Method and apparatus for facilitating payment via mobile networks
A method and apparatus for facilitating payments for transactions, via mobile devices and mobile telecommunications networks, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a product provider is provided with a code, such as a QRcode, which contains or references payment details for purchase of the product. A mobile user of the application scans the code and is connected to their internet banking application. The payment details are transferred to the internet banking application and the mobile user confirms that the transaction should proceed. Payment is made without any secure details being provided to the product provider.
1. An apparatus for secure communication of online data, the apparatus comprising:
a reader configured to read an encoded artefact, wherein the encoded artefact comprises a machine-readable physical object, and wherein the encoded artefact encodes product data that includes product provider account information for meeting payment in a transaction;
a communication interface that communicates over a communication network with a remote database that stores information regarding a plurality of encoded references, each encoded reference associated with data regarding a product, a product provider, and a price of the product; and
a processor that executes an agent application stored in memory, wherein the processor executes the agent application to:
identify that the encoded artefact corresponds to one of the encoded references stored in the remote database,
automatically access over the communication network a webpage of an online application for transacting with the product provider account information encoded by the encoded artefact, and
automatically fill out one or more fields associated with the webpage of the online application, wherein the fields are filled out based on the data associated with the identified encoded reference corresponding to the encoded artefact, and wherein at least one of the filled-out fields includes the product data encoded by the encoded artefact.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising hardware of a mobile device, and wherein the agent application is loaded onto the mobile device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the encoded artefact is a visible code, and the reader includes a camera configured to capture an image of the visible code.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reader receives the encoded artefact by wireless transmission.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface provides the corresponding encoded reference to the online application.
6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program comprising instructions executable to perform a method for secure communication of online data, the method comprising:
reading an encoded artefact, wherein the encoded artefact comprises a machine-readable physical object, and wherein the encoded artefact encodes product data that includes product provider account information for meeting payment in a transaction;
communicating over a communication network with a remote database that stores information regarding a plurality of encoded references, each encoded reference associated with data regarding a product, a product provider, and a price of the product; and
executing an agent application stored in memory, wherein a processor executes the agent application to:
identify that the encoded artefact corresponds to one of the encoded references stored in the remote database;
automatically access over the communication network a webpage of an online application for transacting with the product provider account information encoded by the encoded artefact; and
automatically fill out one or more fields associated with the webpage of the online application, wherein the fields are filled out based on the data associated with the identified encoded reference corresponding to the encoded artefact, and wherein at least one of the filled-out fields includes the product data encoded by the encoded artefact.
7. A method of secure communication of online data, the method comprising:
reading an encoded artefact via a reader, the encoded artefact comprising a machine-readable physical object, the encoded artefact encoding product data that includes product provider account information for meeting payment in a transaction;
communicating over a communication network with a remote database that stores information regarding a plurality of encoded references, each encoded reference associated with data regarding a product, a product provider, and a price of the product; and
executing an agent application stored in memory, wherein a processor executes the agent application to:
automatically access over the communication network a webpage of an online application for transacting with the product provider account information encoded by the encoded artefact; and
automatically fill out one or more fields associated with the webpage of the online application, wherein the fields are filled out based on the data associated with one of the encoded references identified as corresponding to the encoded artefact, and wherein at least one of the filled-out fields includes the product data encoded by the encoded artefact.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the machine-readable physical object is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device or a near field proximity transmitter device.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the encoded artefact is a sound tone, and wherein the reader captures the sound tone.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a security device that automatically provides security data to the online application.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the reader is associated with a mobile device, and wherein the agent application is loaded onto the mobile device.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the encoded artefact is a visible code, and further comprising capturing an image of the visible code via a camera of the reader.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein reading the encoded artefact includes receiving the encoded artefact by wireless transmission.
14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing the corresponding encoded reference via a communication interface to the online application.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the machine-readable physical object is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device or a near field proximity transmitter device.
16. The method of claim 7 , wherein the encoded artefact is a sound tone, and wherein reading the encoded artefact includes capturing the sound tone.
17. The method of claim 7 , further comprising automatically providing security data via a security device to the online application.
18. A system for secure communication of online data, the system comprising:
a remote database that stores information regarding a plurality of encoded references, each encoded reference associated with data regarding a product, a product provider, and a price of the product;
a communication interface that communicates over a communication network with an agent application of a mobile device regarding an encoded artefact read by a reader of the mobile device; and
a processor that executes a processing application in memory, wherein the processor executes the processing application to:
identify that the encoded artefact corresponds to one of the encoded reference stored in the database and that the encoded artefact encodes product data that includes product provider account information for meeting payment in a transaction;
receive a request from an online application for transacting with the product provider account information, the online application requesting further data
and
establish a secure communication with the online application, wherein the secure communication is used to respond to the request.