WO2014111620A1

WO2014111620A1 - Method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event

Info

Publication number: WO2014111620A1
Application number: PCT/FI2013/050061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vihtori Lehtonen
Original assignee: Vihtori Lehtonen
Priority date: 2013-01-21
Filing date: 2013-01-21
Publication date: 2014-07-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event, such as for paying for purchases to a seller party electronically, when the customer makes a payment with a portable data processing unit (TL), such as a mobile phone, palm computer or the like, preferably by a communications operator (TO) or the like. A payment setup receiving the payment comprises a payment device (X), which comprises a data processing unit (1 ) provided with a physical user interface (3) in connection therewith, whereby during the payment event, a payment amount to be paid by the customer forwarded to the payment device is processed with the data processing unit by contacting the communications operator or the like in order to invoice the customer for the payment amount, to forward the payment to the seller party and to receipt the payment event as being finished.

Description

Method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event according to the preambles of the independent claims related thereto.

Nowadays, e.g. ordinary cash terminals in shops usually enable the customer to pay his/her purchases in addition to cash also e.g. with a credit or debit card. However, at present, it is also possible for the customer to pay, e.g. for parking fees, with his/her mobile phone via his/her communications operator, e.g in a way that invoicing is done e.g. in connection with the customer's monthly phone subscription invoice.

Especially in mobile phone use, a balance limit may be set between the client and the telephone operator for a specific phone subscription, which balance limit means that when the balance limit is surpassed during an invoicing period, the phone may not be used for phone calls before the next invoicing period, unless the customer e.g. abbreviates his/her accumulated invoicing. On the other hand, the telephone operator's interest is usually that the mobile phone's invoice accumulation does not get too high, which is why pre-set telephone operator specific credit limits are applied today especially with private persons. On the other hand, e.g. for companies it is possible to set their phone numbers chargeable in a way that the part surpassing the telephone operator's invoicing is left for the company. This demands e.g. under Finnish legislation, however, that the customer is informed about the phone number being subject to charge and about the invoicing principles.

Today, there are different kinds of arrangements for paying that enable a payment to be carried out by the customer using his/her mobile phone. In this context, it is known e.g. from the international application publication WO 03/081548 that the seller calls the client and gives the customer a PIN number, which the customer has to use in the payment, when, after the seller's call, he/she calls to a "correctly charged" phone number given by the seller in the seller's call. Such an arrangement is very slow and difficult especially due to the fact that the sales clerk has to firstly find out the customer's phone number and secondly, after that, to call the customer, after which the customer has to remember the PIN number and phone number given in the phone call, to which phone number he/she then has to call separately. In this case, the problem is additionally that, that e.g. during a queuing situation, keeping the customer's phone number as information between the customer and the sales clerk may be impossible in practice.

On the other hand, a solution known e.g. from an international patent application publication WO 01/95591 demands a specific program in the customer's data processing device, when operating in the same way as explained above, which is very difficult to apply today in practice and represents in itself already outdated technique.

Furthermore, in patent application publication US 2003/0022655 is presented furthermore a payment arrangement to the purpose described above, which arrangement is, however, very confusing as a practical application. In this solution, the customer is able to select from a menu of the cash terminal the payment to take place via his/her mobile phone invoicing. This solution is also based on a specific code given to the customer by the sales clerk, in addition to which, in said solution, the customer probably has to, in practice, make several phone calls in order to carry out the payment . Furthermore, the solution presented in Patent US 6,206,283, to be used in an electrical payment event in question, requires a specific type of an electrical paying card to be connected to the customer's mobile phone, so that he/she would be able to use said payment arrangement. Therefore, this solution does not provide an electrical payment arrangement to be easily put to use today, either. It is an aim of the method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event according to the present invention to achieve a decisive improvement in the problems described above and thus to raise essentially the level of prior art. In order to carry out this aim, the method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event according to the invention, are mainly characterized by what has been presented in the characterizing parts of the independent claims related thereto. As the most important advantages of the method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event according to the invention may be mentioned simplicity and efficiency of the technique and practical application of the same in a way that the payment event may be executed, as it were, electrically even faster than the present payment arrangements e.g. by using a mobile phone. The invention furthermore enables the payment to be made in an "intimate" way between the customer and the sales clerk without additional conversation or the like communication, when the customer does not have to forward information to the seller to be left after, either. Therefore, the payment event may be executed even more confidentially than with the present payment arrangements, because presently asked credential registrations, e.g. when paying with a debit or a credit card, are avoided as the payment event is carried out thoroughly protected. In this way, after the initializing of the phone number of the payment device's, such as a cash terminal's, communications unit, as the customer calls the payment phone call to the phone number of the payment device's communications unit e.g. with his/her mobile phone, said payment phone call's opening rate is forwarded e.g. via a telephone operator to be charged from the customer in a way he/she has chosen. In this context, the initializing message to be sent, e.g. by the sales clerk, regarding the payment is advantageously possible to be forwarded e.g. with a secured connection by using an internet, intranet, modem connection or a wired or a wireless telephone network, to the party, e.g. a telephone operator, controlling the prices of the payment phone calls coming to the cash terminal. The above mentioned functions may be executed in a thoroughly protected manner by the sales clerk without the need for additional exchange of information between the customer and the sales clerk.

