CA2361489A1

CA2361489A1 - Method of effecting cashless payments and a system for implementing the method

Info

Publication number: CA2361489A1
Application number: CA002361489A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Mathias Entenmann
Original assignee: Paybox.Net Ag; Mathias Entenmann
Current assignee: Payboxnet AG
Priority date: 1999-02-02
Filing date: 2000-02-01
Publication date: 2000-08-10
Also published as: EP1149367A1; CZ301247B6; MXPA01007779A; ZA200105872B; WO2000046768A1; HRP20010568A2; HU227291B1; AU2800400A; DE19903822C2; TR200102216T2; BR0007964A; DE19903822A1; ME01248B; YU54801A; CN1204535C; JP2002541535A; NO20013777L; HUP0105475A2; RU2242795C2; NO20013777D0

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for simple but secure cashless payment, especially at different locations, and a system for implementing the method. In the method according to the invention an amount of money is read in at a merchant station and transmitted to a comparing device together with an identification code of the merchant station, the data being stored in the interim at the comparing device. The payer sends the identification code of the merchant station through a mobile cell phone to the comparing device, which compares the identification code with that of the stored data and. transmits the corresponding amount of money to the cell phone. Confirmation of the payment is requested there and transmitted to the comparing device, which transmits a corresponding account entry to an account keeping device. The system for implementing the method includes a cell phone, which operates in cell phone network, a merchant station and a comparing device, which can be connected to the cell phone and the merchant station through telecommunications and/or data links.

Description

_ CA 02361489 2001-08-02 PCT/~p~o/ Oo ~ ~2 Method of effecting cashless payments and a system for implementing the method This invention relates to a method of effecting cashless payments.and a system for implementing the method. .
Cashless payment commerce has increased greatly in recent years for various reasons.
Among these, purchases no longer have to carry large amounts of cash with them, in order to be able to make big purchases, so that for one thing the risk of theft is reduced arid for the other impulse purchases become possible. For the vendor, the handling of large cash sums is obviated.
The simplest means of payment of this kind, the check, is however not very secure, since checks are easily stolen and can be used improperly for example after forging the signature.
Moreover their use is troublesome for the purchaser and the merchant.
Accordingly, among other things, credit cards have been introduced, with which the card-holder having a valid credit card can "pay" through his signature in combination with the number of the credit card, or often with only the number. The risk of misuse is high here also, since no .
strong security mechanisms are included. In addition to the signature, an authorization center is often called up by the merchant, so that he can ascertain whether or not the card is stopped.
On account of the high fees and the fact that a credit card holder must always have been granted a certain amount of credit, smart cards, which at present are also sometimes called cash cards, have been developed. Encryption technology is used in these chip cards, in order to be able to store amounts of money in the card so that the card. can only be charged up by authorised institutions. In order to pay out larger amounts, a PIN is provided, which is checked directly from the chip card on payment. This kind of payment requires a not inconsiderable outlay, since a network of charging stations has to be set up. Moreover the merchants have to acquire corresponding reading stations.
In patent application WO 98/47116 there is described a method of effecting payments by a customer to a merchant by means of telecommunication devices, as well as corresponding apparatus for implementing the method. In this method the customer firstly establishes a m.,obile cell phone connection to a so-called tele-pay device through a cel I phone.
This-device then calls over the established connection for a merchant identification code and an amount to pay. The tele-pay device stores this transaction data in the interim and sends requests for confirmation to the customer and to the merchant - after setting up a suitable communication link and transmission of a transaction code specific to this transaction and the amount to be confirmed. After reception of confirmation the amount is transferred from a bank specified by a customer entry to a data-bank of the tefe-pay device to a bank specified by a merchant input, or the first bank is instructed to effect the transfer. For security the geographic position of the mobile cell phone is determined either by

-2-determination of the radio cell in which the telephone is located, or by GPS
and compared with a Iist or allowed locations. This method is in the first place technically complex in relation to the determination of location and secondly the customer has to provide a comparatively large amount of information over the cell phone, which can be tedious and prone.to error on account of the mostly small keys and display. Moreover no further data regarding the transaction;, e.g. the purpose of the payment or the like, can be entered simply.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method which is simple, especially for the customer, but secure, for cashless payment, especially at different locations, and a system for implementing the method. As to the customer, the progressing of the transaction is to be effected by means of a simple confirmation, e.g. by PIN entry, without complex information entry or other operating steps being required. In addition as little new infrastructure as possible (hardware or software) is to be required both on the merchant side and on the customer side and in the most favorable case the present day equipment with point-of sale terminal devices should suffice.
This object is met by a method with the features of claim I, which can be implemented by a system with the features of claim 18.
In contrast to the use of credit cards, it is not possible for the merchant to use for later transactions the data exchanged during the connection because of the required mobile cell phone connection of limited duration and the entry of the confirmation during this time.
Furthermore it is possible to effect the payment by use of the comparing device, without the data relevant to security of the customer reaching the merchant. To this extent the method allows anonymous payment.
Furthermore purchasers who already have a mobile cell phone with a SIM card can perform the method very simply and cheaply. A particular advantage of the method lies in that mobile cell phones with 5IM cards are already very widespread, so that a large user base can pay by the method according to the invention without further investment or PINS to be remembered.
In addition the merchant station is technically very simple, since in the simplest case an electronic till with an online payment facility is sufficient on the merchant side for carrying out the invention. Likewise computers with modems and suitable software for example can serve as if~erchant stations. Furthermore a second mobile cell phone is suitable as a simple merchant station. Thus a simple and secure cashless payment is possible.
Moreover, although there is frequently spatial proximity between the merchant station and the mobile cell phone this is not necessary.
Furthermore, the customer no longer has to enter the amount to be paid himself. The method according to the invention has this advantage over the method according to W0/47116, since the price

