AU2014100068A4 - Transaction validation method - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is an electronic method of assisting a user to validate a transaction, the method comprising: receiving a 5 number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; applying a mapping algorithm to the received number, the mapping algorithm uniquely mapping numbers that are in a valid format to respective ones of a 10 plurality of audio and/or visual (A/V) validation outputs such that any number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V output; and causing the A/V validation output for the received number to be output at the user device. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 wcn 0 -C CU:t n L) -00 E z C D I u

Description

Title TRANSACTION VALIDATION METHOD Field 5 The invention relates to a method and system for assisting a user to validate a transaction Background 10 A number of techniques have been developed to assist a user to validate an electronic transaction before completing the transaction. For example, it is known to check the format of an entered number and generate an error message if the number doesn't match the required 15 format. Towards the end of a transaction, a summary of the details entered by the user may be presented to the user for review. This allows the user to check that the details 20 they have entered are correct. However, users can fail to check the details or fail to pick up an error if nothing stands out as obviously wrong. Thus, there is a need for alternative techniques for 25 assisting a user to validate a transaction. Summary In a first aspect, the invention provides an electronic 30 method of assisting a user to validate a transaction, the method comprising: receiving a number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; 35 applying a mapping algorithm to the received number, the mapping algorithm uniquely mapping numbers that are in a valid format to respective ones of a plurality of audio 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 2 and/or visual (A/V) validation outputs such that any number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V output; and causing the A/V validation output for the received 5 number to be output at the user device. Providing the user with an A/V validation output in the above manner provides the user with something they can readily recognise as being correct or in error. This is 10 particularly helpful in instances where there is a significant probability of the user engaging in a transaction that is valid but in respect of the wrong account. For example, when recharging a prepaid mobile phone account on the basis of the phone number where there 15 is a significant likelihood of an incorrectly entered number corresponding to a valid phone number for another user's phone. In an embodiment, the plurality of A/V validation outputs 20 comprise a set of icons. In a second aspect, the invention provides an electronic method of assisting a user to validate a subsequent transaction, the method comprising: 25 receiving an number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; checking a user database using the received number to determine whether a designated transaction has previously 30 been completed with respect to the received number to thereby determine whether a current transaction is a first transaction or a subsequent transaction with respect to the input number; upon determining that the transaction is a first 35 transaction, processing the received number to generate an audio and/or visual (A/V) validation output based on the user number, causing a user message informing the user of 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 3 the A/V validation output to be output to the user, and updating the database to indicate that the received number has been used in a first transaction; and upon determining that the transaction is a subsequent 5 transaction, processing the received number to generate A/V validation output based on the received number, and causing the A/V validation output to be output to the user whereby the user can compare the A/V validation output to the A/V validation output provided to the user in respect 10 of a first transaction. In an embodiment, the method comprises generating the A/V validation output by applying a mapping algorithm to the received number, the mapping algorithm uniquely mapping 15 numbers that are in a valid format to respective ones of a plurality of A/V validation outputs such that any number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V validation output. 20 In an embodiment, the plurality of A/V validation outputs comprise a set of icons. In a third aspect, the invention provides a system for assisting a user to validate a transaction, the system 25 arranged to: receive a number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; apply a mapping algorithm to the received number, the 30 mapping algorithm uniquely mapping numbers that are in a valid format to respective ones of a plurality of audio and/or visual (A/V) validation outputs such that any number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V output; and 35 cause the A/V validation output for the received number to be output at the user device. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 4 In an embodiment, the plurality of A/V validation outputs comprise a set of icons. In an embodiment, the system comprises a server that 5 receives the number from a user device over a communication network, applies the mapping algorithm, and communicates the A/V validation output over the communication network to the user device to thereby cause the A/V validation output for the received number to be 10 output at the user device. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a system for assisting a user to validate a subsequent transaction, the system arranged to: 15 receive an number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; check a user database using the received number to determine whether a designated transaction has previously 20 been completed with respect to the received number to thereby determine whether a current transaction is a first transaction or a subsequent transaction with respect to the input number; upon determining that the transaction is a first 25 transaction, process the received number to generate an audio and/or visual (A/V) validation output based on the user number, cause a user message informing the user of the A/V validation output to be output to the user, and update the database to indicate that the received number 30 has been used in a first transaction; and upon determining that the transaction is a subsequent transaction, process the received number to generate A/V validation output based on the received number, and cause the A/V validation output to be output to the user whereby 35 the user can compare the A/V validation output to the A/V validation output provided to the user in respect of a first transaction. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 5 In an embodiment, the system is arranged to generate the A/V validation output by applying a mapping algorithm to the received number, the mapping algorithm uniquely 5 mapping numbers that are in a valid format to respective ones of a plurality of A/V validation outputs such that any number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V validation output. 10 In an embodiment, the plurality of A/V validation outputs comprise a set of icons. In an embodiment, the system comprises a server that receives the number from a user device over a 15 communication network, checks the database, generates the A/V validation output, and communicates the A/V validation output to the user device over the communication network to thereby cause the A/V validation output for the received number to be output at the user device. 20 In an embodiment, the database resides on the server. In a fifth aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements any one or more of the 25 above methods. In an embodiment, a tangible computer readable medium comprises the computer program code. 30 Brief Description of Drawings An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 35 Figure 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a system; 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 6 Figure 2 is a flow chart of a method of an embodiment; Figure 3 is an example of a display to the user of an 5 example of an embodiment; Figure 4 is another example of a display to the user of an example of an embodiment; and 10 Figure 5 is another example of a display to the user of an example of an embodiment. Detailed Description 15 Referring to the drawings, there is shown a system for assisting a user to validate a transaction by outputting an A/V output during a transaction. In an embodiment, the A/V output is derived from the a user number input by the user in the course of the transaction and the A/V output 20 is an icon. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an example of a system 100 of an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment, the audio and/or visual output that is output 25 to the user to assist the user in validating a transaction is an icon that is displayed to the user during transactions. As illustrated in Figure 100, the system is suitable for 30 operation with a number of different user devices such as a user computer 120, a mobile terminal 130 and a kiosk 140. Each of these user devices is adapted to output an audio visual output to a user after it is communicated from the central server 110 to the relevant user device 35 120, 130, 140. In this respect, user computer 120, as known in the art 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 7 incorporates a display such as an LCD monitor, one or more speakers 122 as well as a number of input devices such as a keyboard and mouse 123. User computer 124 also has a processor for processing an appropriate program for 5 interacting with the server such as a browser application. Mobile terminal 130 has a display 131, one or more speakers 132, a touch screen 133 that overlays the display 131 which can be used to input data into the mobile 10 terminal 130 and a processor 134 for executing either a browser application or a dedicated application for communication with the central server 110. Kiosk 140 has a display 141, speaker 142, a touch screen 15 overlaying the display and a processor for executing an application to communicate with the server 110. Communication with the server is via Internet 150. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other 20 communication networks maybe used for at least some types of user devices. For example, a kiosk may employ a dedicated communication link. In an example to illustrate the present embodiment, the 25 transactions are to purchase credits to apply to prepaid accounts of mobile terminals such as mobile phones, or tablet computers. In order to purchase credit, the user is required to input 30 the number of the terminal for which they are purchasing credit. It will be appreciated that the user can potentially enter a number which complies with the requirements of a valid number and corresponds to a number for which there is a prepaid service but which does not 35 belong to the user. That is, by entering a number that is not the user's number that corresponds to another prepaid service, credit will be applied to the wrong (from the 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 8 user's perspective) device. Accordingly, the embodiment of the invention aids the user by providing an additional audio and/or visual validation output which aids the user in identifying that they have made a typographical error. 5 Accordingly, the server computer 110 is arranged such that when a number is received by communications module 115 following a prompt for a user to enter their number, database checker 111 checks whether the number is in the 10 database of numbers 112. If the number is not in the database, the database checker 11 returns an error message. If the number is in the database, the database checker 111 determines whether this is the first transaction with respect to the number or a subsequent 15 transaction. First transactions and subsequent transactions are handled differently as described in further detail below. In a first transaction, the number mapper 113 uses a 20 mapping algorithm 114a stored in memory 114 to map the user number to a key number. In one example, the key number is a value between 1 and 20. In the memory 114b there are a set of icons 114b, 20 in number, each of which uniquely corresponds to one of the key numbers of 1 to 20. 25 Thus, the mapping algorithm 114a is chosen to uniquely map all user numbers to an icon that will be presented to the user as a validation output. Assuming the transaction is correctly performed, the subscriber is presented with the icon by it being communicated to their relevant user 30 device 120, 130, 140 so as to cause it to be displayed to the user. In a first transaction, the user is also sent a message advising them that they will see the icon when completing subsequent transactions. In some embodiments, the user may also be required to confirm that their number 35 is correct at this stage. Even if the user is not asked to confirm their number is correct, it will be appreciated that the presentation of the icon in conjunction with a 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 9 message provides an additional prompt and hence motivation for the user to check their number as they know that by doing so they can be assured that they will be provided with the correct icon (validation output) in future. 