The invention therefore enables a highly flexible and, during a rush situation, fast payment method thanks to its completely electrical in nature execution that does not require significant updating of the hardware or programs on the seller's part, as the customer is able to, on the other hand, carry out his/her payments with an ordinary mobile phone without any kind of additional applications . Other advantageous embodiments of the method and arrangement according to the present invention have been presented in the dependent claims related thereto.

In the following description, the invention is being illustrated in detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which: in figure 1

is shown a general operating ^' principle of the method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event according to the invention, in figure 2a - 2d

are shown some exemplary operating principles of alternative embodiments of the invention, and in figure 3

is shown an advantageous practical execution of the invention in a "comic strip form".

The invention relates, first of all, to a method for carrying out a payment event, such as for paying for purchases to a seller party electronically, when the customer makes a payment with a portable data processing unit TL, such as a mobile phone, palm computer or the like, advantageously via a wireless communications network maintained by a communications operator TO or the like. The payment setup receiving the payment comprises a payment device X, such as a cash terminal provided with a change cash or the like, which comprises a data processing unit 1, such as a microprocessor or the like that is arranged operable by an operating system la and provided with a cash register software lb, and a physical user interface 3 in connection therewith, such as a keypad, a monitor and/or the likes. During the payment event, a payment amount to be paid by the customer forwarded to the payment device is processed with the data processing unit by contacting the communications operator or the like in order to invoice the customer for the payment amount, to forward the payment to the seller party and to receipt the payment event as being finished. According to the general operating principle shown in figure 1, the payment setup prepares an initializing message OM, such as an i/o-, text-, MMS-message and/or the like, about the payment amount, being set on the payment device X by such as a sales clerk, based on which message the payment amount of the payment event in question to be paid by the customer is initialized as a call opening rate for a phone call coming to a phone number PN of a communication unit 2 in the payment device, such as a gsm-, gprs-, 3G-, 4G-module or like, being connectable to the communications network, after which a confirmation CM is transmitted to the payment device X that initialization CM of a payment phone call has been accomplished.

After this, when the payment device X has received the confirmation on initialization CM, e.g. according to figure 3 by a request of the sales clerk, the customer makes the payment phone call CC with his/her data processing unit TL to the phone number 2; PN of the payment device's communication unit, wherein the call opening rate of this payment phone call is forwarded preferably via a telephone operator To or like in order to be paid by the customer. After this the payment end confirms CM the payment to be finished and the customer takes his/her purchases and leaves the shop.

As an advantageous embodiment of the method, the initializing message OM concerning the amount to be paid is transmitted by exploiting an internet-, intranet-, modem connection or a telephone network to an instance controlling the rates of incoming phone calls to the communication unit's phone number 2; PN, such as to a communications operator TO or the like.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment of the method, especially with reference to what is shown in the operating diagram 2a, the initializing message OM and the call opening rate for the payment phone call are handled by a communications operator TO or the like, which after preforming a payment readiness check of the customer, registers the payment amount for the customer to pay in the invoicing to be transmitted to him/her, after which the payment event is receipted PC as being finished to the payment device X.

Furthermore, as an advantageous embodiment, especially with reference to the operating diagrams according to figures 2a - 2d, the initializing message OM regarding the amount to be paid is transmitted to an instance that invoices the customer, such as a bank, financial institution, credit company and/or the like, by means of which the phone number 2; PN of the payment device's communication unit is initialized preferably via a communications operator TO or the like.

In this case, the payment device X provides the communication unit's phone number 2; PN with information to an instance invoicing the customer, such as an IMEI-code and phone number or the like identification information, of the customer's device that was used in making the payment phone call CC, whereby the invoicing instance receipts receiving the information and after checking the customer's payment readiness forwards the amount to be paid to be charged from the customers bank-, funds reservation-, deposit-, credit account or the like, whereafter the payment event is receipted PC as being finished to the payment device X.

The invention, second of all, relates to an arrangement for carrying out a type of a payment event described above, as the payment device X of the arrangement comprises a communication unit 2, such as a gsm- , gprs- , 3G-, 4G-module and/or the like, being connectable to a communications network, in which a call opening rate of incoming payment calls are arranged to be initialized by forming to the payment device X an initializing message OM, such as an i/o-, text-, MMS- message and/or the like concerning the payment amount being set on the payment device X, by such as a sales clerk, based on which message a call opening rate for a payment phone call CC regarding the payment event at hand that comes to a phone number 2; PN of the payment device's communication unit, is adjustable to the amount to be paid by the customer.

