WO2001057747A1 - Electronic transaction system - Google Patents

Electronic transaction system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001057747A1
WO2001057747A1 PCT/IL2001/000102 IL0100102W WO0157747A1 WO 2001057747 A1 WO2001057747 A1 WO 2001057747A1 IL 0100102 W IL0100102 W IL 0100102W WO 0157747 A1 WO0157747 A1 WO 0157747A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
transaction
customer
data
cash register
vendor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2001/000102
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2001057747A8 (en
Inventor
Benjamin Tel-Vered
Original Assignee
Ranit T.S.-Technical Services Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ranit T.S.-Technical Services Ltd. filed Critical Ranit T.S.-Technical Services Ltd.
Priority to AU32191/01A priority Critical patent/AU3219101A/en
Publication of WO2001057747A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001057747A1/en
Publication of WO2001057747A8 publication Critical patent/WO2001057747A8/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/04—Billing or invoicing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/04—Payment circuits
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G06Q20/325—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices using wireless networks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to transaction verification and billing systems
  • the present invention seeks to provide a method and system for effecting electronic transactions between a vendor and a customer with no transaction size limitations and wherein the transaction is performed via the customer's communications device and the associated communications service provider, with no need for the customer to provide a separate identifying card such as a credit card
  • a method of effecting a transaction between a vendor and a customer which includes the following steps selecting at least one item for purchase, entering item-associated data into a cash register associated with the vendor; establishing a communications link between a mobile telephone unit associated with the customer and a telephone interface device connected between the cash register and a telephone line associated with the vendor, entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, customer validating information and transaction information, including a transaction sum, verifying customer validating information and the transaction information, and debiting the mobile telephone account of the customer and crediting a preselected vendor account by an amount corresponding to the transaction sum
  • the step of verifying transaction information includes the substep of comparing the item-associated data entered into the cash register with analogous transaction data entered via the mobile telephone unit
  • the method includes, after the step of crediting, the step of providing a readable confirmation of the transaction to the customer and, if required, to the vendor
  • the step of establishing a communications link includes the substeps of: contacting, via the mobile telephone unit, the telephone line associated with the vendor; entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, a transaction code to identify the call as a transaction call; and routing the identified transaction call to the telephone interface device.
  • the step of establishing includes the substeps of either: retrieving, from the selected cash register connected with the telephone interface device, or entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, a code identifying a selected cash register on which said step of entering item-associated data was performed, and verifying, via the code identifying a selected cash register, that the selected cash register is associated with the telephone interface device.
  • a telephone interface device connecting a cash register and a telephone associated with the vendor from whom a customer has selected an item or items for purchase and a system employing the telephone interface device, for performing the abovementioned method of enacting a transaction a vendor and a customer, by means of a communications device associable with a communications service provider associated with the customer, which includes: a cash register associated with the vendor; and the telephone interface device which is connected between the cash register and a telephone associated with the vendor.
  • the telephone interface includes: a front end module to route incoming calls on the phone line associated with the vendor and a processing module for processing transaction calls which includes: a data processor, a data storage device, and programs for processing transaction-associated data and customer validating data and for generating transaction commands.
  • the telephone interface device is operative, via the processing module, to perform the following operations: receive and store, in the data storage device, item- and transaction-associated data, including a transaction sum, from the cash register; receive, via the phone line associated with the vendor, customer validation data, for customer authorization either by verifying the customer validation data or by receiving a customer validation code generated by a communications service provider via the phone line associated with the vendor, and transaction data, including a transaction sum, from the communications device associated with the customer; verify the transaction data by comparing it to the item-associated data from the cash register; and generate and send transaction codes to debit a communications services account with the communications service provider associated with the customer and to credit a preselected vendor account by an amount corresponding to the transaction sum.
  • the front end module is further operative to recognize transaction-associated calls coming from the communications device associated with the customer and pass them to the processing module of the telephone interface device for processing and to route all other calls to a fixed wire telephone unit associated with the vendor.
  • the telephone interface device is further operative to generate, via the cash register, a readable confirmation of the transaction to the customer and, if required, to the vendor.
  • the item-associated data and the transaction data include a code to identify the cash register, this code further serving to associate the cash register with the telephone interface device and to allow verification that the cash register is associated with the telephone interface device.
