U.S. patent application number 11/467441 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for method and apparatus for completing a transaction using a wireless mobile communication channel and another communication channel.
Invention is credited to Michelle Fisher, Rathindra Guha, Stephen Pacheco.
Application Number | 20070156436 11/467441 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38225671 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070156436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fisher; Michelle ; et
al. |
July 5, 2007 |
Method And Apparatus For Completing A Transaction Using A Wireless
Mobile Communication Channel And Another Communication Channel
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
completing a transaction using a wireless mobile communication
channel and another communication channel, particularly another
communication channel that provides for near field radio channels
(NFC), as well as other communication channels, such as Bluetooth
or WIFI. The present invention also provides a method of completing
a transaction in which a management server assists a transaction
server and a point of sale terminal in forwarding transaction
information to a hand-held mobile device, with the transaction
having originated from the hand-held mobile device. There is also
provided a hand-held mobile device that wirelessly communicates
between a secure element and a radio element that are associated
with the hand-held mobile device.
Inventors: |
Fisher; Michelle; (Oakland,
CA) ; Guha; Rathindra; (Alameda, CA) ;
Pacheco; Stephen; (San Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
38225671 |
Appl. No.: |
11/467441 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60766171 |
Dec 31, 2005 |
|
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60766172 |
Dec 31, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/552.1 ;
705/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/401 20130101;
H04W 4/80 20180201; G06Q 20/327 20130101; G06Q 20/387 20130101;
G06Q 20/32 20130101; G06Q 20/3278 20130101; G06Q 20/3226 20130101;
G06Q 20/20 20130101; G06Q 20/202 20130101; G06Q 20/325 20130101;
G06Q 20/425 20130101; G06Q 30/0238 20130101; G06Q 20/204 20130101;
G06Q 20/3227 20130101; G06Q 20/102 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/1 ;
705/40 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 99/00 20060101
G06Q099/00; G06Q 40/00 20060101 G06Q040/00 |
Claims
1. A method for at least one user to complete a transaction using a
hand-held mobile device as part of a system that also includes a
point-of-sale terminal, a transaction server, and a management
server, at least one of the hand-held mobile devices having
associated therewith a visual display, a processor, a secure
memory, a first transceiver adapted to send transaction request
signals and receive transaction response signals over a first
communication channel, and a second radio transceiver adapted to
send outgoing voice and data signals and receive incoming voice and
data signals over a second communication channel that is different
than the first communication channel, the method comprising the
steps of: sending a first transaction request signal from the first
transceiver to any one of a plurality of point-of-sale terminals
using the first communication channel, the transaction request
signal including an identifier stored in the secure memory and that
is associated with the user of the hand-held mobile device, thereby
causing the one point-of-sale terminal to transmit the transaction
request signal to a transaction server that is remote from the
point-of-sale device; receiving from the management server a first
transaction response signal at the second transceiver over the
second communication channel that is different than the first
communication channel, wherein the management server obtains
transaction data from the transaction server, associates the
transaction data with the user, and provides at least some of the
transaction data as the first transaction response signal to the
second transceiver; and displaying at least some of the first
transaction response signal on the visual display associated with
the hand-held mobile device.
2. The method according to claim 1 further including a step of the
transmitting, from the hand-held mobile device directly to another
hand-held mobile device at least a portion of data associated with
the first transaction response signal.
3. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of
receiving a second transaction response signal at the first
transceiver from the transaction server through the point-of-sale
terminal using the first communication channel.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the processor is
implemented as a radio processor coupled to the second transceiver
and a secure processor coupled to the first transceiver, and
wherein the step of sending the first transaction request signal
further causes the step of the secure processor communicating
transaction signals to the radio processor for usage with a
transaction application executed by the radio processor.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the secure processor and
the radio processor are both internally disposed within a body of
the hand-held mobile device and wherein the step of communicating
takes place using an internal wired communication channel.
6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the radio processor is
internally disposed within a body of the hand-held mobile device,
wherein the secure processor is disposed within a slot that exists
on the body of the hand-held mobile device, wherein the step of
communicating takes place using a wired communication channel.
