Xilidev v. Boku et. al

8/13/2019 Xilidev v. Boku et. al.

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COMPLAINT

JAMES V. FAZIO, III CSB [email protected] Q. CODDINGTON, PH.D. (CSB# 243042)[email protected] DIEGO IP LAW GROUP LLP12526 High Bluff Drive, Suite 300San Diego, CA 92130Telephone: (858) 792-3446Facsimile: (858) 792-3447

Attorneys for Plaintiff,XILIDEV, INC.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

XILIDEV, INC.,

Plaintiff,

vs.

BOKU, INC.; BOKU ACCOUNTSERVICES, INC.; and DOES 1through 10, inclusive,

Defendants.

CASE NO.

COMPLAINT FOR PATENTINFRINGEMENT

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

'13CV2793 NLSBTM


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COMPLAINT

Plaintiff Xilidev, Inc. (Xilidev) hereby files its complaint for patent

infringement against Boku, Inc., Boku Account Services, Inc., and DOES 1 through

10, inclusive (collectively, Boku) and alleges as follows:

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This is an action for patent infringement under the patent laws of theUnited States, 35 U.S.C. 271, et seq.

THE PARTIES

2. Xilidev is a Nevada corporation and is the sole owner by assignmentof the patent in suit herein, namely, U.S. Patent No. Bo (the 168 patent) entitled

Point-of-sale billing via hand-held devices,which issued on September 25, 2007.

3. Boku, Inc. is a Delaware corporation and a global mobile paymentscompany with its European headquarters located at Golden Gate House, 8

Duncannon Street, London, England WC2N4JF and its United States offices

located at 201 Mission Street, 10thFloor, San Francisco, California 94105 and/or 2

Harrison Street, 6thFloor, San Francisco, California 94105. Boku, Inc.s registered

agent for service of process is Javier Martell, 201 Mission Street, San Francisco,

California 94105.4. Boku Account Services, Inc. is a Virginia corporation located at 201

Mission Street, 10thFloor, San Francisco, California 94105. Boku Account

Services, Inc.s registered agent for service of process is Javier Martell, 201

Mission Street, San Francisco, California 94105.

5. On information and belief, Boku was formed in 2009 with theacquisition of Paymo and Mobilcash, two leading providers of global payments

systems at the time, and $13 million in venture financing. On information and

belief, Boku has raised over $75 million in venture financing, including funding

from Benchmark Capital, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures, DAG Ventures,

Andreessen Horowitz, New Enterprise Associates, and Telefonica.

6. Boku provides a mobile billing platform and carrier-billing (charged to


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COMPLAINT

mobile phone bill) network, enabling consumers to pay for goods and services

using their mobile phones. Carrier-billing (among other things) enables unbanked

customers who may have a mobile phone but no credit card or conventional bank

account to make purchases online. On information and belief, the majority of

transactions processed through Boku carrier-billing are for digital and virtual goods

such as social networks and free-to-play games, music, eBooks, movies, as well as

physical goods. On information and belief, numerous gaming companies use or

enable Bokusplatform and service, including without limitation Electronic Arts,

Playfish, Playdom, Cie Studios, GameDuell, Cyberstep Communications, IGG,

King.com, NHN USA, Ntreev, Outspark, Perfect World, Aeria Games, Games-

Master, K2Networks/GamersFirst, Meez, and WeeWorld.

7. Xilidev is ignorant of the true names and capacities of the parties suedherein as DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, whether individual, corporate or

otherwise, and therefore sues these defendants by such fictitious names. Xilidev

will amend the complaint to assert their true names when they have been

ascertained. Xilidev is informed and believes and based thereon alleges that all

defendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 10 are in some manner responsible forthe acts of infringement alleged herein.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

8. This Court has original and exclusive subject matter jurisdiction overthis action under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a).

9. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Boku because it transactssystematic and continuous business with Boku merchants and/or Boku consumers

in this District, and because Boku has committed and is continuing to commit direc

and/or indirect patent infringement in this District by making, using, selling,

offering for sale, importing, exporting, and/or distributing in the United States

Bokus mobile billing platform and carrier-billing and point-of-sale network and

service.


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COMPLAINT

10. Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400(b)because Boku resides in this District, because the infringing platform and service is

deployed, sold, offered for sale and/or used here, and because certain of the acts

complained of herein occurred in this District.

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

11. On September 25, 2007, the United States Patent & Trademark Office(PTO) duly and lawfully issued U.S. Patent No.7,273,168 (the 168 patent)

entitled Point-of-sale billing via hand-held devices. Xilidev is the sole owner by

assignment of the 168 patent, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The

inventor of the 168 patent and Xilidevs founder, James Linlor (Linlor), has been

recognized as an innovator and has been asked to participate in a number of trade

shows and symposia, including those sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission,

the Wall Street Journal, and others. See, e.g.,

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/techade/pdfs/transcript_061108.pdf.

12. Linlor developed a mobile payments system branded as BillMyCellthrough his company Black Lab Mobile, which was launched locally in 2005 and

nationally in 2006, which was funded by Linlor and other individuals, and whichincorporated the inventions disclosed by the 168 patent. The Black Lab Mobile

system was used by groups in the United States, including the San Diego

Symphony, to process payments for tickets, taxis, parking, and other person-to-

person (P2P) payments using desktop and mobile device (WAP) interfaces. Linlor

was contacted by Danal, Inc. and other entities regarding licensing the 168 patent.

13. Black Lab Mobile also developed a voice-response search systemcalled Webster, with a location-sensitive advertising and coupon system. Linlor

subsequently sought further funding from Sequoia Capital in Palo Alto, California,

Qualcomm Ventures in San Diego, and others but was viewed as not having

sufficient market share and financial means to ward off market entry and challenge

by Google, PayPal and others. On information and belief, the 168 patent and


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COMPLAINT

BillMyCell continued to be referenced when these entities sought market entry.

14. On information and belief, other companies including Motorola andMasterCard are developing and/or promoting the use of a wallet phone concept to

create a mobile phone that acts like a wallet. Several companies such as Obopay,

TextPayMe (acquired by Amazon), BilltoMobile and MyTango also have services

that allow the user to pay for transactions using mobile phones.

CLAIM FOR RELIEF

(Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,273,168)

15. Xilidev repeats, realleges and incorporates by reference the allegationsof paragraphs 1 through 14 as though set forth fully herein.

16. This claim is for patent infringement under the Patent Laws of theUnited States, Title 35 of the United States Code.

17. Boku is directly infringing the 168 patent by making, using, selling,offering for sale, exporting, and/or importing in the United States Bokus mobile

billing platform. The Boku mobile billing platform includes all the features or step

recited in at least one claim of the 168 patent.

18. By letter dated September 25, 2013, Xilidev provided formal writtenof the 168 patent to Mark Britto, CEO of Boku. Xilidev and its related entity

BillMyCell marked its website with the 168 patent beginning in approximately

September, 2011, thus Boku has been on constructive notice of the 168 patent

since at least approximately September, 2011 and actual notice since at least

September 25, 2013.

19. Boku also actively induces and has induced merchants and/orconsumers using the Boku mobile billing platform to infringe at least one claim of

the 168 patent. Boku has had actual knowledge of the 168 patent at least since

September 25, 2013 if not sooner and constructive knowledge of the 168 patent at

least since approximately September, 2011. Boku enables merchants to accept

monetary payments from consumers via the Boku mobile billing platform. For


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COMPLAINT

example, Zoosk (an online dating site) provides its users with the option to buy

Zoosk coins (a virtual currency to purchase various features on Zoosk) using the

Boku mobile billing system. In operation, a Zoosk user selects a mobile payment

icon presented at the Zoosk website. Upon presentation of a Boku branded pop-up

window, the Zoosk user enters a mobile phone number. An authorization code,

e.g., PIN, is then sent via text messaging to the Zoosk users mobile phone

(corresponding to the entered mobile phone number). The Zoosk user then enters

the authorization code in the Boku branded pop-up window. Upon successful

verification of the entered authorization code, the purchase of Zoosk coins is

completed. Other Boku merchants and consumers conduct transactions in a similar

if not identical, manner using the Boku mobile billing system.

20. On the basis of at least these facts, Boku possessed and continues topossess the specific intent to encourage Boku merchants and consumers to directly

or jointly (with each other or Boku) infringe at least one claim of the 168 patent by

implementing the Boku mobile billing platform. Like conventional credit card

payment systems, Boku receives a fee for every transaction conducted through its

mobile billing platform. On information and belief, many Boku merchants and/orconsumers are located outside the United States.

21. Boku is also liable for contributory infringement by importing, sellingand/or offering to sell in the United States Bokus mobilebilling platform to Boku

merchants.

22. Boku has had knowledge of the 168 patent at least since September25, 2013 when it was provided with formal written notice of the patent, if not

sooner via constructive or other notice. The Boku mobile billing platform is

material to authenticating and processing payments using PIN codes via mobile

devices. Boku knows that its mobile billing platform was and is especially made or

adapted for use in infringing at least one claim of the 168 patent and not a staple

article or commodity suitable for substantial non-infringing use because there is no


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COMPLAINT

other use or purpose of Bokus mobilebilling platform other than to allow

merchants to accept payments. The Boku mobile billing platform is implemented

by a merchant through a combination of one or more Boku servers and databases

and one or more merchant servers and databases. Bokus servers and databases are

a material part of this combination.

23. Bokus infringement is willful because Boku has had actual knowledgeof the 168 patent since at least September 25, 2013 if not sooner and constructive

notice of the 168 patent since at least September, 2011, yet Boku has not desisted

from making, using, importing, selling and offering for sale in the United States its

mobile billing platform, nor has Boku altered or modified its mobile billing

platform in any way so as to avoid infringement.

24. Xilidev is informed and believes and based thereon alleges that Bokusinfringement will continue unless enjoined by this Court.

