System for effecting payments and method of operating payment system

The present invention relates to a payment execution system using a mobile station and a method of operating the payment system.

Conventional technology that includes a subscriber identification unit such as SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) used in a system based on the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard for the control card. I have a mobile phone. This SIM is a control unit CPU (central processing device), program memory ROM (read-only memory), and data memory EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read 0nly Memory (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory)) suitable for long-term storage. It consists of operational memory RAM (random access memory) suitable for storing data during use. In order to use this mobile phone, the PIN (Personal Identification) stored in the SIM is generally stored when the mobile phone is turned on. Number (Personal Identification Number)) must be presented. Other user-specific information such as telephone numbers and messages can also be stored in the SIM data memory.

Today, there are also mobile phones that have a data connector for connecting an external data processor, such as a mobile computer. Therefore, the mobile phone can be used as a means for transferring data between the mobile computer and another data processing device through a wireless communication network. In this way, for example, it is possible to connect to the user's bank, check the balance, and make a convenient payment. However, this type of device is not very practical because it requires a separate cable between the computer and the mobile phone. Also, a computer must be available, for example to connect to a bank.

Wireless systems such as so-called smart cards and payment cards are also known, and the cards are mainly used for payments on buses and public telephones. Such smart cards generally include a central processing unit, program memory and data memory. The internal operation of the card in use is controlled by the CPU according to the program code stored in the program memory. The data memory is used to store information about the intended use of the smart card, such as the amount of the smart card. To perform payment processing, the card also incorporates a data transfer device, such as a transceiver based on electromagnetic induction. The drawback of this type of smart card is the fact that the user has to carry a large number of cards, for example because several different cards may be required for various payments. Also, if the amount loaded on the card is exhausted, a new card must be purchased or the new amount must be loaded into the card at a retailer offering a loading service.

Japanese patent application JP4083447 discloses a mobile phone that can be added with more characteristics by another memory card. Such applications are preferably used for certain purposes, such as increasing storage capacity, telephone number storage, and the like. Such an application is based on a method in which a mobile phone central processing unit reads data stored in the application (memory card) and operates in a predetermined manner required by the data. The disadvantage of this method is that the functions required to perform various actions of the application must be pre-programmed in the central processing unit CPU, and the central processing unit program must also be changed to develop a new application. It is in the fact that it must be.

International patent application WO91 / 12698 discloses mobile phones whose characteristics can be added by add-in cards such as smart cards. In this way, the use of the telephone can be restricted, for example by preventing calls to foreign countries, long-distance calls, or calls to service numbers. Information about call restrictions is stored on the additional card, which the user must install on the mobile phone at the time of use. Therefore, the main use of this method is to prevent the use of some property of mobile phones.

<p> In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and improve the state of the art in this field, a new way of using applications in mobile wireless communication devices (mobile phones) has been invented along with new mobile phones and new systems for making convenient payments. It has been. The application is preferably made for certain applications such as credit cards, cash cards or payment cards. The application can also provide special services such as public transport timetables and foreign exchange rates. The application is preferably mounted in an application module and its technical solution can be close to the SIM described above. The same application module can contain more than one application. The application module is a module card of a size, generally made of plastic or equivalent material, such that the application module has an application connector that guides the required conductor from the mobile station to the application module. Attached to. The same module card can contain several application modules, in which case each application module has its own application module connector. The application module connector is functionally connected to the application module connector of the corresponding module card. Each module card is connected to a module card connector provided on the mobile station, in which the module card connector includes an application module connector.</p>

