Electronic Payment Systems and Methods

Abstract

A system for processing payments from a customer to a merchant comprises a merchant POS system associated with the merchant, a customer mobile device having a touch sensitive screen; and a payment server. The customer operates the customer mobile device such that a plurality of handwritten calibration signatures input using the touch sensitive screen are stored. A reference signature is generated based on variations between at least two of the plurality of handwritten calibration signatures. The payment server generates a Transaction ID unique to a payment transaction. In response to the generation of the Transaction ID, the customer inputs a handwritten transaction signature using the touch sensitive screen of the customer mobile device. The payment transaction is validated by determining whether the handwritten transaction signature is within at least one tolerance relative to the reference signature; and the payment server generates a payment notice when the payment transaction is validated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for processing payments from a customer to a merchant comprising:
 a merchant POS system associated with the merchant;   a customer mobile device having a touch sensitive screen; and   a payment server; whereby   the customer operates the customer mobile device such that a plurality of handwritten calibration signatures input using the touch sensitive screen are stored;   a reference signature is generated based on variations between at least two of the plurality of handwritten calibration signatures;   the payment server generates a Transaction ID unique to a payment transaction;   in response to the generation of the Transaction ID, the customer inputs a handwritten transaction signature using the touch sensitive screen of the customer mobile device, where the payment transaction is validated by determining whether the handwritten transaction signature is within at least one tolerance relative to the reference signature; and   the payment server generates a payment notice when the payment transaction is validated.   
     
     
         2 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the merchant POS system presents the Transaction ID to the customer mobile device in preparation for the payment transaction. 
     
     
         3 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 2 , in which:
 the merchant POS system generates a Transaction ID request in preparation for the payment transaction, and   the payment server generates the Transaction ID upon receipt of the Transaction ID request.   
     
     
         4 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 2 , in which:
 the merchant POS system comprises a screen, where the merchant POS system displays a visible QR code on the screen to present the Transaction ID; and   the customer mobile device comprises a sensor capable of reading the Transaction ID from the visible QR code.   
     
     
         5 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 2 , in which:
 the merchant POS system comprises a Bluetooth transmitter, where the merchant POS system presents the transaction ID by transmitting a Bluetooth signal containing the Transaction ID; and   the customer mobile device comprises a sensor capable of converting the Bluetooth signal into the Transaction ID.   
     
     
         6 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 2 , in which:
 the merchant POS system comprises a NFC transmitter, where the merchant POS system presents the transaction ID by transmitting a NFC signal containing the Transaction ID; and   the customer mobile device comprises a sensor capable of converting the NFC signal into the Transaction ID.   
     
     
         7 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the Transaction ID is unique to the payment transaction. 
     
     
         8 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 a static code is associated with the merchant POS system;   the customer mobile device reads the static code and transmits the static code to the payment server;   in response to receipt of the static code, the payment server sends a PIN/Key code to the customer mobile device;   the customer mobile device displays the PIN/Key code;   the customer enters the PIN/Key code into the merchant POS system; and   the payment server generates the Transaction ID when the entered PIN/Key code is valid.   
     
     
         9 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 8 , in which:
 the merchant POS system comprises a sign, where the merchant POS system presents the static ID by displaying a visible QR code on the sign; and   the customer mobile device comprises a sensor capable of generating the Transaction ID from the visible QR code.   
     
     
         10 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the payment notice is generated when the handwritten transaction signature substantially matches the reference signature. 
     
     
         11 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the payment notice is generated when the handwritten transaction signature is within a predetermined tolerance range relative to the reference signature. 
     
     
         12 . A payment processing system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a payment source associated with the customer; and   a merchant payment processor associated with the merchant; whereby   the payment source sends a payment to the merchant payment processor in response to the payment notice.   
     
     
         13 . A method for processing payments from a customer using a customer mobile device having a touch sensitive screen to a merchant using a merchant POS system comprising the steps:
 causing a merchant application to run on the merchant POS system;   causing a customer application to run on the customer mobile device;   storing a plurality of handwritten calibration signatures input using the touch sensitive screen;   generating a reference signature based on variations between at least two of the plurality of handwritten calibration signatures;   storing a handwritten transaction signature input using the touch sensitive screen of the customer mobile device;   generating a Transaction ID unique to a payment transaction;   validating the payment transaction if the handwritten transaction signature is within at least one tolerance relative to the reference signature;   generating a payment notice when the payment transaction is validated.   
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 operating the merchant application to generate a Transaction ID request in preparation for the payment transaction, and   generating the Transaction ID in response the Transaction ID request.   
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of operating the merchant application such that the merchant POS system presents the transaction ID by transmitting a signal containing the Transaction ID, where the customer mobile device has access to the Transaction ID based on the signal. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 associating a static code with the merchant POS system;   causing the customer application of the customer mobile device to reads the static code;   transmitting the static code to the payment server;   in response to receipt of the static code, the payment server sends a PIN/Key code to the customer mobile device;   the customer mobile device displays the PIN/Key code; and   the customer enters the PIN/Key code into the merchant POS system.   
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of validate the payment transaction at the customer mobile device using a biometric identifier sensed by the customer mobile device, where the biometric identifier is unique to the customer. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , in which the payment notice is generated when the handwritten transaction signature substantially matches the reference signature. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , in which the payment notice is generated when the handwritten transaction signature is within a predetermined tolerance range relative to the reference signature.