25. Xilidev is informed and believes and based thereon alleges that Bokuhas derived and received, and will continue to derive and receive, gains, profits and

advantages from the alleged acts of infringement in an amount not presently known

to Xilidev but in excess of the jurisdictional requirement of this Court. Oninformation and belief, Bokus annual sales presently exceed $195 million and are

substantially if not wholly attributable to transaction fees received from merchants

providing the Boku mobile billing platform as a payment option to consumers. By

reason of the aforesaid infringing acts, Xilidev has been damaged and is entitled to

monetary relief in an amount to be determined at trial but in excess of the

jurisdictional requirement of this Court.

26. Because of the aforesaid infringing acts, Xilidev has suffered andcontinues to suffer great and irreparable injury for which there is no adequate

remedy at law.


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COMPLAINT

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Xilidev prays for judgment against Boku as follows:

(a) An Order adjudging Boku to have infringed the 168 patent under 35U.S.C. 271;

(b) An Order adjudging Boku to have willfully infringed the 168 patentunder 35 U.S.C. 271;

(c) A permanent injunction under 35 U.S.C. 283 enjoining Boku, itsofficers, directors, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, parent company and

acquirers, and those persons acting in concert or participation with them, from

directly or indirectly infringing the 168 patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271;

(d) That Boku accounts for all damages by their infringement of the 168patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271, and pay to Xilidev all damages suffered by

Xilidev;

(e) An order for a trebling of damages and/or exemplary damages due toBokuswillful misconduct under 35 U.S.C. 284;

(f) An Order adjudging that this is an exceptional case;(g) An award to Xilidev of its attorneys fees and costs incurred in

connection with this action under 35 U.S.C. 285; and

(h)Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.Dated: November 25, 2013 SAN DIEGO IP LAW GROUP LLP

By:/s/James V. Fazio, IIIJAMES V. FAZIO, III

TREVOR Q. CODDINGTON



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COMPLAINT

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Xilidev hereby demands a jury trial on all issues so triable.

Dated: November 25, 2013 SAN DIEGO IP LAW GROUP LLP

By:/s/James V. Fazio, IIIJAMES V. FAZIO, III

TREVOR Q. CODDINGTON



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EXHIBIT A


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1 2 ) United S t a t e s PatentUS007273168B2

1 0 ) P a t e n t N 0 . : US 7 , 2 7 3 , 1 6 8 B 2L i n l o r 4 5 ) D a t e o f P a t en t : S e p . 2 5 , 2 0 0 7

54) POINT-OF-SALE BILLING VIA HAND-HELD 2003/0078844 A1* 4/2003 T a k a t o r i e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705/17DEVICES 2004/0020988 Al 2 / 2 0 0 4 Omori

2 0 0 4 / 0 0 5 9 6 7 1 Al* 3 / 2 0 0 4 Nozaki e t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 0 5/ 3 9( 7 5 ) I n v e n t o r : James L i n l o r , San M a r c o s , CA U S ) 2 0 0 4 / 0 0 9 8 3 5 3 A1 5 / 2 0 0 4 S m l t h2005/0216354 Al 9 / 2 0 0 5 Barn et a 1 .

- _ . . 2006/0070l2l Al 3/2006 Itabashi ....................... . 723/9( 7 3 ) A s s l g n e e ' X l h d e v I n c San M a r c o s CA U s ) 2 0 0 6 / 0 1 0 0 9 6 1 A1 5 / 2 0 0 6 P a t e r n o e t a 1 .** ) N o t i c e : Subject t o any d i s c l a i m e r , t h e tenn o f t h i s 2007/0089168 Al 4 / 2 0 0 7 Wang t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 6 / 9

p a t e n t i s extended o r a d j u s t e d under 35 * C i t e d b examinerU . S . C . 1 5 4 1 ) ) b y 2 8 9 d a y s . yP r i m a r y ExamineriSteven S . P a i k

( 2 1 ) A P P 1 ~ N04 1 0 / 9 6 1 , 8 1 6 ( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , A g e n t , o r FirmiKnobbe M a r t e n s O l s o n( 2 2 ) F1 d O 8 2004 B e a r LLP1 e ct. ,

5 7 ) ABSTRACT( 6 5 ) P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o n DataUs 2 0 0 5 / 0 1 0 9 8 3 8 A1 May 26, 2 0 0 5 Apayment r e s o l u t i o n module s c o n ? g u r e d o c o m m u n i c a t e

W i t h h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s ( s u c h a s m o b i l e p h o n e s , PDAs, o rR e l a t e d US. A p p l i c a t i o n Data c o m p u t e r s ) t o a l l o W p u r c h a s e o f p r o d u c t s u s i n g t h e h a n d

6 0 ) P r o v i s i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 6 0 / 5 1 0 , 6 4 9 , ? l e d o n O c t . h e l d d e v l c e s W l t h o u t r e q - u l n n g t h e u s e r o f t h e h a n d - h e l d1 0 2003 d e v 1 c e to e n t e r payment mformatlon f o r each t r a n s a c t 1 o n . The user of the hand-held device may b e identi?ed a s the

oWner o f t h e d e v i c e e i t h e r by h a v i n g t h e o p t i o n t o e n t e r a51) Int. Cl. . . . . . .G 0 6 K / 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 1 ) p r s o r I 1 a l h 1 d e n t 1 1 c t a t 1 o n c o d e , o r b y d u s m l g a l T I O m e I I I C h I O_ _ i enti y imse or examp . Accor ing y , on y an aut o( 5 2 ) US l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 5 / 3 8 0 , 2 3 5 / 3 7 9 , 235/382 r i Z e d u s e r of t h e handheld d e v i c e may u s e t h e handheld

( 5 8 ) F i e l d o f C l a s s i ? c a t i o n Search . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 5 / 3 8 0 , d e v i c e t o p u r c h a s e p r o d u c t s A f t e r t h e payment r e s o l u t i o nS 1 _ t _ ? l f 2 3 1 5 / 7 9 3 8 1 2 1 1 1 7 2 5 / 3 9 4 0 m o d u l e r e c e i v e s a u t h o r i z a t i o n f o r p a y m e n t , a n a u t h o r i z a t i o nee app 1 0 a Ion e or Comp 6 e Seam I s My code i s transmitted t o the mobile device. The user may b e

( 5 6 ) R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d r e q u i r e d t o p r e s e n t t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e a t t h e p o i n t o fUS. PATENT DOCUMENTS s a l e , s u c h a s by e n t e r i n g t h e c o d e i n t o a c o m p u t i n g d e v i c ea t t h e p o i n t - o f - s a l e , p r i o r t o c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n .

2002/0025796 Al 2/2002 Taylor et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . .. 455/4062003/0055792 A1 * 3/2003 Kinoshita et a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705/67 23 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets

120 110HAND-r wAYMENT AYMENTHELD @@ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZATIOND E V I C EKwODULE \@ OURCE@

1 5 0CO NF I RM T IA ON @ T R A N S A C T I O N /140DEVICE AT DATABASEPOlNT-OF-SALE


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U S Patent S e p . 2 5 2 0 0 7 S h e e t 1 0 f 9 U 7 2 7 3 1 6 8 B2

o m


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U . S . Patent S e p . 2 5 2 0 0 7 S h e e t 2 0 f 9 US 7 , 2 7 3 , 1 6 8 B2

110

220

INTERACTIVE 210VOI E

RESPONSE

2 3 0 \I / O

INTERF CEAUTHORIZATION 240

CODEGENERATION

FIG A


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1 40260

TRANSACTIONDATA

STORAGE

270

TRANSACTIONPROCESSING

FIG B


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U.S. Patent S e p . 2 5 2 0 0 7 S h e e t 4 0 f 9 US 7 2 7 3 1 6 8 B2

DETERMINE PRODUCT/ 1 SERVICE TO PURCHASE

V

TRANSMIT TRANSACTION 320REQUEST

l 3 3DETERMINE REQUESTOR

AUTHORIZE TRANSACTION 340REQUEST

350UPDATE TRANSACTION DATABASE

Y

GENERATE AND TRANSMIT 360AUTHORIZATION CODE

V

VERIFY AUTHORIZATION 370CODE AT POlNT OF SALE

FIG. 3


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U S Patent S e p . 2 5 2 0 0 7 S h e e t 5 0 f 9

DETERMINE PRODUCTSERVICE TO PURCHASE

IDENTIFY CONTACT INFORMATIONFOR PAYMENT RESOLUTION

MODULE

US 7 2 7 3 1 6 8 B2

410/

ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION LINKWITH PAYMENT RESOLUTION

MODULE420

V

SELECT PRODUCTS TO PURCHASEUSING VOICE AND/OR KEYBOARDCOMMANDS TO NAVIGATE MENUS

430

FIG


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U . S . Patent S e p . 2 5 2 0 0 7 S h e e t 7 0 f 9 US 7 2 7 3 1 6 8 B2

AUTHORIZE TRANSACTIONREQUEST

1 0DETERMINE TOTAL COST

620ETERMINE PAYMENT SOURCE

F

TRANSMIT TRANSACTION 30INFORMATION INCLUDING TOTAL

COST) TO PAYMENT SOURCE

Y

RECEIVE RESPONSE FROM 40PAYMENT SOURCE

FIG. 6


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D A T E T R N S C T I O N D A T A B A

STORE TRANSACTION 2 0DATA

RECEIVED REQUESTFROM VENDOR FOR STORED

AUTHORIZATIONCODE

YESITRANSMIT REQUESTED 740

AUTHORIZATION CODE TOVENDOR

FIG 7


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370Q E R I F Y U T H O R I Z T I O N C O D 9 /810

USER S UNIQUELY IDENTIFIED

CONFIRMATION DEVICE 820ACCESSESTRANSACTION

DATABASE

v

COMPARE ENTERCODEWITH CODE RECEIVEDFROM TRANSACTION

DATABASE

830

850840PROVIDE NOTICE THAT

NO RANSACTION I S NOTAUTHORIZED

TRANSACTIONAUTHORIZED?

