Abstract:
Utilizing a wireless telephone to function as a transaction device. In a first embodiment, the wireless telephone places a call to the transaction unit directly. For example, the transaction unit may be a cash register at a supermarket. The wireless telephone then transfers to the transaction unit account information specifying the type of account against which the transaction is to be billed and identification of that transaction. The transaction unit responds with a transaction number that is transmitted to the wireless telephone. The user of the wireless telephone then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed on the transaction unit. After the transaction is completed, the transaction unit transmits the data defining the transaction to the wireless telephone which stores this information in a database associated with the account against which the transaction was charged. In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission media by the transaction unit to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     G. L. Griffith, “A Wireless Telephone As A Transaction Device”; and 
     G. L. Griffith, “Identification By A Central Computer Of A Wireless Telephone Functioning As A Transaction Device”. 
     These applications are being filed concurrently with this application and are assigned to the same assignee. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to cordless, cellular, and PCS telephone systems and more particularly, to an arrangement for transferring user data via a wireless telephone to a transaction unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Within the prior art, various transaction devices have been utilized to allow individuals to perform transactions. These transactions may be to purchase merchandise or services or maybe to gain access to a secure area. Among the commonly used transaction devices is a credit card with a magnetic strip that identifies the credit card account of the individual. The standard credit card has no capability of receiving information from the transaction unit utilized to read the credit card. However, various types of smart cards do have the ability to store transactional information and to later reproduce this transaction information. For example, it is possible to have a smart card that is utilized as a standard credit card but receives information from the transactional unit defining what was purchased. In addition, the smart card can organize this information for later transmission to a personal computer via a physical link. 
     Similarly, other types of transactions involve such things as entering secure areas. Because of the need to preserve proprietary information, or restrict access to dangerous physical locations, many building facilities have secure areas which can only be accessed by designated people. Access to these secure areas is controlled by identification of personal features of an individual, keyed or unkeyed locks, and identification badges such as cards with magnetic strips. The cards with magnetic strips are similar to credit cards or smart cards. 
     The problems that exists with the prior art transaction devices fall into three major categories. First, these devices require that the transaction unit have a special interface for reading information from the device. The special reading facility may take the form of physical contact such as in a credit card application or may allow limited wireless reading of the transaction device by the transaction unit using, for example, electromagnetic transmission. However, even in the situation where the transaction device communicates information via electromagnetic transmission, the transaction unit must be specifically equipped for the particular type of electromagnetic transmission. The second problem is the proliferation of credit cards, check books, debit cards, and security cards that the average individual must carry. Third, is the amount of time required to complete the transaction. For example, when a credit card is used to purchase groceries at a supermarket. First, the groceries must be rung up; and then, the credit card entered and verified before the transaction can be completed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved by the utilization of a wireless telephone to function as a transaction device. In a first embodiment, the wireless telephone places a call to the transaction unit directly. For example, the transaction unit may be a cash register at a supermarket. The wireless telephone then transfers to the transaction unit account information specifying the type of account against which the transaction is to be billed and identification of that transaction. The transaction unit responds with a transaction number. The user of the wireless telephone then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed on the transaction unit. After the transaction is completed, the transaction unit transmits the data defining the transaction to the wireless telephone which stores this information in a database associated with the account against which the transaction was charged. Advantageously, before placing the call to the transaction unit, the wireless telephone requests personal identification information from the user to assure that the user is authorized to make the transaction. 
     In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission media by the transaction unit to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place. 
     Advantageously, by utilizing the transaction number, the wireless telephone can transmit the account information to the transaction unit well in advance of the actual financial transaction taking place. For example, within a supermarket, the user could request that the wireless telephone transmit the account information while the user was is standing in line for the cash register. In such a situation, the user would have to specify the cash register to the wireless telephone. 
     Advantageously, the wireless telephone can place a call to a personal computer of the user and transfer the account information to the personal computer. This alleviates the need of the user physically attaching the wireless telephone to the personal computer. It is assumed that the personal computer performs the necessary financial and database functions on account information as required by the user. Also, the wireless telephone can request that the transaction unit transfer the account data to the personal computer via a communication link. 
