Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
_ CA 02361489 2001-08-02
PCT/~p~o/ Oo ~ ~2
Method of effecting cashless payments and
a system for implementing the method
This invention relates to a method of effecting cashless payments.and a system
for
implementing the method. .
Cashless payment commerce has increased greatly in recent years for various
reasons.
Among these, purchases no longer have to carry large amounts of cash with
them, in order to be
able to make big purchases, so that for one thing the risk of theft is reduced
arid for the other
impulse purchases become possible. For the vendor, the handling of large cash
sums is obviated.
The simplest means of payment of this kind, the check, is however not very
secure, since
checks are easily stolen and can be used improperly for example after forging
the signature.
Moreover their use is troublesome for the purchaser and the merchant.
Accordingly, among other things, credit cards have been introduced, with which
the card-
holder having a valid credit card can "pay" through his signature in
combination with the number
of the credit card, or often with only the number. The risk of misuse is high
here also, since no .
strong security mechanisms are included. In addition to the signature, an
authorization center is
often called up by the merchant, so that he can ascertain whether or not the
card is stopped.
On account of the high fees and the fact that a credit card holder must always
have been
granted a certain amount of credit, smart cards, which at present are also
sometimes called cash
cards, have been developed. Encryption technology is used in these chip cards,
in order to be able
to store amounts of money in the card so that the card. can only be charged up
by authorised
institutions. In order to pay out larger amounts, a PIN is provided, which is
checked directly from
the chip card on payment. This kind of payment requires a not inconsiderable
outlay, since a
network of charging stations has to be set up. Moreover the merchants have to
acquire
corresponding reading stations.
In patent application WO 98/47116 there is described a method of effecting
payments by
a customer to a merchant by means of telecommunication devices, as well as
corresponding
apparatus for implementing the method. In this method the customer firstly
establishes a m.,obile
cell phone connection to a so-called tele-pay device through a cel I phone.
This-device then calls
over the established connection for a merchant identification code and an
amount to pay. The tele-
pay device stores this transaction data in the interim and sends requests for
confirmation to the
customer and to the merchant - after setting up a suitable communication link
and transmission of
a transaction code specific to this transaction and the amount to be
confirmed. After reception of
confirmation the amount is transferred from a bank specified by a customer
entry to a data-bank of
the tefe-pay device to a bank specified by a merchant input, or the first bank
is instructed to effect
the transfer. For security the geographic position of the mobile cell phone is
determined either by
CA 02361489 2001-08-02
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determination of the radio cell in which the telephone is located, or by GPS
and compared with a
Iist or allowed locations. This method is in the first place technically
complex in relation to the
determination of location and secondly the customer has to provide a
comparatively large amount
of information over the cell phone, which can be tedious and prone.to error on
account of the
mostly small keys and display. Moreover no further data regarding the
transaction;, e.g. the purpose
of the payment or the like, can be entered simply.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method which is
simple,
especially for the customer, but secure, for cashless payment, especially at
different locations, and
a system for implementing the method. As to the customer, the progressing of
the transaction is to
be effected by means of a simple confirmation, e.g. by PIN entry, without
complex information
entry or other operating steps being required. In addition as little new
infrastructure as possible
(hardware or software) is to be required both on the merchant side and on the
customer side and in
the most favorable case the present day equipment with point-of sale terminal
devices should
suffice.
This object is met by a method with the features of claim I, which can be
implemented by
a system with the features of claim 18.
In contrast to the use of credit cards, it is not possible for the merchant to
use for later
transactions the data exchanged during the connection because of the required
mobile cell phone
connection of limited duration and the entry of the confirmation during this
time.
Furthermore it is possible to effect the payment by use of the comparing
device, without the
data relevant to security of the customer reaching the merchant. To this
extent the method allows
anonymous payment.
Furthermore purchasers who already have a mobile cell phone with a SIM card
can perform
the method very simply and cheaply. A particular advantage of the method lies
in that mobile cell
phones with 5IM cards are already very widespread, so that a large user base
can pay by the method
according to the invention without further investment or PINS to be
remembered.