<p> The present invention is based on the idea that a mobile station can be supplemented by an application having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The application in the first mode of operation does nothing actively and stays passively in the background. In the second mode of operation, the application is active and can control, for example, the central processing unit of a mobile station. When in the second operating mode, the application uses the common components of the mobile phone that the application requested when switching to the second operating mode, such as peripherals such as displays, keypads, status indicators, and data ports. You can also do it.</p><p> There are preferably three types of applications used in the methods of the present invention, depending on the state in which the application can switch to the second operating mode. That is, 1) one is the so-called power-up type, and this type of application switches to the second operating mode immediately after the mobile station is turned on and / or the module card is inserted. 2) One is a menu type, which allows the user to select the application he / she wants to activate from, for example, the menu displayed on the mobile station display. 3) The other is an automatic type, in which the application switches to the second operation mode when certain conditions specified for the application are met. For example, in a GSM system, a mobile station has a special SMS (Short Message Service). (Short Message Service)) The application in the third mode of operation can be activated when the message is received. SMS messages are typically used to transfer short text messages between mobile stations. The automatic type can also be selected from the menu. Menu options can also be used when several power-up applications are connected to a mobile station and one of those applications can switch to a second mode of operation.</p><p> The payment implementation system according to the invention provides data transfer, at least one mobile station, including: -application-means for using the application; and-first means for providing data transfer; Includes at least one payment receiving terminal, which has a second means of doing so, the second means of which is coupled to said first means of a mobile station to provide data transfer through a wireless interface. Between the first means for providing data transfer and the second means for providing data transfer through the wireless interface for registering a payment transaction within the payment receiving terminal. It is characterized in that the application includes a means for transferring data in.</p><p> Further, in the method of the present invention, in a method of operating a payment system including a first user terminal and a second terminal, the first user terminal has at least one application, and-payment is the first. The stage of inputting information that specifies what is done from the user terminal to the second terminal into the first user terminal;-Establishing a communication link from at least one application to the second terminal through a wireless interface. It is characterized by including a stage, and-a stage of registering a payment transaction on at least one of a second terminal and at least one application.</p>

<p> The present invention achieves significant advantages over prior art solutions. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, the range of applications that can be performed by a mobile phone can be substantially increased. In addition to conventional telephone and data services, mobile stations related to the present invention may also be used as credit cards and / or cash cards in place of conventional plastic cards. A mobile station with a suitable application module allows users to pay at a store using their credit account (credit card application) or directly from their bank account (cash card). -Application), so no cash is required.</p><p> Characteristic of both credit and cash card applications is that electronic forms of money are stored on a central computer (also known as a money server), and when making payments the mobile station is with that computer. To make contact. If desired, the application can check credit limits or bank account balances before payments are accepted.</p><p> It is also possible to store money in the mobile station's "electronic money wallet" or in the application module itself. In that case, it is preferably unnecessary to check the credit limit or bank account balance from the money server before the payment is accepted. That is, you do not need to contact the money server to make a payment. Information on the amount of money stored in the "electronic money wallet" can be read from the memory of the mobile station or the application module, and electronic money is deducted from it when making a payment. These types of applications that store money in the mobile station or the application module itself are also called payment applications.</p>

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the basic embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the card control mobile station 1 is a master control unit MCU, a user interface UI, a high frequency unit RF, a low frequency unit AUDIO, a power supply unit 2, and a first means for data transfer. It consists of IR and application module connection unit 6. The operation of the mobile station 1 is controlled by the MCU, and the program code for executing various operations is stored in the MCU in advance.

The user interface UI has components known from prior art mobile phones: a display 7, a keypad 8, and a status indicator 23. The MCU displays various state-specific messages, operation commands, menus, etc. on the display 7. Using the keypad 8, the user can enter various information such as an identification number and a telephone number into the mobile station 1 and select an action from the menu. The status indicator 23 is preferably used to indicate the internal operating mode of the mobile station 1.

Radio frequency component RF is a known component of mobile phones and is used in wireless communication networks such as the GSM communication network to send and receive calls and messages using radio frequency, for example, through the mobile service exchange center MSC.

The low frequency section AUDIO preferably includes a microphone 9, headphones 10, a buzzer 11, and the like.

The operating power of the mobile station 1 is supplied from the battery 12 and is charged when needed. The power supply unit 2 particularly monitors the charging status and charging process of the battery 12. The power supply unit 2 sends information to the central unit MCU when the charge status of the battery 12 drops below a predetermined value, and the MCU preferably sounds a buzzer 11 and / or displays a message on the display 7 to notify the fact.

