CELLPHONE ACTIVATED ATM TRANSACTIONS

1 . A method comprising:

receiving a transaction authorization request by an authorization system from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), wherein said transaction request comprises at least: transaction details, identifying information and an authentication code, and wherein said authentication code is generated by software in the possession of a user requesting said transaction request;

forwarding said identifying information and said authentication code to an authentication server which shares authentication secrets in common with said software;

receiving authentication results of said authentication, and

authorizing said transaction request in accordance with said received results.

2 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein said authentication code is a one time password (OTP).

3 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein said authentication code is generated on a mobile device.

4 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein:

said ATM comprises a numeric keypad to receive said identifying information.

5 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein:

said ATM comprises a card reader to receive said identifying information.

6 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein said authorizing comprises:

providing said identifying information and said transaction details to at least one financial system, wherein said financial system manages at least a degree of access to a financial account indicated by said identifying information;

receiving a response from said at least one financial system, wherein said response comprises at least an indication whether said transaction details are acceptable; and

authorizing said transaction request wherein all said received indications are acceptable.

7 . A method comprising:

receiving a transaction authorization request by an authorization system from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), wherein said transaction request comprises at least: transaction details, identifying information and an authentication code, wherein said authentication code is a digital signature;

forwarding said identifying information and said authentication code to an authentication server which shares authentication secrets in common with said software;

receiving authentication results of said authentication, and

authorizing said transaction request in accordance with said received results.

8 . The method according to claim 7 and wherein said ATM comprises a wireless receiver to receive said authentication code from a mobile device.

9 . The method according to claim 7 and wherein:

said ATM comprises a numeric keypad to receive said identifying information.

10 . The method according to claim 7 and wherein:

said ATM comprises a card reader to receive said identifying information.

11 . The method according to claim 7 and wherein said authorizing comprises:

providing said identifying information and said transaction details to at least one financial system, wherein said financial system manages at least a degree of access to a financial account indicated by said identifying information;

receiving a response from said at least one financial system, wherein said response comprises at least an indication whether said transaction details are acceptable; and

authorizing said transaction request wherein all said received indications are acceptable.

12 . An ATM authorization system comprising:

means to receive a transaction request from an ATM, wherein said transaction request comprises at least: transaction details, identifying information and an authentication code, wherein said authentication code is at least one of: an OTP and a digital signature;

a connection with an authentication server; wherein said authentication server comprises means to authenticate said identifying information according to said authentication code; and

means to determine whether to authorize said transaction request based on at least an authentication result received via said connection from said authentication server.

13 . The authorization system according to claim 12 and also comprising:

a connection with at least one financial system; wherein said financial system comprises means to access at least an account associated with said identifying information in order to determine whether to authorize said transaction request.

14 . An ATM comprising:

a numeric keypad to at least enter transaction details and authentication codes, wherein said authentication codes are generated by software in a user's possession;

a transaction request generator to forward at least said authentication codes and user provided identifying information to an authentication server for authentication, wherein said authentication server shares authentication secrets with said software in the possession of said user.

15 . The ATM according to claim 14 and wherein said authentication codes are OTPs.

16 . The ATM according to claim 14 and also comprising:

a wireless interface to receive said authentication codes.

17 . A method comprising:

receiving at least transaction details and authentication codes via a numeric keypad on an ATM, wherein said authentication codes are generated by software in a user's possession;

forwarding at least said authentication codes and user provided identifying information to an authentication server for authentication, wherein said authentication server shares authentication secrets with said software in the possession of said user.

18 . The method according to claim 17 and wherein said authentication codes are OTPs.

19 . The method according to claim 17 and wherein said receiving is via a wireless interface.

20 . The method according to claim 17 and wherein said receiving is from a user accessing a pre-authorized payment from said ATM, wherein said user is not associated with a financial institution that is normally serviced by said ATM.

21 . An ATM comprising:

a numeric keypad to at least enter transaction details and authentication codes, wherein said authentication codes are digital signatures;

a transaction request generator to forward at least said authentication codes and user provided identifying information to an authentication server for authentication, wherein said authentication server shares authentication secrets with said software in the possession of said user.

22 . The ATM according to claim 21 and also comprising:

a wireless interface to receive said authentication codes.

23 . A method comprising:

receiving at least transaction details and authentication codes via a numeric keypad on an ATM, wherein said authentication codes are digital signatures;

forwarding at least said authentication codes and user provided identifying information to an authentication server for authentication, wherein said authentication server shares authentication secrets with said software in the possession of said user.

24 . The method according to claim 23 and wherein said receiving is via a wireless interface.

25 . The method according to claim 23 and wherein said receiving is from a user accessing a pre-authorized payment from said ATM, wherein said user is not associated with a financial institution that is normally serviced by said ATM.

26 . A method comprising:

receiving a credit card authentication request from a merchandising organization, wherein said authentication request comprises at least: identifying information and an authentication code, wherein said authentication code is generated by software in the possession of a user requesting said transaction request;

forwarding said identifying information and said authentication code to an authentication server which shares authentication secrets in common with said software;

receiving authentication results of said authentication, and

returning said authentication results to said merchandising organization for further processing of said credit card transaction request in accordance with said received results.

27 . The method according to claim 26 and wherein said authentication code is an OTP.

28 . A method comprising:

receiving a credit card authentication request from a merchandising organization, wherein said authentication request comprises at least: identifying information and an authentication code, wherein said authentication code is a digital signature;

forwarding said identifying information and said authentication code to an authentication server which shares authentication secrets in common with said software;

receiving authentication results of said authentication, and

returning said authentication results to said merchandising organization for further processing of said credit card transaction request in accordance with said received results.

29 . The method according to claim 28 and wherein said merchandising organization receives said authentication code via a wireless connection with a mobile device.