ITMO970199A1

ITMO970199A1 - METHOD AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

Info

Publication number: ITMO970199A1
Application number: IT97MO000199A
Authority: IT
Inventors: Marcello Lolli
Original assignee: Marcello Lolli
Priority date: 1997-10-31
Filing date: 1997-10-31
Publication date: 1999-05-01
Also published as: EP0976115A1; WO1999023619A1; AU1487199A; ITMO970199A0; IT1297316B1

Description

Descrizione di invenzione industriale Description of industrial invention

L’invenzione concerne un metodo e un sistema di comunicazione, in particolare un metodo e un sistema per rilasciare ad un utente un mezzo di riscontro contenente dati relativi ad una transazione commerciale per l'acquisto di beni e/o servizi avvenuta con un fornitore remoto, come, ad esempio, acquisto di biglietti per treni, aerei, spettacoli, giocate a concorsi pronostici, o ad estrazione, ecc. The invention concerns a method and a communication system, in particular a method and a system for issuing to a user a means of acknowledgment containing data relating to a commercial transaction for the purchase of goods and / or services which took place with a remote supplier. , such as, for example, buying tickets for trains, planes, shows, playing in prediction contests, or drawing, etc.

Nello stato della tecnica é noto effettuare transazioni commerciali tramite bancomat, o carte di credito, o tramite schede magnetiche prepagate, quali, ad esempio, le schede telefoniche, nelle quali é registrato un importo di cui l'utente può disporre per la transazione, dal quale viene dedotto il costo della transazione eseguita. In the state of the art it is known to carry out commercial transactions by means of an ATM or credit card, or by means of prepaid magnetic cards, such as, for example, telephone cards, in which an amount that the user can dispose of for the transaction is recorded, from which the cost of the executed transaction is deducted.

L'utilizzo di bancomat, carte di credito o schede magnetiche prepagate per le suddette operazioni comporta normalmente per l'utente la necessità di recarsi personalmente nei luoghi nei quali vengono materialmente emessi i titoli di credito relativi alla transazione, o tramite operatore, o tramite dispositivi azionati da detti bancomat, carte di credito o schede magnetiche prepagate, con inevitabili disagi e perdite di tempo. La presente invenzione si propone di fornire un metodo e un sistema che consentano ad un utente di effettuare, ad esempio dalla propria abitazione o dal proprio luogo di lavoro, o utilizzando un proprio telefono portatile, transazioni commerciali che possano comportare l'emissione di un titolo di credito. The use of debit cards, credit cards or prepaid magnetic cards for the aforementioned operations normally entails for the user the need to go personally to the places where the credit notes relating to the transaction are physically issued, either through an operator, or through devices. operated by such ATMs, credit cards or prepaid magnetic cards, with inevitable inconvenience and loss of time. The present invention proposes to provide a method and a system that allow a user to carry out, for example from his own home or workplace, or using his own portable telephone, commercial transactions that may involve the issuance of a security of credit.

Secondo un primo aspetto dell'invenzione, viene fornito un metodo per rilasciare ad un utente un mezzo di riscontro contenente dati relativi ad una transazione commerciale per l'acquisto di beni e/o servizi avvenuta con un fornitore remoto, detto mezzo di riscontro essendo utilizzabile per la fruizione di detti beni e/o servizi, caratterizzato dal fatto che comprende la trasmissione di detti dati da detto fornitore remoto a detto utente tramite una rete telefonica, la ricezione di detti dati da mezzi di ricezione connessi a detta rete telefonica e la registrazione di detti dati su un supporto di registrazione dati amovibile. According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for issuing to a user an acknowledgment means containing data relating to a commercial transaction for the purchase of goods and / or services which took place with a remote supplier, said acknowledgment means being usable for the use of said goods and / or services, characterized in that it comprises the transmission of said data from said remote supplier to said user via a telephone network, the receipt of said data from reception means connected to said telephone network and the registration of said data on a removable data recording medium.