     These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention considered together with the drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for performing the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless telephone for utilization in the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram form, a system including the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates, in block diagram form, a wireless telephone for utilization in the second embodiment; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6, illustrate in flowchart form, steps performed by a wireless telephone in the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate, in flowchart form, steps performed by a transaction unit in the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate, in flowchart form, steps performed by a wireless telephone in a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate, in flowchart form, steps performed by a transaction unit in the second embodiment of the invention; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a system for implementing the first embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment of the invention, transaction unit  106  is illustrated with attached display  107 . If transaction unit  106  is used in a supermarket, then, transaction unit  106  would be a cash register also referred to as a point of sale (POS) terminal. Wireless telephone  103  interconnects via a wireless communication path to wireless switching system  102  that is connected via links  114  to public telephone network  101 . The user of wireless telephone  103  has personal computer (PC)  111  at the user&#39;s residence. PC  111  is interconnected via a modem and link  116  to public telephone network  101 . Transaction unit  106  is interconnected via a modems and link  113  to public telephone network  101 . 
     To understand the operation of the first embodiment, consider the following example. Transaction unit  106  is in a supermarket; and the user of wireless telephone  103  has selected merchandise and is waiting in line to pay for this merchandise at transaction unit (cash register)  106 . The user initiates a call to transaction unit  106  via wireless switching system  102 , links  114 , public telephone network  111 , and links  113 . Advantageously, this call may be simply a data call. Before setting up the call, wireless telephone  103  verifies that the user has permission to purchase merchandise by requesting and verifying personal information about the user. The personal information can consist of a personal identification number (PIN) or voice recognition techniques. After the identity of the user has been verified, wireless telephone  103  establishes the call to transaction unit  106 . Once the call is connected, wireless telephone  103  transmits to transaction unit  106  the identification number of transaction unit  106  and account information defining the type of account that wireless telephone  103  wishes the merchandise charged against merchandise. 
     Transaction unit  106  then verifies the account information. If a credit card number is being utilized, transaction unit  106  will contact a credit card database to verify that the number is valid. These steps can be performed while the user is in line since no direct interaction is required with a person operating transaction unit  106 . Transaction unit  106  transmits to wireless telephone  103  a transaction number that is used to verify the transaction. Wireless telephone  103  displays the transaction number. Transaction unit  106  also displays the transaction number on display  107 . If the displayed transaction number is identical to the transaction number received by wireless telephone  103 , the user accepts the transaction. Wireless telephone  103  then transmits acceptance to transaction unit  106 . 
     Transaction unit  106  then transmits to wireless telephone  103  transaction data that is stored internally by wireless telephone  103  for later use. Advantageously, the transaction data consists of an itemized list of items by price. Wireless telephone  103  is responsive to the transaction data to either store it internally or to transmit it via wireless switching system  102 , links  114 , public telephone network  101 , and link  116  to PC  111 . Advantageously, this transfer can occur at a later point in time. U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,313 discloses how such transaction data could be utilized and processed by PC  111 . 
     Wireless telephone  103  is advantageously illustrated in greater detail in FIG.  2 . Wireless set  103  implements a wireless protocol that allows wireless telephone  103  to establish a wireless signal link with wireless switching system  102 . One air interface that can be used is the Japanese PHS protocol as set forth in “User-Network Interface and Inter-Network Interface Standards for PHS”, the Telecommunication Technology Committee, 1995, and “Personal Handy Phone System RCR Standard”, Version 1, RCR STD-28, Dec. 20, 1993. The message set of the PHS protocol is similar to the ISDN message set. Overall control of the wireless telephone is provided by control unit  201 . Units  202 ,  203 ,  206 ,  207 ,  208 , and  209  provide the RF communication capabilities for the wireless telephone. Elements  204 ,  210 , and  211 - 214  provide the audio information received and transmitted to the user; whereas, elements  216 - 218  and  205  provide the basic user interface. In response to receiving a transaction number via units  206 ,  208 , and  203 , control unit  201  displays the transaction number on display  216 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a system for implementing the second embodiment of the invention. The operation of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment with the exception that the transaction number is transmitted via a second transmission medium distinct from the transmission medium of wireless switching system  302  to the wireless telephone  303  by transaction unit  306 . The transmission of the transaction number via the second medium frees the user from having to do the visual comparison of the transaction number. 
