GB2594445A

GB2594445A - Wearable payment receiver

Info

Publication number: GB2594445A
Application number: GB2003560.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grayer Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-03-11
Filing date: 2020-03-11
Publication date: 2021-11-03
Also published as: WO2021181109A1; GB202003560D0

Abstract

A wearable payment reception device has a sensor for communicating with a payment device to receive proximity payments therefrom. The payment device is configured to implement proximity payments up to a first payment limit, such as the transaction limit for a contactless card. The payment reception device is configured to receive payments subject to a second payment limit that is lower than the first payment limit. For example, it may be capable of receiving low value payments, such as for collecting tips. The device may lack an interface for varying the payment transaction amount or can have its payment amount set by an input device or in radio communication with a mobile device. Preferably, it is wearable on the wrist like a watch or has a pin for securing to an item of clothing (fig 2). An alternative payment reception device is configured to receive multiple successive payments each having a fixed amount that is stored in the payment reception device memory.

Description

WEARABLE PAYMENT RECEIVER

This invention relates to a device for receiving payments by a contactless or other proximity mechanism. Conveniently, the device may be capable of receiving payments from a range of payment devices.

Payments are increasingly being completed without the use of cash. Highstreet retailers, restaurants and transport companies accept cashless transactions. This is facilitated by the popularity of using credit and debit cards. The incorporation of payment functionality into smartphones and other smart devices has increased the use of these payment techniques as an alternative to cash. A consequence of the move away from using cash to make transactions is that people who would have previously received cash tips are missing out and their income is reduced. This problem particularly affects those who rely on a high volume of tips, which may be of relatively low value, to supplement their base wage. Many of these individuals are employed in the hospitality industry.

Existing countertop payment terminals are bulky and unsuitable for portable use.

There are portable card machines which communicate with a smart device to determine the amount to be taken, however these machines do not function without connectivity to a further computer. These machines are similarly too large and otherwise unsuitable to be worn by a user.

Contactless payment devices such as credit and debit cards have an associated maximum payment limit, for example in the UK contactless cards are limited to £30 per transaction. The payment device is configured to operate through a specific financial institution. The limit is set by the financial institution that administers the contactless payment device. The purpose of this limit is to reduce the user's exposure to fraud from transactions conducted without authentication of the user.

Cashless proximity payment can be made when a payment device such as a credit card or a payments-equipped mobile phone is brought into proximity with a debiting device. The payment device and the debiting device communicate with each other to perform authentication and to undertake a transaction to debit a predetermined amount of money from a bank account associated with the payment device and credit a corresponding amount of money to a bank account associated with the debiting device. Typically the amount to be debited is entered into the debiting device using a keypad on the debiting device, or commanded to the debiting device by a point-of-sale terminal. A fee may be taken for use of the payment system. Protocols are defined for communication between the payment device and the debiting device. An example of such a protocol is EMV. The payment device may be in physical contact with the debiting device when the two communicate. In that case, the communication between them may be electrical. Alternatively, the physical layer over which communication is made may permit wireless communication, e.g. by radio or by modulation of a magnetic field. This is conventionally referred to as a contactless system, although a contactless system may still work when the intercommunicating devices are in contact.

There is a need for an improved mechanism of facilitating payments, especially relatively low value payments.

According to a first aspect there is provided a wearable payment reception device comprising: a sensor capable of communicating with a payment device configured to implement proximity payments up to a first payment limit so as to receive proximity payments therefrom; the reception device being configured to receive payments subject to a second payment limit, the second payment limit being lower than the first payment limit.

According to a second aspect there is provided a wearable payment reception device comprising: a sensor capable of communicating with a payment device to receive proximity payments therefrom; and a memory for storing a payment amount; the reception device being configured to receive multiple successive payments via the sensor and to set the value of each such payment at the stored payment amount.

The sensor may be a radio frequency receiver.

The sensor may be a near field communication receiver.

The device may comprise a display. The device may be configured to perform a transaction by the steps of: indicating on the display a payment amount; and subsequently undertaking a payment transaction of the displayed payment amount with a payment device.

