Electronic commerce payments

Abstract

This invention relates to electronic commerce payments In particular, the invention relates to a tap-to-pay system and provides a method of facilitating a tap-to-pay transaction on an electronic commerce platform. The system includes an electronic commerce platform operatively connectable to a user device equipped with a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface for reading NFC enabled cards. The system further includes a user interface for initiating card reading, and an authentication mechanism for verifying user identity via the device. The method includes hosting an e-commerce transaction on the platform; presenting a tap-to-pay option upon checkout; enabling this option on the user's NFC-capable device; authenticating the user via the authentication mechanism; and completing the transaction through the NFC interface

Description

[0001] ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PAYMENTS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to electronic commerce payments. In particular, the invention relates to a tap-to-pay system and provides a method of facilitating a tap- to-pay transaction on an electronic commerce platform.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Electronic commerce has become popular amongst consumers worldwide, yet the process of making online payments often proves cumbersome and time-consuming due to the manual entry of one’s card credentials.

[0006] The inventor identified a need to provide a more efficient and secure method for users to input their card credentials when making purchases on electronic commerce platforms.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tap-to-pay system, which includes an electronic commerce platform operatively connectable to a user device which has a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface for reading NFC enabled cards, and a user interface facilitating reading of a smartcard via the NFC interface; and an authentication mechanism operable to read and authenticate a user via the user device.

[0009] The user device may be any one of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop, and the like.

[0010] The smartcard may be in the form of any one of a physical debit, a credit card, and a virtual card accessible via a smartwatch, smart ring, smart bracelet, smart necklace, smartphone, and a similar NFC-capable device. It is to be appreciated that the virtual card may reside directly on the user device hosting the tap-to-pay system, in which case the card may be read without requiring use of the NFC interface.

[0011] The electronic commerce platform may be operable to initiate the tap- to-pay option remotely following confirmation of a transaction such as a reservation, an order, or the like, on the electronic commerce platform. The tap-to-pay system may further support tap-to-pay functionality for a variety of payments beyond conventional purchases, including recurring payments and instalment-based account payments, without requiring debit order arrangements. The tap-to-pay functionality may also be deployable on third-party digital platforms or social media channels, thereby enabling users to make payments or donations for services or content offered on such platforms.

[0012] The tap-to-pay option may be incorporated as one of the payment options together with presenting card information manually, entering EFT information, or the like.

[0013] The tap payment option may be represented by a designated symbol, displayed on the user interface upon confirmation of the transaction.

[0014] The authentication mechanism may include a biometric reader in the form of any one of a fingerprint reader, a facial recognition camera, voice recognition, iris recognition scanner, PIN entry, and the like.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of facilitating a tap-to-pay transaction on an electronic commerce platform, which includes providing a tap-to-pay system as described; hosting an electronic commerce transaction on the electronic commerce platform; presenting a tap-to-pay option following an electronic commerce transaction on the electronic commerce platform; enabling the tap-to-pay option on a user’s device; verifying the user through the authentication mechanism; and facilitating the tap-to-pay transaction via NFC interface and authentication mechanism.

[0016] The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures:

[0017] FIGURE(S)

[0018] In the figure(s):

[0019] Figure 1 shows a tap-to-pay system in accordance with one aspect of the invention; and

[0020] Figure 2 shows a method of facilitating a tap-to-pay transaction, in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

[0021] In the figures, like reference numerals denote like parts of the invention unless otherwise indicated.

[0022] EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Figure 1 shows a tap-to-pay system (10) in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

[0024] The tap-to-pay system (10) includes an electronic commerce platform (12) operatively connectable to a user device (14) which has a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface (16) for reading NFC enabled cards. The user device (14) further has a user interface, in the form of an application (not visible), facilitating reading of a smartcard (18) via the NFC interface (16).

[0025] The tap-to-pay system (10) further includes an authentication mechanism (not shown) operable to read and authenticate a user's identity via the user device (14). In this example, the authentication mechanism cooperates with a fingerprint scanner (20) on the user device (14).

[0026] In this example, the user device (14) is a smart phone, but it is to be appreciated that the user device can also be a tablet, a laptop, or the like.

