Method and apparatus for payments between two mobile devices

Abstract

Techniques for mobile devices configured to support settlement of charges in electronic invoices or bills are described. A first mobile device is used to obtain from a second mobile device data pertaining to the electronic invoices for payment. The data includes the electronic invoice and other information regarding a registered user of the second mobile device. After the user verifies the amount being charged and authorizes the payment, the first mobile device determines if there is a balance enough to cover the authorized payment before communicating with a payment server configured to proceed with the payment and send a confirmation to the second mobile device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for authenticating a mobile payment, the method comprising:
 causing a first mobile device to capture data directly from a second mobile device, the data includes an electronic invoice and settlement information with a merchant associated with the second mobile device;   extracting the electronic invoice from the captured data in the first mobile device;   displaying the electronic invoice on a display of the mobile device to show an amount to be paid by a user of the first mobile device, wherein the first mobile device is configured to execute an installed application therein to capture the data from the second mobile device;   receiving an entry by the first mobile device, the entry including the amount for the invoice and optionally an additional amount from the user;   calculating a total amount by adding the additional amount to the amount in the electronic invoice when the additional amount is added by the user;   generating a payment request in the mobile device in response to the electronic invoice after the user has chosen an electronic purse (e-purse) maintained locally in the mobile device;   verifying the total amount with a balance in the e-purse, wherein said verifying the total amount with a balance in the e-purse is performed within the first mobile device before sending the payment request to a payment server; and   sending the payment request from the first mobile device to the payment server, wherein the balance is sufficient to honor the payment request, the payment server sends a message directly to the second mobile device that a monetary transaction per the payment request sent from the first mobile device has been successfully completed.