Patent Description:
Virtual prepaid cards exist consisting of electronic money instruments, used to make payments without materially transferring money. These provide for the person concerned to stipulate with an authorized Electronic Money Institution (EMI) or with a Bank, a contract according to which, as a result of transfers made in determined manners to a certain account held at the Electronic Money Institution or at a Bank Institution connected thereto, the person concerned has an availability of money, with which to make on-line purchases, obviously within limits set by appropriate regulations.

Traditional virtual prepaid cards are characterised by a sixteen-digit PAN code, which has to be entered by the user each time the card is used to make an on-line purchase, and by an IBAN code, to be used to top-up the card.

It is also known to use virtual prepaid cards as payment cards to top-up physical prepaid cards. However, there is no way in which payments can be made from one virtual prepaid card to another.

Finally, it is known to use cell phones in payment systems, including to transfer money by debiting a credit card of the settlor.

However, there is no way in which the cell phone can be used to create and to use virtual prepaid cards as electronic money instruments.

The reference "MasterCard CSI globalVCard Steps onto Mobile Payment Scene, Available to Nearly <NUM>% of Smartphone Users" describes a particular virtual card called "CSI MasterCard global vCard" and an APP that can be downloaded on mobile phones or tablets and that permits the creation of a virtual card by setting only the amount of money to be charged, as well as specifying the number of transactions for which the card will be valid (one or more).

<CIT> describes a method for creating a virtual prepaid card. In particular, it describes the use of a phone wherein, in order to activate the virtual card, the user must call a special number and use a complicated authentication voice service. Moreover, once the card has been created, the relevant data is then sent via SMS to the user.

<CIT> describes a method for creating a virtual card. It provides:.

<CIT> describes an enrolling procedure comprising the following steps:.

In particular, the user enters manually his/her mobile phone number so the transaction server is provided with a software for controlling/verifying the information entered by the user. Moreover, in <CIT> the telephone subscription number is just a part of the card identifier since the latter also comprises a further ten-digit bank account number assigned by the affiliate bank.

An object of the invention is to create a virtual prepaid card usable as an electronic money instrument both to make payments and to make money transfers.

Another object of the invention is to create a virtual prepaid card of very simple use.

Another object of the invention is to create a pre-paid virtual card which substantially reduces entering errors by the user while at the same time facilitating control operations by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method both for creating and using a virtual card by means a single application (APP).

Another object of the invention is to provide a method that allows to eliminate the need of having software to create, assign and store virtual card identifiers or, more generally, in order to reduce the computing power in the creation of a virtual credit card.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for simplifying the creation of the pre-paid virtual card and/or the enrolment procedure of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for simplifying the software and/or the hardware infrastructure required for the creation of the pre-paid virtual card and/or for the enrolment procedure of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method providing a way for the creation of the pre-paid virtual card and/or for the enrolment/registration of the user that is alternative in respect of the known solutions.

These and other objects, taken individually or in any combination thereof, which will be apparent from the ensuing description are attained according to the invention by a method for creating a pre-paid virtual card as indicated in claim <NUM> and a pre-paid virtual card presenting the characteristics indicated in claim <NUM>.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is further clarified hereinafter by way of non-limiting example.

In greater detail, the pre-paid virtual card according to the invention consists of an electronic money instrument characterised, as are all electronic money instruments, by an identifier which, in the case of a traditional pre-paid virtual card, is assigned by the service operator, whereas according to the present invention, it consists of the telephone subscription number of the cell phone used for creating the pre-paid virtual card and for its use.

For its creation, the user uses a smartphone, to download from the internet an APP application developed precisely for this purpose.

When the APP has been downloaded, it opens a panel in which the user can indicate the language and the currency chosen for the use of the pre-paid virtual card.

Having made these choices, the APP proposes to the user the option of operating in anonymous form (and in this case with limits in the maximum amount usable within a predetermined time period and in the amount usable for a single operation, limits dictated by anti money-laundering regulations valid at any given time in each individual country), or in registered form (and in this case without said limits or with different limits).

In any event, and independently of the manner in which the user intends to operate, the APP creates a pre-paid virtual card and associates therewith the phone number of the smartphone, into which the APP has been downloaded. It then proposes a panel, into which the user has to insert at least an E-mail address, an APP access password and a six-digit PIN security code to set the future payment arrangements, obviously within the limits established by anti money-laundering regulations.