-3-of goods is as a rule acquired today at the till automatically from the price ticket or using a barcode or other characterization read by a reader connected to the till, so that repeated acquisition of the purchase price can be avoided.
The object is further met by a method and a system for implementing the method with the features according to claims 3 and 19 respectively.
Except for the advantage of anonymous payment, the second method has the same advantages as the first method; moreover there is the advantage that the entries by the mobile cell phone user are minimal, since he is called.
However, in contrast to the first method, the identification code associated with the SIM card I 0 does get to the merchant.
The object is further met by a method and a system for implementing the method with the features according to claims 6 and 20 respectively.
- The expression "interface for wireless data transmission" also embraces, as it does generally in this application, also corresponding devices for processing data, i.e.
reading out of a memory and transmission or reception and writing into a memory. Special software adapted to the merchant station or the mobile cell phone can be included in this. The wireless transmission can be effected by various media, e.g. light in the infrared or visible region, micro or radio waves or even ultrasound. When using micro or radio waves "BLUETOOTH" is especially preferred as the interface.
Practically non-directional transmission is then possible, requiring no visible contact between the mobile cell phone of the customer and the merchant station. When'using light, an IrDA or AIr interface is .preferred as the interface, where the transmission is effected by infrared radiation in a restricted spatial angular range using a specific protocol, which on the one hand reduces interference and on the other reduces the scope for manipulation.
As well as the advantages of the first method, the advantage of this method is that the manufacturer does not need to learn any kind of data from the purchaser while at the same time the purchaser does not have to enter the data of the merchant himself.
In the first and second methods it can be necessary to read in the identification code of the comparing device in the first step. However the identification code of the comparing device can be stored, so that when only one comparing device is involved, a connection is made to this automatically on the basis of the stored identification code, or - when several comparing devices are involved - it is only necessary to select one from among those stored.
Preferred embodiments of the method and. of the system for implementing the method are characterized in the dependent claims 2, 4, 5, 7-17 and 21 and 22.
Cell phones are to be understood in this applications as including combinations ofcell phones with other electronic apparatuses, such as electronic notebooks or generally terminal devices in a mobile radio network with a telephone component. However an essential feature is that the apparatus can only be operated using a SIM card, which is preferably protected by a PIN.
SIM cards are to be understood generally as so-called system or subscriber identification module cards, on which are stored the data necessary for a cell phone connection, especially the details identifying the terminal and which are to be entered in the cell phone in order to be able to operate it in the con esponding network. This preferably involves apparatuses according to the GSM standard but other standards can also be used, which employ encrypted transmission of data and protection of the mobile cell phone access through data stored in the form of a SIM card for example and preferably further using access control through a PIN. In general in this application by a mobile cell phone with a SIM card I O characterized by an identification code denoting it are further understood such mobile radio terminal apparatuses which comprise fixed, built-in components with the abovementioned function of a SIM
card, i.e. in which the details needed for a cell phone connections are stored, especially the data - identifying the terminal.
In the simplest case the identification code associated with or identifying the SIM card can comprise the telephone number of the cell phone. In a further embodiment however another identification code determined by the user of the telephone can be used, e.g, identification code of the network operator and a unique identification code in the domain of the network operator such as the account number with the network operator.
Especially in the first and third methods, identification codes are preferred in each case which are stored in the SIM card and are automatically transmitted. Confirmations or establishment of a connection in the third embodiment can then only be effected over a connection made to this SIM
card, which substantially increases the security, since in the first place passwords alone are very easily misused and in the second place using the ideritification code without the SIM
card is not readily possible because of the automatic call for or transmission of an identification code stored in the SIM
card, and SIM cards with their content are not easy to forge. By using a mobile cell phone with such a S1M card only the holder of the SIM card can provide the confirmation for the payment from an account associated with the SIM card. Further security fies.on that mobile cell phones with a SIM card are usually protected by a P1N stored on the SIM card, which is to be entered when initiating use.
Since mobile radio connections cannot be intercepted, or only with very great difficulty, manipulation of the radio connection is more or less ruled out.
The data which is to be output can equally be effected by speech output or in the form of graphical or text communications, which can for example be shown on the display of the cell phone, The comparing device must transmit the data in a suitable form to the cell phone for this.
Data, especially the confirmation information, can be entered in the cell phone by speech, for which the comparing.device must have a speech recognition device, or the form ofkey presses, which -$_ are decoded differently. Thus the information can also be entered by the multi-frequency tone (touch tone) method or by SMS service through keys of the mobile cell phone.
The display of the information and the input of data can in particular be menu-controlled, if the comparing device and the mobile cell phone are adapted for this.
Preferably also for graphically presented menus use can be made of for example WAP (wireless applications protocol), also the HTT
or XC protocol (where no connection is made to the Internet however).
In addition it is possible to combine the confirmation information with further security queries, such as for example passwords, PIN's, a Secure ID card, biometric tests such as finger print tests, speech or speaker recognition or other security devices.
The merchant station comprises an input and an output device as well as an interface for connection to comparing devices and is identified by an identification code.
For the data connections to the comparing devices pure data links can be used but any other suitable kind of - telecommunications connection can also be used. The interfaces are then designed accordingly. In particular the merchant station can be a station which can make mobile cell phone connections and I 5 in the simplest case it is also simply a mobile cell phone.
Instead of transmitting the identification code of the merchant station, it is also possible in a preferred embodiment to transmit the name and location of the merchant station to the cell phone and to output it there, after reading out the name and location of the merchant station on the basis of the merchant station identification code from a table stored in the comparing device.
In the first and second methods the connection of the merchant station to the comparing device can be permanent or be made before or only after input of the appropriate information. This step is then considered to be part of the first transmission step from the merchant station to the comparing device. In the latter case the connection between the comparing device and merchant station is broken again after transmission of the confirmation information, which is considered as part of the transmission step to the merchant apparatus.
If no connection to the cell phone is made in the first or second solution, the transaction is broken off. In this case a suitable code is preferably sent to the merchant station, where a corresponding message is issued.
In a preferred embodiment of the first or second methodahe merchant can also easily transmit the reason for the transaction or supplementary information therewith to the comparing device. In particular, when articles are recognized by article references in conjunction with an article data bank, e.g. through article numbers and/or corresponding barcodes, the merchant can very easily transm it this data together with the amount to be paid to the comparing device, which this then passes on to the customer. This would not be readily possible in a method such as in W0198471 16, which starts out from a cell phone.

