Mobile funds transaction device for transferring funds between remote banking facilities

A mobile funds transaction device for transferring funds between one bank account or credit facility and another bank account or credit facility, the device having: a card reader device; a PINpad device with an encryption system; a modem device; a communication interface device connected with the modem device; an output report device; a wireless communication device; and a central processing device (CPU) to which are connected the above-listed devices. The CPU is programmed to store merchant identifying data of the owner/leasee of the device and to activate the PINpad device so a user can enter confidential identifying information to the CPU. The user then activates a communication connection via the modem device and the interface device to transmit the stored user entered data as well as transmit the merchant identifying data of the owner/leasee of the device, so that funds can be transferred from the user's bank account or credit or debit card to the owner/leasee's bank account or vice versa and to provide signals to the output report device confirming the transaction or other information relating to the transaction

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a funds transaction device and relates 
particularly but not exclusively to one which may be mobile and operated 
via a mobile telephone service. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
Automated teller machines and EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer Point of 
Sale) terminals have operated for many years. All current EFTPOS devices 
function in the same manner. An EFTPOS card is "swiped" through the device 
to obtain account details, then an account type and P.I.N. (personal 
identification number) are entered and the information is sent to the 
banks for electronic authorisation. The aforementioned information is 
processed through a PINpad which encrypts the P.I.N. details for data 
security. The data is sent via a modem through specialised phone lines 
(leased lines that have a permanent connection) to a transaction switching 
network where it is "switched" through the correct bank's host computer to 
obtain bank authorisation. In Australia, the system operates on Australian 
Telecom's Tran$end network. 
The known systems offer many disadvantages. In particular, the ability to 
have credit transfers from one account to another, such as from a 
customer's account to a store-holder's account who operates the EFTPOS 
device is currently limited to a fixed in-store situation and is therefore 
not practical for on-site tradespeople, market store holders or the like 
as it is not possible to have the necessary Tran$end leased lines at the 
various sites where the transaction is to occur for such persons. 
OBJECT AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the 
aforementioned problem. 
Therefore in accordance with a first broad aspect of the present invention 
there may be provided a funds transaction device for transferring funds 
between one bank account or credit facility and another bank account or 
credit facility 
said device having: 
1. A card reader device; 
2. A PINpad device with an encryption system; 
3. A modem device; 
4. A communication interface device connected with the modem device; 
5. An output report device; 
6. A communication device; and 
7. A central processing device; 
said central processing device (CPU) interconnecting all of the devices 1 
through 6, said communication device, in use, being connectable with a 
communications network to connect to a host EFTPOS type network connected 
with a bank or credit establishment, 
said CPU being programmed to store merchant identifying data of the 
owner/leasee of the device and to activate said PINpad device so a user 
can enter information via said PINpad device such as, account type, 
account transaction type, transaction amount, and a PIN number with said 
PIN number being encrypted by said PINpad device, and wherein said PIN 
number is encrypted and said user entered information encrypted as a 
Message Authentication Code and stored by said CPU, activate a 
communication connection via said modem device and said interface device 
to connect with the host EFTPOS device and transmit the stored user 
entered data as well as transmit the merchant identifying data of the 
owner/leasee of the device, so that funds can be transferred from the 
user's bank account or credit or debit card to the owner/leasee's bank 
account or vice versa and to provide signals to the output report device 
confirming the transaction or denial of the transaction or other 
information relating to the transaction. 
Most preferably, the communication device for communication with the host 
EFTPOS device is a mobile telephone system. It is particularly preferred 
that a mobile telephone be built into the device. It is particularly 
preferred that the mobile telephone is dedicated to the purposes of 
communicating with the host EFTPOS network and is without the usual 
microphone or earpiece associated with a telephone handset. 
In accordance with a further broad aspect of the present invention there 
may be provided a method of permitting a funds transaction between one 
bank account, and another bank account, said method comprising 
storing account data of one party to the transaction, 
and storing account data of the another party to the transaction by 
entering transaction particulars via a PINpad device such as account type, 
account transaction type, transaction amount, and PIN number encrypting 
the PIN number and storing those particulars as an encrypted Message 
Authorisation Code, communicating with a host EFTPOS type network and 
transmitting the stored Message Authorisation Code and data of the one 
party transferring funds from one party's bank account to the other 
party's bank account or vice versa and confirming via the output report 
device the transaction or denial of the transaction or other information 
relating to the transaction. 