  • the vendor may have a number of cash registers which may each be associated with a telephone interface device or which may all be associated with one telephone interface device, and this code serves to identify the specific cash register whereby the transaction is effected
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transaction system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a flow chart of a transaction performed using the transaction system of Figure 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart of telephone call processing performed by the transaction system of Figure 1
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a block diagram of a system, referred to generally as 10, for effecting a transaction between a vendor and a customer, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • the transaction system 10 of the present invention has three parties to a transaction a vendor 12, a customer 14, and a communications service provider 16
  • communications service provider 16 is a cellular telephone service provider, but alternatively, it may be any communications service provider that can connect a user, in this case the purchaser, to a telephone, in this case that of the vendor, for example, a paging or other electronic message service
  • Vendor 12 has a cash register 122 which is connected to a telephone interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the system 10 of the present invention
  • Customer 14 has a communications device 142, having associated therewith an account with a communications service provider 16
  • communications device 142 is a cellular telephone with an associated telephone account with a cellular telephone service provider 16, although it may be
  • a method of effecting transactions between vendor 12 and customer 14, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown schematically in the flow chart in Figure 2.
  • the step in the method of linking communication device and interface, referenced as 23, is shown in greater detail in the flowchart of Figure 3.
  • steps of the method shown in the flow charts in Figures 2 and 3 are indicated by reference numbers in parenthesis, while parts of the system shown in Figure 1 are followed by inline reference numbers.
  • vendor 12 After customer 14 has selected an item or items for purchase from vendor 12 (21), vendor 12 enters details of the item or items into cash register 122 as in any standard credit transaction (22). Customer 14 then uses cellular telephone 142 to call the telephone number of vendor 12 (23) (31) and enters a predetermined code, via the keypad of cellular telephone 142 to identify the call as a transaction call, as well as a password or personal identification number (PIN) for security and verification purposes.
  • the cellular telephone service provider 16 system detects the transaction code (32) and validates cellular telephone 142 of customer 14 by verifying that the PIN entered is the correct one for the customer's cellular phone number (34). Transaction calls for which customer validation fails are simply not put through (35), i.e. connected, while calls without the transaction code are put through as standard calls (33).
  • telephone interface device 124 Associated with the telephone line of vendor 12 is telephone interface device 124 which has a front end module 126, which may be implemented either in software or hardware, for receiving and routing all incoming calls and a processing module 125 for processing of transaction calls. Standard calls are routed to a fixed wire telephone 127 (33) which is located on the vendor premises, and calls identified as transaction calls are passed through to processing module 125 of telephone interface device 124 (23) (36), which includes data storage, a processor, and programs, for further processing of transaction calls. Processing module 125 of telephone interface device 124 is also associated with cash register 122 via both a physical connection and a cash register identification code to allow transactions and charges only from an authorized cash register 122 (37).
  • each cash register is provided with an identifying code which allows association with a particular telephone interface device 124 for processing transactions therefrom.
  • telephone interface device 124 may be associated with a plurality of cash registers, and the cash register identification codes allow proper accounting of transactions performed on different cash registers.
  • customer 14 enters, via the keypad of cellular telephone 142 or by means of voice recognition input therewith, data about the current transaction (24), including at least the transaction sum.
  • customer 14 enters the transaction sum when making the call, together with the transaction code and the PIN, and, in the event of authorization, the transaction sum is passed through directly to telephone interface device 124.
  • the transaction data is passed from cash register 122 to telephone interface device 124, which compares it with the transaction data entered via cellular telephone 142 (26). If the sums for the transaction match, the transaction is authorized. Alternatively, additional transaction data may be compared and checked. Customer 14 may also be prompted to confirm the transaction via cellular telephone 142.
  • Telephone interface device 124 sends the authorized transaction amount and other details of the transaction as needed to communications service provider 16, which bills or debits the telephone account of customer 14 by an amount equal to the transaction sum (27) and authorizes credit of an amount equal to the transaction sum to a preselected account 128 designated by vendor 12 for that purpose (28).
  • preselected vendor account 128, is a telephone account, to take advantage of the common practice of telephone service providers crediting and debiting multiple telephone service providers for calls and services provided and handled by a number of telephone service providers.
  • Cash register 122 may also issue a printed receipt of the transaction for customer 14 and optionally for vendor 12 (29).