In a preferred embodiment of the first and second methods and the corresponding systems, the cell phone and the merchant station have interfaces through which identification codes can be transmitted from one apparatus to the other by wireless means. Instead of input of the identification codes the corresponding identification code can be transmitted by the interface from one apparatus to the other, at the latest in the step in which otherwise an identification code would be entered manually. In the case of the first method the merchant can transmit through this interface not only his identification code but also further supplementary information on the transaction to the cell phone, so that the customer does not have to make any further inputs, i.e. merchant identification code, amount, etc.
. The interfaces for the wireless data transmission can be of analog form as in the third method, only the processing of the data being suitably modified.
The 1R interface in the cell phone is so designed that the identification code of the SIM card can be output through the interface by a key-press on the phone andlor an identification code can be read in through the IR interface, stored and can be sent during an existing telephone connection on a key-press, if desired together with the identification code of the SIM card.
Corresponding memory and calling functions are preferably also present in the merchant station.
In a particularly preferred- embodiment of the third method and of the system adapted to implement it, the merchant station and cell phone are so designed that both the identification code of the merchant station and also further information, especially the amount of money, are transmitted from the merchant station to the cell phone by the wireless connection, especially an IR connection, and can be stored there temporarily. Furthermore the cell phone is so designed that the stored data can be accessed and transmitted while the connection exists. In the third method only the identification code of the SIM card then needs to be entered.
The comparing device includes interface devices for data connections to the merchant stations and also for mobile radio links as well as further merchant and subscriber checking devices for checking the identification codes from merchant stations and SIM cards authorised for this service, a transaction memory device for storing open transactions, a connection to an account keeping device and a control device which oversees all processing steps and the control over the individual.devices.
The comparing device also has an identification code identifying it, in the simplest case a telephone number or an IP address.
The interface devices involve devices through which a connection to a corresponding subscriber can be made and operated. Depending on the network employed they can be simple analog operating modulator/demodulators, but with digital networks however other, digitally operating interface devices are used.
The comparing device comprises subscriber and.merchant checking devices, with the aid of which it is possible to check whether a subscriber or a merchant station is authorised for the method.
This can involve subscriber or merchant memory devices, in which are stored at least the identification codes of the SIM cards and the merchant stations authorised for this service.
In the simplest case these can be simple files or data banks in which further information associated with an identification code can also be stored.
1n a preferred embodiment the identification code of a SIM card and the account number for the account keeping device associated therewith is stored in each case in the subscriber memory device. If the identification code of the SIM card is not its telephone number, this is also stored with the identification code. The control device then transmits to the account keeping device not the I 0 identification code of the SIM card but the account number corresponding to the identification code, on the basis of the information in the subscriber memory device.
Correspondingly the identification code of a merchant station and the account number - associated therewith for the account keeping device can be stored in the merchant memory device. The control device then transmits to the account keeping device not the identification code of the merchant I S station but account identifying data corresponding to the identification code, in Germany for example the account number and bank code number, on the basis of the information in the merchant memory device. This applies correspondingly to the subscriber memory device.
The account keeping device can be integrated with the comparing device in a preferred embodiment, which allows a compact construction and very rapid processing of the transaction data 20 with little interference.
As to the transaction data, in the method this involves the amount of money and the merchant station identification code for example, and in the second and third methods the subscriber identi .fication code as well.
In a further preferred embodiment of the first method or the system for implementing the first 25 method, an open trarASaction is stored only for a certain time. If there is no confirmation within this time, the open transaction is cancelled and the merchant station involved in this open transaction is informed that the transaction has been abandoned. Thus closeness in time of the individual connections is necessary, as a further security measure.
In a further preferred embodiment the cell phone network and the comparing device are so 30 designed that the comparing device can determine the telephone number of the SIM card of the cal ling mobile cell phone and its telephone number is used as an identification code for the SIM card, In this case the entry ofthe identification code ofthe SIM card in the mobile cell phone in the various variant methods can be dispensed with and instead the telephone number of the SIM card is always determined in the comparing device. At the same time, in the first and third methods, this then ensures 35 that only the holder of the SIM card can confirm the transaction.