If the user wishes to operate in registered mode, the APP presents in the smartphone a panel in which the user has to insert, in addition to the E-mail address, the password and the PIN code, also his/her personal data, tax code, a telephone number and possible V.

If a user who initially opted to operate in anonymous mode later decides to operate in registered mode, he/she can add to the APP that data which had initially not been supplied.

All the data which the APP has to acquire to create the pre-paid virtual card can be entered by the user at the moment in which the APP is downloaded, or, if at that stage the APP was limited to creating the pre-paid virtual card and to associate with the identifier of this the number of the cell phone into which the APP was downloaded, then at the moment in which the APP is opened for its initial use.

Independently of this, all the data regarding that user and which have been acquired by the APP have to be registered with an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) which operates the network of the pre-paid virtual card according to the invention.

Registration can be done automatically by the APP at the moment in which it was downloaded and had received the user significant data, or the data can be transmitted by the user to the EMI by the APP at the moment of its initial use, or can be transmitted directly by the user to the EMI, to which the APP has connected it at the moment of its initial use.

The manner with which the user stipulates with the EMI the contract which governs the relationship between the two in relation to the pre-paid virtual card is traditional and requires no further description.

The EMI evidently has its own computer system able to govern all relationships with users who are holders of pre-paid virtual cards.

After the pre-paid virtual card has been created, and the user data have been registered by the computer system of the EMI, the use of the APP is extremely simple, in the sense that once the APP has been opened, this proposes a screen with different options corresponding to the operations which the user has to carry out.

If the user wishes to transfer funds to another pre-paid virtual card pertaining to the same network, he/she chooses the option "SEND", which proposes a panel in which the user has to enter the identifier of the beneficiary, i.e. the telephone subscription number thereof, the amount to be transferred, possible message or reason, and any request for forwarding the settlor identifier data to the beneficiary.

Once the procedure is activated, the APP forwards the request to transfer funds to the EMI, which first verifies in its computer system the existence of the beneficiary identifier, and the presence in the pre-paid virtual card of sufficient funds to carry out the transaction.

If this check is positive, the EMI transmits to the settlor, through the APP, the main data of the beneficiary, if known, to enable the settlor to check the correctness of the data entered and the instructions given, and asks the settlor to confirm the transaction by entering the PIN code, or to cancel the operation if an error is found.

When the user has confirmed the operation, the computer system of the EMI verifies the correctness of the settlor PIN code, the correspondence of the number of the cell phone which gave the order with the one onto which the APP was downloaded at the moment of creating the pre-paid virtual card, and also the correspondence of the EMI code, which uniquely identifies the cell phone which gave the order, providing in fact a "hard authentication" of three levels of security. If the check is positive, the EMI performs the operation and informs the settlor and the beneficiary of its successful execution, while updating in real time the availability of the respective pre-paid virtual cards.

With the pre-paid virtual card according to the invention funds can also be transferred to an actual current account. In this case, the user chooses from the initial screen proposed by the APP at the time of its opening, the option "ORDER TO PAY", which is a sub-option of the "SEND" option. In this case, the APP proposes a different panel, requiring entry of the data required to perform the operation, and in particular the IBAN number of the beneficiary, the name of beneficiary, the amount and the reason.

In this case, the APP forwards the request to the EMI, which carries out a preliminary check on the correctness of the IBAN code of the beneficiary and of sufficient availability in the settlor pre-paid virtual card to carry out the transaction. After performing these checks the EMI sends the data to the bank of the beneficiary to obtain a verification of the correctness of the IBAN code inserted by the settlor and the amount to be paid, then on the basis of these data retransmitted to the settlor for his/her verification, requests confirmation of the operation.

This confirmation is given by the settlor by entering the PIN code.

On obtaining this confirmation the EMI updates the availability on the prepaid virtual card of the settlor, taking into account not only the amount transferred but also any commission, and also performs the usual operations connected with the transfer of funds to an actual current account.

With the pre-paid virtual card according to the invention, money can also be transferred to a beneficiary not belonging to the EMI network, and hence not a holder of a pre-paid virtual card.

In this case, the procedure requires the user to insert into the APP the telephone number of the beneficiary.

In this case, on receiving the instructions from the settlor via the APP, the EMI sends an SMS to the cell phone indicated by the settlor, inviting the holder of this cell phone to download the APP and to register it to have the money credited.

Another option for the holder of the pre-paid virtual card according to the invention is to request a payment to another person pertaining to the EMI network, and hence a holder of another pre-paid virtual.