     Wireless telephone  303  is advantageously illustrated in greater detail in FIG.  4 . Wireless set  303  implements a wireless protocol that allows wireless telephone  303  to establish a wireless signal link with wireless switching system  302 . One air interface that can be used is the Japanese PHS protocol as set forth in “User-Network Interface and Inter-Network Interface Standards for PHS”, the Telecommunication Technology Committee, 1995, and “Personal Handy Phone System RCR Standard”, Version 1, RCR STD-28, Dec. 20, 1993. The message set of the PHS protocol is similar to the ISDN message set. Overall control of the wireless telephone is provided by control unit  401 . Units  402 ,  403 ,  406 ,  407 ,  408 , and  409  provide the RF communication capabilities for the wireless telephone. Elements  404 ,  410 , and  411 - 414  provide the audio information received and transmitted to the user; whereas, elements  416 - 418  and  405  provide the basic user interface. 
     FIGS. 5-8 illustrate, in flowchart form, steps performed in implementing the first embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate steps performed by wireless telephone  103  of FIGS. 1 and 2. After the operations are started, decision block  501  of FIG. 5 determines if the user is requesting an account transaction. If the answer is no, block  505  performs normal processing before returning control back to decision block  501 . 
     If the answer in decision block  501  is yes, decision block  502  requests the PIN or other personal identification information from the user and verifies that the PIN is correct. If the answer is no, control is transferred to block  509  which performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  501 . If the answer in decision block  502  is yes, control is transferred to block  503  which determines what type of an account the user wishes to use. Block  504  then places a call to transaction unit  106  and identifies transaction unit  106  by a identification number. After the call has been completed to transaction unit  106 , block  506  transmits the account information to transaction unit  106  before transferring control to decision block  507 . Decision block  507  waits for the transaction number from transaction unit  106 . If the transaction number is not received, control is transferred to block  508  which performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  501 . If the transaction number is received from transaction unit  106 , control is transferred to block  601  of FIG.  6 . 
     Block  601  displays the transaction number utilizing a display such as a display  107  of FIG. 1 before transferring control to decision block  602 . The later decision block waits for the user&#39;s acceptance. If the user does not accept, control is transferred to block  607  which performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  501  of FIG.  5 . If the user&#39;s acceptance is received, control is transferred to block  603  which transmits the acceptance to transaction unit  106 . Decision block  604  then awaits for the transaction data to be received from transaction unit  106 . If the transaction data is not received, block  608  performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  501  of FIG.  5 . If the transaction data is received by decision block  604 , control is transferred to block  606  which updates the account database with the received transaction data. As previously noted, this updating of the account database can consist of internally storing the transaction data or transmitting it to the PC of the user by placing a telephone call to the PC. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the steps performed by transaction unit  106  FIG.  1 . Once operation has started, decision block  701  determines if a call from a wireless telephone has been received. If the answer is no, block  705  performs normal processing before returning control back to decision block  701 . If the answer is yes, decision block  702  determines if transaction unit  106  was correctly identified in the message from the wireless telephone. If the answer is no in decision block  702 , block  709  performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  701 . If the answer is yes in decision block  702 , block  703  receives the account information transmitted by the wireless telephone. Block  704  then verifies the account information. For a credit card number, block  704  contacts a credit card database, not illustrated in FIG. 1, to obtain verification of the credit card number. Decision block  706  then determines if the account information verified in block  704  is valid. If the answer is no, block  707  performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  701 . If the answer in decision block  706  is yes, transaction unit  106  determines a transaction number and transmits that transaction number to the wireless telephone by execution of block  708 . Block  711  displays the transaction number using display  307  before transferring control to decision block  801  of FIG.  8 . 
     Decision block  801  determines when the transaction is complete. If the answer is no in decision block  801 , block  811  performs error recovery before transferring control to block  813 . Block  813  terminates the call with the wireless telephone before transferring control back to decision block  701  of FIG.  7 . If the answer is yes in decision block  801 , control is transferred to decision block  803  which determines if an acceptance message has been received from the wireless telephone. If no acceptance message has been received, block  812  performs error recovery before transferring control to block  813 . If an acceptance message has been received from the wireless telephone, block  804  terminates the transaction on transaction unit  106  so that another transaction can be started. 
     Then, block  804  transfers control to decision block  806 . Decision block  806  determines if the transaction data gathered during the transaction is to be transmitted to the wireless telephone or to a PC owned by the user of the wireless telephone. If the transaction data is to be transmitted directly to the wireless telephone, block  807  performs this operation before transferring control to block  813 . If the answer in decision block  806  is no, block  808  obtains the communication address of the PC from the wireless telephone. This communication address may be a telephone number so that a data call may be set up via a modem connected to the PC. The transmission of the transaction data to the PC is performed by block  809 . After execution of block  809 , control is transferred to block  813 . 