  • cellular communications provider 16 may, by prior agreement, collect fees from vendor 12 and possibly customer 14 for providing the above described transaction service.
  • Customer 14 benefits from the convenience of being able to make purchases of any size through an existing account with communications service provider 16 and having all these transactions appearing on one statement from cellular telephone service provider 16.
  • Vendor 12 benefits from increased business volume because of the ease of performing transactions, especially low value transactions which credit card companies do not normally handle.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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  • Economics (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
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Abstract

A method and system for effecting electronic transactions between a vendor and a customer with no transaction size limitation and wherein the transaction is performed via the customer's communications device and the associated communications service provider, with no need for the customer to provide a separate identifying card such as a credit card. The customer telephones the vendor (23), and enters the transaction into the mobile phone (24). After verification (25, 26), the customer's account is debited (27), and the vendor's account credited (28).

Description

Electronic Transaction System
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to transaction verification and billing systems
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic transactions, such as those performed via credit and debit cards, have become common Clearly, it is of great convenience to customers if they need not carry large amounts of cash One limitation often encountered by customers, however, is the size of the transaction Credit card companies typically have a minimum transaction value that they will accept Transaction size limitations are also imposed by vendors, because of transaction fees they must pay to credit card companies Many small retail businesses, for example, grocery stores, may not accept credit cards for this reason Both vendors and customers would benefit from the ready availability of electronic transactions with no size limitation
A logical extension of the convenience to a customer of not carrying cash would be not to need to carry credit cards at all The so-called "electronic wallet" was to be a step in that direction, wherein one smartcard would replace cash and a collection of credit cards, but it has not gained wide acceptance, perhaps because of the need for a mechanically intricate, and therefore, expensive, reader and interface
A convenient means to effect cashless transactions of any size, acceptable to both vendors and purchasers, would be valuable to both and would encourage increased trade
Electronic transactions have been addressed by a number of existing patents, for example, U S Patent Numbers 5,892,891, 5,903,830, 5,805,719, and 5,557,518, but the issues addressed are enhanced security and verification systems and methods in using credit and debit cards or the like, or in accessing computer systems TJ S Patent Number 5,204,902 teaches a cellular telephony authentication arrangement which is merely a security arrangement for use of cellular telephone communication SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a method and system for effecting electronic transactions between a vendor and a customer with no transaction size limitations and wherein the transaction is performed via the customer's communications device and the associated communications service provider, with no need for the customer to provide a separate identifying card such as a credit card
There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of effecting a transaction between a vendor and a customer which includes the following steps selecting at least one item for purchase, entering item-associated data into a cash register associated with the vendor; establishing a communications link between a mobile telephone unit associated with the customer and a telephone interface device connected between the cash register and a telephone line associated with the vendor, entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, customer validating information and transaction information, including a transaction sum, verifying customer validating information and the transaction information, and debiting the mobile telephone account of the customer and crediting a preselected vendor account by an amount corresponding to the transaction sum Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of verifying transaction information includes the substep of comparing the item-associated data entered into the cash register with analogous transaction data entered via the mobile telephone unit
Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes, after the step of crediting, the step of providing a readable confirmation of the transaction to the customer and, if required, to the vendor Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of establishing a communications link includes the substeps of: contacting, via the mobile telephone unit, the telephone line associated with the vendor; entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, a transaction code to identify the call as a transaction call; and routing the identified transaction call to the telephone interface device. Additionally, the step of establishing includes the substeps of either: retrieving, from the selected cash register connected with the telephone interface device, or entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, a code identifying a selected cash register on which said step of entering item-associated data was performed, and verifying, via the code identifying a selected cash register, that the selected cash register is associated with the telephone interface device.