In addition the merchant station is technically very simple, since in the
simplest case an
electronic till with an online payment facility is sufficient on the merchant
side for carrying out the
invention. Likewise computers with modems and suitable software for example
can serve as if~erchant
stations. Furthermore a second mobile cell phone is suitable as a simple
merchant station. Thus a
simple and secure cashless payment is possible.
Moreover, although there is frequently spatial proximity between the merchant
station and the
mobile cell phone this is not necessary.
Furthermore, the customer no longer has to enter the amount to be paid
himself. The method
according to the invention has this advantage over the method according to
W0/47116, since the price
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of goods is as a rule acquired today at the till automatically from the price
ticket or using a barcode
or other characterization read by a reader connected to the till, so that
repeated acquisition of the
purchase price can be avoided.
The object is further met by a method and a system for implementing the method
with the
features according to claims 3 and 19 respectively.
Except for the advantage of anonymous payment, the second method has the same
advantages
as the first method; moreover there is the advantage that the entries by the
mobile cell phone user are
minimal, since he is called.
However, in contrast to the first method, the identification code associated
with the SIM card
I 0 does get to the merchant.
The object is further met by a method and a system for implementing the method
with the
features according to claims 6 and 20 respectively.
- The expression "interface for wireless data transmission" also embraces, as
it does generally
in this application, also corresponding devices for processing data, i.e.
reading out of a memory and
transmission or reception and writing into a memory. Special software adapted
to the merchant station
or the mobile cell phone can be included in this. The wireless transmission
can be effected by various
media, e.g. light in the infrared or visible region, micro or radio waves or
even ultrasound. When using
micro or radio waves "BLUETOOTH" is especially preferred as the interface.
Practically non-
directional transmission is then possible, requiring no visible contact
between the mobile cell phone
of the customer and the merchant station. When'using light, an IrDA or AIr
interface is .preferred as
the interface, where the transmission is effected by infrared radiation in a
restricted spatial angular
range using a specific protocol, which on the one hand reduces interference
and on the other reduces
the scope for manipulation.
As well as the advantages of the first method, the advantage of this method is
that the
manufacturer does not need to learn any kind of data from the purchaser while
at the same time the
purchaser does not have to enter the data of the merchant himself.
In the first and second methods it can be necessary to read in the
identification code of the
comparing device in the first step. However the identification code of the
comparing device can be
stored, so that when only one comparing device is involved, a connection is
made to this automatically
on the basis of the stored identification code, or - when several comparing
devices are involved - it is
only necessary to select one from among those stored.
Preferred embodiments of the method and. of the system for implementing the
method are
characterized in the dependent claims 2, 4, 5, 7-17 and 21 and 22.
Cell phones are to be understood in this applications as including
combinations ofcell phones
with other electronic apparatuses, such as electronic notebooks or generally
terminal devices in a
CA 02361489 2001-08-02
mobile radio network with a telephone component. However an essential feature
is that the apparatus
can only be operated using a SIM card, which is preferably protected by a PIN.
SIM cards are to be
understood generally as so-called system or subscriber identification module
cards, on which are
stored the data necessary for a cell phone connection, especially the details
identifying the terminal
and which are to be entered in the cell phone in order to be able to operate
it in the con esponding
network. This preferably involves apparatuses according to the GSM standard
but other standards can
also be used, which employ encrypted transmission of data and protection of
the mobile cell phone
access through data stored in the form of a SIM card for example and
preferably further using access
control through a PIN. In general in this application by a mobile cell phone
with a SIM card
I O characterized by an identification code denoting it are further understood
such mobile radio terminal
apparatuses which comprise fixed, built-in components with the abovementioned
function of a SIM
card, i.e. in which the details needed for a cell phone connections are
stored, especially the data
- identifying the terminal.
