WO2001052210A1

WO2001052210A1 - System for identification of transactions made via telephone communications

Info

Publication number: WO2001052210A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/006012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Leonetti Luparini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-14
Filing date: 2000-06-28
Publication date: 2001-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2002-07-14
Also published as: ITRM20000016A1; ITRM20000016A0; AU2000264300A1

Abstract

System for identification of transactions made via telephone communications, in particular operations for buying and selling merchandise or services, comprising at least one first personal computer (1) designed to transmit data and information in connection with at least one telephone telecommunication apparatus (2), at least one telephone line (3) designed to connect the said communication means to at least one telephone exchange (4) belonging to an intermediary operator, first electronic means for unique identification of the said telephone line and/or of said personal codes, second communication means (5) between the said telephone exchange and a telecommunication network of the type used for accessing Internet, to which electronic processors (6) are connected adapted to handle data, exchange commercial information and monitor the status of the transactions, and comprising second means for identification of the said commercial telephone operator.

Description

SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS MADE VIA TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS

Scope of invention

The present invention refers to a system for identifying transactions made via telephone communications, in particular purchases made through networks, such as Internet. State of the art

It is known that the current spectacular development of the telecommunication system through Internet has given rise to a large number of new economic activities, among which electronic trading.

An important problem that hinders the use of the Internet network for the purchase or sale of commercial products is the poor reliability afforded by the security systems used by the commercial operators who operate in Internet. One of the most widespread means of payment used for this type of commercial exchanges via Internet is represented, in fact, by credit cards. In many countries outside the USA, one of the main problems affecting the holders of credit cards used for purchases made through Internet is that of recovering any possible loss suffered in the case where the number of the credit card and the identity of the owner of the card are intercepted by telematic pirates and used in a fraudulent way for purchases that are not authorized by the owner of the card himself.

The systems for encrypting bank data or data regarding credit cards used by many commercial operators operating in Internet do not offer a sufficient guarantee of security and confidentiality, in so far as it is possible to process the data that travel in Internet by using increasingly more sophisticated and powerful personal computers. Such fraudulent acts discourage potential buyers from using Internet to make purchases, paying for the goods or services bought via credit card. Certain solutions currently adopted, albeit outdated, consist in making the payments through systems that are external to and independent of Internet, such as the banking circuits, the postal system, the cash-on-delivery system, or other systems. Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks referred to above which are presented by identification systems known in the state of the art. A primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an identification system that ensures a high level of security, by preventing data of major economic value, which may be subject to acts of computer piracy, from being sent into the Internet network. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a system for identifying the persons and the data transmitted in the purchasing operations via Internet that is easy to manage and facilitates the use of the said trading system. The above purposes are achieved by a system for identification of transactions made via telephone communications, in particular operations of buying and selling, the said system, in accordance with Claim 1 , comprising at least one first personal computer designed to transmit data and information in connection with at least one telephone telecommunication apparatus, at least one telephone line designed to connect the said communication means to at least one telephone exchange belonging to an intermediary operator, electronic means for unique identification of the said telephone line and/or personal codes, second communication means between the said telephone exchange and a telecommunication network, of the type used to access Internet, to which are connected electronic processors designed to manage data and exchange commercial information, the said electronic processors comprising second means of identification of the said commercial telephone operator.

Thanks to this system, identification of the user, who is a subscriber to normal telephone services, or else only to said electronic trading services specifically created by commercial operators or intermediaries, other than the telephone companies, is carried out via means made available by the service operator, who records the characteristic data associated to the telephone line connected to his own telephone exchange to check whether the said telephone line is enabled for making commercial orders in so far as the user has signed the corresponding contract. Brief description of the figure Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system for identification of transactions made through telephone communications, which is provided merely as a non-limiting example and with the aid of the attached plate of drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the identification system according to the invention. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention With reference to the attached figure, the system comprises an electronic processor or terminal 1 , provided with a system for entry of information, such as a keyboard or some other equivalent device that enables entry of information and data regarding a commercial order by a purchaser of a good or service offered by a commercial operator who manages the selling service by means of an Internet site.

The person who uses the terminal in any case must have signed a contract with the telephone operator for use of the telephone services offered by the latter. An additional contract or an extension of the initial contract must moreover be stipulated for enabling purchases to be made using the normal telephone line, which may be the same line that enables access to Internet. This second contract or agreement may envisage supply to the user of an identification code and/or of a specific password which enables him to use this type of services. For additional security, identification may be further guaranteed by a datum that is entered in the telephone bill when the order is issued and that only the person enabled for the service can know.

It is also possible for the service of intermediation with the corresponding system of identification of the transactions according to the invention to be managed by companies purposely created, or else by banks or other bodies that are not commercial telephone operators. In this case, it will be necessary to create the identification system, which may be separate from a normal telephone exchange of a commercial telephone operator.

The agreement may envisage payment to the telephone operator for every service of which the user avails himself through his own telephone line or lines, among which also the purchase of merchandise offered in Internet sites through various means. The payment can be made in a known way, by automatic charging on current account, credit-card account, or the like. The billing frequency may correspond to that of the normal telephone bill, or else special bills may be issued by the telephone operator after the purchasing operations. The telephone operator, or simply the service operator, then sees to settling the amount owed to the commercial operator from whose Internet site the merchandise or the service has been purchased. In order to carry out this service, reimbursement of additional costs sustained could be requested, in the event of this being envisaged by the contract.