YESI

PROVID E NOTICE TO 860VENDOR THAT PAYMENTHAS BEEN ARRANGED

FIG


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US 7 , 2 7 3 , 1 6 8 B21

POINT OF SALE BILLING VIA HAND HELDDEVICES

RELATED APPLICATIONST h i s a p p l i c a t i o n c l a i m s p r i o r i t y t o p r o v i s i o n a l p a t e n t

a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 6 0 / 5 1 0 , 6 4 9 , ? l e d on O c t . 1 0 , 2 0 0 3 .BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . F i e l d o f t h e I n v e n t i o nT h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o s y s t e m s and methods f o r comp l e t i n g t r a n s a c t i o n s u s i n g h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s .2 . D e s c r i p t i o n o f R e l a t e d A r tC o n v e n i e n t c o m p l e t i o n o f ? n a n c i a l t r a n s a c t i o n s u s i n g

h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s c o n t i n u e s t o g a i n i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a r i t yamong consumers. For example, a consumer may c a l l anumber of r e t a i l e r s u s i n g a hand-held d e v i c e , such a s am o b i l e p h o n e , p r o v i d e t h e r e t a i l e r W i t h p a y m e n t i n f o r m at i o n , a n d h a v e t h e d e s i r e d p r o d u c t d e l i v e r e d t o t h e i r home.Such a n o r d e r may b e p l a c e d u s i n g a v a r i e t y o f h a n d - h e l dd e v i c e s by any u s e r Wh o can r e a d a c r e d i t c a r d number.A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e r e i s a p o t e n t i a l f o r f r a u d i n t r a n s a c t i o n su s i n g h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s . I n f a c t , t h e r e i s c u r r e n t l y n os a t i s f a c t o r y m e c h a n i s m f o r a u t h e n t i c a t i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h ep e r s o n o r d e r i n g a p r o d u c t u s i n g a h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e i n o r d e rt o e n s u r e t h a t t h e person i s a u t h o r i z e d t o use t h e providedp a y m e n t i n f o r m a t i o n .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA a y m e n t r e s o l u t i o n module s c o n ? g u r e d t o communi

c a t e W i t h h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s ( s u c h a s m o b i l e p h o n e s , PDAs,o r c o m p u t e r s ) t o a l l o W p u r c h a s e o f p r o d u c t s u s i n g t h eh a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s , W i t h o u t r e q u i r i n g t h e u s e r o f t h e handh e l d d e v i c e t o e n t e r payment i n f o r m a t i o n f o r e a c h s a l e st r a n s a c t i o n . The u s e r of h e hand-held d e v i c e m ay be i d e nt i ? e d a s t h e oWner f t h e d e v i c e e i t h e r by h a v i n g t h e o p t i o nt o e n t e r a p e r s o n a l i d e n t i ? c a t i o n c o d e , o r by u s i n g a b i om e t r i c t o i d e n t i f y h i m s e l f , f o r e x a m p l e . A c c o r d i n g l y , o n l y a na u t h o r i z e d u s e r o f h e hand-held d e v i c e may use t h e handh e l d d e v i c e t o p u r c h a s e p r o d u c t s .

I n one embodiment, t h e u s e r of hand-held device s e l e c t sa d e s i r e d p r o d u c t o r p r o d u c t s ) by r e s p o n d i n g t o a s e r i e s o fp r o d u c t menus o r e n t e r i n g a p r o d u c t i d e n t i ? c a t i o n code i n t ot h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e , f o r e x a m p l e . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h eh a n d - h e l d d e v i c e r e c e i v e s p r o d u c t i n f o r m a t i o n v i a a d a t acommunication s i g n a l , such a s a RF r i n f r a r e d s i g n a l , andt h e u s e r may t h e n s e l e c t a p r o d u c t from t h e p r o d u c t i n f o rm a t i o n r e c e i v e d f r o m t h a t d a t a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i g n a l . Thepayment r e s o l u t i o n module m ay immediately r e t u r n a con? r m a t i o n o f t h e s e l e c t e d p r o d u c t t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ,a l o n g W i t h a v a i l a b i l i t y , p r i c e , p r o d u c t d e s c r i p t i o n , a n d / o ro t h e r p r o d u c t r e l a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h epayment r e s o l u t i o n module d e t e r m i n e s t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h em o b i l e d e v i c e u s e r and communicates i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r di n g t h e r e q u e s t e d p r o d u c t , i n c l u d i n g t o t a l p r i c e o f t h ep r o d u c t , t o a payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e , such a s a c r e d i tc a r d company. f t e r t h e payment e s o l u t i o n module e c e i v e sa u t h o r i z a t i o n f o r payment o f t h e t o t a l p r i c e f r o m t h e p a yment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e , t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n moduleg e n e r a t e s an a u t h o r i z a t i o n code t h a t i s t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h em o b i l e d e v i c e , s u c h a s by u s i n g a s h o r t message s e r v i c e( S M S ) , f o r e x a m p l e . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , i n o r d e r f o r t h eu s e r of h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e t o r e t r i e v e t h e p r o d u c t a t t h ep o i n t - o f - s a l e , t h e u s e r must p r e s e n t t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e ,s u c h a s by e n t e r i n g t h e c o d e i n t o a computing d e v i c e a t t h e

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2p o i n t - o f - s a l e , t o con?rm h e u s e r s i d e n t i t y . I n t h i s W a y , t h eu s e o f a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n code r e d u c e s f r a u d by e n s u r i n g t h a to n l y t h e a u t h o r i z e d u s e r may r e t r i e v e t h e o r d e r e d goods o rs e r v i c e s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , b e c a u s e e a c h u s e r i s a u t o m a t i c a l l yi d e n t i ? e d b y t h e p a y m e n t r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e , a s i m p l i ? e ds y s t e m a n d m e t h o d f o r c o m p l e t i n g t r a n s a c t i o n s u s i n g h a n dh e l d d e v i c e s i s p r o v i d e d .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURESF I G . 1 i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g a n e x e m p l a r y

a r r a n g e m e n t o f modules t h a t may b e u s e d i n a p o i n t - o f - s a l eb i l l i n g s y s t e m f o r h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s .F I G . 2A s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g e x e m p l a r y m o d

u l e s i n a payment r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e , s u c h a s t h e paymentr e s o l u t i o n module i l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G . 1 .

F I G . 2B i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g e x e m p l a r y m o du l e s i n a t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e , such a s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t ab a s e i l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G . 1 .

F I G . 3 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g an exemplary method fc o m p l e t i n g a n a u t h e n t i c a t e d t r a n s a c t i o n .

F I G . 4 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g a n e x e m p l a r y p r o c e s s byWhich t h e user o f a hand-held device may determine ap r o d u c t a n d /o r s e r v i c e t o p u r c h a s e .

F I G . 5 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g an exemplary r o c e s s o fd e t e r m i n i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e u s e r o f a h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e .

F I G . 6 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g an exemplary r o c e s s o fa u t h o r i z i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t r e c e i v e d a t t h e paymentr e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e .

F I G . 7 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g an exemplary r o c e s s o fu p d a t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e .

F I G . 8 i s a ? ow h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g a n e x e m p l a r y p r o c e s s o fv e r i f y i n g a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAINEMBODIMENTS

Embodiments f t h e i n v e n t i o n W i l l n o W be d e s c r i b e d W i t hr e f e r e n c e t o t h e accompanying F i g u r e s , W h e r e i n l i k e numera l s r e f e r t o l i k e e l e m e n t s t h r o u g h o u t . The e r m i n o l o g y u s e di n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n p r e s e n t e d h e r e i n i s n o t i n t e n d e d t o b ei n t e r p r e t e d i n any l i m i t e d o r r e s t r i c t i v e m a n n e r , s i m p l yb e c a u s e t i s b e i n g u t i l i z e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n W i t h a d e t a i l e dd e s c r i p t i o n o f c e r t a i n s p e c i ? c e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n .F u r t h e r m o r e , embodiments o f t h e i n v e n t i o n may i n c l u d es e v e r a l n o v e l f e a t u r e s , no s i n g l e one o f Which i s s o l e l yr e s p o n s i b l e f o r i t s d e s i r a b l e a t t r i b u t e s o r Which s e s s e n t i a lt o p r a c t i c i n g t h e i n v e n t i o n s h e r e i n d e s c r i b e d .

F I G . 1 i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g a n e x e m p l a r ya r r a n g e m e n t o f modules t h a t may b e u s e d i n a p o i n t - o f - s a l eb i l l i n g s y s t e m f o r h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s . The e r m m o d u l e , a sused h e r e i n , means, b u t i s n o t l i m i t e d t o , a s o f t W a r e o rhardWare component, s u c h a s a ? e l d programmable g a t ea r r a y FPGA) o r a n a p p l i c a t i o n s p e c i ? c i n t e g r a t e d c i r c u i t( A S I C ) , W h i c h p e r f o r m s c e r t a i n t a s k s . A odule may d v a nt a g e o u s l y be con?gured o r e s i d e o n a n a d d r e s s a b l e s t o r a g emedium a nd con? g ured t o execute o n o n e or m o r e process o r s . T h u s , a module may i n c l u d e , by Way o f e x a m p l e ,c o m p o n e n t s , s u c h a s s o f t W a r e c o m p o n e n t s , o b j e c t - o r i e n t e ds o f t W a r e c o m p o n e n t s , c l a s s c o m p o n e n t s a n d t a s k compon e n t s , p r o c e s s e s , f u n c t i o n s , a t t r i b u t e s , p r o c e d u r e s , s u b r o ut i n e s , s e g m e n t s o f p r o g r a m c o d e , d r i v e r s , ? r m W a r e , m i c r oc o d e , c i r c u i t r y , d a t a , d a t a b a s e s , d a t a s t r u c t u r e s , t a b l e s ,a r r a y s , a n d v a r i a b l e s . The f u n c t i o n a l i t y p r o v i d e d f o r i n t h ecomponents and modules may b e combined i n t o f e W e rcomponents and modules r f u r t h e r s e p a r a t e d i n t o a d d i t i o n a lc o m p o n e n t s a n d m o d u l e s .


