System and method for facilitating the purchase of goods and services

A system and method for facilitating commercial transactions between a consumer and a supplier of goods at a point of sale and authorized by a credit holder. The credit holder possesses a communications device for prestoring transaction information in a data base. The communications device is operable by the credit holder for transmitting transaction information data and transaction authorization. The consumer possesses a consumer communications device for establishing a communications link between the consumer and the supplier. The consumer communications device generates a consumer request to the credit holders' communications device. A transaction approval device is in communications with the supplier and the consumer requested credit holder's communications device for receiving transaction requests from the supplier and for receiving transaction information data and authorization from the credit holder's communications device. The transaction approval device, upon receipt of transaction information data and transaction authorization, transmits approval to the supplier to complete the transaction.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a commercial transaction system and method, and more particularly to a system and method for purchasing goods and services at a point of sale using prestored transaction data in the possession of a credit holder located at a facility remote from the point of sale to facilitate the purchase of goods and services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, a consumer must be present at a point of sale to present a consumer's credit card, debit card, check or other mechanism for payment. The consumer may not be able to complete the purchase, in the event of loss of a credit card. Traditional purchase of goods and services at a point of sale require that a credit card holder be present at the time of the purchase. However, the actual consumer may not be a credit card holder, and may request that a credit card holder loan the credit card to the consumer in which event the credit card holder is without any control as to how the credit card is to be used by the consumer. Further disadvantages with the use of credit cards involve the number of transaction documents generated including credit/debit slips, checks, etc.

The use of credit cards, checks and debit cards creates a problem in the event the owner looses these transaction facilitating instruments. The credit card issuer must cancel the card, a financial institution must put stop/hold on checks or accounts must be closed. The consumer must then open new accounts and be issued new credit cards.

A need has thus arisen for a system and method for conducting transactions at a point of sale where a credit holder may be located remotely from the point of sale and where there credit holder can control the transaction from the remote location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for facilitating commercial transactions between a consumer and a supplier of goods and services at a point of sale and authorized by a credit holder located remote from the point of sale is provided. The credit holder possesses a communications device including a memory device for prestoring transaction information in a data base. The communications device is operable by the credit holder for transmitting transaction information data and transaction authorization. The consumer possesses a consumer communications device for establishing a communications link between the consumer and the supplier of goods and services. The consumer communications device generates a consumer request to the credit holders' communications device. A transaction approval device is in communications with the supplier and the consumer requested credit holder's communications device for receiving transaction requests from the supplier initiated by the consumer communications device and for receiving transaction information data and authorization from the credit holder's communications device. The transaction approval device, upon receipt of transaction information data and transaction authorization, transmits approval to the supplier of goods and services to complete the transaction initiated by the consumer's communications device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figure, the present system and method facilitates commercial transactions initiated by a consumer having a consumer communications device10where the purchase or sale is authorized by a credit holder located at the point of sale (POS) or remotely from the point of sale. The authorizing credit holder has in his/her possession a credit holder device12. Consumer communications device10may comprise, for example, a telephone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless communications device, desktop or notebook computer, or other communications device to establish a communications link between a consumer and a supplier of goods and services. The supplier of goods and services may include, for example, an automatic teller machine (ATM)14, a terminal16or an internet online merchant18. Consumer device10initiates a request via communications link20to ATM14, via communications link22to POS terminal16and via communications link24to online merchant18. The request via communications links20,22and24may be downloaded from consumer device10via a direct connection, such as, for example, a head phone jack, from consumer device10; via audio tones from a speaker contained within consumer device10; or from a pop-out extension from consumer device10that includes a magnetic stripe or smart chip device readable by ATM14, POS terminal16or online merchant18. The requests initiated on communications links20,22and24are in the form of a request for approval from the credit holder to approve the transaction initiated by the consumer. The requests for approval are transmitted by ATM14via a communications link30to an approval entity device36. Approval entity device36may comprise, for example, a financial institution or credit card company through which the credit holder transacts financial business. POS terminal16communicates with approval entity device36via a communications link32. Online merchant18communicates with approval entity device36via a communications link34.

