US 8,620,260 B2 · Payment application download to mobile phone and phone personalization

Abstract

A method and system of personalizing a mobile phone over a wireless network is provided. The method is fast, reliable, and eliminates the need for an uninterrupted online connection to a host server in order to achieve successful download of user information. With the method and system, a mobile phone can be personalized for various purposes, such as for conducting financial transactions.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of personalizing a device over a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer-based system for personalizing the device, a request to personalize the device with user-specific information;
preparing, by the computer-based system and in response to the request to personalize the device, a unique personalization file for use with the device;
providing, by the computer-based system, a description file to the device over the wireless network, the description file comprising a URL pointing to a web-hosting environment containing a resource file comprising a software module;
providing, by the computer-based system and in response to a user contacting the web-hosting environment using the URL, the resource file to the device over the wireless network, wherein in response to receiving the resource file, the device installs the software module in a first internal memory of the device, wherein the device comprises the first internal memory, a second internal memory and a secure memory element;
and
in response to the software module being executed by the device, providing, by the computer-based system, the unique personalization file to the device over the wireless network, wherein the unique personalization file is stored in the second internal memory of the device, wherein, based upon instructions included in the resource file, the personalization file is copied to the secure memory element of the device and deleted from the second internal memory, and wherein the software module accesses the personalization file in the secure memory element in order to enable the device to operate-as a financial transaction instrument.

3 more elements

A system comprising:

a web-hosting environment containing a software module;
a memory;
the memory communicating with a processor for personalizing a device over a wireless network;
and
the processor, when executing the software module, performs operations comprising:
receiving, by the processor, a request to personalize the device with user-specific information;
preparing, by the processor and in response to the request to personalize the device, a unique personalization the for use with the device;
providing, by the processor, a description file to the device over the wireless network, the description tile comprising a URL, pointing to a web-hosting environment containing a resource file comprising a software module;
providing, by the processor and in response to a user contacting the web-hosting environment using the URL, the resource file to the device over the wireless network, wherein in response to receiving the resource file, the device installs the software module in a first internal memory of the device, wherein the device comprises the first internal memory, a second internal memory and a secure memory element;
and
in response to the software module being executed by the device, providing, by the computer-based system, the unique personalization file to the device over the wireless network, wherein the unique personalization file is stored in the second internal memory of the device, wherein, based upon instructions included in the resource file, the personalization file is copied to the secure memory element of the device and deleted from the second internal memory, and wherein the software module accesses the personalization file in the secure memory element in order to enable the device to operate as a financial transaction instrument.

8 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (CRM) having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer for personalizing a device over a wireless network, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the computer, a request to personalize the device with user-specific information;
preparing, by the computer and in response to the request to personalize the device, a unique personalization file for use with the device;
providing, by the computer, a description file to the device over the wireless network, the description file comprising a URL pointing to a web-hosting environment containing a resource file comprising a software module;
providing, by the computer and in response to a user contacting the web-hosting environment using the URL, the resource file to the device over the wireless network, wherein in response to receiving the resource file, the device installs the software module in a first memory of the device, wherein the device comprises the first internal memory, a second internal memory and a secure memory element;
and
in response to the software module being executed by the device, providing, by the computer-based system, the unique personalization file to the device over the wireless network, wherein the unique personalization file is stored in the second internal memory of the device, wherein, based upon instructions included in the resource file, the personalization file is copied to the secure memory element of the device and deleted from the second internal memory, and wherein the software module accesses the personalization file in the secure memory element in order to enable the device to operate as a financial transaction instrument.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,991 words

Summary1,060 words

#This application is related to an application entitled User Experience on Mobile Phone, which is being concurrently filed and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to mobile payments, and more specifically to installing and operating a payment application on a mobile phone.

Brief description of the drawings4 figures

#FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process of personalizing a device over a wireless network according to one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 shows a computer system employed in the process of personalizing a device over a wireless network according to one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 schematically shows the front side of a typical mobile phone.

Detailed description3,856 words

#A “transaction account” as used herein refers to an account associated with an open account or a closed account system, as described below. The transaction account may exist in a physical or non-physical embodiment. For example, a transaction account may be distributed in non-physical embodiments such as an account number, frequent-flyer account, telephone calling account, or the like. Furthermore, a physical embodiment of a transaction account may be distributed as a financial transaction instrument.

#A “financial transaction instrument” may be traditional plastic transaction cards, titanium-containing, or other metal-containing, transaction cards, clear and/or translucent transaction cards, foldable or otherwise unconventionally-sized transaction cards, radio-frequency enabled transaction cards, or other types of transaction cards, such as credit, charge, debit, pre-paid or stored-value cards, or any other like financial transaction instrument. A financial transaction instrument may also have electronic functionality provided by a network of electronic circuitry that is printed or otherwise incorporated onto or within the transaction instrument (and typically referred to as a “smart card”), or it may be a fob having a transponder and an RFID reader. A financial transaction instrument with this electronic functionality can be brought within a certain distance from a reader (for example, a merchant's RFID reader) so as to transmit financial transaction account information to the reader (for example, in order to purchase goods or services from the merchant).

#“Open cards” are financial transaction cards that are generally accepted at different merchants. Examples of open cards include American Express®, Visa®, MasterCard®, and Discover® cards, which may be used at many different retailers and other businesses. In contrast, “closed cards” are financial transaction cards that may be restricted to use in a particular store, a particular chain of stores, or a collection of affiliated stores. One example of a closed card is a pre-paid gift card that may only be purchased at, and only be accepted at, a clothing retailer, such as The Gap® store.

Facts

Application

11/741,288Filed 27 Apr 2007

Published

US 2008/0268811 A130 Oct 2008

Granted

31 Dec 2013

Term ends

6 Jun 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 406 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification9 codes

H04W 4/60
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: subscription-based services using application servers or…
G06Q 20/3221
Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]: access to banking information through M-devices
G06Q 20/3227
Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]: using secure elements embedded in M-devices
G06Q 20/3265
Payment applications installed on the mobile devices: characterised by personalisation for use

Timeline

27 Apr 2007Application filedUS 11/741,288
27 Apr 2007Assigned to American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
30 Oct 2008PublishedUS 2008/0268811 A1
31 Dec 2013GrantedUS 8,620,260 B2
21 Apr 2014Assigned to III Holdings 1, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
16 Mar 2018Assigned to Liberty Peak Ventures, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
6 Jun 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 406 days of adjustment

Payment application download to mobile phone and phone personalization

Life of this patent

Payment application download to mobile phone and phone personalization

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims21

Description4,991 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,991 words