-$-The comparing device is preferably so designed that manual intervention by operator personnel is possible to deal with method errors.
The merchant station and the comparing device are preferably so designed that they can perform several of the various method variants.
As well as tire arrangement described above the necessary data or telephone communication networks must also be present, in order to be able to carry out the method. In this sense they are also components of the system for implementing the method.
The methods according to.the invention can also be used to particular advantage~~to effect payments over the Internet, since spatial proximity between the cell phone and the merchant device does not have to exist - or in this case the computer used for the Internet connection is to be regarded as part of the merchant device.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a system accordingto one embodiment ofthe invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a merchant station of the system according to Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the comparing device in Fig. l, Figs. 4a and 4b show a greatly simplified schematic representation of a method according to one embodiment of the first method according to the invention, Figs. 5a and Sb show a greatly simplified schematic representation of a method according to one embodiment of the second method according to the invention, and Fig. 6 shows a greatly simplified schematic representation of a method according to one embodiment of the third method according to the invention.
In Fig. 1 a system according to a first embodiment of the invention includes a mobile cell , phone 2 with a SIM card and an IR interface, a merchant station 1 with an IR
interface and a comparing device 3. The identification code of the mobile cell phone can be transmitted from the phone to the merchant station via an IR link between their IR interfaces.
The comparing device 3 can be connected to the mobile cell phone.2 through a mobile radio fink and to the merchant station I through a data link.
The three devices, merchant station I, comparing device 3 and~mobile cell phone 2, or more precisely the SIM.card therein, have identification codes identifying them, which are in the present embodiment the telephone numbers ofthe merchant station, the comparing device and the mobile cell phone. However IP addresses for example could be used instead of the telephone numbers.
The mobile cell phone 2 includes a SIM card for a given telephgne network, -as is known per se and usual - which has to be activated by input of a PIN, as well as an IR
interface well known per se for data interchange. It is so therefore arranged that it can transmit the data transmitted and stored through the IR interface, on a request therefor during an existing telephone connection. It is activated to implement the method in the corresponding mobile radio network.
In Fig. 2 the merchant station 2 comprises an input device 5, e.g. a keyboard, an output device

