Method for Paying in a Motor Vehicle by Means of Transactions in a Cryptocurrency Computer Network

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for making payments in a motor vehicle (1) including a transaction device (2). According to this method, transaction data related to payment is provided to the payer, including the payee address of the payee, the payment amount, the payer address of the payer located in the motor vehicle (1), and the private key belonging to the payer address. Then, the provided transaction data is input into the transaction device (2). Subsequently, the input payee address is sent to the payee. Then, the payee verifies the sent payee address. Only when the verified payee address is classified as trustworthy are the following steps performed: A signal is sent from the payee to the payer indicating that the payee address has been successfully verified. Then, the input transaction data is transmitted to a cryptocurrency computer network (12) to complete the payment. Then, the transaction created according to the transaction data is recorded in at least one ledger of the cryptocurrency computer network (12). Finally, the transaction status related to the transaction record is reported to the payer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for paying in a motor vehicle by means of a cryptocurrency computer network transaction. The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle designed to execute this method. Background Art

[0002] Methods for paying in a motor vehicle are disclosed by DE 10 2012 206 770 A1 and DE 10 2013 114 935 A1. Here, the payment information stored in the motor vehicle is changed or the identification information is transmitted.

[0003] However, in conventional payment methods in a motor vehicle, there is usually a long waiting time before the end or confirmation of the payment process or before receiving the paid product or service. Since the actual payment is usually carried out afterwards, especially for the joint settlement of multiple payment processes, if the liquid funds are insufficient, payment may not be possible. In addition, fraud may occur due to the forgery of false identities or the unauthorized reading or tampering of payment information.

[0004] In addition, conventional payment methods in a motor vehicle require a prior contract with the provider of goods or services such as the product or service to be paid for before the payment process. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative or improved method for paying in a motor vehicle, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are at least partially, preferably completely eliminated. In particular, a method should be provided by which a user in a motor vehicle can achieve a faster, more reliable, more comfortable and safer payment.

[0006] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] Therefore, the basic idea of the present invention is to pay in a motor vehicle by means of a cryptocurrency computer network transaction. Here, the payee address is sent to the payee to check its credibility. If the payee address is credible, a verification success is displayed to the payer located in the vehicle.

[0008] By means of the method of the present invention proposed herein, a cashless payment can be carried out particularly safely, quickly and conveniently in a motor vehicle. In particular, it is not necessary to get out of the vehicle for the payment process. It is also not necessary to register in advance with the provider of goods or services that provide the service to be paid for. In cases where the method proposed herein proves to be particularly advantageous, typical payment processes particularly involve the payable parking of a motor vehicle, car washing or refueling, and payable card passing such as through a barrier.

[0009] The method according to the present invention is used for paying in a motor vehicle by means of a transaction of a cryptocurrency computer network. According to the method, the payee address sent to the payee is verified. Only when the verified payee address is classified as trustworthy by the payee, the following steps are executed: Display "Payee address successfully verified" to the payer located in the motor vehicle.

[0010] Preferably, the successful verification of the payee address is displayed to the payer located in the motor vehicle optically, and alternatively or additionally acoustically, especially by means of a display device provided in the motor vehicle.

[0011] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the method comprises the following steps:

[0012] In a first method step, transaction data including the payee address related to the payment is provided to the payer located in the motor vehicle. Then, in a second method step, the payee address sent to the payee is verified. Only when the payee classifies the verified payee address as trustworthy, the following two steps are executed: In a third method step, "Payee address successfully verified" is displayed to the payer located in the motor vehicle, and in a fourth method step, the transaction data is sent to the cryptocurrency computer network for payment. The embodiments described above have their own inventive points.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the provided transaction data further includes the payment amount and alternatively or additionally includes the payer address and the private key belonging to the payer address.

[0014] Suitably, the method further comprises another step according to which the provided transaction data is at least partially input into a transaction device present in the motor vehicle.

[0015] Advantageously, the transaction data is at least partially input automatically, that is, without the need for the payer to prompt, especially wirelessly. Alternatively or additionally, the transaction data is at least partially input by the payer by means of an input device of the motor vehicle connected to the transaction device. Alternatively or additionally, the transaction data is at least partially input by scanning a QR code image by using an image acquisition device connected to the transaction device, wherein the image acquisition device is arranged on the motor vehicle and alternatively or additionally arranged on a mobile device connected to the image acquisition device. These embodiments all allow the user located in the motor vehicle to pay particularly quickly and conveniently.

