초록 ▼

A mobile user apparatus useful for conducting payment transactions wirelessly, such as at point-of-sale locations. In one embodiment, the mobile user apparatus is a cellular-enabled mobile device that includes a short-range radio frequency device, that produces a transmission to a point of sale appa

A mobile user apparatus useful for conducting payment transactions wirelessly, such as at point-of-sale locations. In one embodiment, the mobile user apparatus is a cellular-enabled mobile device that includes a short-range radio frequency device, that produces a transmission to a point of sale apparatus, including information relating to an account of the user of the mobile apparatus that is to be charged for the payment. In one variant, the mobile apparatus includes a GPS-based apparatus configured to generate location-related data and use this data as part of the transaction.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mobile apparatus, comprising: a processor;memory in data communication with said processor;a wireless network interface;a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to generate information related to a current location of said mobile apparatus;a software process operative to run on sai

1. A mobile apparatus, comprising: a processor;memory in data communication with said processor;a wireless network interface;a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to generate information related to a current location of said mobile apparatus;a software process operative to run on said processor, said process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, communicate the information related to the current location with a user-accessible apparatus via the wireless network interface so as to enable completion of a transaction; anda bar-code apparatus disposed on the mobile apparatus, the bar-code apparatus disposed so as to permit scanning thereof by a reader associated with the user-accessible apparatus, the scanning enabling access to user-specific information. 2. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bar code apparatus comprises a bar code apparatus configured to be applied by a user after the manufacture of the mobile apparatus. 3. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-accessible apparatus comprises a point-of-sale apparatus, and the transaction comprises a purchase of goods or services by a user. 4. The mobile apparatus of claim 3, wherein the current location of said mobile apparatus also comprises the location of the point-of-sale apparatus. 5. The mobile apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mobile apparatus is further configured to wirelessly transmit user-specific data relating to a payment source of the user, the user-specific data facilitating completion of the transaction. 6. The mobile apparatus of claim 3, wherein the point of sale apparatus is further configured to utilize biometric data of the user in order to authenticate the user for performing the transaction. 7. The mobile apparatus of claim 6, wherein the biometric data of the user in order to authenticate the user for performing the transaction comprises a digital image of a face of the user. 8. The mobile apparatus of claim 7, wherein the point-of-sale apparatus is further configured to access a secure pre-existing financial account of the user for payment for the transaction. 9. The mobile apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transaction relates to shipping an item from one location to another. 10. The mobile apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transaction relates to download of digital music or at least one MP3. 11. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless network interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 Standard, and the mobile apparatus further comprises a Bluetooth interface. 12. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus further comprises at least one software-based window or applet configured to be initiated by the user-accessible apparatus during the transaction. 13. The mobile apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one software-based window or applet comprises a user name and/or password entry feature. 14. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen interface configured to display at least one soft function key, said at least one soft function key configured to enable said communication of said information related to the current location without further user intervention. 15. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an radio-frequency identification (RFID) protocol-compliant wireless interface configured to transmit user-specific data relating to a payment source of a user, the user-specific data facilitating completion of the transaction. 16. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a short-range radio frequency device; wherein the mobile apparatus is configured to be encoded with payment source information specific to a pre-existing payment account of a user of the mobile apparatus, the payment source information allowing the user to use the mobile apparatus to wirelessly pay for at least one of goods or services by placing the mobile apparatus in proximity to an interrogation or reader apparatus at the user-accessible apparatus;wherein the short range radio frequency device and payment source information obviates the user from having to carry at least one other currency or payment source on their person; andwherein the short range radio frequency device comprises an integrated circuit disposed in the mobile apparatus at time of manufacture of the mobile apparatus. 17. The mobile apparatus of claim 16, wherein the encoding with payment source information comprises encoding of the mobile apparatus by a third party or the user after manufacture of the mobile apparatus. 18. The mobile apparatus of claim 16, wherein the payment source information comprises information related to a credit card account of the user, the mobile apparatus configured to store the information related to the credit card account of the user in a secure data repository that restricts access to only one or more authorized persons, the access subject to receiving user-specific authentication information from the user, the authentication information being useful to authorize wireless payment for the transaction. 