7. The method according to claim 4 wherein the radio processor is
internally disposed within a body of the hand-held mobile device,
wherein the secure processor is external to the body of the
hand-held mobile device, wherein the step of communicating takes
place using a wireless communication channel.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the wireless
communication channel used in the step of communicating is a near
field communication channel.
9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the wireless
communication channel used in the step of communicating is one of a
Bluetooth and WIFI communication channel.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first transaction
request signal is an order and the first transaction responses
signal is a receipt from a credit card transaction.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first transaction
request signal is an order and the first transaction responses
signal is a receipt from one of a debit card and cash card
transaction.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first transaction
request signal is an order and the first transaction responses
signal is a ticket.
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first transaction
request signal is an order and the first transaction responses
signal is a coupon.
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein another hand-held
mobile device is used for a further transaction with another one of
the plurality of point-of-sale terminals, wherein the another
hand-held mobile device having associated therewith another visual
display, another processor, a radio transceiver adapted to send
outgoing voice and data signals and receive incoming voice and data
signals over a communication channel, and a smartcard device
disposed external to a body of the hand-held mobile device, and
further comprising the steps of sending another transaction request
signal from the another hand-held mobile device to another one of
the plurality of conventional point-of-sale terminals, the
transaction request signal including another identifier stored in
the smartcard device and that is associated with another user of
the another hand-held mobile device, thereby causing the another
point-of-sale terminal to transmit the another transaction request
signal to the transaction server that is remote from the another
point-of-sale device; receiving from the management server another
transaction response signal at the radio transceiver over the
communication channel, wherein the management server obtains other
transaction data from the transaction server, associates the other
transaction data with the another user, and provides at least some
of the other transaction data as another transaction response
signal to the radio transceiver; displaying at least some of the
another transaction response signal on the another visual display
associated with the another hand-held mobile device; and wherein
the management server further prepares a report for each of the
user and the another user regarding each of the transactions.
15. A system for assisting a user to complete a transaction, the
system comprising: a hand-held mobile device, the hand-held mobile
device having: a processor; a secure memory coupled to the
processor; a first transceiver coupled to the processor and adapted
to send transaction request signals and receive transaction
response signals over a first communication channel, the
transaction request signals and the transaction response signals
associated with the transaction; a visual display coupled to the
processor; and a second radio transceiver coupled to the processor
and adapted to send outgoing voice and data signals and receive
incoming voice and data signals over a second communication channel
that is different than the first communication channel, the
incoming and outgoing data signals including transaction signals
associated with the transaction; a point-of-sale terminal that
receives one of the transaction request signals and transmits the
one transaction request signal to the transaction server; a
transaction server that receives the one transaction request signal
from the point-of-sale terminal, verifies the transaction, and
forwards a transaction verification signal to the management
server; and a management server that receives the transaction
verification signal, identifies the user corresponding thereto, and
provides as one of the transaction signals a first transaction
response signal to the second radio transceiver.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the processor is
implemented as a radio processor coupled to the second transceiver
and a secure processor coupled to the first transceiver.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the secure
processor and the radio processor are both internally disposed
within a body of the hand-held mobile device and wherein the secure
processor and the radio processor communicate using an internal
wired communication channel.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the radio processor
is internally disposed within a body of the hand-held mobile device
and wherein the secure processor and the radio processor
communicate using an internal wired communication channel.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the secure
processor is disposed within a slot that exists on the body of the
hand-held mobile device and wherein the secure processor and the
radio processor communicate using a wired communication
channel.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the secure
processor is disposed within a slot that exists on the body of the
hand-held mobile device and wherein the secure processor and the
radio processor communicate using a wireless communication
channel.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the wireless
communication channel is one of a Bluetooth and WIFI communication
channel.
22. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the wireless
communication channel is an NFC communication channel.
23. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the radio processor
is internally disposed within a body of the hand-held mobile device
and the secure processor and the radio processor communicate using
a wireless communication channel.
24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the wireless
communication channel is one of a Bluetooth and WIFI communication
channel.
25. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the wireless
communication channel is an NFC communication channel.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This invention is related to, claims priority from and
expressly incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Appln. No.
60/766,171 filed Dec. 31, 2005, entitled "Mobile Credit Card
Account Installer" and U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 60/766,172 filed
Dec. 31, 2005 entitled "Mobile Ticket".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
completing a transaction using a wireless mobile communication
channel and another communication channel, particularly another
communication channel that provides for near field radio channels
(NFC), as well as other communication channels, such as Bluetooth
or WIFI.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Online transactions, such as for purchasing goods or
receiving downloads or tickets, which involve personal computers
and the Internet are well known. Further, mobile wireless
communication devices, such as cell phones, blackberries or other
personal digital assistants are also being used for making
transactions.
[0004] For example, U.S. Patent Application No. US/2003/0172028
provides a description of a personal payment system that utilizes a
wireless enabled device such as a cell phone. As described, this
system interacts using a Bluetooth protocol with a terminal located
nearby.
[0005] In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,945 describes a
system and method that provides an electronic ticket to a smart
card or standard wireless device that is identified with a user's
account.
[0006] Further, wireless mobile devices that include a near field
communication (NFC) device, coupled with some type of transaction
device having a code, such as a smart card that uses an RFID for
identification purposes, allow for debit cards to securely make a
simple transaction, such as purchasing a bus ticket, by simply
waving the wireless mobile device near a reader installed on the
bus, so that the bus fare is deducted from a total amount that is
available stored on the smart card of the wireless mobile device,
or by forwarding the fare to a server that can identify the
identification code of the particular RFID and then subsequently
charge the user.
[0007] While the above exemplary references illustrate that certain
simple transactions are possible and known using mobile wireless
communication devices, one problem associated with them is that
they are not typically useful in a wide range of different areas,
but are tied to a specific platform. For example, NFC devices are
only usable with NFC readers, which are not common at present.
Another problem is that other mobile wireless communication devices
have very limited ability to be used in transactions.
[0008] The present invention attempts to overcome the above and
other problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
completing a transaction using a wireless mobile communication
channel and another communication channel, particularly another
communication channel that provides for near field radio channels
(NFC), as well as other communication channels, such as Bluetooth
or WIFI.
[0010] In one aspect of the invention, the present invention
provides a method of completing a transaction in which a management
server assists a transaction server and a point of sale terminal in
forwarding transaction information to a hand-held mobile device,
with the transaction having originated from the hand-held mobile
device.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
hand-held mobile device that wirelessly communicates between a
secure element and a radio element that are associated with the
hand-held mobile device.
[0012] In still another aspect of the invention there is provided a
hand-held mobile device that has a secure element that is
insertable into a body of the hand-held mobile device, to thereby
allow for wired communication between the secure element and a
radio element of the hand-held mobile device.
[0013] A method according to the invention includes the steps of
sending a first transaction request signal from a first transceiver
to any one of a plurality of conventional point-of-sale terminals
using a first communication channel, the transaction request signal
including an identifier stored in the secure memory and that is
associated with the user of the hand-held mobile device, thereby
causing the one conventional point-of-sale terminal to transmit the
transaction request signal to a transaction server that is remote
from the point-of-sale device;
[0014] receiving from a management server a first transaction
response signal at the second transceiver over a second
communication channel that is different than the first
communication channel, wherein the management server obtains
transaction data from a transaction server, associates the
transaction data with the user, and provides at least some of the
transaction data as the first transaction response signal to the
second transceiver; and
[0015] displaying at least some of the first transaction response
signal on the visual display associated with the hand-held mobile
device.
[0016] In another embodiment is described a system for assisting a
user to complete a transaction. The system comprises a hand-held
mobile device, the hand-held mobile device having: a processor; a
secure memory coupled to the processor; a first transceiver coupled
to the processor and adapted to send transaction request signals
and receive transaction response signals over a first communication
channel, the transaction request signals and the transaction
response signals associated with the transaction; a visual display
coupled to the processor; and a second radio transceiver coupled to
the processor and adapted to send outgoing voice and data signals
and receive incoming voice and data signals over a second
communication channel that is different than the first
communication channel, the incoming and outgoing data signals
including transaction signals associated with the transaction.
