PROVISIONING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH ELECTRONIC CREDENTIALS

摘要

A novel system and methodology for conducting financial and other transactions using a wireless device. Credentials may be selectively issued by issuers such as credit card companies, banks, and merchants to consumers permitting the specific consumer to conduct a transaction according to the authorization given as reflected by the credential or set of credentials. The preferred mechanism for controlling and distributing credentials according to the present invention is through one or more publicly accessible networks such as the Internet wherein the system design and operating characteristics are in conformance with the standards and other specific requirements of the chosen network or set of networks. Credentials are ultimately supplied to a handheld device such as a mobile telephone via a wireless network. The user holding the credential may then use the handheld device to conduct the authorized transaction or set of transactions via, for example, a short range wireless link with a point-of-sale terminal.

主权项

1. A method of provisioning a mobile communication device with an electronic credential, the method comprising:
displaying an interface on the mobile communication device through which a user of the mobile communication device accesses a credential issuance system through a network connection that includes a wireless communication link; authenticating the user with the credential issuance system so that the user is authorized by a credential issuer to receive the electronic credential; receiving, by the mobile communication device, data including the electronic credential in response to successfully authenticating the user so as to be authorized by the credential issuer; and storing the received electronic credential in a secured storage portion of a memory device so as to be retrievable to conduct a transaction.