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a telephone interface device connecting a cash register and a telephone associated with the vendor from whom a customer has selected an item or items for purchase and a system employing the telephone interface device, for performing the abovementioned method of enacting a transaction a vendor and a customer, by means of a communications device associable with a communications service provider associated with the customer, which includes: a cash register associated with the vendor; and the telephone interface device which is connected between the cash register and a telephone associated with the vendor. The telephone interface includes: a front end module to route incoming calls on the phone line associated with the vendor and a processing module for processing transaction calls which includes: a data processor, a data storage device, and programs for processing transaction-associated data and customer validating data and for generating transaction commands. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the telephone interface device is operative, via the processing module, to perform the following operations: receive and store, in the data storage device, item- and transaction-associated data, including a transaction sum, from the cash register; receive, via the phone line associated with the vendor, customer validation data, for customer authorization either by verifying the customer validation data or by receiving a customer validation code generated by a communications service provider via the phone line associated with the vendor, and transaction data, including a transaction sum, from the communications device associated with the customer; verify the transaction data by comparing it to the item-associated data from the cash register; and generate and send transaction codes to debit a communications services account with the communications service provider associated with the customer and to credit a preselected vendor account by an amount corresponding to the transaction sum.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front end module is further operative to recognize transaction-associated calls coming from the communications device associated with the customer and pass them to the processing module of the telephone interface device for processing and to route all other calls to a fixed wire telephone unit associated with the vendor. The telephone interface device is further operative to generate, via the cash register, a readable confirmation of the transaction to the customer and, if required, to the vendor.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the item-associated data and the transaction data include a code to identify the cash register, this code further serving to associate the cash register with the telephone interface device and to allow verification that the cash register is associated with the telephone interface device. Additionally, the vendor may have a number of cash registers which may each be associated with a telephone interface device or which may all be associated with one telephone interface device, and this code serves to identify the specific cash register whereby the transaction is effected
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a transaction system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 2 is a flow chart of a transaction performed using the transaction system of Figure 1 , and
Figure 3 is a flow chart of telephone call processing performed by the transaction system of Figure 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a block diagram of a system, referred to generally as 10, for effecting a transaction between a vendor and a customer, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention The transaction system 10 of the present invention has three parties to a transaction a vendor 12, a customer 14, and a communications service provider 16 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, communications service provider 16 is a cellular telephone service provider, but alternatively, it may be any communications service provider that can connect a user, in this case the purchaser, to a telephone, in this case that of the vendor, for example, a paging or other electronic message service Vendor 12 has a cash register 122 which is connected to a telephone interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the system 10 of the present invention Customer 14 has a communications device 142, having associated therewith an account with a communications service provider 16 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, communications device 142 is a cellular telephone with an associated telephone account with a cellular telephone service provider 16, although it may be some other communication device that is associated with a communications service provider and that allows data input; for example, a paging device with a keypad or one that has voice recognition capability. In the following description, customer communications device 142 is referred to as a cellular phone or cellphone, but this is done strictly by way of example.
A method of effecting transactions between vendor 12 and customer 14, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown schematically in the flow chart in Figure 2. The step in the method of linking communication device and interface, referenced as 23, is shown in greater detail in the flowchart of Figure 3. In the following description, steps of the method shown in the flow charts in Figures 2 and 3 are indicated by reference numbers in parenthesis, while parts of the system shown in Figure 1 are followed by inline reference numbers.
In accordance with the present invention, after customer 14 has selected an item or items for purchase from vendor 12 (21), vendor 12 enters details of the item or items into cash register 122 as in any standard credit transaction (22). Customer 14 then uses cellular telephone 142 to call the telephone number of vendor 12 (23) (31) and enters a predetermined code, via the keypad of cellular telephone 142 to identify the call as a transaction call, as well as a password or personal identification number (PIN) for security and verification purposes. The cellular telephone service provider 16 system detects the transaction code (32) and validates cellular telephone 142 of customer 14 by verifying that the PIN entered is the correct one for the customer's cellular phone number (34). Transaction calls for which customer validation fails are simply not put through (35), i.e. connected, while calls without the transaction code are put through as standard calls (33).
Associated with the telephone line of vendor 12 is telephone interface device 124 which has a front end module 126, which may be implemented either in software or hardware, for receiving and routing all incoming calls and a processing module 125 for processing of transaction calls. Standard calls are routed to a fixed wire telephone 127 (33) which is located on the vendor premises, and calls identified as transaction calls are passed through to processing module 125 of telephone interface device 124 (23) (36), which includes data storage, a processor, and programs, for further processing of transaction calls. Processing module 125 of telephone interface device 124 is also associated with cash register 122 via both a physical connection and a cash register identification code to allow transactions and charges only from an authorized cash register 122 (37). If the cash register identification code does not match that authorized for processing module 125 of telephone interface device 124, no transaction calls will be processed (38). Alternatively, customer 14 enters, via cellular telephone 142 keypad, the cash register identification code for cash register 122 whereby the selected items are being purchased, and processing module 125 of telephone interface device 124 verifies that the entered code matches that for the cash register associated therewith. For a vendor having multiple cash registers, each cash register is provided with an identifying code which allows association with a particular telephone interface device 124 for processing transactions therefrom. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, telephone interface device 124 may be associated with a plurality of cash registers, and the cash register identification codes allow proper accounting of transactions performed on different cash registers.