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As l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G . 1 , a payment e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0i s i n b i - d i r e c t i o n a l communication With both a hand-heldd e v i c e 120 and a payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 . Thepayment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 a l s o i s i n communicationW i t h a t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 , Which m a i n t a i n s r e c o r d s o ft r a n s a c t i o n s t h a t a r e c u r r e n t l y i n p r o c e s s and h o s e t h a t havea l r e a d y b e e n c o m p l e t e d . o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e a t t h e p o i n to f - s a l e 1 5 0 , o r s i m p l y c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 , i s a c c e s s e dby t h e u s e r o f t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 120 b e f o r e t h e o r d e r e dp r o d u c t m a y b e r e t r i e v e d . F I G . 1 a l s o i n c l u d e s numbereds t e p s , s i g n i ? e d b y n u m b e r s i n s i d e o f c i r c l e s , t h a t i l l u s t r a t et h e o r d e r of a t a How i n c o m p l e t i n g an a u t h e n t i c a t e d t r a n sa c t i o n .

I n o p e r a t i o n , t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 i n i t i a l l y c o n t a c t st h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 110 t o p l a c e an o r d e r f o r ap r o d u c t s t e p 1 o f F I G . 1 ) . The c o n t a c t b e t W e e n t h e h a n dh e l d d e v i c e 120 and h e payment e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 canb e a c c o m p l i s h e d u s i n g e x i s t i n g c e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e i n f r as t r u c t u r e , s u c h a s d i a l i n g a t e l e p h o n e number W h i c h c o r r es p o n d s t o t h e p a y m e n t r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 . r o d u c tmay b e i d e n t i ? e d , f o r e x a m p l e , b y e n t e r i n g a p r o d u c ti d e n t i ? c a t i o n c o d e , o r by h a v i n g s u c h c o d e r e c e i v e d b y ap r o x i m i t y - b a s e d s y s t e m s u c h a s RFID o r i n f r a r e d , o r b yn a v i g a t i n g a s e r i e s o f menus s i n g t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 .I n one embodiment, once a p r o d u c t h a s been i d e n t i ? e d b yt h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 , t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module1 1 0 t r a n s m i t s a v e r i ? c a t i o n o f t h e s e l e c t e d p r o d u c t t o t h eh a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 s t e p 1A f F I G . 1 ) .

I n a n a d v a n t a g e o u s e m b o d i m e n t , t h e payment r e s o l u t i o nmodule 110 i d e n t i ? e s t h e u s e r o f t h e hand-held d e v i c e 120u s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t i s u n i q u e t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 ,such a s c a l l e r ID i n f o r m a t i o n o r a d e v i c e i d e n t i ? e r s p e c i ? ct o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n m a y be s t o r e dl o c a l l y a t t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 , o r m a y b ea c c e s s e d on a remote computer s y s t e m . For e x a m p l e , W h e na p r o d u c t r e q u e s t i s r e c e i v e d by t h e p a y m e n t r e s o l u t i o nmodule 1 1 0 , i n f o r m a t i o n i d e n t i f y i n g t h e m o b i l e d e v i c e maybe s e n t t o a u s e r r e s o l u t i o n module n o t shoWn . Such amodule m a y i s t a p l u r a l i t y o f m o b i l e d e v i c e i d e n t i ? e r s , e a c hassociated Wi t h a u s e r . Thus, a user r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e maydetermine a user based u p o n mobile device i d e n t i ? e r . T h edetermined u s e r m a y t h e n be r e t u r n e d t o t h e paymentr e s o l u t i o n module 1 0 . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p a y m e n t r e s o l u t i o nmodule 1 1 0 a c q u i r e s a n i d e n t i t y o f a s p e c i ? c u s e r a l o n g W i t ha p r o d u c t r e q u e s t e d b y t h e s p e c i ? c u s e r .

I n s t e p 2 o f F I G . 1 , t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0t r a n s m i t s i n f o r m a t i o n i d e n t i f y i n g t h e u s e r , a l o n g W i t h t h ep r o d u c t i n f o r m a t i o n , s u c h a s t h e p r i c e o f t h e p r o d u c tr e q u e s t e d , t o t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 . Thepayment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 130 m a y communicate Withany e n t i t y , such s a c r e d i t i n s t i t u t i o n o r a b a n k , t h a t h a s t h ea b i l i t y t o a u t h o r i z e payments from h e i d e n t i ? e d u s e r . I n oneembodiment, t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 130 comp r i s e s a c r e d i t card c om p a n y o r communicates With a c r e d i tc a r d c o m p a n y . I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t , t h e payment a u t h or i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 c o m p r i s e s a p r o v i d e r o f W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e ,o r communication With a W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r . I na n o t h e r embodiment, t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 130p r o v i d e s an i n t e r f a c e t o v a r i o u s b a n k s , c r e d i t c a r d compan i e s , W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o vi d e r s , o r o t h e r payment a u t h o r ization sources 130.

I n s t e p 3 o f F I G . 1 , t h e payment u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 130r e t u r n s t o t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 110 e i t h e r ana u t h o r i z a t i o n o r d e n i a l t o c h a r g e t h e amount e q u e s t e d fromt h e r e q u e s t e d payment s o u r c e . I n one embodiment, t h epayment u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 m a y r o v i d e f u r t h e r i n f o rmation t o t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 , such a s a

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4s t a t u s of h e u s e r s account o r o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t may eh e l p f u l i n d e t e r m i n i n g W h y r e q u e s t Was d e n i e d o r a u t h or i z e d ) .I n s t e p 4 o f F I G . 1 , t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0c o m m u n i c a t e s i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e r e q u e s t e d t r a n s a ct i o n and h e r e s p o n s e r e c e i v e d from h e payment a u t h o r i z at i o n s o u r c e 130 t o t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 . The t r a n sa c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 i s i n communication W i t h v a r i o u sp r o d u c t v e n d o r s , s u c h a s v i a a t e l e p h o n e , i n t e r n e t , o r W i r el e s s c o n n e c t i o n , f o r e x a m p l e . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h e p a yment e s o l u t i o n module 110 a l s o g e n e r a t e s an a u t h o r i z a t i o nc o d e f o r a n y r e q u e s t e d t r a n s a c t i o n t h a t h a s b e e n a p p r o v e d .T h i s a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e m a y be s e n t t o , and s t o r e d a t , t h et r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 . The t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140m a i n t a i n s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n ga u t h o r i z a t i o n codes s o t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e a tm u l t i p l e p o i n t - o f - s a l e l o c a t i o n s t o v e r i f y t h a t s p e c i ? cr e q u e s t e d t r a n s a c t i o n s Were e i t h e r a u t h o r i z e d o r d e n i e d b yt h e r e q u e s t e d payment s o u r c e v i a t h e payment u t h o r i z a t i o ns o u r c e 1 3 0 . T h i s c r e a t e s an a u d i t a b l e l o g t o reduce f r a u d ,manage c r e d i t o r - d e ? n e d s p e n d i n g l i m i t s , a n d t o e n h a n c es y s t e m ? e x i b i l i t y a n d u s e r - f r i e n d l i n e s s b y a l l o W i n g i n f o rmation o b e s h a r e d a c r o s s a v e n d o r s m u l t i p l e l o c a t i o n s f o ri n c r e a s e d e f ? c i e n c y i n d e l i v e r y . I t a l s o p r o v i d e s a l o g f o rp o s t - p r o c e s s i n g o f b i l l i n g a n d c h a r g e r e s o l u t i o n t o t h e c u stomers a c c o u n t .

I n a n a d v a n t a g e o u s e m b o d i m e n t , upon r e c e i p t o f a u t h or i z a t i o n from t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 , t h epayment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 t r a n s m i t s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o ncode t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 . T h i s a u t h o r i z a t i o n codeW i l l be e q u i r e d i n o r d e r f o r t h e u s e r t o r e t r i e v e t h e r e q u e s t e dp r o d u c t a t t h e p o i n t - o f - s a l e . T h e t r a n s m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h or i z a t i o n code m a y b e a c c o m p l i s h e d t h r o u g h t h e u s e o f as e c u r e communication p r o t o c o l , s u c h a s t h e SSL p r o t o c o l .Once t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 120 h a s r e c e i v e d t h e a u t h o r i z at i o n c o d e from h e payment e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 , t h e u s e ro f t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 m a y r e t r i e v e t h e p r o d u c t fromt h e p o i n t - o f - s a l e b y p r e s e n t i n g t h e a u t h or i z a t i o n c o d e a t t h ep o i n t - o f - s a l e .

I n one embodiment, t h e u s e r of h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 ,o r a s a l e s person t t h e p o i n t - o f- s a l e , e n t e r s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o nc o d e i n t o t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 , Which s l o c a t e d a tt h e p o i n t - o f - s a l e , i n o r d e r t o con?rm h a t t h e t r a n s a c t i o n Wasa p p r o v e d b y t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 . Thecon?rmation d e v i c e 150 communicates W i t h t h e t r a n s a c t i o nd a t a b a s e 140 t o con?rm t h a t t h e s a l e s t r a n s a c t i o n h a s beena u t h o r i z e d . W h e n h e con?rmation e v i c e 150 con?rms h a tt h e s a l e s t r a n s a c t i o n W as a u t h o r i z e d , t h e u s e r i s alloWed t or e t r i e v e t h e s e l e c t e d p r o d u c t a n d t h e p a y m e n t a u t h o r i z a t i o ns o u r c e 1 3 0 c h a r g e s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e payment s o u r c e .

F I G . 2A s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g e x e m p l a r y m odu l e s o f t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 . The e x e m p l a r ypayment e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 c o m p r i s e s a c u s t o m e r l o o ku p module 2 0 , a n I n p u t / O u t p u t I / O ) i n t e r f a c e m o d u l e 2 3 0 ,an i n t e r a c t i v e v o i c e r e s p o n s e module 2 1 0 , and an a u t h o r iz a t i o n c o d e g e n e r a t i o n module 2 4 0 . Each o f t h e e x e m p l a r ymodules i s d e s c r i b e d beloW i n f u r t h e r d e t a i l .

