Patents Portfolio

U.S. Patent: 10,592,201


Patent Title

Mobile information apparatus supporting mobile payment having security based, at least in part, on device identification number, password or pin code, data encryption, and short physical distance wireless communication

Meta Information

Issued Date: March 03, 2020
Inventor: William Ho Chang et al
External Links: UPSTO, Google Patents

Technical Fields

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Abstract

A mobile information apparatus for making mobile payments associated with a credit card or bank card, via a near distance radio frequency wireless communication, is herein disclosed and enabled. At least part of payment information and part of a device identification number associated with the mobile information apparatus are stored in the mobile information apparatus with an encryption technique. To make a payment, a user moves the mobile information apparatus to within a limited local physical distance from a wireless output controller. The user authorizes the payment by providing, via an interface, an input such as a password, a pin code, a button, biometrics or an ID number. Subsequent to the user authorization, the mobile information apparatus releases the payment information and the device identification number, over a short range radio frequency communication link, directly from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller for payment and transaction processing.

Sample Claim

1. A mobile information apparatus operable for transmitting payments by short range wireless communication to a wireless output controller that is within a limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus, the wireless output controller being a separate device from the mobile information apparatus, the mobile information apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; operating system software executable by the one or more processors at the mobile information apparatus; an interface; an antenna for transmitting short range radio frequency signals to wireless controller devices that are within the limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus; wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly managing local short range wireless communication with the wireless controller devices that are within the limited physical distance from the mobile information apparatus; memory or storage storing data that includes at least part of payment information at the mobile information apparatus, the payment information includes at least a credit card or a bank card related to a user of the mobile information apparatus; and
software or firmware stored at the mobile information apparatus; wherein, upon execution of at least part of the software or the firmware by the one or more processors, the mobile information apparatus:

(1) wirelessly discovers, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the antenna and over short range wireless communication, the wireless output controller for establishing a short range radio frequency communication link, the wireless discovery of the wireless output controller is based, at least in part, on the mobile information apparatus being within the limited physical distance directly from the wireless output controller;

(2) establishes, using the wireless communication circuitry and via the antenna, the short range radio frequency communication link directly between the mobile information apparatus and the wireless output controller that is wirelessly discovered by the mobile information apparatus in (1), the establishing of the short range radio frequency communication link is for transmitting at least part of the payment information over the short range radio frequency communication link directly from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller;

(3) wirelessly provides, via the wireless communication circuitry and over the short range radio frequency communication link established in (2) and from the mobile information apparatus directly to the wireless output controller wirelessly discovered in (1), a device number or device identification that is device specific and associated with the mobile information apparatus, the wireless providing of the device number or the device identification is related, at least in part, to authenticating the mobile information apparatus to access services provided by the wireless output controller for processing payment transactions at the wireless output controller;

(4) generates, using the one or more processors at the mobile information apparatus, output data from the data that includes at least part of the payment information that is stored, at least partly, in the memory or the storage of the mobile information apparatus;

(5) encrypts, by the one or more processors at the mobile information apparatus, the output data generated in (4) for ensuring security of communication from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller for transaction management over the short range radio frequency communication link established in (2), and wherein the output data is related, at least in part, with the payment information stored at the memory or the storage of the mobile information apparatus, and the payment information is associated, at least partly, with the credit card or the bank card;

(6) receives, via the interface of the mobile information apparatus, at least an indication from the user of the mobile information apparatus for releasing the output data, that is encrypted in (5), from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller and over the short range radio frequency communication link established in (2), and wherein the output data is related, at least in part, to the payment information; and

(7) wirelessly transmits, via the wireless communication circuitry and over the short range radio frequency communication link established in (2), at least part of the output data encrypted in (5), directly from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller, for processing payment associated with the payment transactions, and wherein the receiving of the indication from the user in (6), via the interface of the mobile information apparatus, is subsequent to having encrypted the output data at the mobile information apparatus in (5); and

wherein the wireless transmission of at least part of the encrypted output data in (7), over the short range radio frequency communication link established in (2), is subsequent to having received the indication in (6), via the interface, from the user at the mobile information apparatus for releasing the output data, which is encrypted in (5), to the wireless output controller; and

wherein the wireless transmission of at least part of the encrypted output data in (7) over the short range radio frequency communication link established in (2) is further subsequent to having wirelessly provided the device number or the device identification to the wireless output controller in (3) for authenticating the mobile information apparatus to access the services provided by the wireless output controller.