Transaction system

The present invention relates to a transaction system comprising a payment terminal which can be connected to at least one transaction server by means of at least one optionally permanent communication connection, a personal identification associated with a user which provides a user access via a transaction server to a payment account held by the user, and a transaction protocol which is adapted to receive a transaction proposal and to present it to the transaction server for authorization.

Such a transaction system is nowadays an all but indispensable tool in the payment for purchases in shops, particularly in the retail trade, and for services. A bank card or credit card, which provides optionally direct access via the payment terminal to a bank account or credit card account held by the user, serves for instance as identification means. Via the communication connection access is sought to the correct transaction server, which does or does not authorize the proposed transaction and transfers an associated transaction amount from the account of the user.

Although such an existing transaction system is characterized by simplicity and efficiency, it is not sufficiently flexible in all cases. In particular, the existing transaction system does not provide a solution for loyalty schemes and promotional campaigns, which represent an all but indispensable tool in modern advertising and marketing campaigns. In order to process such a campaign the user/consumer still has to resort to relatively outmoded payment and transaction systems, wherein a receipt must for instance be sent in and only later is a discount sum then credited to a bank account to be provided by the user or at a sales outlet. This reduces the degree of acceptance of such campaigns and moreover produces a large amount of paperwork.

The present invention has for its object, among others, to provide a transaction system of the type stated in the preamble, in to which particularly such promotional campaigns can be smoothly integrated.

In order to achieve the intended object, a transaction system of the type stated in the preamble has the feature according to the invention that the payment terminal can be connected via the optionally permanent, at least one communication connection to a transaction server which gives the user access to a transaction account held by the user, that at least one transaction identification is coupled to the transaction proposal, that the transaction protocol is able and adapted to present the transaction proposal to the transaction server so as to access the transaction account of the user on the basis of a personal identification of the user and the at least one transaction identification and, when a correspondence is found, to mutate the transaction account and determine a credit amount therefrom, and that the transaction protocol is able and adapted to reduce a transaction amount associated with the transaction proposal by a credit amount determined by the transaction server before routing the proposal to the transaction server.

The invention thus provides a transaction system which also incorporates a transaction server which can provide for the processing of for instance a possible promotional campaign. On the basis of the transaction identification the transaction server determines whether there is a right to a discount within the proposed transaction by checking the transaction account of the user herefor, and, if this is the case, to what amount. The transaction account is mutated accordingly and the discount sum deducted from the transaction amount. The further validation and processing of the transaction then takes place with the transaction server, to which the transaction proposal is then presented on the basis of the amount which has meanwhile been reduced. No action is thus required from the user/consumer or from the issuing supplier of the discount, and on the basis of user data in the transaction account it is nevertheless subsequently known to the supplier to whom the discount was given, which can be valuable marketing information for the supplier.

In order to be able to fit the transaction system as easily as possible into an existing infrastructure for electronic payment services, a particular embodiment of the transaction system has the feature according to the invention that the payment

terminal, the at least one communication connection and the transaction server form part of a public infrastructure for electronic payment services. A preferred embodiment of the transaction system herein has the feature according to the invention that the transaction server is accessible to the user via the same personal identification as the transaction server. By thus seeking contact with an existing infrastructure for electronic payment sendees as well as the identification means usually applied therein, the transaction system according to the invention can thus be accommodated in exceptionally simple manner as an addition to an existing situation. The implementation of the invention thus requires a minimal hardware investment and already present equipment and cabling does not have to be written off prematurely.

hi order to also enable the greatest possible measure of electronic and automatic processing of the communication with the user, a further preferred embodiment of the transaction system has the feature according to the invention that a telecommunication address of a personal telecommunication device of the user, in particular of a mobile telephone, is coupled to the transaction account. Offers can thus be passed on to the user via his/her telecommunication device. For this puipose a further embodiment of the transaction system has the feature according to the invention that an offer protocol is provided which enables a supplier of products or services to present to the user an offer associated with a product or service using the telecommunication device. In order to protect the user from unwanted offers, a further particular embodiment of the transaction system herein has the feature that at least one selection criterion to be entered by the user is associated with the transaction account. Conversely, the supplier can provide an offer in more targeted manner in a further particular embodiment of the transaction system according to the invention, characterized in that the offer protocol provides at least one selection criterion to be entered by the supplier. A further particular embodiment of the transaction system, which is characterized according to the invention in that the offer protocol provides a period of validity to be indicated by the supplier, moreover enables the supplier to set a maximum time limit for acceptance of his offer.