After receipt of a request for approval from consumer device10, approval entity device36initiates a request via a communications link40to credit holder device12. Credit holder device12in the possession of the credit holder informs the credit holder that a request has been made by a consumer using consumer device10. Credit holder device12may include, for example, a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, wireless communications device, desktop or notebook computer or other communications device to establish a communications link between the credit holder and approval entity device36. Credit holder device12includes a keypad for use by the credit holder and a memory for storing transaction data input by the credit holder into communications device12. Transaction data includes, for example, credit holder credit card numbers, financial institution data and other information utilized by an approval entity.

The credit holder utilizing credit holder device12may disapprove of the transaction initiated by the consumer utilizing consumer device10in which event, the request is rejected via a communications link42to consumer device10. Such a communications link may comprise, for example, a cellular telephone link. If the credit holder approves the financial transaction initiated by the consumer, credit holder device12initiates a transaction authorization which is communicated to approval entity device36via a communications link44. The credit holder initiates the transaction authorization by entering, for example, a personal identification number into credit holder device12in order to initiate the transaction authorization via communications link44.

The financial approval entity may accept or reject the transaction authorization. In the event of a rejection, approval entity device36generates a disapproval of the transaction via a communications link46to consumer device10. In the event of approval, approval entity device36generates an approval indication to ATM14via a communications link48, to POS terminal16via communications link52or to online merchant18via a communications link56. Upon receipt of the approval for the transaction initiated by credit holder device12, ATM14signals approval to consumer device10via a communications link50. POS terminal16signals the authorization to consumer device10via a communications link54, and online merchant18signals acceptance of the transaction via communications link58to consumer device10.

In use, the consumer utilizing consumer device10at a point of sale, inputs into the consumer device10a contact number, such as, for example, a cell telephone number. POS terminal16transmits the sales amount, store's name, and any other basic information to the financial institution's approval entity device36which is responsible for approving the credit/debit/check sales transaction. The financial institution while processing the credit approval, initiates the request for approval via communications link40to credit holder device12. Credit holder device12produces an indication that a request has been made for transaction authorization in the form of an audio or visual indication to the credit holder in possession of device12. The credit holder utilizing device12may indicate which stored credit, debit or checking account is to be used to fund the transaction, and approves the request for authorization by pressing a function key such as, for example, a send button on device12. The transaction authorization is sent to the approval entity device36, and the approval entity then completes the approval process and forwards the approval to the POS terminal16.

Use of the present system, enables the consumer to be located at a remote location from the credit holder which eliminates the need for a credit holder to wire funds to a consumer, since the consumer is able to obtain funds, for example, from an ATM14.

In the event that credit holder device12is lost by the credit holder, the credit holder can contact the approval entity, and the approval entity can download the credit holder's information into a new device12.

Therefore, it can be seen that the present system does not require a credit card to be utilized in order to facilitate a commercial transaction at a point of sale terminal. The present system does not require a personal trusted device (PTD) to complete a transaction. Transactions are approved in real time. The credit holder can provide cash or credit over long distances without the necessity of using a third party provider as a transfer agent. The credit holder can utilize the present system without the need for having multiple credit, debit cards or paper checks in his/her possession, since all information is held within credit holder device12. The credit holder can utilize credit holder device12within the present system for initiating financial transactions without the need of credit cards.

As used herein, communications links include, for example, open, wireless data exchange such as, for example, Bluetooth, WI-FI, infrared, between consumer device10and ATM14, POS terminal16and online merchant18. Other communications links include cellular telephone lines and land lines. Safeguards are provided since credit card and verification information are not simultaneously transmitted at any time during the transaction and the transaction is further safe-guarded by credit holder device12requiring the personal identification number of the credit holder.

Other alteration and modification of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.