Once communication is established between purchaser cellular telephone 142 and telephone interface device 124 (23), so as to inherently authorize the cellular phone 142 for use in performing the transaction (25) via cash register 122 (39), customer 14 enters, via the keypad of cellular telephone 142 or by means of voice recognition input therewith, data about the current transaction (24), including at least the transaction sum. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, customer 14 enters the transaction sum when making the call, together with the transaction code and the PIN, and, in the event of authorization, the transaction sum is passed through directly to telephone interface device 124. At the same time, the transaction data is passed from cash register 122 to telephone interface device 124, which compares it with the transaction data entered via cellular telephone 142 (26). If the sums for the transaction match, the transaction is authorized. Alternatively, additional transaction data may be compared and checked. Customer 14 may also be prompted to confirm the transaction via cellular telephone 142.
Telephone interface device 124 sends the authorized transaction amount and other details of the transaction as needed to communications service provider 16, which bills or debits the telephone account of customer 14 by an amount equal to the transaction sum (27) and authorizes credit of an amount equal to the transaction sum to a preselected account 128 designated by vendor 12 for that purpose (28). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, preselected vendor account 128, is a telephone account, to take advantage of the common practice of telephone service providers crediting and debiting multiple telephone service providers for calls and services provided and handled by a number of telephone service providers. Cash register 122 may also issue a printed receipt of the transaction for customer 14 and optionally for vendor 12 (29).
In practice, cellular communications provider 16 may, by prior agreement, collect fees from vendor 12 and possibly customer 14 for providing the above described transaction service. Customer 14 benefits from the convenience of being able to make purchases of any size through an existing account with communications service provider 16 and having all these transactions appearing on one statement from cellular telephone service provider 16. Vendor 12 benefits from increased business volume because of the ease of performing transactions, especially low value transactions which credit card companies do not normally handle.
It will further be appreciated, by persons skilled in the art, that the scope of the present invention is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described hereinabove, merely by way of example. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims, which follow.

Claims

1 A method of effecting a transaction between a vendor and a customer, including the steps of selecting at least one item for purchase, entering item-associated data into a cash register associated with the vendor, establishing a communications link between a mobile telephone unit associated with the customer and a telephone interface device connected between the cash register and a telephone line associated with the vendor, entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, customer validating information, entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, transaction information, including a transaction sum, verifying customer validating information, verifying transaction information; debiting the mobile telephone account of the customer an amount corresponding to the transaction sum, and crediting a preselected vendor account by the amount corresponding to the transaction sum
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a communications link includes the substeps of contacting, via the mobile telephone unit, the telephone line associated with the vendor, entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, a transaction code to identify the call as a transaction call, and routing the identified transaction call to the telephone interface device
3 A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of verifying transaction information includes the substep of comparing the item-associated data entered into the cash register with analogous transaction data entered via the mobile telephone unit.
