Wireless telephony for collecting tolls, conducting financial transactions, and authorizing other activities

Abstract

The following procedures describe the use of cellular telephones and other analog or digital wireless communication devices to conduct transactions and activities. These procedures effectively allow such devices to function as an electronic wallet, a wireless PIN pad, and a contactless Smart Card.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of transferring funds between different accounts comprising the steps of expanding the function of a service provider's central processing unit to include account and authorization information identifying the user by sending the user identification information on the subchannel of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device, entering a function code on the keypad of the cellular phone or other wireless communication device, sending the function code to the central processing unit of the provider which identifies the desired transaction, determining at the central processing unit whether a personal identification number is needed, and supplying the central processing unit with the personal identification number if needed, authorizing the desired transaction, determining the different accounts involved in the transaction, and confirming completion of the transaction. 
     
     
       2. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in  claim 1  wherein the desired transaction involves a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       3. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in  claim 1  wherein the desired transaction involves a variable amount, identifying the variable amount, and sending it to the central processing unit. 
     
     
       4. A method of verifying identity and authorizing access to a secured location comprising the steps of expanding the function of a service provider's central processing unit to include secure independent verification of a user's identity by sending the user identification information on the subchannel of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device, entering a function code on the keypad of the cellular phone or other wireless communication device, sending the function code to the central processing unit of the provider which identifies the desired transaction as access to the secured location, determining at the central processing unit whether a personal identification number is needed, and supplying the central processing unit with the personal identification number if needed, authorizing the desired transaction, and confirming completion of the transaction. 
     
     
       5. A method of verifying identity and authorizing access to a secured location as in  claim 4  wherein the step of authorizing the desired transaction includes communication with the secured location, and activation of the secured location to grant or deny access thereto. 
     
     
       6. A method of transferring funds between different accounts comprising the steps of expanding the function of a service provider's central processing unit to include account and authorization information, transmitting a function code of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device to the central processing unit of the provider which identifies the desired transaction, determining at the central processing unit whether a personal identification number is needed, and supplying the central processing unit with the personal identification number if needed, authorizing the desired transaction, determining the different accounts involved in the transaction, and confirming completion of the transaction. 
     
     
       7. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in  claim 6  wherein the desired transaction involves a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       8. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in  claim 6  wherein the desired transaction involves a variable amount, identifying the variable amount, and sending it to the central processing unit. 
     
     
       9. A method for facilitating a transfer of funds using a wireless device having a user interface, said method comprising:
 determining, at the wireless device, a function code corresponding to a user's indication of a desired funds transfer via the user interface of the wireless device; and   transmitting, at the wireless device, the determined function code along with user identification information comprising wireless device identification information and addressed so as to terminate with a wireless service provider,   wherein, the service provider comprises a central processing unit, and the central processing unit is configured to, in response to receipt of said function code and user identification information, authorize the desired funds transfer, said authorization being at least partially dependent upon a source account identification being determined from the user identification.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein the funds transfer corresponds to a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the funds transfer comprises:
 identifying a variable amount; and   sending information respecting the identified amount to the wireless service provider.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying a destination account using said user interface. 
     
     
       14. A method for facilitating paying a vendor for goods or services, the method comprising:
 determining, at a wireless device having a user interface, an instruction from the user relating to a payment transaction; and   sending, at the wireless device, a function code addressed so as to terminate with the wireless service provider and corresponding to the payment transaction instruction to a wireless service provider such that the payment transaction and user identification information comprising wireless device identification information can be identified;   wherein the wireless service provider comprises a central processing unit configured, in response to receipt of said function code and user identification information to authorize the payment transaction, said authorization being at least partially dependent upon a source account identification being determined from the user identification information.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein the payment transaction corresponds to a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14, wherein the payment transaction comprises:
 identifying a variable amount; and   sending the identified amount to the wireless service provider.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 14, further comprising identifying a destination account from the user interface. 
     
     
       19. A method for facilitating payment of a highway toll, comprising:
 determining, at a wireless device, an instruction relating to a highway toll payment transaction; and   sending a highway toll payment corresponding function code to a wireless service provider to identify the highway toll payment transaction along with user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, and addressed so as to terminate with the wireless service provider,   wherein the wireless service provider comprises a central processing unit configured to, in response to receipt of said function code and user identification information, authorize the payment transaction, said authorization being at least partially dependent upon a source account identification being determined from the user identification information.   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein the highway toll payment transaction corresponds to a default amount at a set price. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
 identifying a variable amount, and   sending the identified amount to the wireless service provider.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 19, further comprising identifying a destination account using the user interface. 
     
     
       24. A method for facilitating payment of a public transit fare, comprising:
 determining, at a wireless device, an instruction relating to a transit fare payment transaction; and   sending a function code corresponding to a transit fare payment instruction to a wireless service provider to identify the transit fare payment transaction along with user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, wherein the wireless service provider comprises a central processing unit configured to, in response to receipt of said function code and user identification information, authorize the transit fare payment transaction, said authorization being at least partially dependent upon a source account identification being determined from the user identification information.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein the transit fare payment corresponds to a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:
 identifying a variable amount; and   sending the identified amount to the wireless service provider.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24, further comprising identifying a destination account using the user interface. 
     
