Electronic payment method using low energy Bluetooth™ communication

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of electronic payment by Bluetooth™ with low energy consumption. FIGURE 1

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic payment method using low energy Bluetooth™ communication

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD AND STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The invention relates to the field of electronic payment and in particular remote payment.

[0003] Electronic payment methods are known that use NFC technology, which requires bringing a customer terminal within a few centimeters of a merchant terminal. Electronic payment methods are also known that use the sending of a payment link via a standard communication channel (email, SMS, QR code).

[0004] These methods are not satisfactory when it comes to collecting payments from a multitude of customers at the same time.

[0005] Indeed, using the NFC standard (for Near Field Communication) requires getting within a few centimeters. Using a channel such as email or SMS (for Short Message Service) requires knowing the customer's contact details.

[0006] Furthermore, the more the payment capacity increases, the more the number of necessary infrastructures must be increased. Statement of the invention

[0007] The invention proposes to overcome at least one of these drawbacks.

[0008] 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,

[0009] - reception of 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;

[0010] - launching the client application so that it processes the message from transaction and requires customer validation of the transaction;

[0011] - sending a transaction validation message to a payment server, following validation by the customer of the transaction, the validation message including a sale amount and a transaction identifier;

[0012] - receipt of a proof of payment message for the sale amount.

[0013] The method, according to the first aspect, is advantageously completed by the characteristics following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination:

[0014] - the client terminal is configured to receive the transaction message when it located at a distance less than or equal to 10 meters from the merchant terminal;

[0015] - it includes a display of the proof message on the screen of the client terminal for presentation of proof to the trader;

[0016] - the client application being executed in the background by the client terminal, the Receiving the message triggers an application wakeup which launches the application to process the transaction message.

[0017] 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:

[0018] - sending a transaction message by means of the communication module Bluetooth™ low energy, the transaction message being intended for any client terminal comprising a Bluetooth™ low energy communication module located within a range of the Bluetooth™ low energy 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 Bluetooth™ low energy communication module, the application inviting the client to validate the transaction contained in the message.

[0019] The method, according to the second aspect, is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

[0020] - the merchant terminal is configured to transmit the transaction message of so that it is received by any customer terminal equipped with the customer application when it is located at a distance of 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 Bluetooth™ communication module with low power consumption, the merchant terminal being configured to implement a method according to the second aspect of the invention;

[0024] - several client terminals, each comprising a communication module Bluetooth™ low energy, 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 for implementing 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, in the vicinity up to 10 meters away 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 enable payment to be offered to several customers.

[0029] The invention is particularly advantageous for reducing queues (at the time of payment) during an event comprising such a queue (museums, theatres, amusement parks, stadiums, etc.). Indeed, customers in the queue and being less than 10 metres 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

[0031] 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 [Fig.l] which illustrates an architecture for implementing an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In relation to [Fig.l], 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 merchant CO is equipped with a merchant terminal TC equipped with a Bluetooth™ communication module with low energy consumption, Bluetooth™ Low Energy (BLE). Such a client terminal TC is for example a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet, a terminal, 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 Internet). This SP payment server is configured to manage the transaction and, in particular, to manage the underlying banking flows. The SP payment server thus offers a payment service.

[0035] The client Ul, 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.

[0037] 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).

[0038] 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, this involves accessing an amusement park, and the customer is therefore offered the option of buying a ticket.

[0039] The validation (step, E5) of the transaction then triggers the sending to the payment server SP of a validation message comprising the amount of the sale and a transaction identifier. This will allow the payment server SP to process the corresponding financial transaction in conjunction with one or more banking establishment(s).

[0040] The payment server SP sends back a proof of payment message which is preferably displayed on the client terminal (step E6).

[0041] This proof can then be presented to the merchant to access the product service that is the subject of the transaction.

[0042] Alternatively, it is possible for the customer to request that the proof of purchase be sent by email or SMS according to their preferences.

[0043] 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 clients 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.

[0044] 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. A payment method comprising the following steps implemented by a client terminal (Tl, T2, T3) comprising a low energy Bluetooth™ communication module, the client terminal (Tl, 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 (Tl, T2, T3) located within a 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 of the transaction by the client, the validation message comprising a sale amount and a transaction identifier;- receipt of a message confirming proof of payment of the sale amount;

2. Payment method according to claim 1, wherein 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, comprising a display of the proof message on the screen of the customer terminal (T1, T2, T3) for presentation of the proof to the merchant.

4. Payment method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the client application being executed in the background by the client terminal (T1, 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.

5. Electronic payment method comprising the following steps implemented by a merchant terminal (TC), the merchant terminal comprising a Bluetooth™ low energy communication module, Bluetooth™ Low Energy: - transmission of a transaction message by means of the Bluetooth™ low energy communication module, the transaction message being intended for any client terminal (T1, T2, T3) comprising a Bluetooth™ low energy communication module energy located within 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.

6. Payment method according to claim 5, 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).

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

8. Electronic payment system, comprising - 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 6 to 7; - 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.

9. Client terminal (T1, T2, T3), configured to implement a method according to one of claims 1 to 4.

10. Merchant terminal (TC), configured to implement a method according to one of claims 6 to 7.

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