A module card 13 as shown in FIG. 3a is connected to a module card connector (not shown) located at mobile station 1. The module card 13 can incorporate a subscriber identification module (SIM), especially for user identification.

The application module connector is located on the application module 19 of the module card 13.

Figure 3b shows the internal structure of the SIM as a simple flowchart. The central processing unit CPU controls the operation of the SIM based on the program code stored in the program memory. Various user-specific information can be stored in the data memory EEPROM, which remains in the memory even when the control card SIM is removed from the application module connection unit 6. The application module connection unit 6 is located at mobile station 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During operation of the control card, the operating memory RAM (Fig. 3b) is used as a temporary data storage device. The bus adapter DATA-I / O adapts the SIM card to the application module bus 14 and control and data line I / O (Figure 2).

Another module card 13 can also be connected to the application module connection unit 6 of the basic embodiment of FIG. In that case, it is preferably connected to their own module card connector. Application module 19 (FIG. 3c) on module card 13 can have similar mechanical and electrical configurations to the SIM cards shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The central processing unit (MCU) from the application module connection unit 6 to the mobile station 1 has an application module bus 14, which allows the application module 19 connected to the application module connection unit 6 to communicate with the MCU. .. For example, data and commands can be transferred using AT commands known in modems. The AT command is, for example, the Master of Science Thesis of Petri Heinonen, the Master of Science Thesis of Petri Heinonen, 1994, Master of Science, The Master of Science Thesis of Petri Heinonen, More detailed in "Proposal for Standard AT Commands Used with GSM Mobile Equipment", 1994, Tampere University of Technology).

In addition to the application module bus 14, separate control and data line I / O, I / O', I / O'(from each application module connector 15, 16 and 17 of the application module connection unit 6 Figure 2). Therefore, configurations based on the standard series ISO7816 for controls and data lines can be used. The standard series ISO7816 includes voltage level and timing diagrams and application module 19 (Figure 3c) accordingly Is connected to the control and data lines I / O, I / O', I / O'.

For each application module 19, the application module connection unit 6 has a connector through which the application module bus 14 is connected to the application module 19.

As shown in Figure 3c, two or more application modules 19 can be connected to the same module card 13. The second application module 19'on module card 13 may be, for example, a SIM module.

The mobile station 1 also has a first data transfer means such as an infrared IR transmitter / receiver. Use first means of IR data transfer to transfer data over a relatively short distance between mobile station 1 and cash register (payment terminal) 21 or, for example, between two different mobile stations 1 (Figure 7). be able to.

The first data transfer means IR can also include a data connector 20, which can be used to connect a computer to mobile station 1 (Figure 1).

Figures 4a and 4b show how application 18 is activated and deactivated, and how application 18 is switched from the first operating mode to the second operating mode and vice versa. Is shown. In the present patent application, the first mode of operation means a mode in which the application does nothing actively, but obtains the decree through the application of the second mode of operation or through the MCU. The second operation mode means the control mode, and the application of the second operation mode can control the operation of various devices of the mobile station 1 including the central unit MCU and send a message to another application.

The MCU can have two different modes of operation: 1) normal mode and 2) application mode. In normal mode, the central unit MCU operates in the same manner as a known mobile phone to control the operation of the mobile station. In application mode, the MCU is controlled by application 18 (Figure 3c) in second mode of operation. Even in application mode, the central unit MCU can read keypad 8 and, if application 18 in second mode of operation requests it, send keypad input information to that application 18.

In the example shown in Figure 4a, the procedure begins with switching mobile station 1 on (100), after which the MCU at mobile station 1 controls the first application module connector 15 and dataline I / O (Figure 4a). Set 1 and 2) to the reset state (block 101). If application module 19 (Figure 3c) is connected to first application module connector 15 and said module 19 sends an acceptable ISO7816 response (block 102) to the MCU, then the MCU is the first application. -Set the control and data line I / O of module connector 15 to the allowable state (block 103). At block 104, the MCU determines if all application module connectors 15, 16 and 17 have been inspected.