4, e.g. a display device such as a monitor for example, and an infrared interface b, which is so designed that a data exchange with the cell phone is possible through it, as well as an interface 8 for a data link. A control device 7 is connected to the other devices and processes the inputs, issues data to be displayed to the output device 4 and receives or transmits data over the IR interface 6 and/or the data interface 8 in dependence on inputs from the input device 5 or the other interfaces.
The comparing device 3 in Fig. 3 includes and interface device 9 for data connections to merchant stations and an interface device 14 for mobile radio links, a transaction data memory 10 for temporary storage of transaction data, a merchant checking device in the form of a merchant memory device 11 for storing merchant identification codes and corresponding account numbers, a subscriber checking device in the form of a subscriber memory device 12 for storing subscriber identification - codes and corresponding account numbers, a connection to an account keeping device 15, and a control device 13 for processing and exchanging data ofthe abovementioned devices of the comparing device. In the simplest case this can be a PC or other computer with suitable telecommunications interface cards and corresponding software.
The control devices 7 and 13 of the merchant station and the comparing device respectively are so designed that they perfann the steps of the payment process. Different forms of the control device arise, depending on the method.
The course of a payment transaction according to an embodiment of the first method is shown in the following.
Figs. 4a and 4b show a rough summary of the course of the method in tabular form, wherein the sequentially following method steps in the individual system components of mobile cell phone 2, comparing device 3 and merchant station 1 are shown one below the other in corresponding columns.
In essence an amount of money and a merchant identification code are transmitted .from the merchant station 1 to the comparing device 3 and stored there in the interim after checking the merchant identification code. The merchant identification code is read in from the mobile cell phone 2, before or after making a connection to the comparing device 3, depending on the design of the cell phone; this can also be effected by speech input and this code is transmitted together with the identification code ofthe SIM card to the comparing device, where the identification code ofthe SIM
card is checked. By comparing the merchant station identification code with those in the temporarily stored data the amount of money to be transferred is determined, sent to the mobile cell phone 2 and output there. After input of confirmation information this is transmitted to the comparing device 3, which sends the data to the merchant station 1 and transmits the data to an account keeping device I S
in dependence on the confirmation information.

In detail the method according to this embodiment proceeds as follows:
Initial ly an amount of money to be paged and the identification code for the comparing device 3 are entered into the merchant station 1 through the input device S, whereupon the identification code for the merchant station 1 and the amount of money are transmitted as transaction data to the comparing device 3 with this identification code, by means of the controller 7, after making a data connection to the comparing device 3 through the data connection interface 8 and the data connection.
The data are received in the comparing device 3 through the interface 9 for the data connection.
After comparing the merchant identification code with the merchant identification codes entered in the merchant memory 11 to check the legitimacy of this merchant station for the service, the transaction data is written by the control device 13 in the transaction data memory device 10 of the comparing device, as an open transaction. Before input of the data to the merchant station I or at the latest after making the connection to the comparing device 3, the identification code, i.e. the telephone number of the merchant station is transmitted through the infrared interface 6 to the cell phone 2. A connection is made from the mobile cell phone 2 to the comparing device 3 and the stored identification code of the merchant station 1 and the identification code of the cell phone are transmitted to the comparing device 3. Should the transmission over the infrared interfaces temporarily fail to function, the identification code can also be entered through the keypad. This input can thus also be effected when using a cell phone without an IR interface.
The merchant station identification codetransmitted from the mobile cell phone 2 is compared in the comparing device 3 with the merchant, identification codes of the open transactions stored in ' w the transaction data memory device I 0. If such a transaction is not found the. process is terminated, otherwise the transaction data which is located is transmitted via the mobile radio interface to the mobile. cell phone and is output there. Furthermore the identification code of the mobile cell phone is compared with the subscriber identification codes entered in the subscriber memory 12, in order to determine whether the subscriber is permitted to use the service. If such permission does not exist the transaction is terminated and corresponding data are sent to the merchant station 1.
After a request for and entry of confirmation information through the keyboard of the mobile cell phone 2, the confirmation data are transmitted to the comparing device 3, which in turn transmits the confirmation information to the merchant station 1, where it is output.
A check is made in the control device 13 of the comparing device 3 as to whether the confirmation data correspond to a refusal or not. In the first case the transaction is terminated, in the second case the transaction data are read out of the transaction data memory 10, the identification codes of the merchant station and of the mobi le cel I phone are converted into account numbers on the basis of the data in the merchant and transaction data memories and the transaction data now with account number is passed to an account keeping device 15. The transaction is cleared from the transaction data memory 10.
A constant check is made in the comparing device 3 as to how long open transactions persist in the transaction data memory 10. If a predetermined time limit for an open transaction is exceeded, data is sent to the corresponding merchant station I, to show that the transaction has been denied and the open transaction is cleared from the transaction data memory 10.
The course of a payment transaction according to an embodiment of the second method is shown in tabular form in Figs. 5a and Sb, as a rough summary, wherein the sequential method steps in the individual system components of mobile cell phone, comparing device and merchant station are set out under one another in corresponding columns.
In essence the amount of money and the identification code of the merchant station 1 are read in, also the identification code of the SIM card via an IR interface 6, and transmitted to the comparing device 3. After checking the merchant identification code and the identification code of the SI:M card, this produces a connection to the cell phone 2 on the basis of the identification code of the SIM card and transmits the data, which are output from the cell phone 2. After entry of confirmation information and transmission to the comparing device 3 the confirmation information is transmitted to the merchant station 1 and the transaction data to the account keeping device 15.
In detail, the method according to this embodiment proceeds as follows:
As to the corresponding devices for performing the method, the schematic showings in Figs.
I to 3 apply again, however the, control devices 7 and 13 corresponding to the modified method have a different mode of operation.
At the merchant station 1 the amount of money to be paid, the identification code for the comparing device 3 and the identification code ofthe mobile cell phone 2, entered through the infrared interface.6, are read into the merchant station. After making the data link to the comparing device 3 the identification code of the merchant station, the identification code of the mobile cell phone and the amount of money.are transmitted as transaction data to the comparing device.
The data is received in the comparing device through the interface 9 for data links. The identification codes of the merchant station and of the SIM card are compared with the identification codes in the merchant memory 11 and subscriber memory 12 respectively, in order to determine whether the merchant and subscriber are authorised to participate in this service. In the absence of either of the.authorizations corresponding data is sent to the merchant station 1 and the transaction is terminated. Otherwise the data of the open transaction is written in the transaction data memory 10.
On the basis of the identification code of the SIM card a connection is made from the. comparing device to the mobile cell phone 2 and the transaction data is transmitted to the mobile cell phone, where the data is output through the mobile cell phone. If no connection can be made the transaction _12_ is terminated.
Confirmation information is requested through -the mobile cell phone 2 and the confirmation data which is entered is transmitted to the comparing device 3.
The comparing device 3 terminates the transaction if the confirmation data corresponds to a refusal or there is no reply, The confirmation information and optionally furthertransaction information are is transmitted at the merchant station I, while a termination is transmitted as a refusal.
The reason for tert' nination can optionally also be transmitted. The transmission of the transaction data is effected as in the first ' method.
i I 0 The course of a paymenttransaction according to an embodiment of the third method is shown in Fig. 6 in tabular form, as a rough summary, wherein the sequential method steps in the individual system components of mobile cell phone, comparing device and merchant station are set out under one another in corresponding columns.
In essence the identification code ofthe merchant station 1 is entered in the mobile cell phone 2, a connection to the comparing device 3 is made and the identification code of the merchant station 1 and that of the SIM card, as well as the amount of money entered through the mobile cell phone 2 are transmitted to the comparing device 3. After checking the identification codes this transmits at least the amount of money to the merchant station and corresponding transaction data to an account keeping device.
In detail the method according to this embodiment proceeds as follows:
The schematic showings of Figs. 1 to 3 again apply to the appropriate devices for performing the method, where however the control devices 7 and 13 have a different mode of operation corresponding to the modified method. Initially the identification code of the merchant station is initially transmitted. from the merchant station I via the IR connection to the cel l phone and is stored there temporarily. A connection is then made to the comparing device 3 through the cell phone 2.
The amount of money to be paid is then read in through the cell phone 2 and the identification code for the merchant station 1 and the identification code of the SIM card are transmitted to the comparing device. The comparing device 3 checks whether the merchant station 1 and the SIM card are registered for the service, on the basis of the merchant memory 11 and the subscriber memory 13, If this is not the case, the transaction is terminated, otherwise the account numbers are determined from the identification codes of the merchant station and the mobile cell phone or the SIM card from the merchant and subscriber memories respectively and these account numbers as well as the amount of money are passed on to the account keeping device I S.
The confirmed amount of money is then transmitted to the merchant station 1.

