CHARGE-FOR-SERVICE NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION TRANSACTIONS
A method for purchasing a value item using near field communication (NFC) includes placing a NFC enabled data communication device of a buyer of the item in close proximity to a NFC enabled data communication device of a seller of the item, the devices being interoperable to establish a NFC communication link between the devices when placed in close proximity to each other, transferring a request for payment for the item from the seller's device to the buyer's device via the NFC link, and transmitting the payment request, together a buyer's authorization therefor, to a third party service provider via a network. In response to receipt of the transmission, the service provider transfers money in an amount equal to the purchase price of the item from a funding account of the buyer to a receiving account of the seller and sends the parties a message confirming the transfer.
1 . A method for purchasing a value item, the method comprising:
downloading a request for a payment for the item from a communication device of a seller of the item with a data communication device of a buyer of the item;
transmitting the payment request, together with a buyer's authorization to make the payment, to a third party service provider; and,
receiving a message from the third party service provider confirming the making of the payment from the buyer to the seller.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for payment is downloaded via a near field communication (NFC) link between the buyer's device and the seller's device.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the value item comprises downloadable data, and further comprising downloading the value item from the seller's device with the buyer's device along with the request for payment.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the value item is received in a locked form, and further comprising unlocking the item for the buyer's use after the receiving of the confirming message.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the value item comprises downloadable data, and further comprising downloading the value item from the seller's device with the buyer's device after the receiving of the confirming message.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the downloading of the request for the payment comprises placing the buyer's device in close proximity to the seller's device.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the downloading of the request for the payment and the transmitting of the payment request and the buyer's authorization therefor to the third party service provider comprises placing the buyer's device in close proximity to the seller's device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the payment request and the buyer's authorization therefor is effected by the buyer's device via a network.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the confirming message comprises at least one of the group consisting of a visible message, an audible message and a tactile message.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the communication devices of the buyer and the seller comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a personal computer (PC) or a point of purchase (POP) terminal.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the placing of the buyer's device in close proximity to the seller's device comprises placing the seller's device within about 10 centimeters of the buyer's device or touching the seller's device with the buyer's device.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the placing of the buyer's device in close proximity to the seller's device comprises placing the seller's device within about 10 centimeters of the buyer's device or touching the seller's device with the buyer's device.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for payment comprises at least one of the group consisting of the seller's identity, cell phone number, email address, receiving account and amount of the payment requested.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the buyer's authorization for the payment comprises at least one of the group consisting of the buyer's identity, password, personal identification number (PIN), cell phone number, email address, and payment funding account identity.
15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the network comprises the Internet, an intranet, a landline network or a wireless network.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting additional information to the service provider along with the payment request and the buyer's authorization therefor.
17 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the additional information comprises an avatar or an icon.
18 . A method for selling a value item, the method comprising:
uploading a request for a payment for the item from a communication device of a seller of the item to a data communication device of a buyer of the item;
receiving a message from a third party service provider confirming the making of the payment from the buyer to the seller; and,
delivering the value item to the buyer.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the request for payment is uploaded via a near field communication (NFC) link between the buyer's device and the seller's device.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the communication devices of the buyer and the seller comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a personal computer (PC) or a point of purchase (POP) terminal.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the value item comprises downloadable data, and wherein the delivering of the value item to the buyer comprises uploading the value item from the seller's device to the buyer's device after the receiving of the confirming message.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the delivering of the value item to the buyer comprises:
uploading the value item in a locked form along with the request for payment from the seller's device to the buyer's device; and,
unlocking the value item for use by the buyer after the receiving of the confirming message.
23 . A method for facilitating the sale of a value item, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a payment for the item from a seller of the item, together with an authorization of a buyer of the item for making the payment, from a data communication device of the buyer;
making the payment to the seller on behalf of the buyer; and,
sending a message to at least one of the buyer and the seller confirming the making of the payment,
wherein the request for the payment is sent to the buyer's communication device from a data communication device of the seller.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for payment is sent via a near field communication (NFC) link between the buyer's device and the seller's device.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the payment request and the buyer's authorization therefor is received via a network.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the network comprises the Internet, an intranet, a landline network or a wireless network.