[0016] Advantageously, at least part of the input transaction data is stored in a database connected to the transaction device. Alternatively or additionally, at least part of the input transaction data is stored on a mobile data carrier connected to the transaction device, in particular a hardware wallet. Alternatively or additionally, at least part of the input transaction data is stored on at least one backend server connected to the transaction device. By means of these embodiments, it is possible to make the input of the provided transaction data at least partially redundant and to achieve a particularly fast and convenient payment in a motor vehicle.

[0017] Suitably, the private key is stored in such a protected manner that it can only be viewed by the paying party. In this way, only the paying party can actually execute the payment process. In this way, transactions by unauthorized third parties are prevented.

[0018] Particularly suitably, at least part of the input transaction data is transmitted from the database to the cryptocurrency computer network. Alternatively or additionally, at least part of the input transaction data is transmitted from the portable data carrier, in particular the hardware wallet, to the cryptocurrency computer network. Alternatively or additionally, at least part of the input transaction data is transmitted from at least one backend server to the cryptocurrency computer network. By means of these embodiments, it is also possible to make the input of the provided transaction data at least partially redundant and to achieve a particularly fast, secure and convenient payment in a motor vehicle. In addition, a verified payee address can be used for payment.

[0019] Suitably, the method further comprises a further step of entering the transaction created based on the transaction data into at least one ledger of the cryptocurrency computer network.

[0020] Advantageously, the method further comprises an additional method step according to which the transaction status relating to the entry of the transaction is sent to the paying party located in the motor vehicle.

[0021] Preferably, once there is at least one unique confirmation, preferably at least three confirmations, most preferably at least six confirmations of the cryptocurrency computer network, the "payment has been completed" is sent to the paying party as the transaction status of the transaction entry.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, the completed payment is sent to the paying party as the transaction status of the transaction entry at the earliest one second, preferably at the earliest one minute, most preferably at the earliest ten minutes after the start of the transmission of the transaction data to the cryptocurrency computer network.

[0023] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle comprises a transaction device, wherein the motor vehicle or the transaction device is set up / programmed to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims. Thus, the advantages of the method of the invention described above also transfer to the motor vehicle of the invention.

[0024] According to a preferred improvement of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle includes a database for storing transaction data, and alternatively or additionally has an input device for inputting transaction data, and optionally or additionally has an image acquisition device arranged on the motor vehicle for inputting transaction data. It has been proven that such a motor vehicle is particularly suitable for fast and convenient payment by means of a cryptocurrency computer network transaction.

[0025] Other important features and advantages of the present invention result from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the description of the accompanying drawings in conjunction with the drawings.

[0026] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail in the following description.

[0027] It goes without saying that the features described above and those to be described below can be used not only in the combinations specifically indicated, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0028] Only Figure 1 Shows an example of a motor vehicle payment system 100 for a motor vehicle 1 according to the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0029] For this purpose, the motor vehicle 1 includes a transaction device 2. The transaction device 2 is set or programmed to execute the method according to the present invention. In addition, an input device 3 connected to the transaction device 2 is provided in the interior of the motor vehicle 1, by means of which transaction data related to payment can be input by the paying party, generally the driver of the motor vehicle 1, into the transaction device 2. The input device 3 can include, for example, a touch-sensitive screen or a keyboard, which is installed as standard in the motor vehicle. It is also conceivable that, for example, a display device ( Figure 1 not shown in the figure) for displaying the charging party address to be verified or the stored charging party address or an identifier corresponding to the charging party address is arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle 1. This display device can also be installed as standard in the motor vehicle 1 in advance, for example, as part of a navigation system.

[0030] In Figure 1 the example, an image acquisition device 4 connected to the transaction device 2 is also arranged on the motor vehicle 1, by means of which at least a part of the transaction data can be acquired by scanning a QR code image 9 and transmitted to the transaction device 2. As an alternative to the image acquisition device 4 installed in the motor vehicle 1, it is also conceivable to use an image acquisition device integrated in a mobile phone. The image acquisition device 4 can be designed as a conventional camera. The motor vehicle 1 can also include a transceiver connected to the transaction device 2 ( Figure 1(not shown in the figure), whereby the transaction data can be automatically provided to the transaction device 2, especially wirelessly, without the payer having to prompt.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown in the example of, the motor vehicle 1 also has a database 5 connected to the transaction device 2 to store the entered transaction data. It is also conceivable that the transaction data, especially the private key belonging to the payer's address, is stored on a portable data carrier 6 connected to the transaction device 2, such as a so-called "hardware wallet" for cryptocurrencies, or on a backend server 7 connected to the transaction device 2. Then, such a backend server must be set up to store and evaluate information about the execution of the method according to the invention and the transaction data. The motor vehicle payment system 100 also includes a charging party device 8.