5 In subsequent transactions, when the subscriber enters their mobile number, the number mapper 113 performs the mapping algorithm 114a again and presents the icon that corresponds to the entered number. The user can compare 10 the icon that they received during this transaction with the previously presented icon to determine whether they have made an error. Similarly, if the user has made an error in entering the number in an earlier transaction, they may receive a message indicating that this is the 15 first time they have used this number and as such this will also provide a prompt for the user to review the transaction. In order to enable the server computer 110 to determine 20 whether this is a first or subsequent transaction, after the user has entered their number, the key number (i.e. corresponding to the icon) is stored against the number in the number database 112 after the user first accesses the database. This is achieved by the database checker 111 25 checking the database 112 to see if there is a key number stored against the number Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of different mapping algorithms may be employed in order 30 to map the numbers to a defined number of digits such as a Luhn check or a double Luhn check. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative types of audio and/or visual outputs may be 35 used in other circumstances, for example, for access impaired people the icon could be replaced by or supplemented with a sound. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 10 Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that telephone numbers need not be the number that is entered, for example, an account number or user number could be the 5 number that is entered. Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the embodiment. The method involves receiving a user number 210 responsive to a request for the user to enter a 10 number. The system checks whether the number is in the database 220 and if it is not, an error message 280 is output by the server computer to the user device 120, 130, 140 for display to the user. The method then involves mapping the number to an icon 230 and determining whether 15 this is a first transaction 240. If it is a first transaction, an explanatory message is communicated 250 to the user by text (or as an audio file) and the database is updated 260 to indicate that a first transaction has been completed by storing the key number against the number in 20 the database. The method then continues by causing the user device to display the icon 270. If it is not a first transaction, the method proceeds directly to causing the user device to display the icon 270 without conducting steps 250 and 260. 25 Example Figure 3 shows an example of a user display of an example of an embodiment. The user display 300 includes a number 30 entry box 301 into which the user can input a user number. In this example, the number 0400000010 302 has been entered by the user. This number is mapped by the mapping algorithm to a soccer ball icon 303 which is displayed on the screen. 35 Figure 4 shows an example of a display where the user has clicked ,as indicated by hand icon 401, on the soccer ball 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 11 icon 303 and an explanatory message 402 has been displayed to the user. This message states "Each time you enter your mobile service number we display a corresponding image. If you don't see the same image the next time you 5 recharge the same mobile service number, please check you have entered your number correctly". This message is of the same nature as that which is communicated to the user the first time they complete a transaction. 10 Figure 5 illustrates that in response to a request 505 to enter prepaid service number to recharge, the user has incorrectly entered a different number into box 301, namely 04000000011 502 and the display shows a different icon 503, this time of a trophy. As the user is expecting 15 to see a soccer ball icon 303, the trophy icon 503 alerts the user to their error. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the 20 server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers, for example for load balancing or security. Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the 25 above description of the system. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented electronically, for example, digitally by a processor executing program code. In this respect, in the above description certain steps are described as being carried 30 out by the system, it will be appreciated that such steps will often require a number of sub-steps to be carried out for the steps to be implemented electronically, for example due to hardware or programming limitations. For example, to carry out a step such as evaluating, 35 determining or selecting, a processor may need to compute several values and compare those values. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 12 As indicated above, the method may be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible computer readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory device, e.g. an EEPROM, 5 (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server). Further different parts of the program code can be executed by different devices, for example in a client server relationship. Persons skilled in the art will 10 appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by a processor. Herein the term "processor" is used to refer generically to any device that can process instructions and may 15 include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. That is a processor may be provided by any suitable logic circuitry for receiving inputs, processing them in accordance with 20 instructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on the display). Such processors are sometimes also referred to as central processing units (CPUs). Most processors are general purpose units, however, it is also know to provide a specific purpose processor, for example, 25 an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without 30 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to form further embodiments. 35 It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 13 knowledge in the art in any country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context 5 requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further 10 features in various embodiments of the invention. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14