In a further particular embodiment the transaction system is characterized according to the invention in that at least one administration protocol is provided which enables the user, using the telecommunication device, to independently cany out one or more administrative operations relating to the transaction account from a group comprising initiating, reading, changing and ending the transaction account, in order to provide the user with the option of independently managing his/her transaction account using his/her telecommunication device. Acceptance by the user of a presented offer can also take place fully automatically using the same telecommunication device. A further particular embodiment of the transaction system according to the invention is characterized for this purpose in that a credit protocol is provided which gives the user, using the telecommunication device, independent access to the transaction account for crediting thereof on the basis of an offer.

The transaction identification which is associated with a transaction proposal is validated by the transaction server against the presence of a corresponding entry on the transaction account. This can be a random transaction at a specifically connected sales outlet or specific group of sales outlets. With a view hereto, a further particular embodiment of the transaction system has the feature according to the invention that the transaction identification comprises a unique identification of the payment terminal. It can however also be a specific product or a specific service respectively purchased or provided at an optionally specific sales outlet or group of sales outlets. The transaction system according to the invention here also provides a particular embodiment which is characterized in that the transaction identification comprises a unique identification of a product or service involved in the transaction proposal.

With a view to a particularly quick processing, which moreover does not place an additional load on the bandwidth of an existing infrastructure, or hardly so, a particular preferred embodiment of the transaction system has the feature according to the invention that the identification means comprises an integrated circuit which is able and adapted to accommodate the transaction server. In this case the identification means comprises a so-called chip card or smart card which can incorporate an

integrated circuit operating fully autonomously with optional peripheral memory. This circuit provides a platform on which the transaction server of the transaction system can run and on which at least a mirror image of the transaction account of the user is stored which, if necessary, is synchronized periodically or upon request.

The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and an associated drawing. In the drawing: figure 1 shows a schematic set-up of an exemplary embodiment of a transaction system according to the invention; and figure 2 shows schematically a participation message to a user of the system of figure 1.

The transaction system of figure 1 comprises a user database 11 with personal data of users, including a telecommunication address of a telecommunication device 20 such as a mobile or wireline telephone or computer, by means of which the user can be accessed. This file can for instance be obtained from one or more telecommunication providers participating in the transaction system, or from third parties. From a privacy viewpoint and so as to avoid undesired advertising (spam), use is however made in this example of entry of data in database 11 by the user him/herself.

Serving for this purpose is a web interface or other user interface 30 with which a user can give a positive statement of agreement, so that a record is opened for him/her in database 11. Using his telecommunication device 20 or an optionally mobile personal computer 25 the user can also provide via interface 30 his/her personal data, the telecommunication address of his/her telecommunication device 20 and a personal identification such as a bank or credit card account number. These data are stored in encrypted manner and securely screened from other users of the system so that the privacy of the user is guaranteed. The user can further optionally provide a number of selection criteria with his/her personal data, on the basis of which offers will or will not be sent to him/her, in order to protect the user as much as possible from undesired offers. On the basis of the thus entered data a transaction account 12 is generated,

which is administered by a transaction server 10. The data entered by the user can be modified or added to later by the user at all times via interface 30. The user can thus also gain insight into the content and mutations of his transaction account.

A supplier 40 makes an offer available such as a discount on a specific product or a specific service, or on a random product or a random service at a specific sales outlet 50 or group of sales outlets. The supplier himself herein determines the discount percentage from 0-100%, or a fixed discount sum and, if desired, the supplier can if desired set a time limit for the offer or optionally indicate selection criteria in respect of the users who will receive the offer. A message with the import and content as shown in figure 2 is then sent fully automatically to the telecommunication addresses included in database 11 which meet all possible selection criteria, i.e. both the criteria possibly indicated by the supplier and selection criteria entered into database 11 by the users. For this purpose and for answering these messages use is made of a normal text- oriented transmission service such as for instance SMS, MMS and the like.