Secondo un ulteriore aspetto dell'invenzione viene fornito un sistema di comunicazione comprendente mezzi di trasmissione e ricezione di segnali vocali e/o dati collegabili tramite rete telefonica ad altri mezzi remoti di trasmissione e ricezione di segnali vocali e/o dati, mezzi di lettura atti a leggere dati memorizzati su un supporto di registrazione dati, mezzi di riconoscimento atti a consentire il riconoscimento di detti mezzi di trasmissione e ricezione a detti altri mezzi remoti, caratterizzato dal fatto che comprende mezzi di registrazione atti a memorizzare su detto supporto di registrazione dei dati ricevuti da detti mezzi di trasmissione e ricezione tramite detta rete telefonica. Il metodo e il sistema secondo l'invenzione consentono di fornire ad un utente un mezzo di riscontro, costituito, ad esempio, da un supporto di registrazione dati, quale una scheda a banda magnetica, o una scheda a memoria elettronica, contenente dati relativi all'attestazione di una transazione commerciale per l'acquisto di beni e/o servizi effettuata , ad esempio per via telefonica, con un fornitore remoto, detti dati potendo essere utilizzati dall'utente per la fruizione dei beni e/o servizi acquistati. Nel caso di acquisto di servizi, quali ad esempio un biglietto ferroviario, aereo, o per una manifestazione sportiva o culturale in genere, i dati registrati sul supporto di registrazione dati possono essere utilizzati per ottenere, da macchine erogatrici di biglietti predisposte in una stazione ferroviaria, in un aeroporto o nel luogo di detta manifestazione sportiva o culturale, l'erogazione del biglietto relativo alla suddetta transazione, eliminando così per l'utente la necessità di recarsi presso il fornitore con il quale ha concluso la transazione per ritirare il biglietto, con notevole risparmio di tempo. Il metodo e il sistema secondo l'invenzione sono anche utilizzabili da un utente per effettuare giocate a concorsi pronostici o ad estrazione, ricevendo, su detto supporto di registrazione i dati relativi alla giocata effettuata . According to a further aspect of the invention, a communication system is provided comprising means for transmitting and receiving voice and / or data signals which can be connected via telephone network to other remote means for transmitting and receiving voice and / or data signals, reading means suitable for to read data stored on a data recording medium, recognition means adapted to allow the recognition of said transmission and reception means to said other remote means, characterized in that it comprises recording means adapted to store on said data recording medium received by said means of transmission and reception through said telephone network. The method and the system according to the invention make it possible to provide a user with an acknowledgment means, consisting, for example, of a data recording medium, such as a magnetic stripe card, or an electronic memory card, containing data relating to the '' attestation of a commercial transaction for the purchase of goods and / or services carried out, for example by telephone, with a remote supplier, said data being able to be used by the user for the use of the goods and / or services purchased. In the case of the purchase of services, such as a train or plane ticket, or for a sporting or cultural event in general, the data recorded on the data recording medium can be used to obtain, from ticket dispensing machines set up in a railway station , in an airport or in the place of said sporting or cultural event, the delivery of the ticket relating to the aforementioned transaction, thus eliminating the need for the user to go to the supplier with whom he concluded the transaction to collect the ticket, with significant time savings. The method and the system according to the invention can also be used by a user to carry out bets in prediction or draw contests, receiving, on said recording medium, the data relating to the bets made.

L'invenzione sarà ora descritta nel seguito, a titolo puramente esemplificativo e non limitativo. The invention will now be described below, purely by way of non-limiting example.

Il metodo e il sistema secondo il trovato prevedono l'utilizzo di mezzi per la trasmissione e la ricezione di segnali vocali e/o dati, che possono essere costituiti da un apparecchio telefonico fisso o portatile collegabile ad una rete telefonica. L'apparecchio telefonico é associato a mezzi di lettura e registrazione dati su un supporto di registrazione dati quale, ad esempio, una scheda a banda magnetica, un floppy disk, The method and the system according to the invention provide for the use of means for the transmission and reception of voice and / or data signals, which can be constituted by a fixed or portable telephone device which can be connected to a telephone network. The telephone set is associated with data reading and recording means on a data recording medium such as, for example, a magnetic stripe card, a floppy disk,

una scheda a memoria elettronica, anche del tipo leggibile a distanza, o un disco a lettura ottica. I mezzi di lettura e registrazione dati possono essere integrati nell'apparecchio telefonico. an electronic memory card, also of the remote readable type, or an optical reading disc. The data reading and recording means can be integrated in the telephone set.

Sul supporto di registrazione dati sono registrati i dati atti a permettere l'identificazione dell'utente, Data are recorded on the data recording medium to allow identification of the user,

associabili, in una banca dati di un fornitore di beni e/o servizi, a dati relativi alle coordinate bancarie e/o ad una carta di credito dell'utente, per poter effettuare l'addebito della transazione effettuata. associable, in a database of a supplier of goods and / or services, to data relating to the user's bank details and / or to a user's credit card, in order to be able to debit the transaction made.