If all application module connectors 15, 16 and 17 have not yet been inspected, the procedure returns to block 101, where the next application module connectors 16, 17 are inspected. If the MCU is unresponsive at block 102 or the answer is unacceptable, the procedure continues to block 105, where the MCU is ISO 7816 based application module 19 attached to application module connectors 15, 16 and 17. Judge that it has not been done.

After inspection of all application module connectors 15, 16 and 17, the procedure continues to block 106, where, for example, the user identification known in the GSM network. If the user identification fails, the mobile station 1 power-up process is stopped (block 107). Users generally have three opportunities to show their personal identification number. If the identification number is not presented correctly the third time, the user must present a longer identification code, after which the user will be given the opportunity to present his or her identification number correctly three times. If the user does not show the correct identification number in any of these three extra opportunities, the user must show the longer and shorter identification codes again. If the identification number is not shown correctly after the number of attempts allowed, the control card will destroy the information contained in it, which will permanently render the control card SIM unusable.

When the personal identification number was successfully presented, the MCU moved to block 108, where the MCU provided information about application 18 contained in application module 19 connected to the first application module connector 15. Inquire. If application module 19 contains application 18, the MCU reads application 18 information (block 109) and stores it in memory (block 110). If the inspected application module 19 does not have application 18 or the connector does not have an application module, the MCU stores this information in its memory (block 111). At block 112, the MCU determines if all application modules 19 have been inspected. If there is an application module 19 that has not yet been inspected, the procedure goes back to block 108 and queries the next application module 19 for information on application 18.

Once the MCU has examined all application modules 19, the procedure continues after block 112 to block 113, where the MCU displays a menu on display 7 of mobile station 1 and the user controls the MCU. The application 18 to be switched to the operation mode can be selected from the menu. When the user selects application 18, the MCU asks which part of the user interface (display 7, keypad 8, and / or status indicator, etc.) the application requires. If the MCU does not receive an acceptable response from the selected application 18, the procedure returns to block 113. Conversely, if the MCU gets an acceptable response from the selected application 18, the MCU switches to application mode, i.e., the mode controlled by the selected application 18 (block 115).

If the user does not select application 18 (block 113), the MCU switches to normal mode (block 116), in which there is no application 18 controlling the MCU and all applications 18 are in the first operating mode.

In normal mode, block 117, the MCU displays a menu containing application 18 available in application module 19 on display 7 of mobile station 1. From that menu, the user can select the application that should be switched to the second operating mode (block 118). If module card 13 is removed from the module card connector, all applications 18 on the removed module card 13 are removed from the mobile station 1 menu (block 128).

Block 118 describes the state in which the MCU queries the application 18 contained in the selected application module 19. When the MCU gets an acceptable response from application module 19, it ignores power-up application 18, but saves information about other applications (block 119). If the MCU does not get an acceptable response from application 18, no new application 18 is added (block 120).

If the MCU is in normal mode at block 116 and the user selects application 18 from the menu or the automated application 18 informs the MCU to switch to the second operating mode, the MCU switches to the second operating mode. Ask which unit of mobile station 1's user interface UI 18 needs (block 121). If the MCU does not get an acceptable response from application 18, the operation of the MCU shifts to block 117. If application 18 shows the MCU an acceptable response, the MCU switches to application mode (block 115).

When the MCU is in application mode (block 115) and the prerequisites for automatic application 18 to switch to the second operating mode are met, the automatic application 18 in the second operating mode is An inquiry is made as to whether the application can be switched to the second operating mode (block 122). If switching is not allowed, the procedure returns to block 115. If switchable, the MCU asks automated application 18 which unit of mobile station 1's user interface UI is needed (block 123). If the response is unacceptable, the MCU operation returns to block 115 again. When the response is acceptable, the automated application 18 switches to the second operating mode, which controls the operation of the MCU, and at the same time, the application 18, which was the second operating mode, switches to the first operating mode.

When the module card 13 containing the application module 19 in which the application 18 is in the first operation mode is removed from the module card connector, the application 18 is removed from the menu.