19. The mobile apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mobile apparatus comprises at least one commerce transaction related application computer program configured to run thereon, the at least one application having been downloaded to the mobile apparatus via a network after manufacture of the mobile apparatus. 20. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one Java-based application computer program operative to run on the mobile apparatus, the at least one application computer program having a commerce transaction-based theme, the at least one application comprising an applet or window that can be instantiated to permit a user to enter at least one of a user name or password. 21. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising payment source information associated with a pre-paid account and stored on the mobile apparatus, a user having previously financially compensated an issuer of the pre-paid account before performing the transaction using the mobile apparatus. 22. Smartphone apparatus, comprising: a processor;memory in data communication with said processor;a cellular wireless interface;a Bluetooth-enabled wireless interface;a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface;a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to generate information related to a current location of said smartphone apparatus;a short-range wireless radio-frequency identification (RFID) compliant interface; anda software process operative to run on said processor, said process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, communicate data with a point-of-sale apparatus via at least one of the WLAN or short-range interfaces so as to enable completion of a purchase or sale transaction;wherein the data comprises the information related to the current location of said smartphone apparatus. 23. The smartphone apparatus of claim 22, wherein the current location of said smartphone apparatus also comprises a location of the point-of-sale apparatus. 24. The smartphone apparatus of claim 22, wherein the smartphone apparatus is further configured to wirelessly transmit user-specific data relating to a payment source of a user via the short-range interface, the user-specific data facilitating completion of the transaction. 25. Mobile apparatus, comprising: a processor;memory in data communication with said processor;a cellular wireless interface;a Bluetooth-enabled wireless interface;a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface;a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to generate data related to a current location of said mobile apparatus;a short-range wireless interface;a first software process operative to run on said processor, said process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, communicate the data related to a current location of said mobile apparatus with a point-of-sale apparatus via at least one of the WLAN, Bluetooth, or short-range interfaces; anda second software process operative to, when executed, communicate data relating to a payment source of a user of the mobile apparatus with the point-of-sale apparatus via the short-range interface;wherein the data related to a current location of said mobile apparatus and said data related to the payment source are requisite for completion of a purchase or sale transaction by the user. 26. The mobile apparatus of claim 25, wherein the short-range wireless interface comprises a passive interface configured to utilize electromagnetic energy incident thereon to generate a reply, the reply comprising data relating to the payment source. 27. A mobile apparatus, comprising: a processor;memory in data communication with said processor;a wireless network interface;a short-range wireless interface compliant with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) protocol;a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to generate information related to a current location of said mobile apparatus; anda software process operative to run on said processor, said process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause the mobile apparatus to utilize the information related to the current location as part of a transaction for buying goods or services, another part of the transaction comprising sending user-specific payment information via the short-range interface, and another part of the transaction comprising receiving data relating to the transaction at the mobile apparatus for storage thereon. 28. A mobile apparatus, comprising: a processor;memory in data communication with said processor;a wireless network interface;a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to generate information related to a current location of said mobile apparatus; andbar-code apparatus disposed on the mobile apparatus, the bar-code apparatus disposed so as to permit scanning thereof by a reader associated with an apparatus accessible to a user of the mobile apparatus, the scanning enabling access to information specific to the user of the mobile apparatus. 29. The mobile apparatus of claim 28, wherein the generated information is transmitted to the apparatus accessible to the user via the wireless interface. 30. The mobile apparatus of claim 28, wherein the information specific to the user comprises information that enables a transaction for goods and services. 31. The mobile apparatus of claim 30, wherein the information specific to the user is stored on the mobile apparatus, and comprises credit or debit card information. 32. The mobile apparatus of claim 28, wherein the bar-code apparatus is made operable by the user of the mobile apparatus after manufacture of the mobile apparatus. 33. The mobile apparatus of claim 28, wherein the mobile apparatus further comprises a software application configured to generate a window on a display screen of the mobile apparatus, the window enabling the user to authorize the transaction. 34. The mobile apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus accessible to the user comprises a point-of-sale apparatus that is configured to utilize biometric data of the user in order to authenticate the user for performing a transaction.