I mezzi di lettura sono associati a mezzi di trasmissione dati per la trasmissione a detta rete telefonica dei dati letti dai mezzi di lettura su detto supporto di registrazione dati. I mezzi di trasmissione dati possono essere atti a trasmettere dati simultaneamente ad una trasmissione di segnali vocali tramite detto apparecchio telefonico. I mezzi di trasmissione dati possono essere operativamente connessi alla tastiera dell'apparecchio telefonico, per poter effettuare una trasmissione di dati tramite detta tastiera. The reading means are associated with data transmission means for transmitting to said telephone network the data read by the reading means on said data recording medium. The data transmission means can be adapted to transmit data simultaneously with a transmission of voice signals through said telephone set. The data transmission means can be operatively connected to the keyboard of the telephone set, in order to be able to carry out a data transmission through said keyboard.

I mezzi di registrazione dati sono associati a mezzi di ricezione dati atti a ricevere dati da detta rete telefonica attraverso detto apparecchio telefonico, per la registrazione su detto supporto di registrazione dati. I mezzi di ricezione dati possono essere atti a ricevere dati trasmessi a detto apparecchio telefonico simultaneamente a segnali vocali. In questo caso, i mezzi di ricezione dati sono associati a mezzi di riconoscimento atti a riconoscere e separare detti dati da detti segnali vocali. The data recording means are associated with data receiving means adapted to receive data from said telephone network through said telephone set, for recording on said data recording medium. The data receiving means can be adapted to receive data transmitted to said telephone set simultaneously with voice signals. In this case, the data receiving means are associated with recognition means suitable for recognizing and separating said data from said voice signals.

Nel metodo e nel sistema secondo l'invenzione, può essere previsto un unico supporto di registrazione dati sul quale sono registrati in modo permanente dati atti a permettere l'identificazione dell'utente e sul quale vengono registrati di volta in volta, in modo cancellabile, dati relativi alla transazione effettuata dall'utente. In alternativa può essere previsto un primo supporto di registrazione dati sul quale sono registrati in modo permanente i dati atti a permettere l'identificazione dell'utente ed almeno un ulteriore supporto di registrazione dati sul quale vengono registrati, di volta in volta, i dati relativi alla transazione effettuata dall'utente. Quest'ultima alternativa é preferita, in quanto consente all'utente la possibilità dì eseguire, nel corso di un unico collegamento telefonico, una pluralità di transazioni, registrando i dati di ciascuna transazione su un separato supporto di registrazione dati e di utilizzare detto supporto separato per la fruizione dei beni e/o servizi acquistati, indipendentemente dal possesso di un altro supporto di registrazione dati contenente dati atti ad identificare 1'utente. In the method and in the system according to the invention, a single data recording medium can be provided on which data are permanently recorded to allow the identification of the user and on which they are recorded from time to time, in an erasable manner, data relating to the transaction made by the user. Alternatively, a first data recording medium can be provided on which the data suitable to allow the identification of the user are permanently recorded and at least one further data recording medium on which the relative data are recorded from time to time. to the transaction made by the user. The latter alternative is preferred, since it allows the user to carry out, during a single telephone connection, a plurality of transactions, recording the data of each transaction on a separate data recording medium and to use said separate medium. for the use of the goods and / or services purchased, regardless of the possession of another data recording medium containing data capable of identifying the user.

Il funzionamento del metodo e del sistema secondo l'invenzione avviene nel modo seguente: l'utente che desidera eseguire una transazione per l'acquisto di beni e/o servizi, si collega, tramite una linea telefonica, con un fornitore di detti beni e servizi. Una volta stabilito il collegamento con detto fornitore, l'apparecchio telefonico può trasmettere un proprio codice identificativo, che, in una banca dati del fornitore é associato ai dati atti a permettere l'identificazione dell'utente registrati sul supporto di registrazione dati. Ciò per evitare che, in caso di furto o smarrimento del supporto di registrazione dati contenente i dati atti a permettere l'identificazione dell'utente, questo possa essere utilizzato da persona non autorizzata . The operation of the method and of the system according to the invention takes place as follows: the user who wishes to carry out a transaction for the purchase of goods and / or services, connects, via a telephone line, with a supplier of said goods and services. Once the connection with said supplier has been established, the telephone set can transmit its own identification code, which, in a database of the supplier, is associated with the data suitable for allowing the identification of the user recorded on the data recording medium. This is to avoid that, in the event of theft or loss of the data recording medium containing the data required to identify the user, it can be used by an unauthorized person.