The I / O i n t e r f a c e module 230 a c i l i t a t e s communicationsbetWeen t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 and v a r i o u sremote s y s t e m s . I n one embodiment, t h e I / O module 230 si n communication W i t h e a c h o f t h e o t h e r modules i n t h epayment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 , s u c h a s t h o s e i l l u s t r a t e d i nF I G . 2 A , f o r e x a m p l e . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e m o d u l e2 3 0 may e c o n ? g u r e d t o communicate W i t h m u l t i p l e handh e l d d e v i c e s , s u c h a s c e l l p h o n e s o r PDAs, f o r e x a m p l e .A c c o r d i n g l y , i n one embodiment t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e module230 r e c e i v e s incoming c l l s from h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s . I n one


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embodiment, t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e module 230 t r a n s m i t s anacknowledge message o a h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e upon e c e i p t o fa r e q u e s t t o e s t a b l i s h a c ommunic ation l i n k .

The I / O i n t e r f a c e module 2 3 0 c o m m u n i c a t e s u s i n g v a r ious communication m e d i u m s and p r o t o c o l s t h a t a r e k n o W ni n t h e a r t . For e x a m p l e , i n one embodiment h e I / O i n t e r f a c emodule 230 i n c l u d e s an i n t e r f a c e f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g i n f o r m at i o n v i a a W i r e l e s s communication l i n k , such a s t h o s ea v a i l a b l e by e l l u l a r p h o n e c a r r i e r s . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h eI / O i n t e r f a c e module 230 c o m m u n i c a t e s d i g i t a l m e s s a g e su s i n g t h e s h o r t m e s s a g e s e r v i c e S M S ) p r o t o c o l .

The c u s t o m e r l o o k - u p module 220 r e c e i v e s i n f o r m a t i o nfrom t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e module 230 r e g a r d i n g a h a n d - h e l dd e v i c e t h a t i s i n communication W i t h t h e I / O i n t e r f a c emodule 2 3 0 . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n o b t a i n e d from t h e I / O i n t e rf a c e module 230 m a y h e n b e u s e d by h e c u s t o m e r l o o k - u pm o d ul e 220 t o r e t r i e v e an i d e n t i t y of t h e oWner of t h eh a n d - h e l d d e v i c e a n d / o r payment i n f o r m a t i o n a s s o c i a t e dW i t h t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e c u s t o m e r l o o kup module 220 m a y r e c e i v e c a l l e r ID C I D ) i n f o r m a t i o nfrom t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e module 2 3 0 . T h e CID i n f o r m a t i o nm a y h e n be used o l i n k t h e h a n d - h e l d de v i c e t o a p a r t i c u l a ru s e r . As n o t e d above, m a p p i n g a hand-held device t o a userm a y b e p e r f o r m e d by t h e c u s t o m e r l o o k - u p module 220 o rm a y be performed by a u s e r r e s o l u t i o n module t h a t m a y bee x t e r n a l t o t h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 . I n a n o t h e rembodiment, t h e c u s t o m e r l o o k - u p module 220 r e c e i v e s ad e v i c e I D , such a s a M C d d r e s s of a hand-held d e v i c e ,from t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e module 2 3 0 , Which m a y b e u s e d t omap h e hand-held d e v i c e t o a u s e r . I n a n o t h e r embodiment,t h e customer l o o k - u p module 220 r e c e i v e s an I P a d d r e s s , o ro t h e r i n t e m e t a d d r e s s i n f o r m a t i o n , f o r t h e I / O i n t e r f a c emodule 2 3 0 , Which m a y be u s e d t o m a p t h e h a n d - h e l ddevice t o a u s e r . I n one embodiment, t h e cu stomer look-upm o d ul e 220 a l s o d e t e r m i n e s a l o c a t i o n of t h e hand-heldd e v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e c e i v e d from t h e I / Oi n t e r f a c e 2 3 0 .

The i n t e r a c t i v e v o i c e r e s p o n s e I V R ) module 210 i n t e ra c t s With t h e u s e r o p e r a t i n g t h e h a n d - h e l d d e vi c e t o d e t e rm i n e h e s p e c i ? c p r o d u c t s a n d / r s e r v i c e s t h e u s e r W i s h e s t oo r d e r . I n one embodiment, t h e IVR m o d u l e 2 1 0 i s ana u t o m a t e d s y s t e m t h a t communicates d a t a t o t h e h a n d - h e l ddevice b a s e d o n a s t r u c t u r e o f m e n u s . The menu s t r u c t u r em a y be t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e g r a p h i c a l l y o r ,a l t e r n a t i v e l y , communicated t o t h e u s e r W i t h v o i c e i n s t r u ct i o n s . I n one embodiment, t h e menu h a t a p a r t i c u l a r u s e raccesses i s b a s e d o n a l o c a t i o n o f t h e u s e r , a s may b ed e t e r m i n e d by t h e c u s t o m e r l o o k - u p module 220 o r e n t e r e dby t h e u s e r . I n t h i s W a y , t h e IVR module 210 m a y p e r s o na l i z e t h e m e n u a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r c u s t o m e r a n d / o ra c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e t a i l s t o r e s i n a de?ned a r e a s u r r o u n d i n gt h e u s e r s l o c a t i o n .

T h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e g e n e r a t i o n ACG) m o d u l e 2 4 0g e n e r a t e s an u t h o r i z a t i o n code h a t W i l l be e c e s s a r y f o r t h eu s e r t o compl ete an a u t h o r i z e d t r a n s a c t i o n a t t h e POS. M o r ep a r t i c u l a r l y , When a p a r t i c u l a r t r a n s a c t i o n h a s b e e n a u t h or i z e d , t h e CG module 240 g e n e r a t e s a c o d e , o r s t r i n g o fa l p h a n u m e r i c c h a r a c t e r s , Which r e t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e handh e l d d e v i c e i n t h e m a n n e r d i s c u s s e d above With e f e r e n c e t oF I G . 1 , f o r e x a m p l e . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h e CG odule240 i s i n communication With t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e 230 s o t h a tt h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code m a y be t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e h a n d - h e l dd e v i c e v i a t h e I / O i n t e r f a c e 2 3 0 . I n a n a d v a n t a g e o u s embodim e n t , t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e i s e n c o d e d , s u c h a s by u s i n gS S L , t o r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f i n t e r c e p t i o n a n d d e c o d i n g o f t h ea u t ho r i z a t i o n c o d e . The a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e g e n e r a t e d b y t h eCG o d ul e 240 m a y l s o be t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e t r a n s a c t i o n

20

25

30

35

4 0

45

50

55

60

6 5

6d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 , Which i s a c c e s s e d by t h e POS i n o r d e r t oc o n ?rm e n t r y o f t h e c o r r e c t a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e by t h e u s e ra t t h e POS. The con?rmation p r o c e s s W i l l be d i s c u s s e d i nf u r t h e r d e t a i l beloW W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o F I G . 8

F I G . 2B i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g e x e m p l a r y m o du l e s i n a t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e , such a s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t ab a s e 140 i l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G . 1 . I n t h e embodiment o f F I G .2 B , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 i n c l u d e s t r a n s a c t i o n d a t as t o r a g e module 2 6 0 a n d t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n g module 2 7 0 .As n o t e d a b o v e , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 i s c o u p l e d t ot h e payment r e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 and a l s o t o t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 1 5 0 . T h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 i s advant a g e o u s l y c o n ? g u r e d t o m a i n t a i n r e c o r d s o f t r a n s a c t i o n s t h a ta r e c u r r e n t l y i n p r o c e s s and t h o s e t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y beenc o m p l e t e d .

The t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a s t o r a g e module 2 6 0 c o m p r i s e s a n yt y p e o f s t o r a g e d e v i c e k noWn i n t h e a r t , s u c h a s m a g n e t i c ,e l e c t r i c a l , o r o p t i c a l s t o r a g e d e v i c e s . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h et r a n s a c t i o n d a t a s t o r a g e m o d u l e 260 comprises one o r m o r eh a r d d r i v e s . T r a n s a c t i o n d a t a , s u c h a s i n f o r m a t i o n r e l a t e d t ol ) t h e u s e r o f t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 , 2 ) t h e r e q u e s t e dp r o d u c t o r s e r v i c e , 3 ) t h e p a y m e n t a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e , 4 )t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e , a n d 5 ) t h e s t a t u s o f t h e r e q u e s t e dp r o d u c t o r s e r v i c e , m a y be s t o r e d on t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t as t o r a g e module 2 6 0 . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n s t o r e d o n t h e t r a n sa c t i o n d a t a s t o r a g e module 2 6 0 m a y b e a c c e s s e d by o t h e rmodules of h e s y s t e m , s u c h a s t h o s e i l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G . 1 . I np a r t i c u l a r , t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e , u s e r i n f o r m a t i o n , a n dp r o d u c t o r s e r v i c e i n f o r m a t i o n m a y b e a c c e s s e d by t h econ?rmation d e v i c e 150 i n o r d e r t o complete an a u t h o r i z e dt r a n s a c t i o n .

T h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n g m o d u l e 2 7 0 a d v a n t a g e o u s l ya c c e s s e s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a s t o r a g e m o d u l e 26 0 and comm u n i c a t e s W i t h t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 a t t h e p o i n t o fs a l e . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , t h e t r a n s a c ti o n p r o c e s s i n g module270 r e c e i v e s a u t h o r i z a t i o n r e q u e st s from v a r i o u s con?rmat i o n d e v i c e s 1 5 0 . Upon r e c e i v i n g s u c h r e q u e s t s , W h i c hi n c l u d e a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n gm o d ul e 270 a c c e s s e s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a s t o r a g e m o d ul e260 i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e i f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n i s a u t h o r i z e d . Asn o t e d a b o v e , t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e m a y a d v a n t a g e o u s l y b et r a n s m i t t e d u s i n g a s e c u r e t r a n s m i s s i o n p r o t o c o l , such a sS S L . I n one e m b o d i m e n t , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n g module2 7 0 s i m p l y c o m p a r e s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e r e c e i v e d fromt h e con?rmation d e v i c e 150 t o any a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e sa s s o c i a t e d W i t h t h e u s e r o p e r a t i n g t h e con?rmation d e v i c e1 5 0 . I f t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code e n t e r e d a t t h e con?rmationd e v i c e matches an a u t h o r i z a t i o n code a s s o c i a t e d With t h eu s e r , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n g module 270 s e n d s an a u t h or i z a t i o n s i g n a l t o t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 i n d i c a t i n g t h tt h e t r a n s a c t i o n h a s been a u t h o r i z e d . T h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r oc e s s i n g module 2 7 0 m a y t h e n i n i t i a t e payment f o r t h ea l r e a d y a u t h o r i z e d t r a n s a c t i o n . T h i s m a y b e a c c o m p l i s h e dby t r a n s m i t t i n g a message t o t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o ns o u r c e 1 3 0 , o r d i r e c t l y t o a payment s o u r c e , i n d i c a t i n g t h a tt h e payment amount h o u l d be h a r g e d t o t h e u s e r s a c c o u n t .