Included in the system is also a point-of-sale terminal that
receives one of the transaction request signals and transmits the
one transaction request signal to the transaction server; a
transaction server that receives the one transaction request signal
from the point-of-sale terminal, verifies the transaction, and
forwards a transaction verification signal to the management
server; and a management server that receives the transaction
verification signal, identifies the user corresponding thereto, and
provides as one of the transaction signals a first transaction
response signal to the second radio transceiver.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] These and other aspects and features of the present
invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art upon review of the following description of specific
embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
figures, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview block diagram of the system
according to the present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 2A, 2B1, 2B2A, 2B2B and 2C illustrate mores details
regarding certain of the components illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIGS. 3A-3D provide a flowchart of a preferred embodiment
for conducting a transaction according to the present invention;
and
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a mobile device
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The present invention provides a system and method for
assisting a user to complete a transaction. A preferred embodiment
of the system is illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0023] One feature of the system 100 is the hand-held mobile device
110. The mobile device 100 includes a radio element 120 and a
secure element 130. A display 124 is shown associated with the
radio element 120, and antennas, not labeled, are shown as
associated with each of the radio element 120 and the secure
element 130, although it is noted that the illustration of antenna
can physically be implemented in a manner that is different from
the wireless antenna shown, such as by a stripe is passed along a
reader, or some other transmission mechanism. Although elements 120
and 130 are shown as distinct and separate, and display 124 is
shown as connected to the radio element 120, it will be understood
that other configurations are within the scope of the invention, in
particular, a combination in which a single processor is used to
execute the functions that are currently performed and described
herein as being provided by both the radio element 120 and the
secure element 130, as described further herein. Further as
illustrated in FIG. 1. both the radio element 120 and the secure
element 130 are internal to the mobile device 110 as illustrated,
although in certain embodiments the secure element 130 can be
external to the mobile device 110, as described hereinafter. Also,
various different functionalities can be included within the radio
element 120 and the secure element 130, as also described
hereinafter.
[0024] As an overview, the mobile device 110 has the functionality
to communicate with one of many different a point of sale (POS)
terminals 150-1 to 150-n, preferably in a contactless manner using
some type of wireless protocol, as mentioned hereinafter. It can
also similarly communicate with one of many point of entry (POE)
terminals 190-1 to 190-n.
[0025] The point-of-sale terminal 150 receives one of the
transaction request signals from the mobile device 110 and
transmits the one transaction request signal to the transaction
server 170, typically using a communication channel 160 such as the
internet. The transaction server 170 that receives the one
transaction request signal from the point-of-sale terminal 150
verifies the transaction, and forwards a transaction verification
signal to the management server 180. The management server 180 that
receives the transaction verification signal, identifies the user
corresponding thereto, and provides as one of the transaction
signals, a first transaction response signal back to the mobile
device 110.
[0026] In one embodiment, the first transaction response signal is
communicated back to the mobile device 110 using a communication
channel that is different from the communication channel used to
initiate the transaction, which can have advantages. In another
embodiment, different transaction response signals can be
communicated back to the mobile device 110 using communication
channels from the management server 180 to the radio element 120
associated with the device 110, as well as from the management
server 180 to the secure element 130 through the POS terminal 150
or the POE terminal 190. Further detailed descriptions of these
embodiments will be provided hereinafter.
[0027] FIG. 2A illustrates a preferred embodiment of the radio
element 120 associated with the mobile device 110, and illustrates
the radio element 120 connected to the display 124 of the mobile
device 110. As illustrated, the radio element 120 includes a radio
transceiver 122 that is adapted to send outgoing voice and data
signals and receive incoming voice and data signals over a radio
communication channel. Such a radio communication channel is
preferably a digital radio communication channel, such as CDMA or
GSM. Such a radio communication channel has the capacity to
communicate both voice and data messages using conventional
techniques that need not be described further herein.