In the simplest case the identification code associated with or identifying
the SIM card can
comprise the telephone number of the cell phone. In a further embodiment
however another
identification code determined by the user of the telephone can be used, e.g,
identification code of the
network operator and a unique identification code in the domain of the network
operator such as the
account number with the network operator.
Especially in the first and third methods, identification codes are preferred
in each case which
are stored in the SIM card and are automatically transmitted. Confirmations or
establishment of a
connection in the third embodiment can then only be effected over a connection
made to this SIM
card, which substantially increases the security, since in the first place
passwords alone are very easily
misused and in the second place using the ideritification code without the SIM
card is not readily
possible because of the automatic call for or transmission of an
identification code stored in the SIM
card, and SIM cards with their content are not easy to forge. By using a
mobile cell phone with such
a S1M card only the holder of the SIM card can provide the confirmation for
the payment from an
account associated with the SIM card. Further security fies.on that mobile
cell phones with a SIM card
are usually protected by a P1N stored on the SIM card, which is to be entered
when initiating use.
Since mobile radio connections cannot be intercepted, or only with very great
difficulty,
manipulation of the radio connection is more or less ruled out.
The data which is to be output can equally be effected by speech output or in
the form of
graphical or text communications, which can for example be shown on the
display of the cell phone,
The comparing device must transmit the data in a suitable form to the cell
phone for this.
Data, especially the confirmation information, can be entered in the cell
phone by speech, for
which the comparing.device must have a speech recognition device, or the form
ofkey presses, which
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are decoded differently. Thus the information can also be entered by the multi-
frequency tone (touch
tone) method or by SMS service through keys of the mobile cell phone.
The display of the information and the input of data can in particular be menu-
controlled, if
the comparing device and the mobile cell phone are adapted for this.
Preferably also for graphically
presented menus use can be made of for example WAP (wireless applications
protocol), also the HTT
or XC protocol (where no connection is made to the Internet however).
In addition it is possible to combine the confirmation information with
further security queries,
such as for example passwords, PIN's, a Secure ID card, biometric tests such
as finger print tests,
speech or speaker recognition or other security devices.
The merchant station comprises an input and an output device as well as an
interface for
connection to comparing devices and is identified by an identification code.
For the data connections
to the comparing devices pure data links can be used but any other suitable
kind of
- telecommunications connection can also be used. The interfaces are then
designed accordingly. In
particular the merchant station can be a station which can make mobile cell
phone connections and
I 5 in the simplest case it is also simply a mobile cell phone.
Instead of transmitting the identification code of the merchant station, it is
also possible in a
preferred embodiment to transmit the name and location of the merchant station
to the cell phone and
to output it there, after reading out the name and location of the merchant
station on the basis of the
merchant station identification code from a table stored in the comparing
device.
In the first and second methods the connection of the merchant station to the
comparing device
can be permanent or be made before or only after input of the appropriate
information. This step is
then considered to be part of the first transmission step from the merchant
station to the comparing
device. In the latter case the connection between the comparing device and
merchant station is broken
again after transmission of the confirmation information, which is considered
as part of the
transmission step to the merchant apparatus.
If no connection to the cell phone is made in the first or second solution,
the transaction is
broken off. In this case a suitable code is preferably sent to the merchant
station, where a
corresponding message is issued.
In a preferred embodiment of the first or second methodahe merchant can also
easily transmit
the reason for the transaction or supplementary information therewith to the
comparing device. In
particular, when articles are recognized by article references in conjunction
with an article data bank,
e.g. through article numbers and/or corresponding barcodes, the merchant can
very easily transm it this
data together with the amount to be paid to the comparing device, which this
then passes on to the
customer. This would not be readily possible in a method such as in W0198471
16, which starts out
from a cell phone.
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In a preferred embodiment of the first and second methods and the
corresponding systems, the
cell phone and the merchant station have interfaces through which
identification codes can be
transmitted from one apparatus to the other by wireless means. Instead of
input of the identification
codes the corresponding identification code can be transmitted by the
interface from one apparatus
to the other, at the latest in the step in which otherwise an identification
code would be entered
manually. In the case of the first method the merchant can transmit through
this interface not only his
identification code but also further supplementary information on the
transaction to the cell phone,
so that the customer does not have to make any further inputs, i.e. merchant
identification code,
amount, etc.