The cash register software lb in the payment device X is arranged to enable a payment to be made on the customer's data processing unit TL by arranging the call opening rate for the payment phone call CC of the payment event at hand, being made by the customer to a phone number 2; PN of the customer's payment device's communication unit to be paid by the customer, such as to be charged from the customer's bank, _. funds reservation, deposit, credit account or by the communications operator TO or like in connection with the invoicing that is transmitted to him/her.

The method according to the invention is embodied from the point of view of the customer as follows:

- The customer goes to the shop and collects his/her purchases at the checkout .

- The checkout personnel receives the purchases and forms the final sum on the cash terminal.

- The customer chooses the payment method 'phone', from the alternatives cash, card and phone.

- In case the mobile phone subscription has charge, the cash terminal prints out a receipt and marks the payment as finished. In case there is no balance left in the subscription or it is a pre-paid subscription, it may not be used to call said number, and, after a while, the cash terminal gets a confirmation of refusal from the communications operator. On the other hand, the corresponding operating logic of the payment method according to the invention is e.g. as follows:

- When the cash terminal has chosen the payment method, the receipt information and the final sum are sent from the cash terminal to inform the communications operator .

- Then, the communications operator knows that the next phone call coming to the cash terminal's number costs as much as the receipt's final sum, and sends a notification to the cash terminal about being ready to receive the customer's phone call.

- The customer calls the cash terminal's number, which is now initialized to cost as much as the receipts final sum.

- The cash terminal's number answers and ends the call immediately, when the operator knows that the owner of the device having this phone number and IMEI-code is responsible for this purchase and that said amount may be charged in the customer's next invoice.

- The communications operator sends a confirmation of the confirmation of the payment to the cash terminal, or in case the phone is unsuitable for paying, such as a prepaid, or the phone call does not come in a set time limit, it sends a notification of refusing the same .

Furthermore, the order of events in the embodiment according to the operating diagram 2a is as follows:

1. The customer brings the products to the checkout.

2. The checkout forms a receipt and sends a request of initialization to the communications operator.

3. The operator receipts that the initialization is finished.

4. The sales clerk informs that the system is ready for receiving payment .

5. The customer calls the checkout's number. 6. The checkout's end device informs the operator of the customer's number.

7. The operator confirms that the information of the customer's device, such as the IMEI-code and phone number, are received and that the payment is ok.

8. The customer gets the items.

9. The operator collects the payment regarding the items from the customer in the next invoice.

10. The customer pays the invoice to the operator. 11. The operator pays for the items to the seller.

Correspondingly, when done according to diagram 2b:

1. The customer brings the products to the checkout.

2. The checkout forms a receipt and sends a request of initialization via the communications operator to a third party invoicing the customer.

3. The third party receipts that the initialization is finished.

4. The sales clerk informs that the system is ready for receiving payment.

5. The customer calls the checkout's number.

6. The checkout ' s end device informs the third party via the operator the information of the customer's device, such as the IMEI-code and phone number.

7. The third party receipts that the customer's information is received and that the payment is ok.

8. The customer gets the items.

9. The third party invoices the operator, which in its part invoices the customer for the items in the next invoice.

10. The customer pays the invoice to the operator, which in its part pays it to the third party.

11. The third party pays for the items to the seller.

Furthermore, when acting according to diagram 2c:

1. The customer brings the products to the checkout. 2. The checkout forms a receipt and sends a request of initialization via the communications operator to a third party invoicing the customer.

3. The third party confirms that the initialization is finished.

4. The sales clerk informs that the system is ready for receiving payment .

5. The customer calls the checkout's number.

6. The checkout's end device informs the third party via the operator the information of the customer's device, such as the I EI-code and phone number.

7. The third party receipts that the customer's information is received and that the payment has been charged from the customer's account.

8. The customer gets the items.

9. The third party pays for the items to the seller.

Furthermore, according to what is shown in diagram 2d, the seller may also act as the third party. In the functioning diagrams 2c and 2d the reference Al means that the customer has established an account and an agreement with the third party and has stored money on his/her account. It is clear that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown or described above, but instead it can be modified in various ways within the limits of the basic idea, e.g. by using instead of the services of the communications operator, set internet connections to execute some phases of the payment event. It is naturally also clear that instead of calling the payment device, the customer may also send a text message to the number given by the sales clerk, which may, in practice, especially from the point of view of the customer, be more difficult to execute than the embodiments described above, depending, however, on the customer and the mobile phone he/she has in use etc .