I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t , a f t e r m a t c h i n g a n a u t h o r i z a t i o nc ode r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 150 With ana u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e s t o r e d i n t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a s t o r a g emodule 1 6 0 , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n g module 2 7 0 p e rf o r m s f u r t h e r a u t h o r i z a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s b e f o r e r e s p o n d i n g t ot h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r oc e s s i n g module 2 7 0 m a y a n a l y z e t h e t i m e d i f f e r e n c ebetWeen a u t h o r i z a t i o n o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n and t h e t i m e o fr e c e i p t o f t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e from t h e c o n ? r m a t i o nd e v i c e 1 5 0 . I n one embodiment, t r a n s a c t i o n s ha ve a timeo u t , s u c h t h a t t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n i s o n l y v a l i d f o r a p r e d e t e r


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US 7 , 2 7 3 , 1 6 8 B27

mined amount o f t i m e , s u c h a s 30 m i n u t e s , h o u r , 4 h o u r s ,d a y , o r W e e k , f o r e x a m p l e . A c c o r d i n g l y , i f a t r a n s a c t i o n

h a s t i m e d - o u t , ev en f a p r o p e r a u t h o r i z a t i o n code s e n t e r e da t t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n gmodule 270 W i l l n o t a u t h o r i z e t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 150t o c o m p l e t e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n . I n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t s , t h et r a n s a c t i o n p r o c e s s i n g module 2 7 0 may l s o compare n f o rm a t i o n r e c e i v e d from h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e r e g a r d i n g t h eu s e r , t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e , o r t h e payment s o u r c e , f o re x a m p l e , W i t h i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s e same i t e m ss t o r e d i n t h e t r a n s a c t i on d a t a s t o r a g e module 1 6 0 .

F I G . 3 i s a How c h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g an exemplary p r o c e s s o fs e c u r e l y c o m p l e t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n u s i n g a h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ,W i t h o u t t h e need t o e n t e r payment i n f o r m a t i o n . I n onee m b o d i m e n t , t h e method o f F I G . 3 a u t o m a t i c a l l y i d e n t i ? e sa u s e r and a corresponding payment s o u r c e , based u p o ni d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n f rom h e hand-held e v i c e . I n oneembodiment t h e i d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n i s W i r e l e s s l yt r a n s m i t t e d from h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e and i n c l u d e s p e r s o na l l y - i d e n t i ? a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e u s e r , s u c h a s ani d e n t i ? c a t i o n code o r a b i o m e t r i c . T h u s , based u p o n t h ei d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e s y s t e m may r e v e n t u n a u t h or i z e d u s e r s f rom p r o c e e d i n g W i t h a t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e st . I nt h i s W a y , t h e method o f F I G . 3 s e c u r e s and s i m p l i ? e s t h ep r o c e s s o f c o m p l e t i n g p u r c h a s e o f a p r o d u c t o r s e r v i c e .

I n a b l o c k 3 1 0 , t h e u s e r d e t e r m i n e s t h e p r o d u c t a n d / o rs e r v i c e t o p u r c h a s e . F o r e a s e o f d e s c r i p t i o n h e r e i n , a n yr e f e r e n c e t o a p r o d u c t i s a l s o a p p l i c a b l e t o a s e r v i c e and i c ev e r s a . A r o d u c t m ay be d v e r t i s e d i n any a n n e r , i n c l u d i n gc o n v e n t i o n a l m e t h o d s , s u c h a s b i l l b o a r d s , ? y e r s , a n d m ag az i n e a d s . I n one embodiment t h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t i n c l u d e s at e l e p h o n e number o c a l l i n o r d e r t o o r d e r t h e p r o d u c t .

Continuing o a block 2 0 , t h e u s e r t r a n s m i t s a t r a n s a c t i o nr e q u e s t t o a payment e s o l u t i o n module. I n one embodimenta d e s i r e d p r o d u c t i s i d e n t i ? e d by e n t e r i n g a p r o d u c t i d e n t i? c a t i o n code o r by n a v i g a t i n g a s e r i e s o f menus u s i n g t h ehand-held d e v i c e 1 2 0 . For example an a d v e r t i s e m e n t f o r as p e c i ? c p r o d u c t m a y i n c l u d e an d e n t i ? c a t i o n code s o t h a t au s e r m ay e n t e r o n l y t h e i d e n t i ? c a t i o n c o d e , and p o s s i b l y aq u a n t i t y , a s p a r t o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t . I n a n o t h e rembodiment t h e u s e r i s p r e s e n t e d W i t h a n u m be r o f h i e ra r c h a l m e n u s o n a d i s p l a y o f t h e hand-held d e v i c e . Bynavigating these m e n u s t h e user determines o n e or m o r ep r o d u c t s f o r p u r c h a s e . T h o s e o f k i l l i n t h e a r t W i l l r e c o g n i z et h a t a p r o d u c t m ay b e s e l e c t e d i n any number o f o t h e rmanners

Moving o a b l o c k 3 3 0 , t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e u s e r r e f e r r e dt o a l s o a s a r e q u e s t e r ) i s d e t e r m i n e d . As d i s c u s s e d a b o v e ,i n o ne e m b o d i m e n t t h e u s e r i s identi?ed b a s ed o n info r mat i o n t h a t i s t r a n s m i t t e d by t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 1 2 0 , s u c h a sa s e r i a l n u m b e r of h e hand-held d e v i c e 120 o r CID i n f o rm a t i o n . A a t a b a s e , s u c h a s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 ofF I G . 1 m a y be a c c e s s e d i n o r d e r t o match a h a n d - h e l ddevice 120 t o a speci?c u s e r . I n o ne embo diment t h e usermay c o m p r i s e m u l t i p l e u s e r s , s u c h a s members o f a f a m i l y .T h u s , i n t h i s embodiment s e v e r a l u s e r s may be a s s o c i a t e dWith a s i n g l e user a c c o u n t .

I n a b l o c k 3 4 0 , t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t i s e i t h e r a u t h o r i z e do r d e n i e d . I n one embodiment t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t i st r a n s m i t t e d t o a p a y m e n t a u t h o r i z a t i o n source 1 3 0 t o d e t e rmine i f t h e u s e r i s a u t h o r i z e d t o complete t h e t r a n s a c t i o n .The p a y m e n t a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e 1 3 0 may ave a c c e s s t oi n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e u s e r c r e d i t a n d / r o t h e r paymentsources t h a t a r e associated Wi t h the u s e r .

N e x t , i n a b l o c k 3 5 0 , a t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 s u p d a t e dW i t h t h e r e s u l t s f rom t h e payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e . I none embodiment t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 m a i n t a i n s

5

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35

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45

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8r e c o r d s o f t r a n s a c t i o n s t h a t a r e c u r r e n t l y i n p r o c e s s andt h o s e t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n c o m p l e t e d . The t r a n s a c t i o nd a t a b a s e 1 4 0 may s t o r e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a i n c l u d i n g t h ep r o d u c t i n f o r m a t i o n , f o r e x a m p l e , o r may o n l y s t o r e at r a n s a c t i o n i d e n t i ? e r , a l o n g W i t h a n i n d i c a t o r o f W h e t h e r t h et r a n s a c t i o n i s a u t h o r i z e d .

Mov i n g o a b l o c k 3 6 0 , an u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e i s g e n e r a t e dand r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e . I n one embodimentt h i s a u t h o r i z a t i o n code s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e u s e r t o completet h e t r a n s a c t i o n a t t h e p o i n t o f s a l e .

F i n a l l y , a t a block 3 7 0 , t h e u s e r e n t e r s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o nc o d e a t t h e p o i n t o f s a l e and h e t r a n s a c t i o n i s a u t h o r i z e d . I no n e embodiment h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n d e v i c e a t t h e p o i n t o f s a l ea c c e s s e s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 i n o r d e r t o c o m p a r et h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e e n t e r e d by t h e u s e r W i t h t h e a u t h or i z a t i o n c o d e r e c e i v e d from t h e t r a n s a c t i o n a u t h o r i z a t i o nsource

F I G . 4 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g a n e x e m p l a r y p r o c e s s byW h i c h t h e user of hand-held device 120 may etermine ap r o d u c t a n d / o r s e r v i c e t o p u r c h a s e .

I n b l o c k 4 1 0 , t h e c o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h e paymentr e s o l u t i o n module i s i d e n t i ? e d . C o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n m ayi n c l u d e , f o r e x a m p l e , a t e l e p h o n e number o r I P a d d r e s s .C o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n m a y be o b t a i n e d from v a r i o u s s o u r c e s ,s u c h a s a d v e r t i s i n g on b i l l b o a r d s , t e l e v i s i o n , r a d i o , o r t h ep o i n t o f s a l e . C e r t a i n h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e s may a l s o h a v eaccess t o o n e or m o r e databases o f ve n d o r s t h a t may b ec o n t a c t e d t o m ake p u r c h a s e s u s i n g t h e p r o c e s s d e s c r i b e dh e r e i n .

I n b l o c k 4 2 0 , a communication l i n k W i t h t h e paymentr e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 i s e s t a b l i s h e d . F o r e x a m p l e , a c e l l u l a rphone m ay a l l a t e l e p h o n e number d v e r t i s e d on b i l l b o a r di n o r d e r t o o r d e r p r o d u c t s f rom a v e n d o r . As a n o t h e rexample t h e u s e r of a PDA aving i n t e m e t a c c e s s m a yc o n t a c t a payment r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e 110 v i a a W i r e l e s sc o n n e c t i o n e s t a b l i s h e d W i t h an a d v e r t i s e d I P a d d r e s s o ro t h e r i d e n t i ? e r ) . I n one embodiment h e communication i n ki s s e c u r e d s o t h a t i n t e r c e p t i o n and d e c o d i n g o f t h e t r a n sm i t t e d i n f o r m a t i on i s i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f ? c u l t . F o r e x a m p l e , t h ec o m m u n i c a t i o n l i n k may e s e c u r e d b y e n c r y p t i n g a l l t r a n sm i t t e d d a t a .