The device may comprise a communication interface whereby the device can communicate with a financial institution in order to give effect to a payment transaction conducted by means of the sensor.

The device may be configured such that it can only receive payments of a single predefined amount. The device may be configured so that it does not require a payment amount to be specified for each payment. It may store a predetermined payment amount and automatically undertake any transaction at that amount.

The device may provide no interface whereby the single predetermined amount can be varied by a user.

The device may include an input device. The device may be configured to select the amount of a transaction in dependence on the operation of the input device.

The input device is a microphone. The device may be responsive to voice whereby the amount of a transaction can be selected.

The device may be responsive to radio communication with a second device whereby 30 the amount of a transaction can be selected.

The device may be configured to communicate with a plurality of like devices to accumulate the payments to those devices over a predefined period and optionally share those payments between accounts associated with those devices.

The device may comprise a wrist strap whereby it can be secured around a user's wrist.

The device may comprise a pin whereby it can be secured to an item of clothing.

The device may comprise a communication interface configured for communicating with a mobile telephone application for setting of the payment amount.

The device may be incapable of user alteration to change the payment amount.

The device may comprise indicia that visibly indicate the payment amount.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows an example embodiment of a payment receiver which is wearable around a user's wrist.

Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of a payment receiver which is wearable as a badge attached to clothing.

Figure 3 shows an overview of the process of receiving a contactless payment using a device such as those of figures 1 and 2.

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a particular application. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a payment receiver 100. The payment receiver comprises a strap 101 for securing the receiver to a wearer. The strap could, for example, be sized to encircle a wearer's wrist. The length of the strap could then conveniently be in the range from 15 to 40 cm. The strap acts as a housing for the other components of the receiver. Alternatively, one or more housings for the other components could be attached to the strap.

The receiver 100 comprises an antenna 102, a radio frequency (RE) front end 103, a processor 104, a memory 105 and a secondary interface 106.

In this example, the antenna and the RF front end implement a communication interface for communicating with a payment device in proximity to the payment receiver. The payment device could, for example, be a payment card (e.g. a credit or debit card) or a phone, watch or other electronic device that has been configured to make payments. The antenna is configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals in a frequency band usable for contactless payments. The RE front end processes received radio signals, e.g. by amplifying, demodulating and decoding them, and provides an output to processor 104 indicating the content of received radio signals. When the RE front end is operating to transmit signals it encodes, modulates and amplifies data received from the processor to form a signal for transmission by the antenna 102.

In this example, the payment receiver is configured to communicate by radio. In other embodiments, the receiver could transmit and receive using a modulated magnetic field or by physical electrical connection to a payment device or by reading a magnetic strip. The antenna and the RF front end could then be replaced by a coil and a suitable data converter or by a set of electrical contacts or a magnetic strip reader. The payment receiver could be equipped with multiple physical mechanisms for communicating with a payment device.

Conveniently, the payment receiver implements a standardised protocol for communicating with a payment device. Examples of such protocols include EMV, ISO/IEC 7816, ISO/IEC 18092 / ECMA-340, ISO/IEC 21481 / ECMA-352 and I SO/IEC 14443. Conveniently, the payment receiver is configured to communicate with a conventional EMV-compliant debit or credit card for making payments at a distance from antenna 102 in the range from 0 to 10 cm. The payment receiver may be configured to communicate with such a card to make payments at a range not greater than 5cm. The payment receiver may be capable of implementing contactless payments An example of a suitable protocol is that commonly known as NEC payment.