In alternativa, il riconoscimento dell'utente può avvenire solo tramite il codice identificativo dell'apparecchio telefonico, o solo tramite i dati atti a permettere l'identificazione dell'utente registrati sul supporto di registrazione dati. Alternatively, the user can be recognized only through the identification code of the telephone set, or only through the data suitable for allowing the identification of the user recorded on the data recording medium.

Conclusa la transazione, il fornitore trasmette all'apparecchio dell'utente, tramite la linea telefonica i dati relativi alla transazione, che vengono riconosciuti dai mezzi di riconoscimento e registrati dai mezzi di registrazione sul supporto di registrazione dati. Inoltre il fornitore può trasmettere all'apparecchio telefonico dell'utente un comando atto a consentire la lettura e la ritrasmissione al fornitore dei dati registrati sul supporto di registrazione, per la verifica della loro correttezza. Once the transaction is concluded, the supplier transmits to the user's device, via the telephone line, the data relating to the transaction, which are recognized by the recognition means and recorded by the recording means on the data recording medium. Furthermore, the supplier can send a command to the user's telephone set to allow reading and retransmission to the supplier of the data recorded on the recording medium, for checking their correctness.

Sul supporto di registrazione dati può inoltre essere registrato il numero telefonico del fornitore remoto, unitamente ad una sequenza di comandi, atta ad azionare automaticamente l'apparecchio telefonico dell'utente per la composizione di detto numero telefonico. In questo caso, l'apparecchio telefonico é dotato di mezzi di interpretazione atti ad interpretare la sequenza di comandi, leggibile attraverso i mezzi di lettura e ad attivare i mezzi di chiamata dell'apparecchio telefonico L'apparecchio telefonico può essere dotato di mezzi di visualizzazione e/o di stampa associati ai mezzi di lettura del supporto di registrazione dati, perché l'utente possa controllare ed eventualmente stampare i dati relativi alla transazione conclusa e memorizzata, anche dopo la conclusione del collegamento telefonico. Il supporto di registrazione dati può essere successivamente utilizzato dall'utente per ottenere, ad esempio sul luogo ove l'utente intende fruire di un servizio acquistato con la suddetta transazione, il rilascio, tramite appositi apparecchi erogatori, di un titolo cartaceo per la fruizione del servizio, quale, ad esempio, un biglietto ferroviario aereo o per l'ingresso ad una manifestazione sportiva o culturale. In alternativa, il supporto di registrazione dati può essere utilizzato per avere il consenso, da apposite apparecchiature di controllo, per l'ingresso a una manifestazione sportiva, culturale, per l'imbarco su un mezzo di trasporto, o altro, con la eventuale emissione di un promemoria indicante il posto assegnato all'utente. The telephone number of the remote supplier can also be recorded on the data recording medium, together with a sequence of commands, adapted to automatically operate the user's telephone set to dial said telephone number. In this case, the telephone set is equipped with interpretation means adapted to interpret the sequence of commands, readable through the reading means and to activate the calling means of the telephone set The telephone set can be equipped with display means and / or printing associated with the reading means of the data recording support, so that the user can check and possibly print the data relating to the completed and stored transaction, even after the telephone connection has been terminated. The data recording medium can be subsequently used by the user to obtain, for example in the place where the user intends to use a service purchased with the aforementioned transaction, the issue, through special dispensing devices, of a paper title for the use of the service, such as, for example, a train or air ticket for entry to a sporting or cultural event. Alternatively, the data recording medium can be used to obtain consent, from specific control equipment, for entry to a sporting or cultural event, for boarding on a means of transport, or other, with the possible issue a reminder indicating the seat assigned to the user.

I dati registrati sul supporto di registrazione dati e relativi ad una transazione effettuata possono essere inoltre utilizzati dall'utente, collegandosi nuovamente con il fornitore di beni e/o servizi, per un controllo sulla validità della transazione, o per un eventuale rimborso del costo della prestazione acquistata, in caso di rinuncia a valersi della prestazione. The data recorded on the data recording medium and relating to a transaction carried out can also be used by the user, by connecting again with the supplier of goods and / or services, for a check on the validity of the transaction, or for a possible refund of the cost of the service purchased, in the event of renunciation of availing of the service.