Claims

Claims :

1. Method and arrangement for carrying out a payment event, such as for paying for purchases to a seller party electronically, when the customer makes a payment with a portable data processing unit (TL) , such as a mobile phone, palm computer or the like, preferably via a wireless communications network maintained by a communications operator (TO) or the like, wherein a payment setup receiving the payment comprises a payment device (X) , such as a cash terminal provided with a change cash or the like, which comprises a data processing unit (1), such as a microprocessor or the like that is arranged operable by on an operating system (la) and provided with a cash register software (lb) , and a physical user interface (3) in connection therewith, such as a keypad, a monitor and/or the like, whereby during the payment event, a payment amount to be paid by the customer forwarded to the payment device is processed with the data processing unit by contacting the communications operator or the like in order to invoice the customer for the payment amount, to forward the payment to the seller party and to receipt the payment event as being finished, characterized in that, the payment setup prepares an initializing message (OM) , such as an i/o-, text-, MMS-message and/or the like, about the payment amount, being set on the payment device (X) by such as a sales clerk, based on which message the payment amount of the payment event in question to be paid by the customer is initialized as a call opening rate for a phone call coming to a phone number (PN) of a communication unit (2) in the payment device, such as a gsm-, gprs-, 3G-, 4G-module or the like, being connectable to the communications network, after which a confirmation (CM) is transmitted to the payment device (X) that initialization (CM) of a payment phone call has been accomplished.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after the payment device (X) has received the confirmation on initialization (CM) , the customer makes the payment phone call (CC) with his/her data processing unit (TL) to the phone number (2; PN) of the payment device's communication unit, wherein the call opening rate of this payment phone call is forwarded preferably via a telephone operator (To) or the like in order to be paid by the customer.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the initializing message (OM) concerning the amount to be paid is transmitted by exploiting an internet-, intranet-, modem connection or a telephone network to an instance controlling the rates of incoming phone calls to the communication unit's phone number (2; PN) , such as to a communications operator (TO) or the like.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that, the initializing message (OM) and the call opening rate for the payment phone call are handled by a communications operator (TO) or the like, which after preforming a payment readiness check of the customer, registers the payment amount for the customer to pay in the invoicing to be transmitted to him/her, after which the payment event is receipted (PC) as being finished to the payment device (X) .

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that, the initializing message (OM) regarding the amount to be paid is transmitted to an instance that invoices the customer, such as a bank, financial institution, credit company and/or the like, by means of which the phone number (2; PN) of the payment device's communication unit is initialized preferably via a communications operator (TO) or the like.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that, the payment device (X) provides the communication unit's phone number (2; PN) with information to an instance invoicing the customer, such as an IMEI-code and phone number or the like identification information of the customer's device that was used in making the payment phone call (CC) , whereby the invoicing instance receipts receiving the information and after checking the customer's payment readiness forwards the amount to be paid to be charged from the customers bank-, funds reservation-, deposit-, credit account or the like, whereafter the payment event is receipted (PC) as being finished to the payment device (X) .

7. Arrangement for carrying out a payment event , such as for paying for purchases to a seller party electronically, which enables a customer to make a payment with a portable data processing unit (TL) , such as a mobile phone, palm computer or the like, preferably via a wireless communications network maintained by a communications operator (TO) or the like, wherein a payment setup receiving the payment comprises a payment device (X) , such as a cash terminal or the like, which comprises a data processing unit (1) , such as a microprocessor or the like that is arranged operable by an operating system (la) and provided with a cash register software (lb) , and a physical user interface (3) in connection therewith, such as a keypad, a monitor and/or the like, whereby during the payment event, a payment amount to be paid by the customer, being set on the payment device is processable with the data processing unit by contacting the communications operator or the like in order to invoice the customer for the payment amount, to forward the payment to the seller party and to receipt the payment event as being finished, characterized in that, the payment device (X) comprises a communication unit (2), such as a gsm-, gprs-, 3G-, 4G-module and/or the like, being connectable to a communications network, in which a call opening rate of incoming payment calls are arranged to be initialized by forming to the payment device (X) an initializing message (OM) , such as an i/o-, text-, MMS-message and/or the like concerning the payment amount being set on the payment device (X) , by such as a sales clerk, based on which message a call opening rate for a payment phone call (CC) regarding the payment event at hand that comes to a phone number (2; PN) of the payment device's communication unit, is adjustable to the amount to be paid by the customer.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that, the cash register software (lb) in the payment device (X) is arranged to enable a payment to be made on the customer's data processing unit (TL) by arranging the call opening rate for the payment phone call (CC) of the payment event at hand, being made by the customer to a phone number (2; PN) of the customer's payment device's communication unit to be paid by the customer, such as to be charged from the customer's bank, funds reservation, deposit, credit account or by the communications operator (TO) or the like in connection with the invoicing that is transmitted to him/her.