Claims (5)

1. An electronic method of assisting a user to validate a transaction, the method comprising: 5 receiving a number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; applying a mapping algorithm to the received number, the mapping algorithm uniquely mapping numbers that are in 10 a valid format to respective ones of a plurality of audio and/or visual (A/V) validation outputs such that any number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V output; and causing the A/V validation output for the received 15 number to be output at the user device.

2. An electronic method of assisting a user to validate a subsequent transaction, the method comprising: receiving an number input by a user at a user device 20 in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; checking a user database using the received number to determine whether a designated transaction has previously been completed with respect to the received number to 25 thereby determine whether a current transaction is a first transaction or a subsequent transaction with respect to the input number; upon determining that the transaction is a first transaction, processing the received number to generate an 30 audio and/or visual (A/V) validation output based on the user number, causing a user message informing the user of the A/V validation output to be output to the user, and updating the database to indicate that the received number has been used in a first transaction; and 35 upon determining that the transaction is a subsequent transaction, processing the received number to generate A/V validation output based on the received number, and 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 15 causing the A/V validation output to be output to the user whereby the user can compare the A/V validation output to the A/V validation output provided to the user in respect of a first transaction. 5

3. A system for assisting a user to validate a transaction, the system arranged to: receive a number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated 10 with a user account; apply a mapping algorithm to the received number, the mapping algorithm uniquely mapping numbers that are in a valid format to respective ones of a plurality of audio and/or visual (A/V) validation outputs such that any 15 number in the valid format will always map to the same A/V output; and cause the A/V validation output for the received number to be output at the user device. 20

4. A system for assisting a user to validate a subsequent transaction, the system arranged to: receive an number input by a user at a user device in response to a request to input a user number associated with a user account; 25 check a user database using the received number to determine whether a designated transaction has previously been completed with respect to the received number to thereby determine whether a current transaction is a first transaction or a subsequent transaction with respect to 30 the input number; upon determining that the transaction is a first transaction, process the received number to generate an audio and/or visual (A/V) validation output based on the user number, cause a user message informing the user of 35 the A/V validation output to be output to the user, and update the database to indicate that the received number has been used in a first transaction; and 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14 - 16 upon determining that the transaction is a subsequent transaction, process the received number to generate A/V validation output based on the received number, and cause the A/V validation output to be output to the user whereby 5 the user can compare the A/V validation output to the A/V validation output provided to the user in respect of a first transaction.

5. Computer program code which when executed implements 10 the method of either claim 1 or 2. 5054482_3 (GHMatters) P92134.AU. 1 24/01/14