4. A method according to claim 1, said step of establishing further includes the substeps of: retrieving from the selected cash register connected with the telephone interface device a code identifying a selected cash register on which said step of entering item-associated data was performed; and verifying, via the code identifying a selected cash register, that the selected cash register is associated with the telephone interface device
5. A method according to claim 1, said step of establishing further includes the substeps of entering, via a data entry device associated with the mobile telephone unit, a code identifying a selected cash register into which item-associated data was entered, and verifying, via the code identifying a selected cash register, that the selected cash register is associated with the telephone interface device
6 A method according to claim 1, further including, after said step of crediting, the step of providing a readable confirmation of the transaction to at least one of the customer and the vendor
7. A system for effecting a transaction between a vendor and a customer who has selected at least one item for purchase from the vendor, by means of a communications device associable with a communications service provider associated with the customer, including at least one cash register associated with the vendor; at least one telephone interface device connected between said at least one cash register and a telephone associated with the vendor, wherein each said telephone interface device includes a front end module to route incoming calls on the phone line associated with the vendor, and a processing module for processing transaction calls which includes programs for processing transaction-associated data and customer validating data and for generating transaction commands, a data processor for running said programs, and
a data storage device associated with said data processor for storing said programs and data required for processing transaction-associated data and customer validating data, wherein said telephone interface device is operative, via said processing module, to receive and store, in said data storage device, item- and transaction-associated data, including a transaction sum, from said cash register, receive, via the phone line associated with the vendor, customer validation and transaction data, including a transaction sum, from the communications device associated with the customer, perform customer authorization in a predetermined manner, verify said transaction data by comparing it to said item-associated data from said cash register, and generate and send transaction codes to debit a communications services account with said communications service provider associated with the customer by an amount corresponding to the transaction sum and to credit a preselected vendor account the amount corresponding to the transaction sum
. A system according to claim 7, wherein said telephone interface device is operative, via said front end module, to perform customer authorization in a predetermined manner that is selected from the group consisting of: verifying said customer validation data; and receiving, via the phone line associated with the vendor, a customer validation code generated by a communications service provider.
9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said front end module is operative to recognize transaction-associated calls coming from the communications device associated with the customer and pass them to the processing module of said telephone interface device for processing and to route all other calls to a fixed wire telephone unit associated with the vendor.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said item-associated data and said transaction data include a code to identify a selected cash register, said code further serving to associate said selected cash register with said telephone interface device and to allow verification that said selected cash register is associated with said telephone interface device.
11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said at least one cash register is a multiplicity of cash registers and wherein said code to identify a selected cash register is a code to identify a selected cash register from said multiplicity of cash registers whereby the transaction is effected.
12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said at least one telephone interface device is a multiplicity of telephone interface devices, each associated with a predetermined one of said multiplicity of cash registers and wherein said code to identify a selected cash register is a code to identify a selected cash register from said multiplicity of cash registers whereby the transaction is effected
A system according to claim 7, wherein said telephone interface device is further operative to generate, via said cash register, a readable confirmation of the transaction to at least one of the customer and the vendor
A telephone interface device connected between a cash register and a telephone associated with a vendor from whom a customer, having a communications device associable with a communications service provider associated with the customer, has selected at least one item for purchase therefrom, which includes a front end module to route incoming calls on the phone line associated with the vendor and a processing module for processing transaction calls which includes programs for processing transaction-associated data and customer validating data and for generating transaction commands, a data processor for running said programs, and a data storage device associated with said data processor for stoπng said programs and data required for processing transaction-associated data and customer validating data, wherein said telephone interface device is operative, via said processing module, to receive and store, in said data storage device, item- and transaction-associated data, including a transaction sum, from said cash register, receive, via the phone line associated with the vendor, transaction and customer validation data, including a transaction sum, from the communications device associated with the customer, perform customer authorization in a predetermined manner,
verify said transaction data by comparing it to said item-associated data from said cash register, and
generate and send transaction codes to debit a communications services account with said communications service provider associated with the customer by an amount corresponding to the transaction sum and to credit a preselected vendor account the amount corresponding to the transaction sum
A telephone interface device according to claim 14, wherein said telephone interface device is operative, via said front end module, to perform customer authorization in a predetermined manner that is selected from the group consisting of verifying said customer validation data, and receiving, via the phone line associated with the vendor, a customer validation code generated by a communications service provider.
A telephone interface device according to claim 14, wherein said front end module is operative to recognize transaction-associated calls coming from the mobile phone unit associated with the customer and pass them to the processing module of said telephone interface device for processing and to route all other calls to a fixed wire telephone unit associated with the vendor
A telephone interface device according to claim 14, wherein said item-associated data and said transaction data include a code to identify a selected cash register, said code further serving to associate said selected cash register with said telephone interface device and to allow verification that said selected cash register is associated with said telephone interface A telephone interface device according to claim 14, wherein said telephone interface device is further operative to generate, via said cash register, a readable confirmation of the transaction to at least one of the customer and the vendor.
PCT/IL2001/000102 2000-02-03 2001-02-01 Electronic transaction system WO2001057747A1 (en)

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