. The interfaces for the wireless data transmission can be of analog form as
in the third method,
only the processing of the data being suitably modified.
The 1R interface in the cell phone is so designed that the identification code
of the SIM card
can be output through the interface by a key-press on the phone andlor an
identification code can be
read in through the IR interface, stored and can be sent during an existing
telephone connection on a
key-press, if desired together with the identification code of the SIM card.
Corresponding memory and
calling functions are preferably also present in the merchant station.
In a particularly preferred- embodiment of the third method and of the system
adapted to
implement it, the merchant station and cell phone are so designed that both
the identification code of
the merchant station and also further information, especially the amount of
money, are transmitted
from the merchant station to the cell phone by the wireless connection,
especially an IR connection,
and can be stored there temporarily. Furthermore the cell phone is so designed
that the stored data can
be accessed and transmitted while the connection exists. In the third method
only the identification
code of the SIM card then needs to be entered.
The comparing device includes interface devices for data connections to the
merchant stations
and also for mobile radio links as well as further merchant and subscriber
checking devices for
checking the identification codes from merchant stations and SIM cards
authorised for this service,
a transaction memory device for storing open transactions, a connection to an
account keeping device
and a control device which oversees all processing steps and the control over
the individual.devices.
The comparing device also has an identification code identifying it, in the
simplest case a
telephone number or an IP address.
The interface devices involve devices through which a connection to a
corresponding
subscriber can be made and operated. Depending on the network employed they
can be simple analog
operating modulator/demodulators, but with digital networks however other,
digitally operating
interface devices are used.
The comparing device comprises subscriber and.merchant checking devices, with
the aid of
CA 02361489 2001-08-02
which it is possible to check whether a subscriber or a merchant station is
authorised for the method.
This can involve subscriber or merchant memory devices, in which are stored at
least the identification
codes of the SIM cards and the merchant stations authorised for this service.
In the simplest case these
can be simple files or data banks in which further information associated with
an identification code
can also be stored.
1n a preferred embodiment the identification code of a SIM card and the
account number for
the account keeping device associated therewith is stored in each case in the
subscriber memory
device. If the identification code of the SIM card is not its telephone
number, this is also stored with
the identification code. The control device then transmits to the account
keeping device not the
I 0 identification code of the SIM card but the account number corresponding
to the identification code,
on the basis of the information in the subscriber memory device.
Correspondingly the identification code of a merchant station and the account
number
- associated therewith for the account keeping device can be stored in the
merchant memory device. The
control device then transmits to the account keeping device not the
identification code of the merchant
I S station but account identifying data corresponding to the identification
code, in Germany for example
the account number and bank code number, on the basis of the information in
the merchant memory
device. This applies correspondingly to the subscriber memory device.
The account keeping device can be integrated with the comparing device in a
preferred
embodiment, which allows a compact construction and very rapid processing of
the transaction data
20 with little interference.
As to the transaction data, in the method this involves the amount of money
and the merchant
station identification code for example, and in the second and third methods
the subscriber
identi .fication code as well.
In a further preferred embodiment of the first method or the system for
implementing the first
25 method, an open trarASaction is stored only for a certain time. If there is
no confirmation within this
time, the open transaction is cancelled and the merchant station involved in
this open transaction is
informed that the transaction has been abandoned. Thus closeness in time of
the individual
connections is necessary, as a further security measure.
In a further preferred embodiment the cell phone network and the comparing
device are so
30 designed that the comparing device can determine the telephone number of
the SIM card of the cal ling
mobile cell phone and its telephone number is used as an identification code
for the SIM card, In this
case the entry ofthe identification code ofthe SIM card in the mobile cell
phone in the various variant
methods can be dispensed with and instead the telephone number of the SIM card
is always
determined in the comparing device. At the same time, in the first and third
methods, this then ensures
35 that only the holder of the SIM card can confirm the transaction.
