METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PAYMENT

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for effecting payments made by means of a mobile station in a telecommunication system, which comprises a telephone network (PLMN), a network application (1) connected to the telephone network, a mobile station (MS) connected to the telephone network via a wireless link system and a mobile station application (2). In the method, a user profile is generated in the network application (1) from the modes of payment, a mode of payment message to be sent to the mobile station (MS) is generated by the network application (1) on the basis of the user profile in a payment situation, the payment alternatives are presented on the mobile station (MS) and a response message generated on the basis of user input is sent to the network application (1). In the system, the network application (1) comprises means for generating a user profile from the modes of payment employed by the user and means for generating a mode of payment message on the basis of the user profile and for sending it to the mobile station (MS) in a payment situation, and the mobile station application (2) comprises means for presenting the payment alternatives via the mobile station (MS) and means for generating a response message to the network application (1) on the basis of user input.

Description: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PAYMENT The present invention relates to telecommunication systems. In particular, the invention concerns a method and system for the management of payments made via a mobile station. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electronic payment can be effected by a wire- less method e.g. by using a portable computer connected to a mobile station, a bank connection being established via an Internet link or a direct modem connection. Payment by means of a mobile station is performed using e.g. a service based on short mes- sages, in which case the mobile station user communicates by means of short messages with a bank application connected to the telephone network. A payment application based on short messages differs from an application implemented using a computer especially in that the display of a mobile station is only capable of displaying a limited amount of information. Moreover, the data transfer capacity between a computer and a bank application is considerably higher than in the case of a short message application, so the amount of information to be transmitted does not constitute a problem like that encountered in a short message environment . On a computer display it is possible to implement a user interface in which several different ways of effecting a payment transaction are presented. So far, payment applications executed using a mobile station are at the initial stage of their development, so they are often difficult to use. Previously known methods of payment include individual account transfers by means of short messages, charging in conjunction with the telephone bill or money paid beforehand to a given account, so-called intelligent card purse or net purse which is charged in conjunction with a service transaction. For the user, however, there is no handy way to select the method of payment depending on the actual situation. The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems or at least to significantly reduce them. A further object of the invention is to disclose a new type of method and system for handy control of different modes of payment using a mobile station without needless data transfer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a method for effecting payments made by means of a mobile station in a tele- communication system, which comprises a telephone network, a network application connected to the telephone network, a mobile station connected to the telephone network via a wireless link system, and a mobile station application. The telephone network is e.g. a GSM network and the network application is implemented in an appropriate network element or elements. In the method of the invention, a user profile is created in the network application from modes of payment. The user profile is formed in accordance with the user's own preferences and choices, allowing the user to choose the parameters to be applied in the selection of mode of payment. By means of the network application, a mode of payment message to be sent to the mobile station is generated on the basis of the user profile in a situation where a payment is to be made. The payment alternatives derived from the user profile are presented via the mobile station to the user, whereupon the user can make his/her choice. A response message generated on the basis of user input and including the user's choice is sent to the network application. In an embodiment of the method, the mode of payment message defines the part to be presented via the mobile station. The message may also include other information relating to the payment transaction, e.g. encryption or verification codes used by the payment application implemented in the mobile station. As the invention is preferably implemented in a service base or an application used to implement other services as well, in one embodiment a control code for identifying the network application, comprised in the mode of payment message, is defined. The control code is used to distinguish the payment application from other services in the network. In an embodiment of the method, the response message is processed in the network application on the basis of the information in the user profile. In this case, the network application decrypts and analyzes the response message. The method preferably comprises a step wherein, after the response message has been analyzed, the mobile station is requested to supply additional information. In an embodiment, the method comprises a step wherein the network application activates a new payment program as a result of the analysis of the response message. The invention also concerns a system for effecting payments made via a mobile station in a telecommunication system as described above. According to the invention, the network application comprises means for generating a user profile from the modes of pay- ment applied by the user and means for generating a mode of payment message on the basis of the user profile and sending it to the mobile station in a situation where a payment is to be made. The mobile station application comprises means for presenting the payment alternatives via the mobile station and means for generating a response message and sending it to the network application on the basis of user input. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises means for defining the part of the mode of payment message to be presented via the mobile station. In an embodiment, the system comprises means for de- fining m the mode of payment message a control code identifying the network application. In an embodiment, the network application comprises means for processing the response message on the basis of user profile information. In an embodiment, the network application comprises means for requesting additional information from the mobile station. In an embodiment, the network application comprises means for activating a new payment program. As compared with prior art, the invention provides the advantage that it makes it possible to offer the user a variety of alternatives for making a payment. The user can choose a desired mode of payment beforehand, which results in faster and easier user of the application. Functions associated with payment can be automated. The utilization of profiles makes it possible to limit the amount of information to be presented in the mobile station. User-specific information relating to payments, such as credit card numbers, can be stored m the network application, thus economizing on radio link capacity. In addition, the application logic is implemented m the network, so the invention does not impose any complicated special requirements regarding terminal equipment; in other words, the invention can be applied m various types of terminal equipment. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS In the following, the invention will be described by the aid of a few examples of its embodi- ments with reference to the attached drawing, m which Fig. 1 presents diagram representing a system according to the invention; Fig. 2a and 2b present examples of user profiles generated from different modes of payment; and Fig. 3 presents a diagram representing the steps comprised in the method of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system according to the invention. The presentation has been simplified as many functional details are ob- vious to the person skilled in the art. The system comprises a telephone network PLMN, which is e.g. a GSM network (GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications) or a similar digital mobile telephone network. The telephone network PLMN may also comprise parts of the public switched telephone network, in which case the latter is connected to the mobile telephone network with a suitable protocol, e.g. SS7 signalling (SS7, Signalling System 7), or some other common channel signalling protocol. Connected to the telephone network PLMN is a network application 1, which is implemented e.g. in one of the network components of the telephone network, such as an intelligent network component, a mobile switching center, short message service center or USSD center, and in systems and interfaces communicating with these. The network application 1 is e.g. a service base containing the physical equipment and software, many of the means comprised in the network application 1 being implemented via software. The principal functions of the network application 1 include provision of user- specific services, management of service features, maintenance of databases and communication with the mobile station application 2. In the case presented as an example, the net- work application 1 is connected to the service provider 3, which in this case means the provider of a commercial service for whose commodity the consumer is paying by telephone, or the financial institution which takes care of the monetary transactions to be carried out in conjunction with the payment application. Connected to the telephone network is a mobile station MS via a wireless link system, which has been implemented using e.g. GSM technology. Implemented in the mobile station MS is a mobile station application 2, which is used, among other things, to implement the encryption and verification functions needed in con- junction with the payment. The mobile station application 2 is implemented e.g. in the subscriber identity module (SIM) comprised in the mobile station MS. The mobile station application 2 may also be implemented e.g. in a parallel subscriber identity module, in the mobile station software or in a system communicating with these. The network application 1 comprises means for generating a user profile based on the modes of payment employed by the user. These means comprise a user interface by means of which the modes of payment defined for the user of the mobile station MS are transmitted to the network application 1. The means additionally comprise storage means for storing the user profiles in conjunction with the network application. The network application 1 also comprises means for generating a mode of payment message based on the user profile. The mode of payment message is transmitted to the mobile station MS e.g. as a short message or USSD message, in which case the network application 1 gen- erates from the user profile information a message of suitable form during the payment situation. The network application 1 compares the payment transaction parameters with the user profile information, selects appropriate information from the user profiles and sends the message to the mobile station MS. The mobile station application 2 comprises means for presenting a mode of payment message on the mobile station MS, e.g. on the display of the mobile station. These means treat the message so that the message is in a form readily intelligible to the user. In conjunction with the mode of payment message, it is also possible to send other information, such as encryption or verification information. For user identification, it is possible to use e.g. the A-party identity transmitted in the network signalling. The mobile station 2 comprises means for filtering the informa- tion to be presented to the user from the message. The mode of payment message comprises a control code added by the network application to distinguish the mode of payment message from other network services using a corresponding method of communication. The mobile station application 2 further comprises means for generating a response message to the network application 1. The response message is generated on the basis of feedback received from the user and processed in the mobile station application 2 to give it the form used in message transmission. The network application 1 further comprises means for treating the response message so that the network application 1 compares the user profile information with the user's choice. The network application 1 contains stored user information needed in conjunction with payment, such as e.g. credit card numbers. The network application 1 comprises means for requesting additional information from the mobile station and means for activating a new payment program. In this case, the network application sends to the mobile station 2 a new message requesting e.g. the secret personal identity number of a bank card or corresponding account. If the