When a new module card 13 is added to mobile station 1, the identification parameters of application 18 of application module 19 on the module card 13 are queried in block 125. When application module 19 sends the identifier to the MCU, the MCU discards the power-up application 18 and saves the other application 18 built into application module 19 in block 126. If no acceptable response is obtained from application module 19, no information about that application module is added (block 127).

If module card 13 is removed from the module card connector and the card 13 contains a power-up or automated application 18 that is in second mode of operation, mobile station 1 is turned off. Can be switched. Otherwise, the MCU returns to normal mode (block 116). The menu-type or automatic-type application 18 that is in the second operation mode can also be automatically returned to the first operation mode, or is manually returned to the first operation mode (129).

Next, the operation of a cash card or other payment card application in mobile station 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be outlined (Fig. 6).

Mobile station 1 is connected to both a control card SIM and one application module 19, which contains application 18 (not shown in FIG. 6), a cash card application in this example. Is. Application 18 has at least one account that corresponds to the user's bank account, and the user can make payments from that account in application 18. Preferably, when the application 18 is started to be used, the balance information is read from the bank account, for example by a normal data channel of the GSM network or as an SMS message, and is part of the application module 19. Saved in the data memory EEPROM used by application 18.

In relation to payments, Application 18 reduces the balance of Application 18's account accordingly. Updates of payment transactions, etc. in application 18 to a user's bank account are, for example, controlled by application 18 at certain times and / or selected by the user from the menu of mobile station 1 and / or in relation to payment. It is preferably done automatically. When the bank account is renewed, application 18 directs the MCU to establish a data transfer connection with the bank's computer through the mobile service exchange center MSC and, often through a private wired network. The connection is established either by first asking the user for a phone number or by using a number stored in the application's memory, in the latter case the procedure is simple. Preferably, if you use SMS messages to update your balance information, you can use your regular voice / data channels for other activities.

On mobile station 1, the user can simultaneously have various accounts such as bank accounts, credit accounts and / or cash accounts, even if they are in different applications 18 of different application modules 19. good. The advantage of this method is, in particular, that the user can transfer money between accounts, for example from a credit account to a bank account or cash account.

As shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4a and 4b, application 18 can be used, for example, after mobile station 1 is turned on. The MCU displays a message on the display 7 for inputting the identification number. The user enters his or her own identification number, which is read by the MCU and sent to the SIM card. The SIM's central processing unit CPU inspects the input identification number against the previously stored identification number and informs the MCU whether the identification number is shown correctly. If the identification number is incorrect, the MCU can ask the user to indicate it again.

If the identification number is shown correctly, the MCU will operate according to the steps described above. In this example, the other connectors 16 and 17 have no other application module 19, so the MCU displays the menu on display 7, and then the user sees application 18 in application module 19 (this application is a cash card. The application) can be selected, after which the application 18 switches to the second operating mode and the MCU switches to the application mode.

You can make a normal phone call with mobile station 1. All other functions of mobile station 1 are also available. The essential difference is that when the user enters a phone number from the keypad 8, the MCU sends the key press information to the application in the second mode of operation, which guides the MCU to establish a connection.

When the user wants to ask the balance of his bank account, the user first uses the keypad 8 to select a menu function, and the MCU sends the key press information to application 18. Application 18 guides the MCU to display a menu on Display 7, where the user can select a balance inquiry. After the user selects a balance inquiry from the menu, the MCU sends its key press to application 18, which inspects it and sends a message to the MCU, which then displays the text on display 7 and the mobile station. Notify the user that 1 is making a balance inquiry. The application then searches for the balance stored in the application module's data memory EEPROM and composes a message, which causes the MCU to display the balance on display 7.