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The comparing device is preferably so designed that manual intervention by
operator
personnel is possible to deal with method errors.
The merchant station and the comparing device are preferably so designed that
they can
perform several of the various method variants.
As well as tire arrangement described above the necessary data or telephone
communication
networks must also be present, in order to be able to carry out the method. In
this sense they are also
components of the system for implementing the method.
The methods according to.the invention can also be used to particular
advantage~~to effect
payments over the Internet, since spatial proximity between the cell phone and
the merchant device
does not have to exist - or in this case the computer used for the Internet
connection is to be regarded
as part of the merchant device.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a system accordingto one embodiment
ofthe invention,
Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a merchant station of the system
according to Fig. l,
Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the comparing device in Fig. l,
Figs. 4a and 4b show a greatly simplified schematic representation of a method
according to
one embodiment of the first method according to the invention,
Figs. 5a and Sb show a greatly simplified schematic representation of a method
according to
one embodiment of the second method according to the invention, and
Fig. 6 shows a greatly simplified schematic representation of a method
according to one
embodiment of the third method according to the invention.
In Fig. 1 a system according to a first embodiment of the invention includes a
mobile cell ,
phone 2 with a SIM card and an IR interface, a merchant station 1 with an IR
interface and a
comparing device 3. The identification code of the mobile cell phone can be
transmitted from the
phone to the merchant station via an IR link between their IR interfaces.
The comparing device 3 can be connected to the mobile cell phone.2 through a
mobile radio
fink and to the merchant station I through a data link.
The three devices, merchant station I, comparing device 3 and~mobile cell
phone 2, or more
precisely the SIM.card therein, have identification codes identifying them,
which are in the present
embodiment the telephone numbers ofthe merchant station, the comparing device
and the mobile cell
phone. However IP addresses for example could be used instead of the telephone
numbers.
The mobile cell phone 2 includes a SIM card for a given telephgne network, -
as is known per
se and usual - which has to be activated by input of a PIN, as well as an IR
interface well known per
se for data interchange. It is so therefore arranged that it can transmit the
data transmitted and stored
through the IR interface, on a request therefor during an existing telephone
connection. It is activated
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to implement the method in the corresponding mobile radio network.
In Fig. 2 the merchant station 2 comprises an input device 5, e.g. a keyboard,
an output device
4, e.g. a display device such as a monitor for example, and an infrared
interface b, which is so
designed that a data exchange with the cell phone is possible through it, as
well as an interface 8 for
a data link. A control device 7 is connected to the other devices and
processes the inputs, issues data
to be displayed to the output device 4 and receives or transmits data over the
IR interface 6 and/or the
data interface 8 in dependence on inputs from the input device 5 or the other
interfaces.
The comparing device 3 in Fig. 3 includes and interface device 9 for data
connections to
merchant stations and an interface device 14 for mobile radio links, a
transaction data memory 10 for
temporary storage of transaction data, a merchant checking device in the form
of a merchant memory
device 11 for storing merchant identification codes and corresponding account
numbers, a subscriber
checking device in the form of a subscriber memory device 12 for storing
subscriber identification
- codes and corresponding account numbers, a connection to an account keeping
device 15, and a
control device 13 for processing and exchanging data ofthe abovementioned
devices of the comparing
device. In the simplest case this can be a PC or other computer with suitable
telecommunications
interface cards and corresponding software.
The control devices 7 and 13 of the merchant station and the comparing device
respectively
are so designed that they perfann the steps of the payment process. Different
forms of the control
device arise, depending on the method.
The course of a payment transaction according to an embodiment of the first
method is shown
in the following.
Figs. 4a and 4b show a rough summary of the course of the method in tabular
form, wherein
the sequentially following method steps in the individual system components of
mobile cell phone 2,
comparing device 3 and merchant station 1 are shown one below the other in
corresponding columns.