[0028] The radio transceiver 122 communicates with a radio
processor 123, which processor has the capability to perform not
only the radio communication services necessary to allow for phone
and data communications, but can also execute various programs that
are stored in the memory 126, which programs can receive inputs
from the user via the display 124 and/or a keypad 125 associated
with the mobile device 110.
[0029] Application programs running on the radio processor 123 are
commonly BREW or J2ME applications and can encompass a broad array
of application types. For example, current applications include
games, enterprise applications, and multimedia applications. While
all such applications can be used with the present invention, or
particular significance with the present invention are
applications, as described further herein, that provide movie &
event information applications that provide for ticket, content,
item and service purchases and payment management (wallet)
applications.
[0030] The radio processor 123 also has the capability of
recognizing secure communications, and transmits data which must be
stored in a secure environment to the secure element driver 128,
for transmission to the secure element 130, where, in this
preferred embodiment, with both the radio element 120 and the
secure element 130 being internal to the mobile device 110, such
communicating takes place using an internal wired communication
channel. The radio processor 123 also has the capability of
receiving data from the secure element 130, in the same manner
using the internal wired communication channel in this preferred
embodiment as described. In a preferred embodiment the secure
element 130 and the radio element 120 communicate using signals
described in the Java Card 2.1 Platform API Specification.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment, both the radio element 120 and
the secure element 130 are both disposed internally within a body
of the mobile device 110. In a variant implementation, illustrated
in FIG. 4, the mobile device 110 contain a slot 400, which allows
for the insertion of a secure element 130 into the slot 400 and
thus the physical insertion, mechanical and electrical connection
as needed. In this configuration, the secure element can be
purchased independently of the mobile device 110. The secure
element 130 can also be disposed into a slot 400 that only provides
for physical insertion and mechanical connection to the body of the
mobile device 110, and can then preferably include a transceiver
that allows for the communication with the radio element 130 using
a wireless local communication channel.
[0032] The radio element 120 also is illustrated as optionally
including another transceiver 129, such as a Bluetooth or WIFI
transceiver, which can transmit and receive signals with an
external device and then communicate signals to and from the radio
processor 123. This additional communication channel allows for
communications between other external devices, such as an external
Bluetooth enabled smartcard, and provides an additional
communication channel that is useful for certain transactions, as
described further herein.
[0033] FIG. 2B1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the secure
element 130 associated with the mobile device 110, the secure
element 130 being commonly known as a smart card. As illustrated,
the secure element 130 has a secure processor 132, a secure memory
133 and a POS transceiver 134 adapted to send transaction request
signals and receive transaction response signals over a first
communication channel. The secure processor 132 communicates via
the secure element driver 128 with the radio processor 123, using,
as mentioned above, signals described in the Java Card 2.1 Platform
API Specification. The transaction request signals and the
transaction response signals associated with the transaction
preferably include identification code associated with the user, as
well as information relative to the transaction, such as item,
quantity, vendor, as is known. The POS transceiver 134 is
preferably an NFC device of some type, which uses an NFC modem,
although it can also be a Bluetooth, WIFI or other transceiver. In
the case of the implementation of the POS transceiver being an NFC
modem, such an NFC modem will typically have a set of registers
that can be read/written by the secure processor 132. These
registers are in turn available for reading and writing over the
RFID communications channel and serve as a sort of shared memory
between the secure processor 123 within the secure element 130 and
the RFID reader that is associated with the POS terminal 150. This
communication is specified, for example, in the ISO 14443A/B
standard.
[0034] Illustrated in an alternative embodiment is the inclusion of
a radio/Bluetooth/WIFI transceiver 136, which can communicate with
other devices, such as a transceiver associated with the radio
processor 120 or for other external devices having those
communication capabilities, thus allowing for more flexibility.
[0035] FIG. 2B2A shows a modified secure element 130, in which the
radio element 120 does not communicate with the secure element
through a secure element driver 128 of some type. In this case, for
example, the secure element 130 may be external to the mobile
device 110 and as such is not connected to the radio element
through the secure element driver 128. In such an implementation,
however, if the transceiver 136 as described above is included, and
a similar transceiver 129 associated with the radio element 130 as
described previously with respect to FIG. 2A is included, then this
communication channel can be used to wirelessly obtain direct
communications between the radio element 120 and the secure element
130.
