an alteration can be made on the present sub-dataset by conducting a new filtration on the database for extending the due date.

An embodiment that achieves the object of the present invention is illustrated in an accompanying figure.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a representative embodiment of the payment system according to the present invention. The parts in said figures are individually numbered as following.

1 Communication network

10 Point-of-sale terminal

12 Second point-of-sale terminal

20 Server apparatus

22 Electronic control unit

24 Database

26 Future receivables records

27 Sub-dataset 28 First secure network connection

30 Intermediary server

38 Second secure network connection

40 Server apparatus

42 Second electronic control unit

44 Second database

46 Record of future receivables due

50 Receivables assignment terminal

60 Control terminal

Figure 1 schematically shows a representative implementation of the payment system according to the present invention. A POS terminal 10 and a second POS terminal 12 capable to receive payments from credit cards or through NFC are connected to a server apparatus 20, which is configured behind a firewall and with which the terminals are in signal communication, by means of a communication network 1 running on TCP/IP protocol on the Internet. The server apparatus 20 comprises an electronic control unit 22 including a central processing unit (CPU), and a database 24 provided on a medium like a hard disk or a solid state disk which is connected to provide data transmission. The database is one that is proper for structured query language. When a purchase order for an installment sale received from the POS terminal 10 or any other second POS terminal 12 through a secure data transmission channel is confirmed, the server apparatus 20 transmits information including the total sales amount and the number and dates of installments to the electronic control unit 22 through the communication network 1 to be entered into the database 24. The electronic control unit 22 saves the data on a confirmed future payment obtained according to patent US7702582, which is incorporated herein by reference, under the account of the POS terminal 10 as a future receivables record 26 to have it matched with a unique number in the database. Thus, a particular dataset is generated in the database 24, this dataset including all future receivables records 26 belonging to the holder of the POS terminal 10 and second POS terminal 12. The server apparatus 20 is connected to an intermediary server 30 through a first secure network connection 28 (virtual private network) in an encrypted manner. The intermediary server 30 is connected to a second server apparatus 40 by means of a second secure network connection 38 to ensure data transmission with end-to-end encryption. The server apparatus 20 belongs to bank A. The second server apparatus 40 belongs to bank B. The intermediary server 30, in turn, belongs to an intermediary organization. The intermediary server 30 is configured so that it ensures the confirmation of data transmission taking place between the server apparatus 20 and the second server apparatus 40, and the transmission of the confirmation to the respondent. The second server apparatus 40 comprises a second database 44 and a second electronic control unit 42 in data communication with this database. The receivables assignment terminal 50, which is a mobile device with network connection, gets access to the server apparatus 20 or the second server apparatus 40 with end-to-end encryption via Internet to which it gains access via wireless data network. Similarly, the control terminal 60, which is also a mobile device, gets access to the server apparatus 30 or the second server apparatus 40 via Internet to which it gains access via wireless data network. The future receivables records 26 collected from the POS terminal 10 and entered into the database 24 are gathered and a list of receivables is generated for different dates and sums. The bank A enters all future receivables of the firm holding the POS terminal 10 and doing business with credit cards into the database 24 under the future receivables record 26, including the date and sum of the receivables. The firm has a user interface, showing information presented by the server apparatus 20 to which it can gains access via the receivables assignment terminal 50 using a mobile signature or a two-factor authentication. Using the receivables assignment terminal 50, it enters the term and amount of the transaction which it is to purchase on time, as well as the IBAN number and identity or tax number of the creditor to which payment is to be made. The electronic control unit 22 searches the database 24 comprising the future receivables of the firm and finds the most proper installments among the future receivables records 26 according to a model generated by determining the due dates and amounts using the user interface and a sub-dataset 27 which is thus determined is shown through the receivables assignment terminal 50 for confirmation. The firm authority may confirm the sub-dataset 27 as is selected by the electronic control unit 22 through the receivables assignment terminal 50, or may change it with different installment receivables having other proper due dates, which the authority can see under the future receivables records 26. The sub-dataset 27 obtained when a proper installment combination is reached, which is either suggested by the electronic control unit 22 through the receivables assignment terminal 50, or is determined manually, is saved in the database 24 with a unique identity number once confirmation is received on the receivables assignment terminal 50 by means of a mobile signature or a two-factor authentication. During this confirmation, also a text shall be approved on the receivables assignment terminal 50, this text indicating the legal terms of assigning / transferring the amount shown on the display of the receivables assignment terminal 50 to the creditor with unique identification information, such as an identity number, tax number, or IBAN number. The electronic control unit 22 finds the future receivables records 26 of the creditor whose information is provided by the receivables assignment terminal 50 in the database 24, and enters the new possession information into the database and transmits a transaction confirmation signal to the receivables assignment terminal 50. The confirmation signal can either be presented on the receivables assignment terminal 50 in the form of confirmation information, or be transmitted to the sender and receiver through various channels in the form of SMS messages or other similar alerts. The sub-dataset (27) arranged is entered for confirmation into the future receivables account awaiting confirmation under the creditor's future receivables records 26. If the electronic control unit 22 can not find the relevant purchaser record in the database 24, it transmits to the intermediary server 30 the sub-dataset 27 determined according to the model selected through the future receivables record 26. The intermediary server 30 delivers the information to the second server apparatus 40 of bank B in a secure manner. The second electronic control unit 42 matches the creditor's information on the second database 44 and enters the suggested sub-dataset 27 into the second database 44 and delivers a confirmation signal to the intermediary server 30. The intermediary server 30 communicates with the server apparatus 20 and delivers the sub-database 27 transmission confirmation to the receivables assignment terminal 50 by means of data transmission. By means of the control terminal 60, the creditor gains access to the server apparatus 20 or second server apparatus 40 accommodating the creditor's account, and confirms the sub-dataset 27 including the future payment information which is suggested to the creditor. When the creditor confirms the transaction, the sub-dataset (27) account of the debtor firm is addressed and recorded to the payable future receivables record (46), and the sub-dataset (27) of the creditor firm is addressed and recorded to the future accounts record (26) as future accounts to be collected.