The RF front end (or other interface) is coupled to processor 104. Memory 105 stores in a non-transient form code executable by the processor to cause it to perform the functions described herein. The processor 104 implements payments by communicating via the interface provided by the payment receiver with a payment device such as a credit card, and by implementing over that interface a suitable protocol to authenticate with the card and exchange such information as is needed to implement a payment. Further details of exemplary communication protocols for this purpose are given in the standards identified above. When a payment is implemented the result is intended to be that funds are debited from an account associated with the payment device, and credited to an account associated with the payment receiver. In order to cause the financial aspect of that transaction to take place, the payment receiver communicates with a financial institution to pass to the institution the details of the transaction. Those details may include the identity of the party making the payment, the identity of the party receiving the payment and the amount of the payment. The payment receiver comprises a secondary interface 106. The secondary interface may be used to communicate, for example over the internet and/or over a cellular radio network, with the financial institution. The secondary interface may be a wireless (e.g. radio frequency) interface. It may use a protocol such as a cellular radio protocol (e.g. 3G, 4G or 5G), IEEE 802.11 or Bluetootha Alternatively it may be a wired protocol and the payment receiver may include a set of contacts (e.g. a USB interface) that can be used to transmit the payment information to the institution. Such contacts may be used to charge a battery 109 which powers the payment receiver.

Thus, the payment receiver is capable of (i) communicating with a payment device to undertake a transaction to receive a payment, and (ii) transmitting the details of that transaction to a financial institution in order to give effect to the transaction. Those two steps may occur concurrently, which may allow the financial institution to participate in authenticating the payment device and its association for payments with the payment receiver; or successively, which may allow the transaction to be completed even if the payment receiver is unable to connect to the financial institution when the payment device is present.

In the present example, the payment receiver can also function as a watch. The processor 104 causes the current time to be shown on display 108. It may implement other timing functions such as providing alarms at predefined times, and providing a stopwatch. This can increase the utility of the payment receiver.

It is conventional for contactless payments to be limited to an amount determined by a bank that manages the account from which the payment is to be made. Examples of such limits are currently GBP 30 and EUR 30. These limits are imposed and implemented by the financial institution that administers a respective payment device. These amounts are significantly more than would normally be paid as a tip for miscellaneous services. Therefore, these limits are not suitable for providing a person wanting to make a contactless tip payment with confidence that the payment will not exceed a typically desired amount.

The processor 104 may be programmed with a transaction amount limit. That limit is less than a payment limit implemented by a financial institution associated with a payment device. For example, the transaction amount limit programmed into processor 104 may be one or two GBP, EUR or USD. The payment receiver is configured so as to be unable to receive individual payments greater than the transaction amount limit. Thus, when a payment device is brought into proximity with the payment receiver in order to receive a payment, although the payment device (or its issuing financial institution) may implement a first payment limit the payment receiver implements a second payment limit lower than the first payment limit.

Conveniently the second payment limit is less than 10% of the first payment limit. Alternatively, the second payment limit may be 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% of the first payment limit. The second payment limit is implemented by means of suitable code stored in memory 105. The code enables processor 104 to implement only payments that do not exceed the second payment limit.

When the payment receiver is configured with a transaction amount limit, it may be able to undertake transactions to receive payments of multiple values up to that limit. For example, if the limit is 2 GBP, the payment receiver may be capable of receiving 1 GBP or 2 GBP. The amount to be paid may be selected by a button on the payment receiver. Alternatively, the payment receiver may have multiple antennas and may be capable of detecting which antenna a payment device is in closest proximity to. In that way it can estimate the position of a payment device relative to the payment receiver. The processor of the payment receiver may select an amount for a transaction in dependence on the relative location of the payment device and the payment receiver. This allows a payor to select a payment amount by choosing where on the payment receiver to present his credit card or other payment device.

Non-limiting examples of payment limits that may be implemented are 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15 or 20 EUR, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15 or 20 GBP and 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15 or 20 USD, or convenient similar limits in other currencies.

The payment receiver may be configured to be capable of receiving multiple successive transactions from a single payment device. This allows a payor to make an aggregate payment that exceeds a transaction amount set on the payment receiver. For example, if the payment receiver is configured to conduct transactions 5 to a value of 1 GBP, a payor may make two successive transactions to pay 2 GBP. This may be done by presenting a payment device to the payment receiver multiple times. The payment receiver may be configured with a predetermined time limit that must be exceeded after a first transaction in order for a second transaction (optionally with the same payment device as the first) to take place. The time limit may, for 10 example be 1, 2 or 5 second. This can reduce the chance of a payor making multiple payments inadvertently.

