Method for conducting a cashless transaction

0001The invention relates to a method for performing a cashless Financial transactions, especially via the Internet, between a customer and any supplier of goods and / or services, in which, after Review of the authorization of the customer by means of a Telecommunications device and / or compound in the context of Financial transaction a customer associated, at a provider accounts Led cash account in favor of the supplier in the amount of an agreed Cash amount will be charged.

0002Such non-cash payment methods are well known and are for example, used where a customer in a department store goods cash with the help of his example Eurocheque card or a want to pay credit card. The customer walks up to the provider, in this case, a department store, by presenting his credit card or Eurocheque card and where appropriate, a so-called PIN number as disposal over a cash account, which is usually as Checking account at a bank is run as account providers.

0003Following a review of the authorization of the customer, which is usually about a telecommunication device and / or compound is carried out and For example, online with a data center or directly with the bank takes place, the cash account, so the current account in the amount agreed is Cash amount charged in favor of the provider.

0004These known methods of payment methods all have the disadvantage that not already sufficient a simple authorization to cashless payment process perform, but that the customer identified the same person and the seller, so for example, a department store security personal data are known. To receive a supplier of goods and / or services in the known method, a cashless payment Information about the customer's name and all data on the Giro accounts. Accordingly, a customer in a cashless Numbers of goods remain neither anonymous nor keep his account information secret, so that over the disclosure of account information and transmission of data partially not tap-proof data lines abuse is possible.

0005Often even the case given that the person identifying data and transmitted account relationships not only on the telecommunication links be and this can be monitored, but that during the checkout process Payment documents are produced in multiple copies on which the the customer name and the relevant accounts data appear, so that a Misuse of these data for those individuals is possible that access to these have copy documents, so therefore for the cashiers.

0006Also from the Internet field, it is known that a payment transaction through carried out a credit card number or a bank account can be. Here a customer can also based on the transmitted data be identified and also there is a risk of abuse, if the Data be intercepted by unauthorized third parties.

0007The object of the invention is a method for the cashless payments offer, in which, while fully respecting the anonymity and without Disclosure related accounts or personal data, and thus under Compliance with maximum security, a customer a cashless Payment with any suppliers of goods and / or services can perform.

0008This object is achieved by the fact that on a cash account, which at a provider accounts for a customer is guided and on any provider of goods and / or services in a cashless payment have access, a cash balance will be transferred by buying a the cash balances representing prepaid card (prepaid card) and the activation / cancellation of the credit card over the accounts provider, in particular by means of telecommunications.

0009Said credit card, for example, in any public Outlets are acquired for consideration and represents a balance, which usually corresponds to the purchase price. Accordingly, a Such credit card to buy with cash, so that one in the purchase Credit card account information, neither nor the identity of a customer are revealed. remains Already with the purchase of a prepaid card accordingly ensure anonymity as a customer.

0010Then there is the method of the invention, the possibility of the enable or validate, consequently therefore the balance practically prepaid card to transfer the file with the accounts offered cash account. This This is secured through any telecommunication connection, for example via the Internet or via a telephone connection.

0011In practice, the crediting of the credit to the cash account by done that authorization information the cash account in question the account holder and at least the cash balances representing information, especially about the said Telecommunication connection is transmitted to the provider accounts, wherein the customer can carry out his or her account. Here is the cash balances information representing an information that the no conclusion on Customers even permits since this information only relates to the credit card. It can also be in accordance with the inventive method also ensures that the cash account and the customers, so therefore the account holder relevant authorization information is designed so that even here a Maintaining anonymity is guaranteed.

0012The the cash balances representing information, ie the information, identifying a credit card, can be composed of at least an information about the amount of credit and information to another for verifying the authenticity of the cash balance, possibly an information about the issuer of the credit card, which is usually is the account provider.

0013So in the activation / cancellation of the credit card, so the process can be used to be guaranteed crediting the credit to the cash account that the Authenticity of the card can be verified to here misuse prevent and to ensure that a card only a single time can be used.

0014According to the invention it can also be provided that a customer more Cash accounts in particular simultaneously opens or maintains. So can opened a new account, for example, for each or with any credit card will.

0015According to the inventive method preferably can Cash account with the appropriate accounts provider for a opened the account holder by selecting an appropriate authorization information will. This authorization information, for example, in one of the Account holders or customers selected user name and password consist.

0016Accordingly, the customer and the account holder needs at the opening of his Account any information about his identity, so for example, his name and his address divulge. The opening of the cash account can preferably also via a telecommunication link, in particular via the Internet. Thus the possibility exists that a customer who is a wants to open a new account on the Internet on the website of a correspondent accounts provider goes and there his account anonymously only under Inclusion or select a user name and password opens. So neither in guiding and opening an account even when crediting a Credit by means of a credit card in the inventive process personenidentifizierende data or data that a comprehensive Account Hijacking enable announced.

0017The cash account can thus also in the accounts provider without the Character identifying information be passed on to customers. Around this possibility to offer, it may in accordance with the legal position of a be the country needed on the corresponding cash account reproached cash to a maximum height in the amount to limit. For example, in Germany sees the Act on the Detection of Proceeds from Serious Crimes (Money Laundering Act) provides that Credit institutions must establish the identity of a client and beyond an identity even in financial transactions exceeding a certain amount must be checked.

0018Of this, however, companies may be excluded in individual cases so that provide for the general possibility of a cash account, in particular for low-value sums, anonymously, without the owner identifying information to lead. If this is not possible, at least, there is only the Need to identify the account holder against the account provider. The Nötigkeit an identification over other third party, however not.

