Electronic payment method using bluetooth™ communication with low power consumption

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic payment method using Bluetooth™ with low power consumption.

Description

[0001] Electronic payment method using low energy Bluetooth™ communication

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD AND STATE OF THE ART

[0003] The invention relates to the field of electronic payment and in particular remote payment.

[0004] There are known electronic payment methods that use NFC technology, which requires bringing a customer terminal within a few centimeters of a merchant terminal. There are also known electronic payment methods that use the sending of a payment link via a standard communication channel (email, SMS, QR code).

[0005] These methods are not satisfactory when it comes to handling a multitude of customers at the same time.

[0006] Indeed, using the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard requires getting within a few centimeters. Using a channel such as email or SMS (Short Message Service) requires knowing the customer's contact details.

[0007] Furthermore, the more the payment capacity increases, the more the necessary infrastructure must be increased.

[0008] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention proposes to overcome at least one of these drawbacks.

[0010] To this end, the invention proposes, according to a first aspect, a payment method comprising the following steps implemented by a client terminal comprising a low-energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the client terminal storing a payment client application,

[0011] - receiving a transaction message sent by a merchant terminal comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the transaction message being intended for any client terminal located within range of the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module; - launching the client application so that it processes the transaction message and requests validation of the transaction from the client;

[0012] - sending a transaction validation message to a payment server, following validation of the transaction by the client, the validation message including a sale amount and a transaction identifier;

[0013] - receipt of a message confirming proof of payment of the sale amount.

[0014] The method, according to the first aspect, is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

[0015] - the client terminal is configured to receive the transaction message when it is located at a distance less than or equal to 10 meters from the merchant terminal;

[0016] - it includes a display of the proof message on the screen of the customer terminal for presentation of the proof to the merchant;

[0017] - the client application being executed in the background by the client terminal, the reception of the message triggers a wake-up of the application which launches the application to process the transaction message.

[0018] The invention proposes, according to a second aspect, an electronic payment method comprising the following steps implemented by a merchant terminal, the merchant terminal comprising a Bluetooth™ communication module with low energy consumption, Bluetooth™ Low Energy:

[0019] - transmitting a transaction message by means of the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the transaction message being intended for any client terminal comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module located within a range of the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module of the merchant terminal, the client terminal being further configured to execute a client application following receipt of the transaction message by the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the application inviting the client to validate the transaction contained in the message.

[0020] The method, according to the second aspect, is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations: - the merchant terminal is configured to transmit the transaction message so that it is received by any client terminal equipped with the client application when it is located at a distance less than or equal to 10 meters from the merchant terminal;

[0021] - the transaction message is issued permanently.

[0022] The invention proposes according to a third aspect an electronic payment system, comprising

[0023] - a merchant terminal comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the merchant terminal being configured to implement a method according to the second aspect of the invention;

[0024] - several client terminals, each comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the client terminal being configured to implement a method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0025] The invention proposes according to a fourth aspect a client terminal, configured to implement a method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0026] The invention proposes according to a fifth aspect a merchant terminal, configured to implement a method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0027] The invention allows payment to be made up to ten meters around the transmitter using Bluetooth™ Low Energy technology.

[0028] The invention thus remedies the lack of a payment solution for all persons, including those unknown to the merchant, within a proximity of up to 10 meters with a mobile terminal such as a simple mobile phone, without pairing and initiated by the merchant. Payment is thus simplified and does not require heavy and complex infrastructure to allow payment to be offered to several customers.

[0029] The invention is particularly advantageous for reducing queues (at the time of payment) during an event with such a queue (museums, theaters, amusement parks, stadiums, etc.). Indeed, customers in the queue and less than 10 meters from the customer terminal located at the entrance to the event receive a notification. When the customer interacts with the notification, the payment application offers payment in one, two or three interactions. Payment takes place in less than three seconds.

[0030] PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURE Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended figure 1 which illustrates an architecture for implementing an embodiment of the invention.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In relation to Figure 1, one or more customers U1, U2, U3 equipped with a wireless customer terminal T1, T2, T3, such as a smartphone or a tablet wish(s) to purchase a product or service from a merchant CO. These are, for example, customers in a queue at an amusement park wishing to purchase one or more entry tickets.

[0033] The CO merchant is equipped with a TC merchant terminal equipped with a Bluetooth™ Low Energy (BLE) communication module. Such a TC client terminal is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet, a kiosk, etc.

[0034] The merchant terminal TC transmits (step E1) by means of a BLE communication module a transaction message for the purchase of a product or service. The merchant terminal TC transmits this message permanently or almost continuously. This transaction message is preferably generated beforehand by a payment server SP to which the merchant terminal TC is connected (by a mobile network or the Internet). This payment server SP is configured to manage the transaction and, in particular, to manage the underlying banking flows. The payment server SP thus offers a payment service.