I n b l o c k 4 30 t h e u s e r of h e hand-held d e v i c e 120 s e l e c t so n e o r more p r o d u c t s t o p u r c h a s e u s i n g v o i c e a n d / o r keyboard commands. I n one embodiment k e y s on t h e handh e l d d e v i c e 120 a r e p r e s s e d i n r e s p o n s e t o m e n u c h o i c e scommunicated from h e payment e s o l u t i o n module 1 0 . F o re x a m p l e , a u s e r m ay p r e s s a s p e c i ? c k e y , o r key combinat i o n t o i n d i c a t e a p a r t i c u l a r t y p e , b r a n d , s i z e c o l o r o rq u a n t i t y o f a p r o d u c t . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , i n o n e embodiment t h eu ser may u s e vo ic e commands t o i d e n t i f y o n e or morep r o d u c t s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e u s e r may s p e a k com m an d si n d i c a t i n g a t y p e o f p r o d u c t , s u c h a s c o f f e e , b a g e l , m o v i e , o r g r o c e r i e s , f o r e x a m p l e . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e u s e rmay s p e a k commands s u c h a s 1 , 2 , A , o r B , i no r d e r t o n a v i g a t e a m e n u o f p r o d u c t c h o i c e s . I n a n o t h e re m b o d i m e n t , a c o m b i n a t i o n o f v o i c e and keypad c o mma ndsa r e u s e d i n o r d e r t o i d e n t i f y a p r o d u c t f o r p u r c h a s e .

I n y e t a n o t h e r embodiment t h e u s e r m ay s e l e c t a p r o d u c tf o r p u r c h a s e b y p l a c i n g t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e i n p r o x i m i t y t ot h e p r o d u c t , o r a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e p r o d u c t , t h e r e b yp l a c i n g t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e n r a n g e t o r e c e i v e p r o d u c tinformation fr om communication e v i c e , s u ch s an RFIDt a g o r i n f r a r e d t r a n s c e i v e r , n e a r t h e p r o d u c t . I n t h i s embodim e n t , t h e u s e r m ay have a p r e - s e t r u l e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t W h e nt h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e i s b r o u g h t i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o ap r o d u c t , t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e a u t o m a t i c a l l y t r a n s m i t s at r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t f o r t h e p r o d u c t . I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t ,


25/27


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US 7 2 7 3 1 6 8 B21 1

t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e may perfo rm an a u t h o r i z a t i o n p r o c ed u r e t h a t i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t d e s c r i b e d i n F I G . 8 .

F I G . 8 i s a How h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g an exe mplary p r o c e s s o fv e r i f y i n g an a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e . I n one e mbodiment t h ea u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e i s v e r i ? e d by t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e1 5 0 .

I n a block 8 1 0 t h e u s e r i s u n i q u e l y i d e n t i ? e d t o t h econ?rmation d e v i c e . I n one embodiment t h e u s e r i s i d e nt i ? e d b y e n t e r i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e r e c e i v e d f r o m t h epayment e s o l u t i o n module 1 1 0 i n t o t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e1 5 0 . I n on e embodiment t h e u s e r t y p e s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o ncode o n a keyboard connected t o t h e con?rmation d e v i c e1 5 0 . I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e 120communicates t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code t o t h e con?rmationd e v i c e 1 50 v i a a Wired o r W i r e l e s s c o n n e c t i o n f o r e x a m p l e .

Moving t o a b l o c k 8 2 0 t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 15 0a c c e s s e s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 . I n on e embodimentt h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 40 q u e r i e s a l i s t o f a u t h o r i z a t i o nc o d e s i n s e a r c h of an a u t h o r i z a t i o n code t h a t matches t h ec o d e e n t e r e d by t h e u s e r . I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t t h et r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e r e c e i v e s i n f o r m a t i o n from t h e con?rm a t i o n d e v i c e r e g a r d i n g a p a r t i c u l a r t r a n s a c t i o n . The t r a n sa c t i o n d a t a b a s e 1 4 0 t h e n l o c a t e s t h e p a r t i c u l a r t r a n s a c t i o nand t r a n s m i t s an a u t h o r i z a t i o n code c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h a tt r a n s a c t i o n t o t h e con?rmation d e v i c e .

I n a b l o c k 8 3 0 t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code from h e t r a n s a c t i o nd a t a b a s e 1 4 0 i s compared o t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e e n t e r e dby t h e u s e r a t t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 1 5 0 .

Moving t o a b l o c k 8 4 0 t h e r e s u l t o f t h e c o m p a r i s o np e r f o r m e d i n b l o c k 8 3 0 i s a n a l y z e d t o d e t e r m i n e i f t h et r a n s a c t i o n i s a u t h o r i z e d . I n one e mbodiment i f t h e a u t h or i z a t i o n c o d e s e n t e r e d by t h e u s e r and s t o r e d on t h e t r a n sa c t i o n d a t a b a s e 140 a r e t h e s a m e t h e n t h e t r a n s a c t i o n i sa u t h o r i z e d and t h e p r o c e s s c o n t i n u e s t o a block 8 6 0 . Othe r W i s e i f t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e s e n t e r e d by t h e u s e r ands t o r e d o n h e t r a n s a c t i o n database 1 4 0 a r e n o t t h e same thent h e t r a n s a c t i o n i s n o t a u t h o r i z e d and h e p r o c e s s c o n t i n u e s t oa b l oc k 850.C o n t i n u i n g t o b l o c k 8 5 0 t h e v e n d o r i s n o t i ? e d t h a t t h er e q u e s t e d t r a n s a c t i o n i s n o t a u t h o r i z e d . I n one embodimentt h e u s e r a t t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 1 50 s ? r s t n o t i ? e d andg i v e n a n o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n t e r t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e .T h e vendor may be n o t i ? e d v i a t h e con?rmation d e v i c e 15 0a n d / r v i a a n o t h e r computer h a t i s c o n t r o l l e d by h e v e n d o r .For e x a m p l e a computer t h a t i s o p e r a t e d by a manager o rWorker a t t h e p o i n t o f s a l e may r e c e i v e i n f o r m a t i o n i n d ic a t i n g t h a t an i n v a l i d a u t h o r i z a t i o n code h a s b een e n t e r e d a tt h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 . A f t e r p r o v i d i n g n o t i c e o f t h ei n v a l i d a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e t h e method r e t u r n s t o b l o c k 810W h e r e t h e u s e r o r another u s e r may n t e r an a u t h o r i z a t i o nc o d e .

I f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n h a s been e t e r m i n e d t o be a u t h o r i z e d a tb l o c k 860 t h e vendor i s n o t i ? e d t h a t t h e t r a n s a c t i o n i sa u t h o r i z e d and payment h a s b een s e c u r e d . I n one embodim e n t a r e c e i p t i s p r i n t e d a t t h e p o i n t o f s a l e s u c h a s by ap r i n t i n g d e v i c e c o n n e c t e d t o t h e c o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e 1 5 0 .The r e c e i p t may b e p r e s e n t e d f o r p i c k u p o f t h e p r o d u c t o rs e r v i c e . I n a n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t a c o m p u t e r t h a t i s o p e r a t e dby a manager o r Wo r k e r a t t h e p o i n t of s a l e may r e c e i v ei n f o r m a t i o n i n d i c a t i n g t h a t a t r a n s a c t i o n h a s been a u t h or i z e d . I n one embodiment t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a i s r e c e i v e da n d vieWed by t h e v e n d o r p r i o r t o t h e u s e r e n t e r i n g t h ea u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e s o t h a t t h e p r o d u c t may b e r e a d y f o rp i c k u p by t h e u s e r i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r a u t h o r i z a t i o n . I na n o t h e r e m b o d i m e n t a f t e r r e c e i v i n g n o t i c e t h a t a t r a n s a c t i o ni s a u t h o r i z e d t h e v e n d o r p r e p a r e s t h e p r o d u c t o r s e r v i c e f o rth e u s e r .

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6 5

1 2The f o r e g o i n g d e s c r i p t i o n d e t a i l s c e r t a i n e m b o d i m e n t s o f

t h e i n v e n t i o n . I t W i l l be p p r e c i a t e d h o W e v e r t h a t no m a t t e rh o W d e t a i l e d t h e f o r e g o i n g a p p e a r s i n t e x t t h e i n v e n t i o n c a nb e p r a c t i c e d i n many a y s . As s a l s o s t a t e d a b o v e t s h o u l db e n o t e d t h a t t h e u s e o f p a r t i c u l a r t e r m i n o l o g y W h e n e s c r i bi n g c e r t a i n f e a t u r e s o r a s p e c t s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n s h o u l d n o t bet a k e n t o i m p l y t h a t t h e t e r m i n o l o g y i s b e i n g r e - d e ? n e dh e r e i n t o b e r e s t r i c t e d t o i n c l u d i n g a n y s p e c i ? c c h a r a c t e r i st i c s o f t h e f e a t u r e s o r a s p e c t s o f t h e i n v e n t i o n W i t h W h i c ht h a t t e r m i n o l o g y i s a s s o c i a t e d . The s c o p e o f t h e i n v e n t i o ns h o u l d t h e r e f o r e be c o n s t r u e d i n a c c o r d a n c e W i t h t h ea p p e n d e d c l a i m s a n d a n y e q u i v a l e n t s t h e r e o f .