Following this stage, the payment date and amount on the sub-dataset 27 determined according to said model and confirmed accordingly are locked in the database 24 in an irrevocable fashion. The creditor can monitor the future receivables assigned to himself as a due future receivables record 46 by means of his control terminal 60 on the second database 44 and may see the history of the sub-dataset 27 when he clicks on a user interface comprising any sub-datasets 27.

When required, the new creditor can use this sub-dataset 27 also for his purchases on time. For this purpose, it will be adequate for the creditor to click on an 'assign button' on the user interface at the control terminal 60 in relation to the sub-dataset 27 in which he is the creditor, and to enter the creditor name, IBAN number and unique identity information (e.g. identity or tax number) and to confirm the terms of assignment. In this case, the control terminal 60 will function as a receivables assignment terminal 50 and the operation will be returned to the beginning as described above. When the system's confirmation is received, the creditor will become the new creditor of the sub-dataset 27. The bank will debit the accounts of the respective credit cards or of any other payment means at the dates of payment of the installments as determined in the POS terminal 10 for this sub-dataset 27 and will block a provisional account designated for the respective sub-dataset 27. When the sub-dataset 27 becomes due, the respective payment is made to the account of the creditor registered in the system. The drawer of the sub- dataset 27 can either change the installments which he previously defined for the sub- dataset 27 he had drawn, or he may define new installments and release the amounts which are blocked in the provisional account. The users may list all information of sub- datasets 27 which they arranged using the receivables assignment terminal 50 in various breakdowns.

In an alternative implementation, the intermediary server 30 functions as a secure service provider. In this case, the users may gain access through a control terminal 60 (which provides access) to an intermediary server 30 keeping the records of sub- datasets 27 which they took over, i.e. were assigned to them, and can see the current state of any sub-dataset 27, i.e. if paid or not, if in circulation or not, and all previous and next assignment transactions. In an alternative embodiment, the future receivables record (26) data are accessed to from the database (24) on the server arrangement (20) or through the intermediary server (30), thus data on the assignment of receivables are provided to an electronic cheque system (not illustrated) in data-transfer connection with a second database (44) connected to a second server arrangement (40) .Future receivables record 26 data are used as a guaranteed payment means for electronic cheques.