In an alternative arrangement, whether or not the payment receiver is configured with a transaction amount limit it may be configured so as to only undertake transactions of a single value. For example, it may be configured to only undertake transactions of 1 GBP. The payment receiver may be configured with this single value at manufacture or by communication over secondary interface 106. The single set transaction value is then stored in non-volatile form in memory 105. Once the payment receiver has been configured in this way, it will undertake a transaction without the need to indicate to the payment receiver the amount of that transaction. The payment receiver can undertake multiple transactions, requesting that each one is set to the stored amount. No transaction amount need be entered for each individual transaction. This differs from conventional payment receivers that require the input of a transaction amount for each transaction they undertake.

The value of any transaction amount limit or set transaction amount may be displayed on the payment receiver, as at 110. In addition, the payment receiver may display an icon 107 indicating the identity of a manufacturer, licensor or regulator of the payment receiver. The displaying of the value 110 and/or the icon 107 may provide a person wishing to make a payment using the payment receiver with confidence that the payment will be of or will not exceed not exceed the indicated amount.

The system may be used as follows. A user of the payment receiver wears the receiver. In the example of figure 1 the receiver may be worn as a watch, but in other examples the receiver may be worn as a bracelet, a necklace, a badge or as part of an item of clothing: for example integrated with the sleeve of a jacket. When the user of the payment receiver has provided a service to a second person, that second person may desire to make a small payment in a convenient way to the user of the payment receiver. The second person brings a payment device such as a credit card into range of the payment receiver. The payment receiver communicates with the payment device to implement a transaction. The amount of the transaction is limited to the amount the payment receiver can receive and may be set at a fixed amount, as described above. Concurrently or subsequently, the payment receiver communicates with a financial institution to cause a funds transfer in accordance with the transaction implemented with the second person's payment device.

The payment receiver may communicate with a financial institution in any of multiple ways. Secondary interface 106 may, for example, be a cellular telephony interface (e.g. a 3G, 4G or 5G interface) or a local wireless interface (e.g. an IEEE 802.11 interface). In one option, the payment receiver may communicate with the financial institution over such an interface concurrently with it communicating with a payment device with which it is undertaking a transaction. In this option, there may be authentication of the payment device to the financial institution by the payment receiver forwarding to the payment device an authentication challenge received from the financial institution and forwarding to the financial institution the payment device's response to that challenge. This can improve security. It can also allow the financial transaction to take place at that same time as the payment device is presented to the payment receiver. In another option, the payment transaction is implemented by communication between the payment receiver and the payment device without involving the financial institution. The payment receiver can store details of the transaction and then pass them to the financial institution at a later stage, when the payment receiver is not in range of the payment device. This can allow payment transactions to be done even if the payment receiver is not within range of a suitable network. The payment receiver could pass stored transaction details to the financial institution over a wired link.

The device 100 of figure 1 possesses a strap 101 for surrounding a wearer's wrist.

The strap may be variable in length by having a plurality of holes on one strap and a buckle on an opposing strap. Alternatively, a button and hole closure, hinged fastening or hook and eye closure may be used. The device may conveniently be wearable. That is, it may be possess such physical components as are needed to permit it to be attached to the person of a user or to their clothing. Those components may be or include a strap, a lanyard, a sprung clip, a pin, an adhesive patch, a patch of hook-type fabric or a magnetic clip. The device may be worn: that is it may be in the state of being worn by a person.

Figure 2 shows an example where the payment reception device 200 is provided as a 15 badge 201. The badge has a pin 203 on one side and a pin receiver to secure the tip of the pin. The pin receiver may be housed on the badge in the form of a clip or may be a separate component.

The payment receiver may be powered by a battery. The battery may be a rechargeable battery.

The payment receiver and any financial institution employed by a user of the payment receiver to receive payments may be configured so that the user of the payment receiver does not receive information about the identity or financial details of a person 25 who has made a payment. This can help to preserve the payor's privacy.