What s c l a i m e d i s :1 . et h od o f a u t h e n t i c a t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n c o m p r i s i n g :r e c e i v i n g from a h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e a t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t

a s s o c i a t e d With o n e o r mo r e products and a paymenta m o u n t ;

determining a payment source a s s o c i a t e d With a user o ft h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ;

a u t h o r i z i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t ;t r a n s m i t t i n g an u t h o r i z a t i o n code o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e

p r i o r t o c o m p l e t i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t t h e a u t h or i z a t i o n c o d e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e payment s o u r c e a u t h or i z e d d e d u c t i o n of t h e payment amount f r om ana c c o u n t o f t h e u s e r t h a t i s m a i n t a i n e d by t h e payments o u r c e ;

s t o r i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code i n a t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s econ?gured t o s t o r e t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code and an i n d ic a t i o n o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t ;

r e c e i v i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e a t a p o i n t - o f - s a l e o f t h eo n e o r mo r e products i n d i c a t e d i n t h e t r a n s a c t i o nr e q u e s t ;

a c c e s s i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e ;c o m p a r i n g t h e r e c e i v e d a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e W i t h t h e a u t h o

r i z a t i o n c o d e s t o r e d i n t h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e i n o r d e rt o v e r i f y t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e ; a n d

i n r e s p o n s e t o v e r i f y i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e c o m p l e ti n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t b y a u t h o r i z i n g d e d u c t i o n o fa t r a n s a c t i o n amou nt f r o m t h e user account maintainedb y t h e payment s o u r c e a n d a u t h o r i z i n g r e l e a s e o f t h eo n e o r m o r e products t o t h e user o f t h e hand-heldd e v i c e .

2 . The method o f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i n t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c ei s s e l e c t e d from t h e g r o u p i n c l u d i n g a c e l l u l a r p h o n e ap e r s o n a l d i g i t a l a s s i s t a n t a n d a p o r t a b l e c o m p u t e r .3 . The method f c l a i m 1 f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g s e l e c t i n g t h eon e o r m or e p r o d u c t s u s i n g t h e hand-held d e v i c e .

4 . The method o f c l a i m 3 W h e r e i n t h e a c t o f s e l e c t i n gc o m p r i s e s :i d e n t i f y i n g c o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n f o r c o n t a c t i n g a payment

r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e ;e s t a b l i s h i n g a communication i n k betWeen h e h a n d - h e l d

d e v i c e a n d t h e p a y m e n t r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e ;n a v i g a t i n g o ne o r mo r e product m en u s With h e hand-held

d e v i c e .5 . Th e method f c l a i m 4 W h e r e i n t h e c o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n

i s s e l e c t e d from h e g r o u p i n c l u d i ng a t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r a nI P a d d r e s s and a World Wide W e b a d d r e s s .6 . The method o f c l a i m 4 W h e r e i n t h e a c t o f n a v i g a t i n gc o m p r i s e s s p e a k i n g v o i c e commands i n t o t h e h a n d - h e l dd e v i c e .

7 . The method o f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i n a u t h o r i z i n g t h e t r a n sa c t i o n r q u s t c o m p r i s e s :r e c e iv i n g i n f o r m a t i o n i d e n t i f y i n g t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ;accessing a database t o map h e information Wi t h a u s e r .8 . The method o f c l a i m 7 W h e r e i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n

i d e n t i f y i n g t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e i s s e l e c t e d from t h e g r o u p


27/27

US 7 , 2 7 3 , 1 6 8 B21 3

c o m p r i s i n g : C a l l e r ID C I D ) i n f o r m a t i o n ; a s e r i a l numbero f t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ; an I P a d d r e s s a s s i g n e d t o t h eh a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ; i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g a u n i q u e r a d i o t a gc o u p l e d t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ; and a b i o m e t r i c i n f o r m at i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e u s e r .

9 . The method o f c l a i m 3 W h e r e i n a u t h o r i z i n g t h e t r a n sa c t i o n r q u s t c o m p r i s e s :determining a c o s t f o r t h e s e l e c t e d one o r m o r e p r o d u c t s ;t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e c o s t t o t h e payment s o u r c e a s s o c i a t e d

W i t h t h e u s e r o f t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e ; andr e c e i v i n g a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o n ? r m a t i o n from h e payment

source

1 0 . The method o f c l a i m 1 f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g u p d a t i n gt h e t r a n s a c t i o n d a t a b a s e W i t h i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h et r a n s a c t i o n .

1 1 . The method o f c l a i m 1 0 , W h e r e i n u p d a t i n g t h e t r a n sa c t i o n d a t a b a s e c o m p r i s e s :s t o r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t ; a n d

s t o r i n g an a u t h o r i z a t i o n code a s s o c i a t e d W i t h t h e t r a n sa c t i o n r e q u e s t .

1 2 . A y s t e m f o r c o m p l e t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n c o m p r i s i n g :a payment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e con?gured t o a u t h o r i z e

payment f o r a t r a n s a c t i o n ;a payment e s o l u t i o n module i n communication W i t h s a i dpayment a u t h o r i z a t i o n s o u r c e ;

a h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e i n communication W i t h s a i d paymentr e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e , W h e r e i n t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e t r a n sm i t s an a u t h o r i z a t i o n r e q u e s t t o s a i d payment r e s o l ut i o n m o d u l e ;

an I / O i n t e r f a c e i n communication W i t h s a i d paymentr e s o l u t i o n mo dule and con?gured o t r a n s m i t an u t h or i z a t i o n Co d e t o s a i d h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e i n r e s p o n s e t or e c e i v i n g a u t h o r i z a t i o n f r o m s a i d p a y m e n t a u t h o r i z at i o n s o u r c e ; an d

a co n ? r m a t ion device l o c a t e d a t a p o i n t - o f - s a l e , t h e co n? r m a t i o n d e v i c e c o n ? g u r e d t o r e c e i v e t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o nc od e from a u s e r of t h e hand-held d e v i c e a n d , i nr e s p o n s e t o v a l i d a t i n g t h e r e c e i v e d a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e ,a u t h o r i z e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n .

1 3 . The s y s t e m o f c l a i m 1 2 , W h e r e i n t h e payment r e s ol u t i o n module s c o n ? g u r e d t o r e c e i v e i d e n t i f yi n g i n f o r m at i o n f r o m t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e and m a p t h e i d e n t i f y i n gi n f o r m a t i o n to a u s e r .

1 4 . The s y s t e m o f c l a i m 1 3 , W h e r e i n t h e payment a u t h or i z a t i o n s o u r c e i s i n d a t a c o m m u n i c a t i o n With t l e a s t one oft h e f o l l o W i n g : a bank account of t h e u s e r ; a c r e d i t c a r da c c o u n t of h e u s e r ; an d a W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r a c c o u n tof h e u s e r .1 5 . The s y s t e m o f c l a i m 1 3 W h e r e i n t h e i d e n t i f y i n gi n f o r m a t i o n i s s e l e c t e d from h e g r o u p c o m p r i s i n g : C a l l e r ID

25

30

35

40

45

1 4 C I D ) i n f o r m a t i o n ; a s e r i a l number o f t h e h a n d - h e l d

d e v i c e ; and an I P a d d r e s s a s s i g n e d t o t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e .1 6 . The s y s t e m o f c l a i m 1 2 , W h e r e i n t h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e

i s s e l e c t e d from t h e g r o u p i n c l u d i n g a c e l l u l a r p h o n e ; ap e r s o n a l d i g i t a l a s s i s t a n t ; a n d a c o m p u t i n g d e v i c e .

1 7 . A y s t e m f o r a u t h e n t i c a t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n c o m p r i s i n g :means f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t c o r r e s p o n di n g t o on e o r m o r e p r o d u c t s ;means f o r r e c e i v i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t a t a payment

r e s o l u t i o n m o d u l e ;means f o r a u t h o r i z i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t ;m e a n s f o r t r a n s m i t t i n g a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n co de t o a h a n d

h e l d d e v i c e p r i o r t o c o m p l e t i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t;means f o r v e r i f y i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code t a p o i n t - o f

s a l e ; a n dmeans f o r c o m p l e t i n g t h e t r a n s a c t i o n r e q u e s t by d e d u c t

i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n a m o u n t f r o m a payment s o u r c e i nr e s p o n s e t o an o u t p u t from t h e m e a n s f o r v e r i f y i n g .

1 8 . A method o f c o m p l e t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n , t h e methodc o m p r i s i n g :r e c e i v i n g i n f o r m a t i o n from h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e t h a t r e l a t e s

t o one o r m o r e d e s i r e d p r o d u c t s , t h e h an d-held deviceb e i n g l o c a t e d r e m o t e from a p o i n t - o f - s a l e ;

a t t h e p o i n t - o f - s a l e , r e c e i v i n g a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e , g e ne r a t e d by a payment r e s o l u t i o n module from a u s e r oft h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e , t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e i n d i c a t i n gt h a t t h e payment s o u r c e a u t h o r i z e d d e d u c t i o n of t h epayment amount from a payment s o u r c e , an d i nr e s p o n s e t h e r e t o v e r i f y i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e a t t h ep o i n t - o f s a l e d e d u c t i n g a t r a n s a c t i o n amount f r o m t h epayment s o u r c e and p r o v i d i n g t h e g o o d s t o t h e u s e r .

1 9 . The method f c l a i m 1 8 , W h e r e i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n fromt h e h a n d - h e l d d e v i c e c o m p r i s e s a p r o d u c t i d e n t i ? c a t i o nc o d e , a p r o d u c t q u a n t i t y , a n d t h e t r a n s a c t i o n a m o u n t .

2 0 . The method o f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i n r e c e i v i n g t h e a u t h or i z a t i o n c o d e a t a l o c a t i o n proximate t h e one or m o r ep r o d u c t s c o m p r i s e s p r e s e n t i n g t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d er e c e i v e d o n t h e hand-held d e v i c e a t a p o i n t - o f - s a l e .

2 1 . T h e method o f c l a i m 2 0 f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g e n t e r i n gt h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c od e i n t o a c on?rmation d e v i c e a t t h ep o i n t - o f - s a l e .

2 2 . The method o f c l a i m 2 1 , Wherein t h e u s e r o f t h eh a n d - h e l d d e v i c e e n t e r s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n code i n t o t h ec o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e .

2 3 . T h e me t h o d of l a i m 2 1 , Wherein a s a l e s a s s o c i a t e a tt h e p o i n t - o f - s a l e e n t e r s t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n c o d e i n t o t h ec o n ? r m a t i o n d e v i c e .

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