[0032] In Figure 1 the example of, there is a so-called QR code image 9 of the charging party address on the charging party device 8. Additionally, the motor vehicle payment system 100 includes a central evaluation unit 10 of the charging party, and the entered charging party address can be transmitted to the central evaluation unit via a mobile Internet link for verification. In a variant, the entered charging party address can be transmitted to a short-range evaluation unit of the charging party ( Figure 1 not shown in the figure), and the short-range evaluation unit is included in the collection party device 8. In Figure 1 the example of, the central evaluation unit 10 is in communication connection with the short-range evaluation unit and the transaction device 2.

[0033] The charging party device 8 also includes a signal device 11, by which the charging party can display the authenticity of the charging party address to the payer located in the motor vehicle 1. The signal device 11 can generate, for example, an optical signal, a sound signal, or a tactile signal. The motor vehicle payment system 100 also includes a cryptocurrency computer network 12, which can have multiple computers, and the entered transaction data can be transmitted to the computers. For the sake of overview, in Figure 1 the example scenario of, three mutually communicating computers of the cryptocurrency computer network 12 are shown. The short-range evaluation unit, the central evaluation unit 10, the transaction device 2, and the backend server 7 of the charging party device 8 communicate with the cryptocurrency computer network 12. In Figure 1 the example of, both the central evaluation unit 10 and the backend server 7 are directly connected to the cryptocurrency computer network 12.

[0034] The method according to the invention will be illustrated by way of example below:

[0035] According to this method, transaction data is provided to the motor vehicle driver located in motor vehicle 1. The transaction data contains the charging party address of the gas station operator at which motor vehicle 1 has just been refueled and for which payment is due. The transaction data required for refueling payment contains the payment amount corresponding to the selling price charged by the gas station operator for the refueling, the charging party address of the driver, and the private key of the driver belonging to the charging party address. The charging party address and the payment amount are provided here by the gas station operator, and the charging party address is in turn provided to the gas station operator from the cryptocurrency computer network. The charging party address of the driver and the associated key are also provided to the driver from the cryptocurrency computer network.

[0036] The transaction data can be provided here, for example, in the form of acoustic or optical information, as text, digital sequence, QR code image in digital storage form, or as a digital signal. In a variant of this example, it is conceivable to provide even multiple charging party addresses, charging party addresses, payment amounts, or private keys. It is also conceivable to provide the charging party address, charging party address, and private key by multiple cryptocurrency computer networks.

[0037] During the process of the method according to the invention, the provided transaction data is input into transaction device 2. For this purpose, the driver can input the payment amount with the aid of input device 3 and thereby provide it to transaction device 2. The charging party address can be provided to transaction device 2, for example, by scanning QR code image 9 with image acquisition device 4. Image acquisition device 4 in the form of a camera can be arranged on motor vehicle 1 itself, but can also be arranged alternatively on a mobile phone connected to transaction device 2. In a variant of this example, the charging party address and the payment amount can be transmitted automatically - that is, without manual input or prompting by the driver - and wirelessly, for example, via Bluetooth, from the gas station operator to transaction device 2 of motor vehicle 1.

[0038] Then, the charging party address is stored on database 5 connected to transaction device 2. The private key is stored on portable data carrier 6 at this time. In its alternative variant, the private key can also be stored on backend server 7. The private key is stored in a protected manner in both of the above variants, that is, it can only be recognized by the paying party.

[0039] Subsequently, the input charging party address is transmitted via a mobile Internet link to the central evaluation unit 10 of the gas station operator for authentication. In its alternative variant, the input charging party address is sent via short-range radio to the short-range evaluation unit of the gas station operator.

[0040] If the stored payee address has been verified, it can also be directly sent to the cryptocurrency computer network 12 without verification again. For example, the stored payee address can be displayed to the driver in the display device of the motor vehicle 1 and selected by the driver with the aid of the input device 3. Subsequently, the payee address is directly sent to the cryptocurrency computer network 12 without repeated verification.

[0041] If the payee address is not classified as trustworthy, a verification failure is displayed to the driver and the payment process is aborted.