In some embodiments the payment receiver may have a display screen, as indicated in figure 1 by 108 and in figure 2 by 202. The display screen may be an LCD display, an LED display or may use any other convenient display technology. The display screen may indicate the numerical value (like amount 110) that the payment receiver is configured to take as a payment. The display screen may indicate that a particular transaction was successful by displaying suitable information, such as text or a graphic. The payment receiver may comprise a loudspeaker or other sound generator. The processor may be configured to cause the sound generator to emit a sound to indicate that a transaction has been completed.

The payment receiver may comprise an input device such as one or more of a button or dial. These may be used to vary the amount to be taken by the payment receiver. Figure 1 shows a button 111.

In another embodiment the payment receiver may be provided with a speech recognition capability. A microphone 112 is coupled to processor 104. The processor implements a voice recognition algorithm. The processor is configured to detect that the microphone has sensed a predetermined phrase such as "tip time" being spoken. On detecting such a phrase, the processor analyses subsequently sensed audio and may perform actions selected by the processor in dependence on what is sensed.

Speech recognition capabilities of the device may alternatively be initiated by a physical input on the device, e.g. using button 111. The processor may be configured to detect values being spoken, e.g. "one pound" and to then implement a transaction of that amount. The device may then provide visual or audible confirmation of the transaction.

In a further embodiment the amount to be charged is set by a user on a separate device such as a smartphone (for instance by means of an application or app) and this is wirelessly communicated to the payment reception device The wireless communication may by executed using standards such as IEEE 802.11 or Bluetoothe. 25 The payment receiver can then store the amount for use in subsequent transactions.

Figure 3 shows a schematic of the process of the payment receiver in operation. At a first step 301 the amount of money to be taken is set using one of the methods discussed such as by voice command, entering an amount on a smart device or using a button on the payment device. At a second step 302 the payment device is held within range of the sensor on the payment receiver. The receiver may use an authentication protocol 303 between the payment device. At 304 the reception of the payment occurs by wireless communication between the payment device and receiver terminal.

When a payment transaction is made using the payment receiver, the amount of the transaction is requested by the payment receiver. That amount may then be declined or accepted by one or both of the payment device and a financial institution associated with the payment device. If the payment amount is not declined then the payment can proceed at the requested value.

The payment receiver may be configured to communicate with a plurality of like devices to accumulate the payments to those devices over a predefined period. In this way a group of people can pool their tips. Such communication may be over interface 106.

The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the present invention may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A wearable payment reception device comprising: a sensor capable of communicating with a payment device configured to implement proximity payments up to a first payment limit so as to receive proximity payments therefrom; the reception device being configured to receive payments subject to a second payment limit, the second payment limit being lower than the first payment limit.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a radio frequency receiver.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a near field communication receiver. 15
4. A device according to any preceding claim, the device comprising a display and being configured to perform a transaction by the steps of: indicating on the display a payment amount; and subsequently undertaking a payment transaction of the displayed payment amount with a 20 payment device.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises a communication interface whereby the device can communicate with a financial institution in order to give effect to a payment transaction conducted by means of the 25 sensor.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is configured such that it can only receive payments of a single predefined amount.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the device provides no interface whereby the single predetermined amount can be varied by a user.
8. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, the device including an input device and the device being configured to select the amount of a transaction in dependence on the operation of the input device.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the input device is a microphone.
10. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device is responsive to radio communication with a second device whereby the amount of a transaction can be selected.
11. A device according to any preceding claim, the device being configured to communicate with a plurality of like devices to accumulate the payments to those devices over a predefined period.
12. A device according to any preceding claim, the device comprising a wrist strap whereby it can be secured around a user's wrist.
13. A device according to any preceding claim, the device comprising a pin whereby it can be secured to an item of clothing. 20
14. A wearable payment reception device comprising: a sensor capable of communicating with a payment device to receive proximity payments therefrom; and a memory for storing a payment amount; the reception device being configured to receive multiple successive payments via the sensor and to set the value of each such payment at the stored payment amount.
15. A wearable payment reception device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device comprises a communication interface configured for communicating with a mobile telephone application for setting of the payment amount.
16. A wearable payment reception device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device is incapable of user alteration to change the payment amount.
17. A wearable payment reception device as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the device comprises indicia that visibly indicate the payment amount.