Claims

1 - A payment system comprising a server apparatus 20, wherein data on a payment with installment transferred from a POS terminal 10 by means of a communication network 1 is read by at least one electronic control unit 22 and is entered into a database 24 under an account of future receivables records 26 in which the data on payment with installment is matched with a unique first creditor record corresponding to that POS terminal 10, characterized in that the electronic control unit 22 is configured to address in the database 24 a unique second creditor information which it transfers from a receivables assignment terminal 50 to which it provides encrypted connection with the server apparatus 20 such that the first creditor access is verified, and to select a future receivables record 26 according to a model sent from the receivables assignment terminal 50 and to match it with the second creditor record. 2- The payment system according to claim 1 , characterized in that, based on a date- interval model sent from the receivables assignment terminal 50, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to select those future receivables records which, in terms of time, are most close to the date information received and to deliver those records to the receivables assignment terminal 50 in an encrypted manner using an end-to-end encryption algorithm that can be decrypted in the receivables assignment terminal 50 and to await for a verification command.

3- The payment system according to claim 2, characterized in that, in response to the verification command sent from the receivables assignment terminal 50, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to match the most fitting future receivables records 26, which are selected according to the date interval and amount, with a second creditor record.

4- The payment system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising an intermediary server 30, which is set up to be in communication with the server apparatus 20 through an encrypted first secure network connection 28 and configured to transmit the future receivables records 26 received from the database 24 to a second database 44, provided on a second server apparatus 44 and comprising unique second receivables information, through a second secure network connection 38. 5- The payment system according to claim 4, characterized by comprising a second electronic control circuit 42, which is disposed on the second server apparatus 40 and, when future receivables records 26 transmitted to the second database 44 are entered into the second database 44, generates a confirmation message, and delivers it to the intermediary server 30 through the second secure network connection 38 or to the server apparatus 20 through the communication network 1 such that it can be read by the receivables assignment terminal 50.

6- The payment system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic control unit 22 is configured to generate a unique identification number to be saved in the database 24 after being matched with a future receivables record 26 selected by the electronic control unit 22 from the database 24 according to one model.

7- The payment system according to claim 6, characterized in that the receivables assignment terminal 50 is configured to transmit to the server apparatus an instruction signal with the unique identification number and an account record number saved on a second database 44 installed on a second server apparatus 40, and in response to the instruction signal, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to transfer the future receivables record 26 corresponding to the unique identification number to the second server apparatus 40. 8- A payment method using a payment system comprising a server apparatus 20, wherein data on a payment with installment as transferred from a POS terminal 10 by means of a communication network 1 is read by at least one electronic control unit 22 and is entered into a database 24 under an account of future receivables records 26 in which the data on payment with installment is matched with a unique first creditor record corresponding to that POS terminal 10, characterized by comprising the procedural steps of entering the data on payment with installment as received from the POS terminal 10 through the communication network 1 into the database 24 in the form of a future receivables record 26 in a first creditor record matching with that POS terminal 10; gaining access to the future receivables record 26 by means of the receivables assignment terminal 50; filtering the future receivables records 26 so as to define a sub- dataset according to a model determined by the assignment terminal 50; matching the filtered sub-dataset by means of the electronic control unit 22 with a unique record number in the database 24; and following a command sent from the receivables assignment terminal 50, matching the unique record number and the set of future receivables records 26 with a second creditor account information in the database 24.

9- The payment method according to claim 8, characterized by comprising the procedural steps of providing an end-to-end encrypted network connection between the server apparatus 20 and the assignment terminal 50; displaying the sub-dataset and future receivables records 26 on the receivables assignment terminal 50; altering the sub-dataset in the receivables record 26 according to a second model determined in the receivables assignment terminal 50; saving the sub-dataset, which is altered by maintaining its unique record number, in the database 24.