System and Method for Facilitating Electronic Financial Transactions Using a Mobile Telecommunication Device

Abstract

A transaction processing system for processing a transaction between a supplier and a customer, said system comprising a supplier device for initiating the transaction, a system server and a mobile communication device, said device containing a message processing program module for enabling local verification of the transaction within the mobile device, wherein a transaction message is sent from the supplier device to the system server, a message requesting payment for the transaction is sent from the system server to the mobile communication device, the transaction is authorised and verified at the mobile telecommunications device from which a verification message is sent back to the system server, and the transaction is then processed.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A message processing program module, for use in a mobile communication device, which device forms part of a transaction processing system, said program module comprising:
 (a) mobile device data storage means containing a customer security criterion;   (b) message receiving means for receiving the a transaction request message from system server;   (c) transaction authorisation means adapted to:
 (i) extract transaction data and supplier identifying indicia contained in the transaction request message; 
 (ii) generate and display, on a visual display screen of the mobile communication device, a text message containing transaction data, the supplier identifying indicia and a request for a customer either to:
 authorise the transaction, by making a first pre-determined entry in a keypad of the mobile device, said predetermined entry including a secret identification parameter of the customer, or decline the transaction, by making a second pre-determined entry in the keypad; 
 
   (d) verification message generation means adapted to:
 (i) receive an authorisation order generated by the first pre-determined entry into the keypad; 
 (ii) following receipt of said authorisation order, verify that an identification parameter matches the customer security criterion in the mobile device data storage means and, if they do match, generate a verification message, said verification message containing contents of the transaction request message; and 
 (iii) encrypt the verification message to generate a secure verification message. 
   (e) decline message generation means adapted to:
 (i) receive a decline order generated by the second pre-determined entry into the keypad; and 
 (ii) generate and send a decline transaction message, following receipt of said decline order; and 
   (f) message transfer means for transferring the secure verification message or the decline message to the mobile communication device for sending to the system server.   
     
     
         56 . A message processing program module according to  claim 55 , wherein the customer security criterion is a personal identification number (PIN) of the customer. 
     
     
         57 . A message processing program module according to  claim 55 , wherein the secure verification message, sent from the mobile communication device to the system server, comprises a binary data stream. 
     
     
         58 . A transaction processing system, comprising:
 (a) a supplier device for initiating a transaction between a customer and a supplier;   (b) a transaction processing server adapted to process said transaction; and   (c) a system server adapted to receive messages from, and forward messages to, the supplier device, the transaction processing server and a mobile communication device;   wherein:
 (i) the supplier device is adapted so that, when initiating a transaction, the supplier device forwards a transaction initiation message to the system server; and 
 (ii) the system server is adapted so that: 
 after receiving said transaction initiation message, the system server sends a first transaction authorisation request to the mobile communication device; 
 the system server receives a secured first transaction verification message from the mobile communication device in response to said authorisation request; 
 upon receipt of said secured first transaction verification message, the system server sends a second transaction authorisation request to the transaction processing server; 
 the system server receives a second transaction verification message from the transaction processing server; and 
 provided the second transaction verification message satisfies predetermined criteria, the system server sends a first transaction approval message to said supplier device. 
   
     
     
         59 . A transaction processing system according to  claim 58 , said system being further adapted to send a second transaction approval message to said mobile communication device if the second transaction verification message satisfies predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         60 . A system server for facilitating an electronic financial transaction, said system server being adapted to communicate with a supplier device, a mobile communication device of a customer and a transaction processing server, wherein said system server is further adapted to:
 (a) receive a transaction initiation message from the supplier device, said message containing certain customer identifying indicia;   (b) identify the customer by reference to customer identifying indicia;   (c) send a first transaction authorisation request to the mobile communication device of the identified customer in response to receiving the transaction initiation message;   (d) receive a secured first transaction verification message from the mobile communication device;   (e) send a second transaction authorisation request to the transaction processing server;   (f) receive a second transaction verification message from the transaction processing server; and   (g) send a first transaction approval message to said supplier device if the second transaction verification message satisfies predetermined approval criteria.   
     
     
         61 . A system server according to  claim 60 , said server being further adapted to send a second transaction approval message to said mobile communication device if the second transaction verification message satisfies predetermined approval criteria. 
     
     
         62 . A method of facilitating an electronic financial transaction between a supplier and a customer, using a system server, which is adapted to communicate with a supplier device, a mobile communication device of a customer and a transaction processing server, wherein the system server performs the steps of:
 (a) receiving a transaction initiation message from the supplier device;   (b) sending a first transaction authorisation request to the mobile communication device in response to receiving the transaction initiation message;   (c) receiving a secured first transaction verification message from the mobile communication device;   (d) sending a second transaction authorisation request to the transaction processing server;   (e) receiving a second transaction verification message from the transaction processing server; and   (f) sending a first transaction approval message to said supplier device if the second transaction verification message satisfies predetermined approval criteria.   
     
     
         63 . A method according to  claim 62 , further including the step of sending a second transaction approval message to said mobile communication device if the second transaction verification message satisfies predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         64 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the supplier device has a display screen and the method includes the step of displaying the first transaction approval message on the display screen. 
     
     
         65 . A method according to  claim 64 , wherein the supplier device is in communication with a printer and the step of displaying the first transaction approval message includes displaying the message by sending to the printer a print command which corresponds to the message. 
     
     
         66 . A method according to  claim 64 , wherein the mobile communication device is further adapted to receive the second transaction approval message from the system server and to display said message on the display screen. 
     
     
         67 . A method according to  claim 66 , wherein the mobile communication device is programmed to require entry of a customer's personal identification details before the secured transaction verification message is sent to the system server. 
     
     
         68 . A method according to  claim 67 , wherein the personal identification details are selected from a personal identification number (PIN), a password and a security key. 
     
     
         69 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the first transaction verification message is digitally secured using customer identification data. 
     
     
         70 . A method according to  claim 69 , wherein the customer identification data is selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone number, a customer account number, a personal identification number (PIN), a password and a security key. 
     
     
         71 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the first transaction verification message includes a customer verification that the customer authorises the transaction to proceed. 
     
     
         72 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the transaction approval message comprises a positive indication from the transaction processing server that the transaction has been, is being, or will be processed. 
     
     
         73 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the system server reviews a database for a coupon applicable to the transaction. 
     
     
         74 . A method according to  claim 73 , wherein the system server sends a notification to the supplier device for confirmation of the coupon availability. 
     
     
         75 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile telephone or a cellular telephone.