In essence an amount of money and a merchant identification code are
transmitted .from the
merchant station 1 to the comparing device 3 and stored there in the interim
after checking the
merchant identification code. The merchant identification code is read in from
the mobile cell phone
2, before or after making a connection to the comparing device 3, depending on
the design of the cell
phone; this can also be effected by speech input and this code is transmitted
together with the
identification code ofthe SIM card to the comparing device, where the
identification code ofthe SIM
card is checked. By comparing the merchant station identification code with
those in the temporarily
stored data the amount of money to be transferred is determined, sent to the
mobile cell phone 2 and
output there. After input of confirmation information this is transmitted to
the comparing device 3,
which sends the data to the merchant station 1 and transmits the data to an
account keeping device I S
in dependence on the confirmation information.
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In detail the method according to this embodiment proceeds as follows:
Initial ly an amount of money to be paged and the identification code for the
comparing device
3 are entered into the merchant station 1 through the input device S,
whereupon the identification code
for the merchant station 1 and the amount of money are transmitted as
transaction data to the
comparing device 3 with this identification code, by means of the controller
7, after making a data
connection to the comparing device 3 through the data connection interface 8
and the data connection.
The data are received in the comparing device 3 through the interface 9 for
the data
connection.
After comparing the merchant identification code with the merchant
identification codes
entered in the merchant memory 11 to check the legitimacy of this merchant
station for the service,
the transaction data is written by the control device 13 in the transaction
data memory device 10 of
the comparing device, as an open transaction. Before input of the data to the
merchant station I or at
the latest after making the connection to the comparing device 3, the
identification code, i.e. the
telephone number of the merchant station is transmitted through the infrared
interface 6 to the cell
phone 2. A connection is made from the mobile cell phone 2 to the comparing
device 3 and the stored
identification code of the merchant station 1 and the identification code of
the cell phone are
transmitted to the comparing device 3. Should the transmission over the
infrared interfaces temporarily
fail to function, the identification code can also be entered through the
keypad. This input can thus
also be effected when using a cell phone without an IR interface.
The merchant station identification codetransmitted from the mobile cell phone
2 is compared
in the comparing device 3 with the merchant, identification codes of the open
transactions stored in
' w the transaction data memory device I 0. If such a transaction is not found
the. process is terminated,
otherwise the transaction data which is located is transmitted via the mobile
radio interface to the
mobile. cell phone and is output there. Furthermore the identification code of
the mobile cell phone
is compared with the subscriber identification codes entered in the subscriber
memory 12, in order to
determine whether the subscriber is permitted to use the service. If such
permission does not exist the
transaction is terminated and corresponding data are sent to the merchant
station 1.
After a request for and entry of confirmation information through the keyboard
of the mobile
cell phone 2, the confirmation data are transmitted to the comparing device 3,
which in turn transmits
the confirmation information to the merchant station 1, where it is output.
A check is made in the control device 13 of the comparing device 3 as to
whether the
confirmation data correspond to a refusal or not. In the first case the
transaction is terminated, in the
second case the transaction data are read out of the transaction data memory
10, the identification
codes of the merchant station and of the mobi le cel I phone are converted
into account numbers on the
basis of the data in the merchant and transaction data memories and the
transaction data now with
CA 02361489 2001-08-02
account number is passed to an account keeping device 15. The transaction is
cleared from the
transaction data memory 10.
A constant check is made in the comparing device 3 as to how long open
transactions persist
in the transaction data memory 10. If a predetermined time limit for an open
transaction is exceeded,
data is sent to the corresponding merchant station I, to show that the
transaction has been denied and
the open transaction is cleared from the transaction data memory 10.
The course of a payment transaction according to an embodiment of the second
method is
shown in tabular form in Figs. 5a and Sb, as a rough summary, wherein the
sequential method steps
in the individual system components of mobile cell phone, comparing device and
merchant station are
set out under one another in corresponding columns.