     
       29. A method for facilitating payment of a parking garage fee, comprising:
 determining, at a wireless device an instruction identifying a parking garage fee payment transaction; and   sending a function code corresponding to the parking garage fee payment instruction information to a wireless service provider to identify the parking garage fee payment transaction along with user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, and addressed so as to terminate with the wireless service provider,   wherein the wireless service provider comprises a central processing unit configured to, in response to receipt of said function code and user device identification information, authorize the parking garage fee payment transaction, said authorization being at least partially dependent upon a source account identification being determined from the user identification information.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein the parking garage fee payment transaction corresponds to a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:
 identifying a variable amount; and   sending the identified amount to the wireless service provider.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 29, further comprising identifying a destination account using the user interface. 
     
     
       34. A method for facilitating an inquiry of account balance information, comprising:
 determining, at a wireless device, an account inquiry instruction identifying the account inquiry transaction;   sending account inquiry instruction information to a wireless service provider to identify the account inquiry transaction along with user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, and addressed so as to terminate with the wireless service provider,   wherein the wireless service provider comprises a central processing unit configured to, in response to receipt of said function code and user identification information, authorize the account inquiry transaction, said authorization being at least partially dependent upon a source account identification being determined from the user identification information.   
     
     
       35. A method for facilitating a transfer of funds, said method comprising:
 receiving, at a wireless service provider comprising a central processing unit, a message including a function code corresponding to user selection of a desired funds transfer via a wireless device, said message further including user identification information, said user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, said message addressed so as to terminate with the wireless service provider;   in response to receipt of said function code and user identification information, authorizing, at the wireless service provider, the desired funds transfer, said authorizing including determining a source account identification from the user identification information; and   responding, at the wireless service provider, to receipt of the function code and user identification information.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, wherein the funds transfer corresponds to a predetermined amount. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
 prompting for variable amount information; and   receiving the variable amount information.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 35 which further includes determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       39. A method for facilitating payment of a vendor for goods or services, comprising:
 receiving, at a wireless service provider comprising a central processing unit, a message from a wireless device, the message including a function code corresponding to a payment transaction instruction to identify a payment transaction, said message further including user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, wherein said message is addressed so as to terminate with the wireless service provider;   determining, at the wireless service provider, a source account identification dependent upon the user identification;   authorizing, at the wireless service provider, the payment transaction; and   responding, at the wireless service provider, to receipt of the function code and user identification.   
     
     
       40. The method of claim 39, wherein the payment transaction corresponds to a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
 prompting for variable amount information; and   receiving the variable amount information from the wireless device.   
     
     
       42. The method of claim 39, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
 prompting for destination account information; and   receiving said destination account information from the wireless device.   
     
     
       44. A method for facilitating payment of a highway toll, comprising:
 receiving, at a wireless service provider comprising a central processing unit, a message from a wireless device and including a function code corresponding to a highway toll payment instruction to identify a highway toll payment transaction, said message further including user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, wherein said message is addressed so as to terminate with a wireless service provider;   determining, at the wireless service provider, a source account identification dependently upon the user identification information;   authorizing, at the wireless service provider, the highway toll payment transaction; and   responding, at the wireless service provider, to receipt of the highway toll payment instruction.   
     
     
       45. The method of claim 44, wherein the highway toll payment corresponds to a pre-set price. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 44, further comprising:
 prompting for variable amount information; and   receiving the variable amount information from the wireless device.   
     
     
       47. The method of claim 44, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       48. The method of claim 44, further comprising:
 prompting for destination account information; and   receiving said destination account information from the wireless device.   
     
     
       49. A method for paying a public transit fare, comprising:
 receiving, at a wireless service provider comprising a central processing unit, a message from a wireless device comprising a function code corresponding to transit fare payment instruction information to identify a transit fare payment transaction, said message further including user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, and wherein said message is addressed so as to terminate with a wireless service provider;   determining, at the wireless service provider, a source account identification from the user identification information;   authorizing, at the wireless service provider, the transit fare payment transaction; and   responding, at the wireless service provider, to receipt of the transit fare payment instruction information.   
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, wherein the transit fare payment corresponds to a pre-set price. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 49, further comprising:
 prompting for variable amount information; and   receiving the variable amount information from the wireless device.   
     
     
       52. A method for facilitating payment of a parking garage fee, comprising:
 receiving, at a wireless service provider comprising a central processing unit, a message from a wireless device comprising a function code corresponding to parking garage fee payment instruction information to identify the parking garage fee payment transaction, said message including user identification information comprising wireless device identification information, and wherein said message is addressed so as to terminate with a wireless service provider;   determining, at the wireless service provider, a source account identification from the user identification;   authorizing, at the wireless service provider, the parking garage fee payment transaction; and   responding, at the wireless service provider, to the parking garage fee payment instruction.   
     
     
       53. The method of claim 52, wherein the parking garage fee payment transaction corresponds to a pre-set price. 
     
     
       54. The method of claim 52, further comprising:
 prompting for variable amount information; and   receiving the variable amount information from the wireless device.   
     
     
       55. The method of claim 52, further comprising determining a destination account from the function code. 
     
     
       56. A method for facilitating an inquiry of account balance information, comprising:
 receiving, at a wireless service provider comprising a central processing unit, a message from a wireless device comprising a function code corresponding to account inquiry instruction information to identify an account inquiry transaction, said message further including user identification information comprising wireless device information, and wherein said message is addressed so as to terminate with a wireless service provider;   determining, at the wireless service provider, the account identification from the user identification;   authorizing, at the wireless service provider, the account inquiry transaction; and   responding, at the wireless service provider, to receipt of the account inquiry transaction.