In the case of a subscriber also having credits in regard to the telephone operator for any reason, a compensation between the two could be made directly in the bill. The service referred to herein can, therefore, be considered in any possible extension thereof, both as regards making payments and as regards collecting credits.

The use of this system moreover guarantees that the bank data of the purchaser will not be communicated, unless he wishes to communicate them, to the seller, in so far as only the telephone operator knows the buyer's bank data and does not need to transfer this information to the commercial operator of the Internet site. Furthermore, all payments are made using safe means, similar to the ones used for paying for normal telephone services of which the user avails himself. If it is deemed advisable, a further security level can be introduced into the system to confirm or cancel an order possibly made by a non-authorized person, by asking for a fax to be sent, or a message to be sent from a cellphone, etc., i.e., a message to be sent through systems other than Internet. The telephone operator could also enter a code to be used in the event of cancellation of the order made, which possibly only the subscriber can use. The information regarding a possible purchase of merchandise or services offered via Internet is transmitted by the personal computer or other equivalent system suitable for access to Internet, thanks to a telephone 2 enabled for this purpose, or a modem or some other appropriate technical system, via the same telephone line 3 of the operator used for all the normal telephone services, including access to Internet. The information reaches the operating telephone exchange 4 of the same operator, and here all the data are checked. These telephone exchanges are able to identify the buyer, who is a subscriber to the service, through any telephone line, and thus to exclude any possible attempts at unlawful use of the service. The said unique identification means of the telephone line 3 and/or of possible personal codes may advantageously be of an electronic type, which send files or other types of test data to the buyer's telephone. The system also comprises second communication means 5, of the cable type, satellite type or the like, between the aforementioned telephone exchange 4 and the Internet telecommunication network. Connected to this network are the electronic processors 6 which enter, into the network, data and any other type of commercial information on products and services put on sale. Via Internet it is moreover possible to exchange commercial information between the seller and the buyer, such as orders, confirmations and cancellations. However, for maximum security of the buyer, data regarding bank parameters or credit cards will not travel in Internet.

The telephone operator, who acts in the Internet site, has also available means for the identification of the commercial telephone operator, with whom he will have signed a contract guaranteeing the commercial telephone operator that the merchandise or service sold shall effectively be paid for by the telephone operator himself, or else by the provider, by the bank equipped with suitable apparatus, or by whomsoever is running the said service. These means may be of a known type, such as sending files or data via Internet, or using other known ways, such as ordinary telephone lines, confirming the order by telephone or via fax.

If necessary, the security system may also include readers of magnetic or electronic badges containing personal codes or other identification systems that are encrypted and associated to the buyer's electronic processor or telephone receiver. The telephone communication means used can be of the analog and/or digital type, and fixed phones or mobile phones may be used, as well as optical or infrared telecommunication means, according to the situation of the telephone network in the areas where the Internet service is activated. It is also advantageous to envisage a system for monitoring the status of the transaction through electronic means for processing the data regarding the transaction itself, and possibly for interrupting the said transaction on the part of the buyer should the latter deem it expedient.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. System for identification of transactions made via telephone communications, in particular operations for buying and selling merchandise or services, comprising at least one first personal computer (1 ) designed to transmit data and information in connection with at least one telephone telecommunication apparatus (2), at least one telephone line (3) designed to connect the said communication means to at least one telephone exchange (4) belonging to an intermediary operator, first electronic means for unique identification of the said telephone line and/or of said personal codes, second communication means (5) between the said telephone exchange and a telecommunication network of the type used for accessing Internet, to which electronic processors (6) are connected adapted to handle data, exchange commercial information and monitor the status of the transactions, and comprising second means for identification of the said commercial telephone operator. 2. System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a reader of magnetic or electronic cards containing encrypted personal codes or other identification systems, which is associated to said first electronic processor or to said telephone telecommunication means. 3. System according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said first identification means consist of an electrical or electronic test signal which is sent from the said telephone exchange to the telephone telecommunication means. 4. Method for the identification of transactions made via telephone communications, in particular of buying and selling operations, comprising the following phases: a) processing and issuing of a purchasing order by means of the activation of a first personal computer (1 ); b) conversion of the order into electronic signals; c) transmission of the said electronic data by means of at least one telephone telecommunication apparatus (2) and one telephone line (3), to at least one telephone exchange (4) of a commercial telephone operator; d) activation of first electronic means for univocal identification of the said telephone line (3) and/or of personal codes corresponding to the said purchasing order; e) storage of the data regarding the purchase using electronic storage means; f) transmission of the data regarding the purchase through second means of communication from the said telephone exchange (4) to a telecommunication network, connected to Internet; g) entry and processing of the said data in second electronic processors (6) connected to Internet to exchange commercial information and perfect a sale operation; h) identification of the contractual authorization of the said commercial telephone operator through second identification means associated to the said electronic processors; i) monitoring, by electronic processing means, of the data regarding the transaction with the purpose of appropriately recording the status of the latter, and possibly, of modifying the said status.