[0035] The client U1, U2, U3 equipped with its client terminal T1, T2, T3 also comprising a low energy consumption Bluetooth™ communication module, Bluetooth Low Energy is configured to receive (step E2) by means of its communication module the transaction message sent by the merchant terminal TC.

[0036] In particular, the client terminal T1, T2, T3 executes in the background a payment application (stored and installed in the client terminal) which allows the client terminal T1, T2, T3 to communicate with the payment server SP which manages the transaction. Preferably, only a terminal of a client T1, T2, T3 located at a distance of less than approximately ten meters from the merchant terminal TC receives the transaction message (step E3).

[0037] Upon receipt of the transaction message (step E3), the payment application wakes up and generates a notification for the customer (step E4). This notification is an invitation to the customer to validate the transaction and thus access the product or service offered by the merchant. In the case of a queue to buy a ticket, it is to access an amusement park, the customer is therefore offered to buy a ticket.

[0038] Validation (step E5) of the transaction then triggers the sending to the SP payment server of a validation message including the amount of the sale and a transaction identifier. This will allow the SP payment server to process the corresponding financial transaction in conjunction with one or more banking establishments.

[0039] The payment server SP sends back a proof of payment message which is preferably displayed on the client terminal (step E6).

[0040] This proof can then be presented to the merchant to access the product or service that is the subject of the transaction. This facilitates the transaction since the customer can access the product or service offered by the merchant by simply showing this proof displayed on their terminal. In the case of a ticket to access an amusement park, the customer has the ticket purchased directly on their terminal near the point of sale. There is no need to offer a dedicated point of sale or dedicated payment infrastructure.

[0041] Alternatively, it is possible that the customer requests that the proof of purchase be sent by email or SMS according to their preferences to store this proof.

[0042] BLE is advantageous because it allows a single transaction message to be broadcast using little energy. The infrastructure is therefore economical compared to that required to offer a transaction to several customers almost simultaneously. In addition, BLE allows the transaction message to be broadcast within a reduced range of less than ten meters, which avoids annoying customers who have the payment application but are not involved in the transaction. In addition, interaction with the merchant is limited to the reception of a message, which facilitates the sale: no need for a payment terminal, for example.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Payment method comprising the following steps implemented by a client terminal (T 1 , T2, T3) comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the client terminal (T 1 , T2, T3) storing a payment client application, - receiving a transaction message sent by a merchant terminal (TC) comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the transaction message being intended for any client terminal (T1, T2, T3) located within range of the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module; - launching the client application so that it processes the transaction message and requests validation of the transaction from the client; - sending to a payment server (SP) a transaction validation message, following validation by the client of the transaction, the validation message including a sale amount and a transaction identifier; - receipt of a message confirming proof of payment of the sale amount; - display of the proof message on the screen of the customer terminal (T1, T2, T3) for presentation of the proof in order to access the product or service which is the subject of the transaction.

2. Payment method according to claim 1, in which the client terminal (T1, T2, T3) is configured to receive the transaction message when it is located at a distance less than or equal to 10 meters from the merchant terminal (TC).

3. Payment method according to one of claims 1 to 2, in which the client application being executed in the background by the client terminal (T 1 , T2, T3), the reception of the message triggers a wake-up of the application which launches the application so that it processes the transaction message.

4. Electronic payment method comprising the following steps implemented by a merchant terminal (TC), the merchant terminal comprising a Bluetooth™ Low Energy communication module: - transmitting a transaction message by means of the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the transaction message being intended for any client terminal (T1, T2, T3) comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module located within a range of the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module of the merchant terminal, the client terminal (T1, T2, T3) being further configured to execute a client application following receipt of the transaction message by the low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the application inviting the client to validate the transaction contained in the message.

5. Payment method according to claim 4, in which the merchant terminal (TC) is configured to transmit the transaction message so that it is received by any client terminal equipped with the client application when it is located at a distance less than or equal to 10 meters from the merchant terminal (TC).

6. Method according to one of claims 4 to 5, in which the transaction message is sent permanently.

7. Electronic payment system, including - a merchant terminal (TC) comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the merchant terminal being configured to implement a method according to one of claims 4 to 6; - several client terminals (T1, T2, T3), each comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the client terminal being configured to implement a method according to one of claims 1 to 4.

8. Client terminal (T1, T2, T3), configured to implement a method according to one of claims 1 to 3.

9. Merchant terminal (TC), configured to implement a method according to one of claims 4 to 6.