user selects a mode of payment that requires another payment application, then the network application 1 activates the payment program and transmits the necessary information to it from the user profile . Fig. 2a presents a detail of a user profile according to the invention. The modes of payment XI - X3 are for example credit card, bank card and charging by telephone bill. The user profile defines the modes of payment used by each customer; for instance, the modes of payment defined for customer A3 are charging by credit card and charging by telephone bill. Fig. 2b presents another detail of a user profile containing general definitions relating to the mode of payment and data indicating whether the parameter has an effect on the mode of payment or not . The alternatives Ml - M3 are e.g. amount of payment, date and product being bought. For instance, in the case of customer Al , the amount to be paid has an ef- feet on the mode of payment such that purchases for which the sum total exceeds a given limit are to be paid for by credit card. The date parameter means for example that after a given date, e.g. at the end of a month, purchases are to be paid for by credit card. Similarly, the product being bought may have an effect on the mode of payment to be applied; for example, customer A2 pays all fuel bills by credit card but food bills by bank card. Fig. 3 presents a flow diagram representing an example of the method of the invention. In the method, a user profile is generated in the network application 1 in accordance with the user's choices or alternative modes of payment, step 10. In a situation where a payment is to be made, the network application 1 checks the user profile and the parameters defined, step 11. The network application 1 determines the modes of payment to be offered to the user according to the payment situation, step 12. The network application 1 generates a mode of payment message of appro- priate form and sends it to the user's mobile station MS, which presents the alternatives to the user, step 13. The user selects a mode of payment, whereupon the mobile station application 2 generates a response message to be sent to the network application 1. The network application 1 continues the processing in accordance with the selection made by the user. If the da- tabase of the network application 1 already contains sufficient information required for the payment, such as the number of the credit card, then the network application 1 starts the appropriate payment application, i.e. application XI or X2 , steps 15 and 16. To sum up, let it be stated that the present invention gives the user a new possibility to control the course of a payment transaction on the basis of his/her own choices. The network operator offers to the user only those services which the user has chosen to use or which meet the criteria relating to the actual situation. Thus, the services offered vary depending on the situation. The invention is not restricted to the examples of its embodiments described above, but many variations are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for effecting payments made by means of a mobile station in a telecommunication system comprising a telephone network (PLMN) ; a network application (1) connected to the telephone network; a mobile station (MS) connected to the telephone network via a wireless link system; and a mobile station application (2) , charac t e r i zed in that the method comprises steps wherein: a user profile is generated from modes of payment in the network application (1) ; in a payment situation, a mode of payment message to be sent to the mobile station (MS) is generated by means of the network application (1) on the basis of the user profile the payment alternatives are presented on the mo- bile station (MS) ; and a response message generated on the basis of user input is sent to the network application (1) . 2. Method as defined in claim 1, char act e r i zed in that the part to be presented on the mobile station (MS) is defined in the mode of payment message. 3. Method as defined in claim 1 or 2, chara c t e ri zed in that a control code for identifying the network application (1) , to be in- eluded in the mode of payment message, is defined. 4. Method as defined in any one of claims 1 - 3, cha ra c teri z ed in that the method comprises a step wherein the response message is treated in the network application (1) on the basis of the user profile information. 5. Method as defined in any one of claims 1 - 4 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the method com- prises a step wherein additional information is requested from the mobile station (MS) . 6. Method as defined in any one of claims 1 - 5, charact eri zed in that the method com- prises a step wherein the network application (1) activates a new payment program. 7. System for effecting payments made by means of a mobile telephone in a telecommunication system comprising: a telephone network (PLMN) ; a network application (1) connected to the telephone network; a mobile station (MS) connected to the telephone network via a wireless link system; and a mobile station application (2) , charac teri zed in that the network application (1) comprises means for generating a user profile from the modes of payment employed by the user; the network application (1) comprises means for generating a mode of payment message on the basis of the user profile and for sending it to the mobile station (MS) in a payment situation; the mobile station application (2) comprises means for presenting the payment alternatives on the mobile station (MS) ; and the mobile station application (2) comprises means for generating a response message to the network application (1) on the basis of user input. 8. System as defined in claim 7, char act eri zed in that the system comprises means for defining the part of the mode of payment message that is to be presented on the mobile station (MS) . 9. System as defined in claim 7 or 8, chara c t er i zed in that the system comprises means for defining in the mode of payment message a control code identifying the network application (1) . 10. System as defined in any one of claims 7 - 9, charac t eri z e d in that the network application (1) comprises means for treating the response message on the basis of the user profile infor- mation. 11. System as defined in any one of claims 7 - 10, charac t e r i zed in that the network application (1) comprises means for requesting additional information from the mobile station (MS) . 12. System as defined in any one of claims 7 - 11, c harac t e r i zed in that the network application (1) comprises means for activating a new payment program.

Inventors: LEHTO MARIETTE, LEHTO, MARIETTE
Applicants: LEHTO MARIETTE, SONERA OYJ, LEHTO, MARIETTE
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G07F7
IPC codes: G06Q10, G06Q20, G06Q40, G07F7