The message indicates to the user that an offer is being made to him/her. After the user has opened the message (step 1) the user can request more information regarding the offer or reject the offer immediately (step 2). After reading the content of the offer, the user has the choice of accepting the offer or nevertheless rejecting it (step 3). If accepted, the offer is credited to transaction account 12 of the user and the user can redeem the offer by purchasing the product or service in question at a sales outlet 50 (step 4), or leave the offer unused for the time being. If the supplier has set a time limit on the offer, then this is known to the user from the obtained information (step 2), and acceptance of the offer must be followed by a purchase within this time limit. After the time limit has elapsed, the offer is automatically debited (withdrawn) from transaction account 12 of the user without having resulted in a profit for the user and to costs for the supplier.

At sales outlet 50 the user reports with a personal identification means 55 which indicates a personal identification of the user registered in the system. A customized

identification means such as for instance a credit card-sized magnetic card or chip card can be issued for this purpose to the user, on which this personal identification is stored and which is accepted by a payment terminal 51 used at sales outlet 50. hi this example however use is made instead of a bank card or credit card 55 of the user as such an identification means, and the same personal identification associated with a user is used for transaction server 10 as also provides access to a transaction server 60 connected thereto within an existing infrastructure for electronic payment sendees. In this example this is a bank account number or a credit card number which was registered as such beforehand by the user in his/her personal data.

After having selected the product or the service of the offer, the user enters his/her bank card or credit card 55 into payment terminal 51 of sales outlet 50. The user can optionally be asked the question whether he/she would like to use his/her transaction account 12 for the purchase, or this is always presumed and contact will always be sought with the transaction server. Payment terminal 51 carries out a transaction protocol wherein a transaction proposal 70 is first exchanged with transaction server 10 on the basis of the personal identification, a payable transaction amount and a transaction identification. On the basis of the personal identification the transaction server accesses transaction account 12 of the user in order, on the basis of the transaction identification, to find a possible offer associated therewith within transaction account 12.

A hardware connection identification of payment terminal 51 can for instance serve as transaction identification, if the offer relates to a random product or a random service of the relevant sales outlet or a group of sales outlets. If the offer relates specifically to a determined product or a determined service, a product code is exchanged with the payment terminal from a cash system of the sales outlet and recorded as transaction identification in transaction proposal 70, optionally together with the connection identification of the payment terminal. An optionally unique transaction identification can also be compiled in other ways, whereby an offer can be allocated unambiguously within the transaction account of the user.

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If a valid offer relating to the transaction proposal is present within transaction account 12, the transaction server will debit this offer to account 12 and, on the basis thereof, determine a credit amount and exchange it with payment terminal 51. Payment terminal 51 then reduces the transaction amount on the basis thereof before transmitting the transaction proposal 70 to transaction server 60 so that it can there be deducted from a payment account held by the user, such as a bank account or a credit card account. The authorization of the transaction proposal by transaction server 60 is fed back by the transaction protocol to payment terminal 51 , which then winds up the transaction in the form of a printed transaction report, which is optionally incorporated in a note to be issued to the user. Also stated herein is the amount which has been credited to the transaction by the transaction server. If authorization by the transaction server is denied or otherwise not occur, the transaction is cancelled and an error message is sent by payment terminal 51 to transaction server 10, on the basis of which the transaction account 12 of the user is corrected.

All amounts thus credited by transaction server 10 in respect of sales outlet 51 are stored in a separate database 80, on the basis of which a supplement must be paid to sales outlet 50 by supplier 40. A balancing protocol between sales outlet 50 and supplier 40 which provides for this can for instance proceed fully automatically using a payment account held by supplier 40 at transaction server 60 and a normal infrastructure for electronic payment services.

A fully automatic processing of both payments and discount or other promotional campaigns is thus possible within the transaction system according to the invention.

Although the invention has been further elucidated with reference to only this single embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many more variations and embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art. Use can thus be made of a freestanding payment terminal, although an intelligent cash system in which a payment terminal is integrated can also be applied at the sales outlet. Parts of the

transaction protocol can also be carried out by other components of the system, particularly by the transaction server, instead of by the payment terminal.