In essence the amount of money and the identification code of the merchant
station 1 are read
in, also the identification code of the SIM card via an IR interface 6, and
transmitted to the comparing
device 3. After checking the merchant identification code and the
identification code of the SI:M card,
this produces a connection to the cell phone 2 on the basis of the
identification code of the SIM card
and transmits the data, which are output from the cell phone 2. After entry of
confirmation information
and transmission to the comparing device 3 the confirmation information is
transmitted to the
merchant station 1 and the transaction data to the account keeping device 15.
In detail, the method according to this embodiment proceeds as follows:
As to the corresponding devices for performing the method, the schematic
showings in Figs.
I to 3 apply again, however the, control devices 7 and 13 corresponding to the
modified method have
a different mode of operation.
At the merchant station 1 the amount of money to be paid, the identification
code for the
comparing device 3 and the identification code ofthe mobile cell phone 2,
entered through the infrared
interface.6, are read into the merchant station. After making the data link to
the comparing device 3
the identification code of the merchant station, the identification code of
the mobile cell phone and
the amount of money.are transmitted as transaction data to the comparing
device.
The data is received in the comparing device through the interface 9 for data
links. The
identification codes of the merchant station and of the SIM card are compared
with the identification
codes in the merchant memory 11 and subscriber memory 12 respectively, in
order to determine
whether the merchant and subscriber are authorised to participate in this
service. In the absence of
either of the.authorizations corresponding data is sent to the merchant
station 1 and the transaction is
terminated. Otherwise the data of the open transaction is written in the
transaction data memory 10.
On the basis of the identification code of the SIM card a connection is made
from the. comparing
device to the mobile cell phone 2 and the transaction data is transmitted to
the mobile cell phone,
where the data is output through the mobile cell phone. If no connection can
be made the transaction
CA 02361489 2001-08-02
_12_
is terminated.
Confirmation information is requested through -the mobile cell phone 2 and the
confirmation
data which is entered is transmitted to the comparing device 3.
The comparing device 3 terminates the transaction if the confirmation data
corresponds to a
refusal or there is no reply,
The confirmation information and optionally furthertransaction information are
is transmitted
at the merchant station I, while a termination is transmitted as a refusal.
The reason for tert' nination
can optionally also be transmitted. The transmission of the transaction data
is effected as in the first '
method.
i I 0 The course of a paymenttransaction according to an embodiment of the
third method is shown
in Fig. 6 in tabular form, as a rough summary, wherein the sequential method
steps in the individual
system components of mobile cell phone, comparing device and merchant station
are set out under one
another in corresponding columns.
In essence the identification code ofthe merchant station 1 is entered in the
mobile cell phone
2, a connection to the comparing device 3 is made and the identification code
of the merchant station
1 and that of the SIM card, as well as the amount of money entered through the
mobile cell phone 2
are transmitted to the comparing device 3. After checking the identification
codes this transmits at
least the amount of money to the merchant station and corresponding
transaction data to an account
keeping device.
In detail the method according to this embodiment proceeds as follows:
The schematic showings of Figs. 1 to 3 again apply to the appropriate devices
for performing
the method, where however the control devices 7 and 13 have a different mode
of operation
corresponding to the modified method. Initially the identification code of the
merchant station is
initially transmitted. from the merchant station I via the IR connection to
the cel l phone and is stored
there temporarily. A connection is then made to the comparing device 3 through
the cell phone 2.
The amount of money to be paid is then read in through the cell phone 2 and
the identification
code for the merchant station 1 and the identification code of the SIM card
are transmitted to the
comparing device. The comparing device 3 checks whether the merchant station 1
and the SIM card
are registered for the service, on the basis of the merchant memory 11 and the
subscriber memory 13,
If this is not the case, the transaction is terminated, otherwise the account
numbers are determined
from the identification codes of the merchant station and the mobile cell
phone or the SIM card from
the merchant and subscriber memories respectively and these account numbers as
well as the amount
of money are passed on to the account keeping device I S.
The confirmed amount of money is then transmitted to the merchant station 1.