0019Has now a provider of goods and / or services, for example, a Suppliers connected to the payment method of the invention on the Internet, so it is possible for a customer, the financial transaction, eg the Debit his bank account without giving his personal identity and perform disclosure of information, eg on his real Giro account.

0020The customer needs a provider only selected when opening an account give authorization information known to the cashless financial transactions perform. It is therefore sufficient, for example, only a user name and password communicated to the supplier to identify himself, said by specifying the user name and password, a sufficient customer customization is possible and ensures high security remains.

0021The specification of the authorization information may in this case preferably also via a telecommunications link, ie, for example via the Internet take place, so that payment method of the invention in particular for Payment transactions on the Internet is.

0022While it can also be aware of a misuse of the authorization information Cash account occurs, the damage would be very low, as the Cash account preferably a pure credit account without credit limit is, are available of which only small amounts.

0023Prior to performing the financial transaction preferably is the Possibility that the provider authorization, in particular also about a Telecommunication connection, eg via the Internet between the provider and the accounts Tue. This is so, for example, checks that actually in the accounts offered by using the specified user name and the associated password exists a corresponding cash account. is this existence verified, it can further be provided that before Financial transaction, the absolute value of the coverage of the cash account is checked. Only when coverage of the cash account is given, carried out the financial transaction and the customer receives the goods or the Service that he wishes to order, for example, on the Internet.

0024Compared to known methods from the prior art has the The method according to the invention therefore has the advantage that at the request, a commodity or service, to pay particular via the Internet, without be divulged information about the customer and any accounts have to. It ranges from a user name and a password to specify which customers adequately identified and authorized. Even against the background, that a cash account not anonymous when accounts provider, but only can be conducted under verifying the identity of customers, they are Information not the seller of the goods and services passed. This information remain exclusively with the Accounts providers, so that in a cashless payment transaction by means of The inventive method for a ensures the anonymity of the customer remains and the other no information is transmitted by means of which a Conclusion on a normal checking account is possible of the nearly magnitude unlimited exposure to unauthorized third parties is possible.

0025Through the particular magnitude limited inventive Cash account, which according to the aforementioned method with credit can be replenished via credit card, so can an abuse accounts sustainably be stopped. The payment method of the invention is therefore particularly suitable for payment transactions on the Internet, where must in principle be assumed that the transmitted data authorized persons can not be seen by third parties.

0026In order for the inventive method further safety too increase, may also provided in the transmission of authorization information be that these are transmitted by means of further encryption techniques.

0027A schematic representation of the method according to the invention is in the following illustration. As shown, there is a Cash account (2), which is conducted at a supplier accounts (1). This Account (2) can be opened by an account holder (3), for example by (7) dials it up on the Internet on the website of the accounts provider (1) and there a username and password selects. Only under The aid of this information is the account (2) in the accounts provider (1) out. Under certain circumstances, it may be provided by law, that the customer (3) at least with respect to the accounts offered by (1) identified to the account (2) be able to open.

0028In the inventive method, the cash account (2) is a replenished cash balances by the account holder (3) and potential Customer (3), first at any public outlets, so For example, at a kiosk or other business a prepaid card (Prepaid card) (6), which represents a certain amount of credit, commercially acquires. The value of credit card (6) representing the balance, this can be printed, for example, on the card itself. To this credit now activate the account holder (3) selected for example via the Internet (9) on the Exhibitor and accounts provider (1) Website of the credit card (6). Among identified specifying its previously selected user name and password the customer (3) the cash account (2), on the aufgebucht the credit shall be. On the credit card (6), for example, a so-called be scratch box provided that the customer and account holders (3) first reveal has so including a message pops up that for the is to use billing for the credit to the cash account (2).

0029Practically sees the crediting of so that the customer and account holders (3) obtained secret code possibly in conjunction with another, on the map illustrated card number on the Internet (7) on the website of the provider accounts (1) enters, so that the account provider (1) on the one hand, the authenticity of the card can check and determines the amount of credit based on the number and this aufbucht on the cash account (2). Now has accordingly the Account holder (3) through a credit to the cash account (2), which by loading in purchase transactions any provider (5) of goods and Services, in particular the Internet (9), can be offered.

0030For purchases on the Internet (9) then a customer (3) on the homepage (4) the respective provider (5) the corresponding desired goods and and select Services under different payment methods. If the Provider (5) and operators (5) of the website (4) according to the invention the Payment method is connected, the customer (3), this Select your payment method, so that at this moment a link (8) Card issuer (1) or accounts provider (1) of the cash account (2) will be produced. The customer (3) Instructs then on the Internet (9) from its Balance on the cash account (2) the amount to be paid to the respective operators (5) of the website (4) or the online service to remit. Here is the identification and authorization only on the User name and password mentioned instead.

0031After the user name and password on the home page (4) of the Publisher (5) were entered, verified that the data given by a link (8) to the accounts offered by (1) to determine whether indeed a Account (2) under that username and password exists. Furthermore, Here, the funds in the account be verified, so that the provision of Goods or services on the Internet takes place when a given verification is.

0032The payment method of the invention provides a customer (3), in particular when using the Internet (9), complete anonymity, since no name or other safety-related data must be transmitted and beyond maximum safety, since payment orders only from one account (2) take place, which can be loaded only up to a maximum amount, because this account (2) has no credit. The corresponding account (2) may on Request again with new credit through the purchase and Activation / cancellation of credit cards (6) are filled.