[0036] This implementation allows for certain bidirectional
communications with other devices, as well as with the radio
element 120, and as such more functionality and flexibility is
achieved. This implementation is particularly useful since it
establishes a direct local communication path with the radio
element 120, since there is not communications with the radio
element 120 via the path of driver 128.
[0037] If either of the transceivers 129 or 136 are not associated
with the respective radio element 120 or secure element 130, and
there is no direct connection between the radio element 120 an the
secure element 130, then a direct communication link between the
radio element 120 an the secure element 130 will not exist. As
such, while ticketing and many transactions can still exist, data
from a real-time transaction performed using the secure element 130
cannot be made directly available to the radio processor and the
applications stored thereon, which can prevent, for example,
certain redundancy checks to occur, such as a ticketing application
in which, after the ticket order has been placed, the ticketing
application in the memory 126 associated with the radio element 130
can be programmed to provide an alert if the ticket receipt, via
the management server 180, has not been received within a certain
period of time. Such an alert would not be possible to program
directly (although it could be programmed indirectly via the button
panel on the phone, though such an implementation requires extra
user intervention, which, if possible, one attempts to avoid in
transactions such as this.
[0038] FIG. 2B2B shows a modified secure element 130'', in which
the secure element does not include a processor that is capable of
bidirectional communications, but instead is a passive device 138',
such as an RFID sticker or some other tag, that allows for a user
identification, such that a transaction that is initiated with the
passive device 138' will cause the management server 180 to perform
the transaction details. In this implementation, the code received
from the POS terminal 150 or the POE terminal 190 is transmitted
from the POS terminal 150 or the POE terminal 190 to the management
server 190, which then takes over the transaction. This passive
device 138', with the identification code stored thereon, can thus
be associated with a mobile device 110 not otherwise equipped for
such communications, and the management server 190 can provide
transactional information to the mobile device 110 using available
channels on the mobile device (such as audio, sms or other known
data transmission methods). While bidirectional communications do
not occur with other devices, transactions are possible, because
the management server 190 is involved.
[0039] The point of sale terminal 150 illustrated in FIG. 3C is
conventional, in that it has the capability of electronically
reading information from a device equipped to transmit information
in a format that it reads. Thus, the reader 152 within the point of
sale terminal 150 can be of one or many types. If the point of sale
terminal reader 152 includes the provision for NFC communications,
then simply bringing the secure element 130 with the NFC
transceiver will cause initiation of a transaction and the
transmission of the identification code associated with the secure
element 130 and thus the user.
[0040] For the embodiments described above, various software that
is downloaded into the memory 126 of the radio element 120 and the
secure memory 132 of the secure element 130, along with software
resident on the management server 180, will cooperate at a layer
that is above the physical layer of the communications, in order
for the desired transaction to occur. This software is implemented
using based upon known knowledge of mobile device 110 internals and
application platforms, NFC, smartcard internals and application
platforms, payment protocols (e.g. PayPass), and the
working/workflow associated with POS and POE terminals, and the
transaction and management servers. In addition, the present
invention provides for piggybacking a tunneling protocol on top of
the payment protocol, so that the secure elements 130 can
communicate with the transaction server 170 and/or the management
server 180, without modification to the POS terminal 150 or the POE
terminal 190. As such, this includes software within the secure
element 130 that embeds the required information in fields which
will not adversely affect the performance of the POS terminal 150
and/or the POE terminal 190, and also software in transaction
server 170 that will extract the piggybacked payload, associate the
payload with the management server 180 if needed, and then
authenticate, authorize, and execute transfers of transaction
information to the management server 180.
[0041] In another embodiment, the piggybacked payload is sent,
instead of to the transaction server 170, to the management server
180, which can then associate the transaction and notify the
transaction server 170, the POS terminal 150 and/or the POE
terminal as needed.
