Method and system for providing a micropayment in a secure fashion utilizing a wireless device

• Main Author: JOSHI AMIT S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.07.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

A method and system for providing a micropayment to a machine for providing goods or services utilizing a wireless device is disclosed. The method and system comprises selecting an item to be purchased from the machine by the wireless device and providing a code related to the item from the machine to the wireless device; transmitting a request including the code to a server and processing the request by server. The method and system further includes transmitting a response to the request to wireless device if the request is valid and transmitting the request to the machine. Finally, the method and system includes dispensing a product if the machine determines that response is valid based upon the code. Through the use of codebooks in the machine and the database and the use of a receiver/transmitter in the machine, a wireless device could be utilized advantageously to provide secure micropayments to the vending machine. This type of system would not require a significant expenditure or infrastructure and would not require a proprietary network for its implementation. Therefore, a system and method in accordance with the present invention would allow for an effective and efficient way to provide such secure micropayments.