The following is an example of the balance query described above using the AT command: Event code: + CKEV: 91,1 (select a menu) AT command: AT + CDIS = "NOKSET", "View ^", "menu v", "", "", "Quit" (update display) AT command: AT + CIND = ,,,, 11,11 (update indicator) Event code: + CKEV: 91,0 Event code: + CKEV: 49,1 (select menu number 1 ...) AT command: AT + CIND = ,,,, 11,1 Event code: + CKEV: 49,0 Event code: + CKEV : 53,1 (... Number 15) AT command: AT + CIND = ,,,, 1,5 Event code: + CKEV: 53,0 AT command: AT + CDI = "NOKSET", "Amount of", "balance", "",, "OK", "Quit" (display menu 15) AT command: AT + CIND = ,,,, 0,0 Event code: + CKEV: 91,1 (select "OK") AT command: AT + CDIS = "NOKSET", "Requesting ...", "", "", "", "Quit" Event code: + CKEV: 91,0 AT command: AT + CMGS = "12345678" Request amount of balance message ^ Z (send short message) Event code: + CMT TEXT: "12345678", 12 (Receive results) 125232,69 mk 0,0,0 ,, 94102610100058,8, AT Command: AT + CDI = "NOKSET", "You have", "125232,69 mk", "" , "", "Quit" (display results)

In the previous example, the balance query was made from the memory of the mobile station's application module. Unique to these account-based applications is the need to transfer data between mobile stations and banks. If the data transfer fails for any reason, it may be necessary for the bank to "manually" inquire or renew the account. When the user selects a balance inquiry directly, for example using a menu, the mobile station sends the balance inquiry to the bank using, for example, the short message service SMS, if available. The message contains the current balance of the application's account from the application module's memory. Therefore, when the bank returns the renewed balance, it can preferably take into account changes in both the application module account and the bank account.

You can easily pay from your account by entering the appropriate information from the keypad 8 of mobile station 1.

Next, a exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which case application 18 is a cash application, which allows payment, for example, at a store or bus.

Application 18 is identified as shown in the previous example. When application 18 is switching to the second operating mode, the user can establish a connection between mobile station 1 and bank computer 22 to transfer money from his account to the cash application. In reality, the transfer is done electronically, which increases the cash card balance and decreases the bank account balance. The user makes an internal transfer from the bank account of the payment application to the cash application and vice versa at mobile station 1. The internal transfer requires updating the bank's computer 22 with information about the transfer.

To make a payment, the user enters a certain code, which tells application 18 that the user wants to pay for the purchase. After that, the application establishes a connection with the first data transfer means IR such as an IR transmitter / receiver through the MCU. The second data transfer means is provided in a cash register 21 or the like of a store, and through this means, the application 18 and the EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) terminal application of the cash register can make a data transfer connection with each other. it can.

When the connection is established, the user enters the bank card identification number and the cash card application compares it with the pre-stored identification number. If the identification number is correctly presented and there is sufficient balance in application 18, the payment transaction is registered in both cash register 21 and application 18 in mobile station 1, and the balance of the cash card is decremented accordingly. This payment transaction update to computer 22 can be done from the EPOS application or from application 18 of mobile station 1.

For IR data transfer, use known standards such as protocol stacks defined by IrDA (Infrared Data Association) based on ISO's OSI (Open Systems interconnection) model. Is preferable. This protocol stack uses the layers of the OSI model: 1) physical layer, 2) data link layer, 3) network layer and 7) application layer.

In the physical layer, data can be transferred by infrared, but other known data transfer methods such as ultrasonic, electromagnetic induction or radio waves can also be used.

Data transfer is protected at the data link layer, for example by error correction algorithms. Also, the function of the data link layer is used to identify the data transfer means in a situation where many data transfer means are used at the same time, for example, a store with many EPOS applications.

At the network layer, messages passing through the data transfer means can be distributed to the receiving device regardless of the number of data transfer means in operation. Also, the information to be sent can be encrypted at the network layer, which is especially important for payment applications.

Application 18 can transfer data through the application layer, in which application 18 sends and receives information necessary for data transfer, preferably through the MCU to the first data transfer means IR or wireless communication network.

