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Google files mobile payment patent

Google's GPay system let users pay for online shopping or their morning caffeine fix by text message.

By Barry Collins, 4 Sep 2007 at 15:29

Search giant Google has published a patent for a GPay mobile payment system, reinforcing the company's seemingly inevitable march towards launching a mobile phone service.

The patent describes a system where users authorise payments to vendors using SMS text messages. Once received, the text would automatically deduct the specified sum from the user's bank account and forward the money to the vendor.

The system could be used to pay for anything from online shopping, utility bills or even your morning coffee on the way to work. "The identifier for the payee may be stored on a 'recent payees' list so that repeat purchase may be made more easily," the patent states. "Thus, for instance, a user could easily repeat a purchase (e.g., a breakfast snack, or a cup of coffee) with minimal effort each day."

The patent also discusses some fairly stringent security measures, such as location tracking and biometrics. "Where location is tracked (e.g. using location-based services), the location may also be considered as a factor by a fraud detection sub-system," the patent states. "For example, if a device does not 'go to work' in the morning (as determined from past behaviour) or go home at night, it may well be lost or stolen. If an attempt at a significant transaction is made in such a situation, the user may be e-mailed or an alternative number such as a land-line number (home or work) may be called to notify the owner."

"Biometric data may also be obtained for a transaction," it adds. "For example, a user may place their thumb to a camera on a device. Alternatively, a vendor may have a biometric device (when such is too expensive or bulky for a buyer to have), and the information it obtains may be checked against information from the system to verify a buyer's identity."

The patent was filed last year, before Google revamped its Checkout service, but it seems likely the company would attempt to tie the two services together.