[0042] Only when the verified payee address is classified as trustworthy does the method or the payment process continue. In this case, the gas station operator displays to the driver in the motor vehicle 1 that the authenticity of the payee address has been successfully checked. The successful check of the authenticity of the payee address can be displayed to the payee, for example, by means of a display device provided in the motor vehicle. Then, the entered transaction data is sent to the cryptocurrency computer network 12. Here, the payment amount, the payee address, and the payer address of the gas station operator are transmitted from the transaction device 2 to the cryptocurrency computer network 12.

[0043] Then, the transaction created based on the transaction data is entered into at least one ledger of the cryptocurrency computer network 12. Here, an asymmetric cryptographic method can be used to digitally sign the transaction with the private key of the payer. Here, the private key of the payer stored on the portable data carrier 6, in particular a hardware wallet, or stored on the backend server 7 is transmitted from the portable data carrier 6 or the backend server 7. The payment amount is transferred from the account associated with the payer address to the account associated with the payee address in the currency form used by the cryptocurrency computer network.

[0044] The ledger used by the cryptocurrency computer network 12 can be, for example, the so-called "blockchain" of the Bitcoin network. Then, the transaction is entered into a so-called "block" of the blockchain, and the block created in this way is transmitted to other account points of the Bitcoin network, i.e., so-called "nodes". It is also conceivable that at least one ledger of the cryptocurrency computer network 12 is a so-called "directed acyclic graph", for example, the "block tangle" of the so-called Nano network or the "tangle" of the so-called Iota network. In the case of the Nano network, a transaction will be entered into a block of the blockchain of the driver or the gas station operator respectively, and the respective account balances are stored in this block tangle.

[0045] Finally, during the process of this method, a transaction status related to the entry of the transaction is sent to the driver in the motor vehicle, and the transaction status includes the number of confirmations previously ascertained to be completed in the cryptocurrency network 12:

[0046] Here, with the help of, for example, the so-called "flooding" algorithm, the completed entry is transmitted from one "node" of the cryptocurrency network 12 to other "nodes". If one of the other nodes of the cryptocurrency network 12 does not take over the entry, then the transaction is not in the ledger further disseminated by that node and is thus not confirmed. But if a node of the cryptocurrency network 12 takes over the entry, then the transaction exists in the ledger further disseminated by that node.

[0047] If the ledger that takes over the transaction entry has the largest number of entry items, such as the longest "blockchain" or "block net", then the ledger is classified as preferred by the node clients of the cryptocurrency network 12 and continues to be disseminated. The completed entry is confirmed in a decentralized manner and the so-called "consensus" is reached. If the ledger that takes over the entry continues with a new entry or block and the "consensus" is reached again, then the previously made entry is considered to be confirmed again. In the case of the Nano network, the consensus is reached with the help of "delegated stake points", that is, through authorization by a representative chosen by the Nano currency owner.

[0048] Therefore, the number of confirmations made is notified to the driver as the transaction status of the entered transaction. Thus, for example, the end of the payment process can be signaled after at least one, three or six confirmations of the cryptocurrency network 12. In another variant, the transaction status of the entered transaction is transmitted to the payer as the completed payment at the earliest one second, preferably at the earliest one minute, after the start of the transmission of the transaction data to the cryptocurrency computer network.

[0049] The more confirmations there are, the lower the possibility of canceling or changing the entry by at least one node in the cryptocurrency network 12. For example, such an impact on the entry requires an equally increased computing power of the Bitcoin network, or it should be carried out by at least 51% of the representatives of the Nano network.

[0050] During the execution of the method, the transaction status of the entered transaction, the presence or absence of credibility, is signaled to the driver with the help of the signaling device 11 or with the help of a display device present in the motor vehicle. Here, the identifier of the gas station operator can also be transmitted.

[0051] The information for identifying the motor vehicle 1 or the driver in the motor vehicle, such as the license plate number and the address of the corresponding payer, can be stored in the central transaction device 10 or the short-range evaluation device of the gas station to match the payment to the motor vehicle 1. If the payment process ends with the payer address, the motor vehicle 1 can drive out of the gas station.

[0052] During the execution of the method, the backend server 7 stores information about the method execution and transaction data so that it can be evaluated if necessary.