With such a device a person effecting a transaction need not be connected 
directly to a telephone land line such as a Tran$end phone line which is 
usually not available in person's homes where trades people may require to 
make a transaction or at market stall locations where market stall holders 
or operators require to make a transaction.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a mobile funds transaction 
device 1. The device 1 is arranged to fit within a carry-case 3. The 
carry-case may have a shoulder strap 5 and a cover or lid 7 which may be 
retained relative to the case 1 to close the case 1 by a suitable 
fastening means 9. The device 1 has a housing 11 which contains the 
electronic circuitry for the device 1. An output report device 13 in the 
form of a printer is mounted on the housing 11 as shown. The output report 
device 13 has an output slot 15 though which paper can issue providing a 
report on the transaction which has occurred or other information relating 
to the transaction. A PINpad device 17 connects with the circuitry within 
the housing 1 by means of a cable 19. The PINpad device has a series of 
key pads 21 by which a user may enter transaction particulars and it also 
has a visual display 23 through which messages or instructions may be 
given. The PINpad device 17 also has a card slot 29 in which a user's card 
31 may be swiped in order to obtain particulars from the user's card. A 
card reader device within the card slot 29 is provided within the PINpad 
device 17 so as to read particulars from the user's card 31 swiped through 
the card slot 29. The housing 11 contains a communications device in the 
form of a mobile telephone system 27 as will be explained hereinafter. An 
aerial 24 extends from the housing 1. 
The housing 1, output report device 13, PINpad device 17 and mobile phone 
27 are generally rectangular in shape and the PINpad device 17 can fit to 
the housing 11 so that it is generally occupying the available space on a 
front face of the housing which is not covered by the output report device 
13. A battery compartment 25 is provided at the side of the housing 11 and 
may, in fact, form an integral part of the housing 11. Thus, it can be 
seen that the device 1 has the same general size as a mobile telephone 27 
except that it is generally thicker to accommodate its own internal 
central processing unit circuitry, the output report device 13 and the 
PINpad device 17. The PINpad device 17 is removable for easy access by 
users. 
FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the various componentry within the housing 
11. Thus, like components to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have been 
provided with the same numerical designations. The circuitry within the 
housing 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) board 33 having an 
EEPROM memory connected therewith, a modem 35, and an interface 37. 
Preferably the battery 25 is an elongate flat battery. 
FIG. 4 shows the block circuit diagram of the device with the printer 13, 
PINpad 17 and mobile phone 27 all interconnected with a central processing 
unit 39 forming part of the central processing unit board 33. The central 
processing unit 39 has an EEPROM memory device 49 connected therewith. The 
central processing unit 39 also has connected to it a clock 41, a print 
driver circuit 43, a printer voltage regulator circuit 45, a power control 
switch 47, the main power battery 25 and a EEPROM chip 49. The EEPROM chip 
49 is provided to store certain information in memory in the CPU 39. The 
CPU 39 also has a voltage regulator circuit 51, a modem 35 and a handset 
interface 53 connected therewith and is also provided with a parallel to 
serial interface 55 which converts parallel data to serial data for 
transmission over the modem 35 and mobile phone 27. It also permits data 
from the PINpad to be transferred to and from the CPU 39. 
The mobile phone 27 may be any commercially available mobile phone such as 
Motorola type 3194 cellular phone. The modem 35 may be any suitable 
commercially available modem such as modem type ICM supplied by Banksia 
Technologies of 205/83 Longveville Road, Lane Cove, New South Wales, 
Australia. The PINpad 17 may be any suitable commercially available PINpad 
device with encryption circuitry, display 23 and card slot 29 with 
suitable card reader, such as one manufactured by Trac Systems Australia 
of 1/61 Lawrence Drive, Nerang, Queensland, Australia and sold under model 
TSPO21. The output report device may be a suitable printer such as model 
M-180 manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation. The handset interface 53 
may be a suitable interface such as one sold by Motorola and useable for 
modem connection with a mobile or other communication device. 
The funds transaction device 1 has the CPU board 33 suitably programmed to 
initiate the necessary procedures for the funds transfer, before, during 
and after connection with a host funds transfer network. Such 
communication may be by the mobile phone 27 or by other communication 
means. 
In use, the device 1 is activated so the user's card 31 can be swiped 
through the card slot 29 so that account details on the card 31 can be 
read by the card reader device. The CPU board 33 then indicates via the 
display 23 that the user may manually enter their account type, account 
transaction required, and amount of transaction, and the personal 
identification number (PIN) via the key-pads 21. The PIN number is 
encrypted from the PINpad and with the other non encrypted user entered 
data is sent back to the PINpad 17 from encapsulating of the data into an 
encrypted MAC (Message Authentication Code) or the like as required by 
Australian Standard 2805.3 via the internal encryption circuits within the 
PINpad device 17. The CPU 1 then stores the MAC within the EEPROM memory 
chip. This information is retained in an encrypted form. The CPU 33 then 
initiates a dialling sequence via the modem 35 to effect communication 
with the host EFTPOS network. This, in turn, activates the mobile phone 27 
to make the necessary dialling connections. The handset interface 53 
enables the data to be converted to appropriate signals for the mobile 
phone and also allows for signals received by the mobile phone to be 
appropriately converted to be fed through the modem and processed by the 
CPU. When connection is made with the host EFTPOS network and any 
particular bank required for the transaction to occur, the transaction 
details are dispatched including the merchant owner/leasee's particulars. 
The transaction request from the device 1 is then processed by the bank 
and a reply generated and communicated back to device 1. The CPU 33 
receives that reply and an appropriate receipt is generated through the 
output report device 13. The output from the output report device 13 may 
be a receipt or a message stating financial institution rejection or other 
information. The printing of the report by the output report device 13 may 
be either whilst the device 1 is connected with the host EFTPOS network or 
after termination of connection. 
The central processing unit 33 is pre-programmed for four different receipt 
types from the output report device 13. These are as follows: 
1. Debit Approval--stating card number, account type and amount of 
transfer; 
2. Credit Approval--as in 1. but also requiring signature on receipt; 
3. Denial of the Transaction--stating financial institution rejection; 
4. Can't Connect--stating there is a problem connecting with either the 
host EFTPOS device or the transaction switching network such as the mobile 
telephone service. 
Once the appropriate message has been provided by the output device 13 or 
display 23, the CPU 33 will be programmed to de-activate the circuitry 
until it is further switched on for a subsequent transaction. 
The CPU 33 may be suitably programmed to store transaction amounts so that 
the merchant owner/leasee of the device 1 can periodically print a 
journal/result for administration purposes. 
The telephone numbers for connecting with the EFTPOS funds transaction 
network may be manually pre-set in the memory of the CPU 33 by the 
merchant owner/leasee or may be embedded into either the CPU or, 
alternatively,mobile phone 27 at the time of manufacture. The EEPROM chip 
49 is provided to hold any volatile details in memory in CPU 33. The 
battery 25 may typically be a rechargeable battery providing sufficient 
capacity to operate the device 1. A connection may be provided to permit 
charging of the battery 25 from either mains or from a car battery. A plug 
connection (not shown) may also be provided to permit external power to be 
supplied to operate the device if necessary. A telephone plug socket may 
be provided to permit direct connection to a public service telephone 
network in areas where the mobile phone may not operate. In this way, the 
device 1 may be connected with a host EFTPOS network via the normal public 
service telephone network rather than by the mobile phone 27. 
The PINpad device 17 will acquire the transaction data from the user as 
follows: 
An initial swipe of the user's credit/debit card may activate the circuitry 
in the CPU for subsequent functions of the device 1. Account details can 
be acquired from the user's credit/debit card and also the expiration 
date. The personal identification number can be inputted through the key 
pads 21. The amount of the transaction can also be inputted through the 
key pads 21. The account type can also be inputted through the key pads 
21. The account type might be cheque, savings or other account. The 
account transaction may be credit or debit. The necessary inputted 
information is encrypted by the PINpad device 17 in accordance with the 
Australian standard AS2805.3 previously referred to. The merchant 
owner/leasee of the device 1 can have his account details or other'details 
suitably stored in the memory of the central processing unit 33. This 
account information need not be encrypted. A routine may be provided in 
the programming of the device 1 for the merchant owner/leasee to input his 
account information into the memory in the central processing unit 33. 
This information can be retained for transmission with each transaction. 
In an alternative arrangement, the merchant owner/leasee may have an 
account card which must also be swiped through the card slot 29 to extract 
the owner/leasee's account particulars. If the merchant owner/leasee's 
account particulars are obtained in this way, then the information may be 
encrypted by the encryption circuitry resident in the PINpad device 17. 
Referring now to the detailed circuit diagram of FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C and 
to the componentry identified in the schedule of FIGS. 6A and 6B it can be 
seen that the battery 25 is arranged to make electrical connection with 
the circuitry through a latching relay switch S2. The latching relay 
switch S2 is, in turn, activated by operation of a "momentarily on" switch 
S1. The switch S2 is shown in the power on position for taking power from 
the battery 25. A transistor T1 is connected with U1 and can provide drop 
out of the latching relay S2 so that when a signal is supplied to 
transistor T1 identifying that the transaction has been completed, it 
automatically turns off the latching relay S2 to conserve the battery. 
The circuitry shows an error indicating LED diode D1 which is coloured red. 
The CPU 33 is arranged to activate D1 if a major fault occurs with the 
functionality of the device, thus requiring repair. All other errors are 
displayed on the PINpad 17. 
The memory in the CPU 33 is preferably partitioned to store several 
alternative EFTPOS network telephone numbers, and wherein the program is 
arranged to attempt to make connection on one number and if that is 
unsuccessful to attempt to make connection on another of the numbers 
without intervention by the user. 
The circuitry should otherwise be self-explanatory to an electronics 
engineer. 
Referring now to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C there is shown a program flow-diagram 
outlining the sequence of events for a transaction. The diagram is 
self-explanatory. 
It should be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the present 
invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the banking and/or 
EFTPOS transaction arts. For example, it may be desirable for commercial 
manufacturing enhancement to place the CPU, modem, interface, battery 
voltage controller and printer card on a single circuit board. Also, the 
swiping of the user's card through the slot 29 may not activate the switch 
S1 which connects the battery 25 with the CPU circuit 33. A switch S1 
which is diagrammatically shown as pin 55 in FIGS. 1 through 3 may be used 
so that the device can be manually switched on. 
Further, instead of the device operating by a telephone communication link 
with the host EFTPOS network it may operate via any suitable 
communications link which results in the device not being permanently 
physically electrically connected therewith such as by the usual Tran$end 
lines previously referred to. 
These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit 
of the invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the 
foregoing description.