Nell'attuazione pratica, il metodo e il sistema secondo l'invenzione potranno subire delle varianti, tutte però rientranti nell'ambito di protezione del presente trovato. In practical implementation, the method and the system according to the invention may undergo variations, all of which however fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Communication method for issuing a means of acknowledgment to a user certifying a transaction for the purchase of goods and / or services that took place with a remote supplier, said means of acknowledgment being usable for the use of said goods and / or services, characterized in that it comprises the transmission from said remote provider to said user via a telephone network of data relating to said transaction, the receipt of said data from reception means connected to said telephone network and the recording of said data on a recording medium removable data.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the identification of the user by the remote supplier, said identification comprising the reading, by means of reading means, of data suitable for allowing the identification of the user from said removable data recording medium, the transmission of said data to said remote provider via transmission means connected to a telephone network.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said transmission means and said reception means are associated with a telephone set.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said transmission means and said reception means are integrated in a telephone set.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the recording, on said removable data recording medium, by means of recording means, of data relating to said commercial transaction, the reading of said data by means of said reading means, the transmission of said data to said supplier via said transmission means.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said registration takes place using the keypad of said telephone set

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises the recording on said removable recording medium of data suitable for allowing the identification of the user.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the transmission of said data suitable for allowing the identification of the user to said remote supplier.

Method according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises the transmission to said remote provider of data suitable for allowing the identification of said telephone set.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the use of a first removable recording medium intended for recording data suitable for identifying the user and at least one second removable recording medium intended for recording of data relating to a transaction made by the user with a remote supplier.

11. Communication system comprising means of transmission and reception of voice and / or data signals connectable via telephone network to other remote means of transmission and reception of voice and / or data signals, reading means suitable for reading data stored on a support data recording means, recognition means adapted to allow the recognition of said transmission and reception means to said other remote means, characterized in that it further comprises recording means adapted to store on said recording medium data received from said transmission means and reception via said telephone network.

12. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said recording means can be operated by said other remote means.

13. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said reading means can be operated by said other remote means.

System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said transmission and reception means are associated with a telephone set.

15. System according to claim 14, characterized in that said transmission and reception means are integrated in a telephone set

16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that said telephone set is a portable telephone set.

17. System according to claim 15, characterized in that said telephone set is a satellite telephone set.

18. System according to claim 15, characterized in that said telephone set is a videophone.

System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said transmission and reception means comprise a data processing system connectable to said telephone network.

20. System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said data recording medium is a magnetic stripe card

21. System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said data recording medium is an electronic memory card.

System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said data recording medium is a remote readable electronic memory card.

23. System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said data recording medium is a floppy disk.

24. System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said data recording medium is an optical reading disk.

System according to one of claims 14 to 25, characterized in that said transmission means can be operated by means of a keyboard of said telephone set.

26. System according to one of claims 11 to 26, characterized in that said transmission means are operatively associated with said reading means.

System according to one of claims 11 to 27, characterized in that it comprises receiving means adapted to receive data transmitted through said telephone network, said receiving means being associated with said recording means.

System according to claim 28, characterized in that said receiving means are associated with recognition means suitable for recognizing data transmitted via said telephone network simultaneously with voice signals.

29. System according to one of claims 11 to 29, characterized in that said reading means are associated with display means suitable for displaying data recorded on said data recording medium.

System according to one of claims 11 to 30, characterized in that it comprises a first data recording medium on which data are permanently recorded to allow the identification of a user of the system and at least one second data recording medium on which data transmitted to the system through said telephone network can be recorded.

System according to one of claims 11 to 31, characterized in that it comprises printing means suitable for printing data recorded on said data recording medium.

32. System according to claim 32, characterized in that said printing means are integrated in said telephone set.

33. System according to claim 33, characterized in that said data recording support is provided with areas that can be printed by said printing means.

34. Telephone apparatus comprising reading means suitable for reading data stored on a data recording medium, characterized in that it comprises recording means suitable for recording data on said data recording medium.

Telephone set according to claim 34, characterized in that said recording means are adapted to record on said recording medium the data transmitted to the telephone set via a telephone network.

36. Telephone set according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that it further comprises display means suitable for displaying data recorded on said data recording medium.

Telephone set according to one of claims 34 to 36, characterized in that it further comprises printing means suitable for printing data recorded on said data recording medium.

38. Telephone set according to one of claims 34 to 37, characterized in that said printing means are adapted to print data transmitted to the telephone set via a telephone network.

39. Telephone set according to one of claims 34 to 38, characterized in that said printing means are suitable for making printed impressions on said data recording medium.

Telephone set according to one of claims 34 to 39, characterized in that it comprises interpretation means adapted to interpret a sequence of commands recorded on said data recording medium to activate a telephone connection with a remote user of a telephone network.

Telephone set according to one of claims 34 to 40, characterized in that it further comprises identification means suitable for allowing identification of the set during a connection to a remote user of a telephone network.