     FIGS. 9-12 illustrate the steps performed in implementing the second embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate steps performed by wireless telephone  303  of FIGS. 3 and 4. After the operations are started, decision block  901  of FIG. 9 determines if the user is requesting an account transaction. If the answer is no, block  905  performs normal processing before returning control to back to decision block  901 . 
     If the answer in decision block  901  is yes, decision block  902  requests the PIN or other personal identification information from the user and verifies that the PIN is correct. If the answer is no, control is transferred to block  909  which performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  901 . If the answer in decision block  902  is yes, control is transferred to block  903  which determines what type of an account the user wishes to use. Block  904  then places a call to transaction unit  306  and identifies transaction unit  306  with an identification number. After the call has been completed to transaction unit  306 , block  906  transmits the account information to transaction unit  306  before transferring control to decision block  907 . Decision block  907  waits for a transaction number from transaction unit  306 . If the transaction number is not received, control is transferred to block  908  which performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  901 . If the transaction number is received from transaction unit  306 , control is transferred to block  1001  of FIG.  10 . 
     Block  1001  receives the transaction number from transaction unit  306 . Decision block  1002  determines if the transaction number from transaction unit  306  matches the transaction number being transmitted from transmitter  307 . The comparison in decision block  1002  is performed over a predefined amount of time. If after a predefined amount of time there is not a match, block  1007  performs error recovery before transferring control to decision block  901  of FIG.  9 . If the answer is yes in decision block  1002 , block  1003  transmits an acceptance message to transaction unit  306 . Next, decision block  1004  determines if a request has been received for the communication address of the user. If the answer is yes, block  1009  transmits the PC communication address to transaction unit  306 . If the answer is no in decision block  1004 , decision block  1005  determines if transaction data has been received from transaction unit  306 . If the answer is yes, block  1006  updates the account database with the received transaction data before returning control to decision block  901  of FIG.  9 . If the answer is no in decision block  1005 , block  1008  performs an error recovery before transferring control to decision block  901  of FIG.  9 . Block  1006  updates the account database with the received transaction data. As previously noted, this updating of the account database can consist of internally storing the transaction data or transmitting it to the PC of the user by placing a telephone call to the PC. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the steps performed by transaction unit  306  FIG.  3 . Once operation has started, decision block  1101  determines if a call from a wireless telephone has been received. If the answer is no, block  1105  performs normal processing before returning control back to decision block  1101 . If the answer is yes, decision block  1102  determines if transaction unit  306  is correctly identified in the message from the wireless telephone. If the answer is no in decision block  1102 , block  1109  performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  1101 . If the answer is yes in decision block  1102 , block  1103  receives the account information transmitted by the wireless telephone. Block  1104  then verifies the account information. For a credit card number, block  1104  contacts the credit card database, not illustrated in FIG. 1, to obtain verification of the credit card number. Decision block  1106  then determines if the account information verified in block  1104  is valid. If the answer is no, block  1107  performs error recovery before transferring control back to decision block  1101 . If the answer in decision block  1106  is yes, transaction unit  306  determines a transaction number and transmits that transaction number to the wireless telephone by execution of block  1108 . Block  1111  transmits the transaction number to the wireless telephone using transmitter  307  before transferring control to decision block  1201  of FIG.  12 . 
     Decision block  1201  determines when the transaction is complete. If the answer is no in decision block  1201 , block  1211  performs error recovery before transferring control to block  1213 . Block  1213  terminates the call with the wireless telephone before transferring control back to decision block  1101  of FIG.  11 . If the answer is yes in decision block  1201 , control is transferred to decision block  1203  which determines if an acceptance message has been received from the wireless telephone. If no acceptance message has been received, block  1212  performs error recovery before transferring control to block  1213 . If an acceptance message has been received from the wireless telephone, block  1204  completes the transaction. 
     Then, block  1204  transfers control to decision block  1206 . Decision block  1206  determines if the transaction data gathered during the transaction are to be transmitted to the wireless telephone or to a PC owned by the user of the wireless telephone. If the transaction data is to be transmitted directly to the wireless telephone, block  1207  performs this operation before transferring control to block  1213 . If the answer in decision block  1206  is no, block  1208  obtains the communication address of the PC from the wireless telephone. This communication address may be a telephone number so that a data call may be set up via a modem connected to the PC. The transmission of the transaction data to the PC is performed by block  1209 . After execution of block  1209 , control is transferred to block  1213 . 
     Of course, various changes and modifications to the illustrative embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims.