SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT A CHARGING OPERATION

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for carrying out a payment operation from a first to a second part, comprising a telecommunication network, having a service for pay number (premium rate number service), which owner has a control unit arranged to be able to receive information from said first part and independence thereof send a message as substitute for an income received through calling by said first part. According to the invention said control unit is arranged to send said message in form of a coded character string representing an amount equal to said incom minus a fee, and to receive said information in form of said coded character string in return with an identification of said second part for supplying said amount to the latter.

Description: SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT A CHARGING OPERATION Technical field of invention The invention relates to a system for performing a payment operation from a first to a second part, comprising a telecommunication network, having a service for pay number (premium rate number service) , which, at each connection occasion, results in an income for its owner. Road customs and parking fees are examples of application areas for the invention. Description of related art It is earlier known from, for instance the American patent No. 4,303,904, to carry out an identification and payment operation using radio communication at a road custom. A problem with the known technique is that a sufficient amount must be available before carrying out the payment operation by prior storage in a register in a mobile unit. If vehicles pass with high speed it may, nevertheless, arise difficulties in completing the whole operation, during the short time which is at disposal. A conceivable measure consists of shortening the payment operation, by treating data in advance, or afterwards or both, which makes the equipment very specialized. Another conceivable measure consists of prolonging the available time for carrying out the payment operation by arranging more stands along the passage way, which may increase the cost and be experienced as disturbing for the environment. Summery of the invention The invention concerns a system for carrying out a payment operation from a first to a second part, comprising a telecommunication network, having a payment number, which owner has a control unit arranged for being able to receive information from said first part and, in dependence thereof. send a message as a compensation for an income received by calling performed by said first part. According to the invention said control unit is arranged to send said message in form of a coded character string, representing an amount equal to said income minus a fee, and to receive said information in form of said coded character string in return with an identification of said second part, for supplying said amount, to the latter. By the invention it is provided for the possibility to carry out a payment operation from a first to a second part without the use of any specialized equipment, and without the requirement that a significant amount is stored, in advance, in a register. The freedom of using the disposable time is increased for both the paying part and the payment receiving part . According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said control unit is arranged to send said coded character string to a mobile phone, which is used for said calling. For GSM telephones this is preferably done in the form of a so called SMS- message . According to another embodiment said control unit is arranged to send said coded character string to a pager selected at said calling. According to a third embodiment said control unit is arranged to send said coded character string to a computer terminal arranged to transmit said amount to a cash card. According to a fourth embodiment said control unit is arranged to send said coded character string to a computer terminal selected at said calling and arranged to transmit said amount to a cash register. The equipment with pertinent electronics which is required for the above mentioned embodiments is building on known technique, which any man skilled in the art of the area controls and does not constitute any part of the present invention, wherefore it is not further described.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. System for carrying out a payment operation from a first to a second part, comprising a telecommunication network having a service for pay number, which owner has a control unit arranged for receiving information from said first part and in dependence thereof send a message as compensation for an income received by calling from said first part, characteri zed in that said control unit is arranged to send said message in form of a coded character string representing an amount equal to said income minus a fee, and to receive said information in the form of said coded character string in return with an identification of said second part for supplying said amount to the latter. 2. System according to claim 1, characteri zed in that said coded character string is arranged to be sent to a mobile telephone used for said calling. 3. System according to claim 1, characteri zed in that said coded character string is arranged to be sent to a pager selected at said calling. 4. System according to claim 1, charact er i z ed in that said coded character string is arranged to be sent to a computer terminal arranged to transfer said amount to a cash card. 5. System according to claim 1, charact e ri z ed in that said coded character string is arranged to be sent to a computer terminal selected at said calling and arranged to transfer said amount to a cash register. 6. System according to claim 4, charact e ri z ed in that said cash register is arranged for receiving fees at road customs or parking places.

Inventors: DE BONNENFANT BJOERN, DE BONNENFANT, BJOERN
Applicants: BONNENFANT BJOERN DE, INTELLIGENT CREATIONS AB, DE BONNENFANT, BJOERN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G07B15
IPC codes: G06Q20, G07B15, G07F7