Claims

-13-

1. A method of effecting a cashless payment transaction by means of a merchant station (1) characterized by a merchant station identification code, a mobile cell phone (2) with a SIM
card characterized by an identification code identifying it, and a comparing device (3), which comprises a transaction data memory device (10), a merchant checking device (11) for checking the identification codes of the merchant stations authorised for this method, and a subscriber checking device (12) for checking the identification codes of the SIM cards authorised for this method and which is connected to account keeping devices (15), comprising the steps:
reading an amount of money to be paid into the merchant station, transmitting the identification code of the merchant station and at least the amount of money to the comparing device with this identification code through a data link, checking the authority of the merchant station for the method, using the merchant checking device, terminating the method in the absence of the authority, otherwise writing the data as an open transaction into the transaction memory device of the comparing device, making a connection from the mobile cell phone to the comparing device, transmitting the identification code of the merchant station and the identification code associated with the SIM card from the mobile cell phone to the comparing device, checking the authority of the SIM card for the method, using the subscriber checking device, in the absence of the authority terminating the method, clearing the open transaction from the transaction memory and transmitting corresponding data to the merchant station, otherwise comparing the merchant station identification code transmitted from the mobile cell phone with those of the open transactions stored in the transaction memory device and on failure to find such a transaction terminating the process and, on finding the process, transmitting the transaction data to the mobile cell phone, outputting the data through the mobile cell phone, requesting confirmation information through the mobile cell phone, transmitting the confirmation data to the comparing device, terminating the transaction and clearing the transaction from the transaction memory if the confirmation data corresponds to a refusal, and transmitting the transaction data from the transaction memory and the identification code of the mobile cell phone to an account keeping device and clearing the transaction from the transaction memory in the alternative case.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the merchant station (1) and the cell phone (2) have interfaces (6) for wireless transmission of data from the merchant station to the cell phone, and in that the identification code of the merchant station is transmitted to the mobile cell phone through these interfaces for wireless transmission before the mobile phone connection to the comparing device (3) is made, and in that the identification code stored there can be transmitted during the existence of the connection to the comparing device.