Claims

1. A method for paying in a motor vehicle (1) by means of a cryptocurrency computer network (12) in a motor vehicle payment system (100), wherein the motor vehicle payment system (100) includes a short-range evaluation unit of the toll collector contained in the toll collector device (8), a central evaluation unit (10) of the toll collector for verifying the input toll collector address, and a transaction device (2) present on the motor vehicle (1), transaction data related to payment including the toll collector address is input into the transaction device (2), the short-range evaluation unit, the central evaluation unit, and the transaction device communicate with the cryptocurrency computer network (12), and wherein, The charging party address is transmitted to the central evaluation unit (10) of the charging party via a mobile Internet link or to the short-range evaluation unit of the charging party via short-range radio. The method comprises the following steps: a) Verifying the charging party address sent to the charging party by means of the central evaluation unit (10) of the charging party or the short-range evaluation unit of the charging party; Only when the charging party address verified in step a) is classified as a trusted address by the charging party, that is, classified as a trusted address by the central evaluation unit (10) of the charging party or the short-range evaluation unit of the charging party, the following step b) is executed: b) Displaying to the paying party located in the motor vehicle (1) the successful verification of the charging party address by means of a signaling device (11) included in the charging party device (8), and The method comprises the following additional step c): c) Transmitting the transaction data from the transaction device (2) to the cryptocurrency computer network (12) for payment execution, Thereby, the payment amount is debited from the account associated with the paying party address and credited to the account associated with the charging party address in the currency form used by the cryptocurrency computer network (12).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Displaying to the paying party located in the motor vehicle (1) the successful verification of the charging party address optically and / or acoustically.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein Displaying to the paying party located in the motor vehicle (1) the successful verification of the charging party address optically and / or acoustically by means of a display device arranged in the motor vehicle (1).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method comprises the following additional step a1) executed before step a): a1) Providing to the paying party located in the motor vehicle (1) transaction data related to the payment including the charging party address.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The transaction data provided in step a1) further includes the payment amount and / or the paying party address and the private key belonging to the paying party address.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The method comprises the following additional step a2) executed before step a): a2) At least partially inputting the transaction data provided in step a1) into a transaction device (2) existing in the motor vehicle (1).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that - in step a2), the transaction data is at least partially automatically input without the urging of the paying party; and / or - in step a2), the transaction data is at least partially input by the paying party by means of an input device (3) of the motor vehicle connected to the transaction device (2); and / or - in step a2), the transaction data is at least partially input by scanning a QR code image by means of an image acquisition device (4) connected to the transaction device (2), wherein the image acquisition device (4) is arranged on the motor vehicle (1) and / or on a mobile device connected to the image acquisition device (4).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, In step a2), the transaction data is at least partially automatically input wirelessly without the urging of the paying party.

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that - the transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially stored in a database (5) connected to the transaction device (2); and / or The transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially stored on a portable data carrier (6) connected to the transaction device (2); and / or - The transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially stored on at least one backend server (7) connected to the transaction device (2).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein The transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially stored on a hardware wallet connected to the transaction device (2).

11. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The private key is stored in a protected manner such that it can only be identified by the paying party.

12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that - In step c), the transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially transmitted from the database (5) to the cryptocurrency computer network (12); and / or - In step c), the transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially transmitted from the portable data carrier (6) to the cryptocurrency computer network (12); and / or - In step c), the transaction data input in step a2) is at least partially transmitted from the at least one backend server (7) to the cryptocurrency computer network (12).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The portable data carrier is a hardware wallet.

14. The method according to claim 4, wherein The method includes the following additional step d): d) Enter the transaction created according to the transaction data in at least one ledger of the cryptocurrency computer network (12).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The method includes the following additional step e): e) Send the transaction status related to the transaction entry to the paying party located in the motor vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that - In step e), after successful confirmation in the cryptocurrency computer network (12), the completed payment is sent as the transaction status of the transaction entry to the paying party; and / or - In step e), at the earliest one second after starting to transmit the transaction data to the cryptocurrency computer network, the completed payment is sent as the transaction status of the transaction entry to the paying party.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein In step e), after three successful confirmations in the cryptocurrency computer network (12), the completed payment is sent as the transaction status of the transaction entry to the paying party.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein In step e), after six successful confirmations in the cryptocurrency computer network (12), the completed payment is sent as the transaction status of the transaction entry to the paying party.

19. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, In step e), at the earliest one minute after starting to transmit the transaction data to the cryptocurrency computer network, the completed payment is sent as the transaction status of the transaction entry to the paying party.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein In step e), at the earliest ten minutes after starting to transmit the transaction data to the cryptocurrency computer network, the completed payment is sent as the transaction status of the transaction entry to the paying party.

21. A motor vehicle (1) having a transaction device (2), wherein, The motor vehicle (1) and / or the transaction device (2) is arranged to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, characterized in that, The motor vehicle (1) has a database (5) for storing transaction data and / or an input device (3) for inputting transaction data and / or an image acquisition device (4) arranged on the motor vehicle for inputting transaction data.

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