Mobile Payment System

Abstract

An apparatus for engaging in wireless commercial transactions includes a mobile phone equipped with a dedicated actuator for initiating a commercial transaction, and an optical input for receiving information concerning prices of goods; a network hub for wireless exchange information between a commercial establishment and said mobile phone within the boundaries of the establishment; and a financial/authorization institution for associating a PIN number with said mobile phone and for authorizing transactions initiated by said mobile phone.

1 . An apparatus for engaging in wireless commercial transactions, said apparatus comprising a mobile phone equipped with a dedicated actuator for initiating a commercial transaction, and an optical input for receiving information concerning prices of goods, a network hub for wireless exchange of information between a commercial establishment and said mobile phone within the boundaries of the establishment, and a financial/authorization institution for associating a PIN number with said mobile phone and for authorizing transactions initiated by said mobile phone. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , mobile phone is configured to display information about goods scanned by said optical input on a display. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone is configured to provide a sequence of displays to guide a user of said mobile phone through a commercial transaction that includes identification of goods to be purchased and payment associated with said purchase. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone is configured to generate a listing of items available for purchase. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the mobile phone is further configured to solicit a selection of a subset of items from said listing. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone is configured to display information concerning an incomplete commercial transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a communication between the mobile phone and the network hub is constrained to remain within the commercial establishment. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dedicated actuator comprises a button labeled with a symbolic indication of a function thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the button comprises a touch-sensitive region on a display of the mobile phone. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the dedicated actuator causes information identifying the commercial establishment to be displayed on the mobile phone. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone is configured to, on the basis of data provided by the optical input, display a price of an item. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone is configured to receive a coupon applicable to a future transaction with the commercial establishment. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile phone is configured to be remotely erased by the financial/authorization institution. 
     
     
         14 . A method for engaging in a wireless commercial transaction, the method comprising at a mobile phone, receiving information concerning candidate items for a commercial transaction, selecting, on said phone, a set of selected items from the candidate items, establishing communication between said phone and a terminal associated with the commercial establishment, using the phone, communicating the set of selected items to the terminal, and using the phone, issuing an instruction to the terminal to request authorization of payment.