3. A method of effecting a cashless payment transaction by means of a merchant station (1) characterized by a merchant station identification code, a mobile cell phone (2) with a SIM
card and an identification code associated with the SIM card and a comparing device (3), which comprises a transaction memory device (10), a merchant checking device (11) for checking the identification codes of the merchant stations authorised for this method, and a subscriber checking device (12) for checking the identification codes of the SIM cards authorised for this method and, in the case in which the identification code of the SIM card is not its telephone number, for storing the telephone numbers associated with the SIM cards, and which is connected to account keeping devices (15), comprising the steps:
reading into the merchant station the amount of money to be paid and the identification code of a SIM card of a mobile cell phone, transmitting the identification code of the merchant station, the identification code of the mobile cell phone and at least the amount of money to the comparing device with this identification code over a data link, checking the authority of the merchant station for the method by comparison with the entries in the merchant checking device, checking the authority of the SIM card for the method using the subscriber checking device, terminating the method in the absence of authority, otherwise writing the data as an open transaction into the transaction memory device, in the case in which the identification code of the SIM card is not the telephone number, reading the telephone number out of the subscriber checking device on the basis of the identification code, making a connection from the comparing device to the mobile cell phone, transmitting the transaction data to the mobile cell phone, outputting the data by the mobile cell phone, requesting confirmation information through the mobile cell phone, transmitting the confirmation data to the comparing device, terminating the transaction if the confirmation data corresponds to a refusal, transmitting the confirmation and optionally further transaction data to the merchant station, transmitting the transaction data from the transaction memory and the identification code of the mobile cell phone to an account keeping device and clearing the transaction from the transaction memory.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the mobile cell phone (3) and the merchant station (1) comprise interfaces for wireless transmission of data and, at the beginning of the method, the identification code associated with the SIM card is transmitted from the mobile cell phone (3) through these interfaces to the merchant station (1) and is there so stored that it can be used in the following steps at the merchant station (1).

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transaction is broken off if confirmation information is not given within a predetermined time after transmitting the information from the merchant station to the comparing device.

6. A method of effecting a cashless payment transaction by means of a merchant station (1) characterized by a merchant station identification code, with an interface for a wireless data connection, a mobile cell phone (2) with a SIM card, an identification code associated with the SIM card and an interface corresponding to the interface for the wireless connection of the merchant station, and a comparing device (3), which comprises a transaction memory device (10), a merchant checking device (11) for checking the identification codes of the merchant stations authorised for this method, and a subscriber checking device (12) for checking the identification codes of the SIM cards authorised for this method and which is connected to account keeping devices (15), comprising the steps:
making a connection between the merchant station (1) and the cell phone (2) through the interfaces for wireless data connection and transmitting the merchant identification code to the cell phone, making a connection from the cell phone to the comparing device, checking the authorization of the SIM card for the method using the subscriber checking device, in the absence of authorization terminating the method, reading in an amount of money to be paid, the identification code for the merchant station and the identification code of the mobile cell phone and transmitting these to the comparing device, checking the authorization of the merchant station for the method using the merchant checking device, terminating the method in the absence of authorization, otherwise transmitting the identification codes of the merchant station and the mobile cell phone as well as the amount of money to an account keeping device, transferring the confirmed amount of money to the merchant station.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that as well as the merchant identification code, further data on the transaction is transmitted in the first step.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the identification code associated with the SIM card is also transmitted in the last step.

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless interface is an infrared interface.

10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless interface is a microwave interface.

11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that further supplementary transaction data is transmitted to the comparing device or mobile cell phone from the merchant station.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that when one of the necessary connections cannot be made, the transaction is terminated and if required the corresponding, stored open transactions in the transaction memory (19) of the comparing device (3) are cleared.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification codes are replaced by the corresponding data identifying the account before transmission to the account keeping devices (15).

14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when no connection can be made to the merchant station (1) or the mobile cell phone 2, at least one further attempt is made to make this connection and the process is only then terminated.

15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that when one of the connections cannot be made, a communication is given to the merchant station (1) or the mobile cell phone (1), before the procedure is terminated.

16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification code associated with the SIM card is an identification code stored on the SIM
card and identifying the card and the transmission of the identification code associated with the SIM
card takes place automatically in the transmission of data between the mobile cell phone (2) and the comparing device (3).

17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification code associated with the SIM card is its telephone number.