[0042] Another significant aspect of the present invention is that
the management server 180 has the capability of storing codes that
are from a variety of different mobile devices. Thus, codes that
are associated with a smart card having an RFID can be stored, as
can be codes stored from an RFID sticker, as well as codes that are
associated with a smart card that communicates using a slide
reader, Bluetooth, or an NFC channel, for example. As such, the
management server 180 can store user personal and credit and
transactional information and history, including a code associated
with the user, for a variety of different mobile devices, thereby
allowing a system which can scale.
[0043] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a flowchart of the present invention,
and the various steps that are included in a particular
transaction, with reference to which of the various devices are
implementing this step. As the flowchart is self-explanatory, a
further discussion is not provided herein.
[0044] The present invention, as described previously, allows for
various different programs to exist within the memory 126 of the
radio element 120, as well as in the secure memory 132 of the
secure element 130, as mentioned above.
[0045] The present invention can also be interfaced with certain
known and implanted payment protocols, such as Paypass. For
implementing these additional payment protocols, implementation of
streaming communication protocols (in the full NFC case), protocols
for session setup, and configuration of communications modules and
secure data areas as needed is necessary, taking into account the
communication protocol used (e.g. NFC, Bluetooth, WIFI, CDMA,
3.sup.rd Generation CDMA for example) as well as file transfer
protocols and facilities access protocols. In particular, in
implementing such protocols, it is preferable to provide for the
ability to extract transaction information from the POS terminal
150 to the secure element 130 during the course of the local
interaction between the POS terminal 150 and the secure element
130. For instance, the implementation of PayPass within the
invention will take note, and alert the application running on the
radio processor 123 that a purchase or purchase attempt has
occurred, as noted above in the context of the alert discussion. It
is also preferable to provide the ability to augment the
information passed via the PayPass protocol to the POS terminal 150
and thence to the transaction server 170 with additional fields
containing the elements of the tunneling protocol, for subsequent
processing by the transaction server 170, either directly, or
through the management server 180, as described above.
[0046] The two transaction workflows that have been specifically
discussed above are the credit card and ticketing workflows. Other
transaction flows are also intended within the scope of the
invention. Debit card and cash card transactions are similar to
credit card transactions, with variations being implemented to
account for the differences that exist in those types of
transactions, which types of transactions are well understood.
Coupons can be implemented with the invention, in much the same
manner as tickets, though coupons can be transmitted without there
being payment.
[0047] Many of the transaction types noted herein will, as is
apparent, require communication between the secure element 130 and
the radio element 120. As such, due to that requirement, a
significant part of the preceding discussion has been directed to
how to implement that communication, particularly for mobile
devices 110 that are not manufactured to allow for such
communications.
[0048] An example of a typical transaction requiring such
communication between the secure element 130 and the radio element
120 is one in which the POS terminal 150 allows for the transfer of
detailed purchase information from the POS terminal 150 to the
secure element 130, as well as transactional information from the
POS terminal 150 and/or the transaction server 170 to the
management server 180. The management server 180 can then also
communicate with the radio element 120 via the radio channel. This
allows for the matching and reconciliation of detailed purchase
information and, if the transaction fails, failure details can be
matched to the purchase information, and forwarded in real-time to
the user via the radio element 120.
[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, there is included
the provision for different phones to communicate the results of a
transaction, particularly using the POS transceiver or one of the
Bluetooth/Wifi transceivers. In this embodiment, after a
transaction has been completed with one of the mobile devices 110a,
another mobile device 110b can receive information regarding the
transaction completed. Thus, for instance, if mobile device 110a
purchases two tickets, one of the tickets can be transmitted to the
mobile device 11b by each using a POS transceiver or one of the
Bluetooth/Wifi transceivers.
[0050] Although the present invention has been particularly
described with reference to embodiments thereof, it should be
readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various
changes, modifications and substitutes are intended within the form
and details thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that in numerous
instances some features of the invention will be employed without a
corresponding use of other features. Further, those skilled in the
art will understand that variations can be made in the number and
arrangement of components illustrated in the above figures. It is
intended that the scope of the appended claims include such changes
and modifications.
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