[0027] In this example, the smartcard (18) is a physical debit card, but it is to be appreciated that the smartcard (18) can also be credit card or a virtual card accessible via a smartwatch, smart ring, smart bracelet, smart necklace, smartphone, or similar NFC-capable device. Furthermore, the virtual card can reside directly on the user device (14) hosting the tap-to-pay system (10), so that the card (18) may be read without requiring use of the NFC interface (16).

[0028] In use, the electronic commerce platform (12) may present a transaction to a user. This might be done in the normal fashion by hosting an e-commerce website that is accessible via the Internet (22). The e-commerce website might be for any types of goods and / or services arranged in a database (24).

[0029] Upon finalisation of the transaction during the check-out phase, the electronic commerce platform (12) is operable to initiate the tap-to-pay option as one of the standard payment options. The existing standard payment options are presenting card information manually, entering EFT information, or the like.

[0030] The tap payment option is presented to the user of the user device (14) by displaying a designated symbol on the user interface (16).

[0031] In other examples, not shown, the tap-to-pay system (10) supports tap- to-pay functionality for a variety of payments beyond conventional purchases, including recurring payments and instalment-based account payments, without requiring debit order arrangements. It is to be appreciated that the tap-to-pay functionality is deployable on third-party digital platforms or social media channels, thereby enabling users to make payments or donations for services or content offered on such platforms. In this example the user's details are authenticated by a biometric reader in the form of a fingerprint reader. In other examples, the user's details can be confirmed by a facial recognition camera, voice recognition, iris recognition, PIN entry, or the like.

[0032] In use, as the invention also provides a method of facilitating a tap-to- pay transaction (50) on an electronic commerce platform (12) as shown in Figure 2.

[0033] The method (50) initiates at (52) by providing a tap-to-pay system (10).

[0034] The method (50) then includes hosting an electronic commerce transaction (54) on the electronic commerce platform (12). The electronic commerce transaction hosted at (54) is for goods / services stored on the database (24). The hosting of the electronic commerce transaction (54) is accessible to the user via the Internet (22).

[0035] The method (50) then includes presenting a tap-to-pay option at (56) following an electronic commerce transaction on the electronic commerce platform (12), enabling the tap-to-pay option on the user’s device (14), verifying the user through the authentication mechanism at (60) and at (62) facilitating the tap-to-pay transaction via NFC interface (16) and authentication mechanism.

[0036] The method is concluded at (62).

[0037] The inventor believes that the invention provides a novel tap-to-pay system and a novel method of facilitating a tap-to-pay transaction on an electronic commerce platform which will be of particular use to conclude secure transactions with devices that are NFC enabled.

Claims

CLAIMS:1 . A tap-to-pay system, which includes an electronic commerce platform operatively connectable to a user device which has a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface for reading NFC enabled cards, and a user interface facilitating reading of a smartcard via the NFC interface; and an authentication mechanism operable to read and authenticate a user via the user device.

2. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the user device is any one of a mobile phone, a tablet, and a laptop.

3. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the smartcard is in the form of any one of a physical debit card, a credit card, and a virtual card accessible via an NFC-capable device.

4. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 3, in which the virtual card resides directly on the user device hosting the tap-to-pay system.

5. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the electronic commerce platform is operable to initiate the tap-to-pay option remotely following confirmation of a transaction such as a reservation, or an order, on the electronic commerce platform.

6. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the tap-to-pay system supports tap-to-pay functionality for a variety of payments beyond conventional purchases, including recurring payments and instalment-based account payments, without requiring debit order arrangements.

7. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the tap-to-pay functionality is deployable on third-party digital platforms for enabling users to make payments for services on such platforms.

8. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1, in which the tap-to-pay option is incorporated as one of the payment options together with presenting card information manually, or entering EFT information.

9. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the tap payment option is represented by a designated symbol, displayed on the user interface upon confirmation of the transaction.

10. The tap-to-pay system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the authentication mechanism includes a biometric reader in the form of any one of a fingerprint reader, a facial recognition camera, voice recognition application, and an iris recognition scanner.

11. A method of facilitating a tap-to-pay transaction on an electronic commerce platform, which includes providing a tap-to-pay system as described; hosting an electronic commerce transaction on the electronic commerce platform; presenting a tap-to-pay option following an electronic commerce transaction on the electronic commerce platform; enabling the tap-to-pay option on a user’s device; verifying the user through the authentication mechanism; and facilitating the tap-to-pay transaction via NFC interface and authentication mechanism.

Images