I 18. A system for implementing the method according to claim 1, including a merchant station (1) characterized by a merchant station identification code, a mobile cell phone (2) with a SIM card and an identification code characterizing the SIM
card, a comparing device (3), which comprises a transaction data memory device (10), a merchant checking device (11) for checking the identification codes of the merchant stations authorized for this method and a subscriber checking device (12) for checking the identification codes of the SIM cards authorized for this method and which is connected to account keeping devices (15), wherein the merchant station (1) comprises an input device and an output device (4, 5) and a device (8) for making a data connection to the mobile cell phone (2), the comparing device (3) further comprises interface devices (9) for data connection to merchant stations, interface devices (14) for mobile cell phone connections, as well as control devices (13), which after making a connection and transmitting transaction data from a merchant station, checks the authorization of the merchant station for the method, using the merchant checking device (11) and terminates the method in the absence of authorization but otherwise enters the transmitted transaction data in the transaction data memory device (10), on making a connection from a mobile cell phone (2) received the identification code of the SIM card, checks the authorization of the SIM card for the method using the subscriber checking device (12), and terminates the method in the absence of authorization, but otherwise compares the identification code with the entries in the transaction data memory device and, on finding a transaction with the same SIM card identification code, transmits the located transaction data to the mobile cell phone through the interface device for mobile cell phone connections and also sends a request for confirmation thereto, and receives the confirmation data through the interface device for mobile cell phone connections, interprets this as acceptance or refusal, transmits the confirmation information through the interface device to the merchant station and in the case of acceptance transmits the transaction data and the identification code of the mobile cell phone to the account keeping device.

19. A system for implementing the method according to claim 3, including a merchant station (1) characterized by a merchant station identification code, a mobile cell phone (2) with a SIM card and an identification code characterizing the SIM
card, and a comparing device (3), which comprises a transaction data memory device (10), a merchant checking device (11) for checking the identification codes of the merchant stations authorized for this method and a subscriber checking device (12) for checking the identification codes of the SIM cards authorized for this method, and if the identification code is not the telephone number, storing the telephone number, and which is connected to account keeping devices (15), wherein the merchant station (1) comprises an input device and an output device (4, 5) and a device (8) for making a data connection to the comparing device (3), the comparing device (3) further comprises interface devices (9) for data connection to the merchant stations, interface devices (14) for mobile cell phone connections, as well as control devices (13), which after making a connection and transmitting transaction data from a merchant station, checks the authorization of the merchant station for the method, using the merchant checking device, and the authorization of the SIM card for the method, using the subscriber checking device, and terminates the method in the absence of authorization, but otherwise enters the transmitted transaction data in the transaction data memory device, makes a connection through the interface device for mobile cell phone connections, corresponding to the identification code for the mobile cell phone contained in the transaction data, transmits the transaction data to the mobile cell phone and sends a request for confirmation to this, and receives the confirmation data through the interface device for mobile cell phone connections, interprets it as an acceptance or a refusal, in the case of acceptance transmits the confirmation information to the merchant station through the interface device and transmits the transaction data and the identification code of the mobile cell phone to the account keeping device.

20. A system for implementing the method according to claim 6, including a merchant station (1) characterized by a merchant station identification code, with an interface for wireless data transmission, a mobile cell phone (2) with a SIM card, an identification code characterizing the SIM card and an interface corresponding to the interface for wireless transmission of the merchant station, and a comparing device (3), which comprises a transaction data memory device (10), a merchant checking device (11) for checking the identification codes of the merchant stations authorized for this method and a subscriber checking device (12) for checking the identification codes of the SIM cards authorized for this method and which is connected to account keeping devices (15), wherein the merchant station (1) comprises an input device and an output device (4, 5) and a device (8) for making a data connection to the comparing device, the comparing device (3) further comprises interface devices (9) for data connection to the merchant stations, interface devices (14) for mobile cell phone connections, as well as control devices (13), which on making a connection from a mobile cell phone (2), receives the identification code of the mobile cell phone, the amount of money to be paid and the identification code of the merchant station, checks the authorization of the merchant station for the method, using the merchant checking device and the authorization of the SIM card for the method, using the subscriber checking device, and terminates the method in the absence of authorization, but otherwise transmits the amount of money through the interface device to the merchant station and transmits the amount of money, the identification code of the mobile cell phone and the identification code of the merchant station to the account keeping device and clears the corresponding transaction from the transaction data memory.

21. A system according to any of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the comparing device (3) comprises a subscriber checking device (12) in which is held the identification code of each mobile cell phone and the account number associated therewith in the account keeping device, and in that the control device transmits to the account keeping device the account number corresponding to the identification code, on the basis of the information in the subscriber checking device, rather that the identification code of the mobile cell phone.

22. A system according to any of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the comparing device (3) comprises a merchant checking device (11) in which is held the identification code of each merchant station and the account number associated therewith in the account keeping device, and in that the control device transmits to the account keeping device the account number corresponding to the identification code, on the basis of the information in the merchant memory device, rather than the identification code of the merchant station.