Similarly, other devices involved in data transfer, such as cache register 21 (FIG. 6), have an EPOS terminal application that processes messages received through other data transfer means IR2 according to the layered structure described above.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a telephone call between the application APPLICATION and the mobile service exchange center MSC, which is part of the mobile service communication network. In step 200, the application sends the phone number to call to the mobile station 1 MCU, which sends the identification data and other data needed to establish the connection to the mobile exchange center MSC (steps 201, 202 and). 203). The exchange center MSC sends information on the progress of the call (step 204) and the status of the connection (step 205) to mobile station 1, after which the mobile station 1 sends an acknowledgment of the connection to the MSC (step 206) and application 18 (step 206). Send to step 207). To terminate the connection, application 18 sends a termination command to the MCU at mobile station 1 (step 208), which sends a termination request to the mobile service exchange center (step 209). The MSC sends a connection termination acknowledgment to the MCU at mobile station 1 (step 210). Finally, the mobile station 1 MCU sends the connection termination information to application 18 (step 211).

In a previous exemplary embodiment of the invention, money is stored in an account and ultimately placed on a bank's money server. Therefore, it was necessary to update the balance at the mobile station and the bank. In another embodiment of the present invention, electronic money is stored in the mobile station itself. For example, when this type of electronic money (also called "digital cash") is used to pay parking or telephone charges, the corresponding amount is deducted from the mobile station's electronic money wallet. The "digital cache" can be stored in the memory of the mobile station as, for example, a code word. No link between the payment terminal 21 (Figure 6) and the money server 22 is required when payments are made.

If the "digital cash" runs out or needs more, the mobile station's e-money wallet will need to be refilled. There are several ways to do so. One method that is close to the real money and ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) method would be to walk to the nearest "digital cash ATM" and withdraw the money from your account. This is not very convenient, as it will take some time before this kind of "digital cash ATM" becomes widespread. The present invention provides a much more convenient way of refilling a "digital cache".

The SMS service allows the transfer of "digital cash" from a bank account to a mobile station using a method similar to the previous embodiment of the present invention described for balance inquiries. The mobile station sends a request to send a "digital cache" to the money server responsible for the user's account, for example as an SMS message. Correspondingly, if the account has a balance, the money server sends "digital cash" to the mobile station, which is stored in memory.

The communication network used by the mobile station of the present invention is not limited to GSM, but GSM is a good example of a system that provides the possibility of required data transfer. SMS messages available on the GSM network are especially useful, as regular phone / data channels are not valid when forwarding SMS messages.

In addition to payment applications, the methods of the invention can be used for other types of applications. For example, collecting and presenting other information such as timetables, stock prices, foreign exchange rates, etc. Each of the above examples can be implemented in a separate application module, or the desired functions and applications can be incorporated into a multifunction application module for mobile stations.

FIG. 7 shows an application in which two mobile stations 1 communicate with each other by means of first data transfer means IR. For example, data and / or voice can be transferred. Preferably, the first data transfer means IR allows the mobile station 1 to be connected to, for example, a mobile PC or wireless LAN (local area network) having a corresponding data transfer means IR.

The method of the present invention provides a flexible means of enhancing the utility of mobile station 1. The mobile station 1 of the present invention can utilize various services from the supplier who manufactures and sells the application 18. For credit card companies, this is one way to reduce credit card abuse.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary examples described above, and details thereof can be modified without departing from the scope defined by the accompanying claims.

<figref num="1">It is a block diagram of the mobile station of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a figure which shows the electrical composition of the application module bus between the application module connection unit of this invention, and the CPU of a mobile station.</figref><figref num="3a">It is a figure which shows the control card of a mobile phone.</figref><figref num="3b">It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the control card of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 3a.</figref><figref num="3c">It is a figure which shows the module card which two application modules are connected.</figref><figref num="4a">It is a flowchart which shows the switching of an application from the 1st operation mode to the 2nd operation mode.</figref><figref num="4b">It is a flowchart which shows the switching of an application from the 1st operation mode to the 2nd operation mode.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a communication path between an application and a mobile service exchange center (MSC) in a mobile wireless communication network.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which shows the usage of the method of this invention in relation to a cash card or a payment card application.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure which shows the communication between two mobile stations by this invention.</figref>

Code description

1 Card Control Mobile Station 6 Application Module Connection Unit 13 Module Card 18 Application 19 Application Module 20 Data Connector IR Data Transfer Means SIM Subscriber Identification Module