In this case, from the initial screen which appears on the user's cell phone at the time of opening the APP, the user chooses the option "REQUEST" and enters into the panel proposed by the APP the cell phone number which identifies the user, to which the requested payment is aimed, the amount requested and the possible reason.

The request is checked by the EMI in the form already seen, and is then forwarded to the cell phone of the recipient who is able to give the payment authorization by inserting his/her own PIN code.

The same APP also provides on the initial screen next to the two items "SEND" (which also includes within it the function "PAYMENT") and "REQUESTS", the item "ACCOUNT", which allows the holder of the pre-paid virtual card to display his/her account on his/her cell phone, including the latest transactions, to verify the correctness of the operations carried out.

It should be noted that the invention, in addition to providing for communications between each user and the EMI, to take place via the APP, also enables these to also take place directly between the user and the EMI, except evidently for the initial contact to create the pre-paid virtual card, which always takes place between the user and the APP.

Finally, if the transactions take place between pre-paid virtual card holders who have chosen to work with a different currency, the computer system of the EMI instantly converts the amounts at the latest availability currency rate, crediting the beneficiary with the already converted amount and applying the commissions for the currency transaction.

In addition to these specific functions in the use of the pre-paid virtual card, further options can be provided, not strictly related to it, but still useful for carrying out with the cell phone other operations related to the use of actual credit cards held by the same user.

For this purpose, as an alternative to the use of the pre-paid virtual card, the user can also use actual credit cards, even without having them materially available. These cards must be pre-registered with the APP by inserting for each of them the relative data (name of issuer, sixteen-digit identifier number, name and surname of holder, expiry date, three-digit security code, and any PIN code). Following this registration, the credit card or credit cards may appear as options, as an alternative to the pre-paid virtual card, on the initial screen that appears on opening the APP, and allows the user to use them without having them physically available.

Essentially, the present invention differs significantly from all known pre-paid virtual cards, in that instead of having a card identifier attributed by the operator of the electronic money network, it has a different identifier, consisting of the same number as the telephone subscription number used to create the pre-paid virtual card and used when using the card. This brings a very large number of benefits for both the user and the service provider.

As regards the user, the fact that the pre-paid virtual card identifier is the same as the telephone subscription number is advantageous in that:.

With regard to the service provider, this can also derive important advantages from the invention, in that:.

In particular, according to the present invention, the creation of the virtual card and the association/assignment of the telephone subscription number as card identifier are performed by a software (APP) that is downloaded and executed onto the smartphone, i.e. the same device that is then intended to be used for the payment. This specific sequence allows to have at the EMI a simple memorization (i.e. the registration is a simple memorization) of the virtual credit card identifiers that are initialized in each smartphone (i.e. in a local environment) by the software (APP). It means that the initialization(creation) step of the virtual card identifier is not performed centrally by a software executed in the affiliate bank as in <CIT>, but is performed locally by and in each smartphone and this allows to simplify the management software installed in the affiliated bank (and the corresponding processing time for performing each operation) and, in particular, there is no need for the affiliated bank to have a software to bind an account to the mobile phone. Moreover, according to the present invention, the software (APP) downloaded and executed in the smartphone does not create any number, but it just initializes the ID of the virtual card with a value (i.e. the telephone subscription number) that is read by the APP itself when it is downloaded onto the smartphone. It means that it uses only a value that already exists (and is not created) and that is already unique in a different field (i.e. phone communications), while <CIT> requires a software to create such additional <NUM>-digit number and such software is stored and executed in the server of the affiliate bank. Therefore, the solution according to the invention allows to avoid having in the affiliate bank a software for creating an additional <NUM>-digit number and for suitably add the latter to the telephone number.

Claim 1:
A method for constituting a pre-paid virtual card, characterised by downloading from the internet onto a smartphone an application (APP) which at the moment in which it is downloaded creates a pre-paid virtual card and automatically assigns as its identifier the telephone subscription number of said smartphone, then registering with an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) which is to operate said pre-paid virtual card, at least said telephone subscription number, the E-mail address of the holder of said subscription, a password for subsequent access, and a PIN security code for future payment instructions,
wherein after said application (APP) has created the pre-paid virtual card and has assigned the telephone subscription number as its identifier, it connects to said Electronic Money Institution (EMI) to register therewith the data relative to the holder of the electronic card, said password and said PIN code.