WO2008008037A1

WO2008008037A1 - Voucher systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2008008037A1
Application number: PCT/SG2006/000193
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Erwin Soriano Lavilles
Original assignee: Veritas Mobile Solutions Pte. Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-07-12
Filing date: 2006-07-12
Publication date: 2008-01-17

Abstract

An electronic voucher system (10) includes a validation server (12), remote from a plurality of merchants (M) and consumers (C) that are participating in a voucher scheme. The validation server (12) receives a validation request message in relation to a voucher transaction between a consumer and a merchant, and processes the validation request message to identify the consumer (C), merchant (M) and voucher (V) of the transaction. The server (12) then accesses a voucher database (14) to determine whether the transaction is valid, and, if so, issues a transaction validation message, which may be sent to the merchant or consumer and preferably to both. Advantageously, the validation request is sent to the server (12) via a mobile communications device of the consumer (C), e.g. a mobile telephone, and the message is preferably sent via an SMS message or the like. The consumer and merchant may also receive the validation message via SMS messaging.

Description

Voucher Systems and Methods

The present invention relates to systems and methods for using vouchers to purchase product. Prepaid vouchers that enable a user to pay for products in lieu of money are well-known. They may be provided in a form that emulates money, e.g. as paper-based gift vouchers, gift certificates and gift cheques, or in a form that emulates credit/debit cards, e.g. as a magnetic swipe gift card. They may be used at retail establishments participating in the relevant voucher scheme, and for example may be specific to one merchant or merchant outlet, to a group of merchants, or to a particular product or product type.

Gift vouchers are popular with consumers who may not have the time or the ability to choose a present for someone, but who nevertheless do not wish merely to give money. They provide the recipient with a degree of choice as to what may be bought, and the giver with a degree of control.

Gift vouchers also have advantages for businesses, as a business may receive monies up-front for goods to be bought later, and may be confident that revenue from their vouchers will be generated in their stores. Vouchers can also have promotional and marketing benefits. As well as these well-known physical forms of voucher, it is also known to send an electronic voucher as an SMS text message that may be shown to an appropriate staff member at a merchant's premises.

Although, the counterfeiting of paper-based gift vouchers is possible, it is for practical purposes unheard of, and such vouchers are often produced in relatively high denominational values. There are however concerns with respect to SMS vouchers, and generally such vouchers have been limited in use to low value vouchers for marketing and promotional purposes.

A more sophisticated form of SMS voucher is provided in the form of a bar-code graphic. This can be harder to forge, but requires a merchant to have suitable bar-code reading equipment.

The present invention aims to provide new and advantageous electronic voucher systems and methods that may be used in a variety of situations.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides an electronic voucher system including a validation server, remote from a merchant, said merchant participating in an electronic voucher redemption scheme, wherein said validation server includes: means for receiving a validation request message in relation to a voucher transaction between a consumer and a merchant; means for processing said validation request message to identify said consumer, said merchant and a voucher associated with said voucher transaction; means for accessing a database of voucher data to determine whether said voucher transaction between said consumer and said merchant is a valid transaction; and means for issuing a transaction validation message when said transaction between said consumer and said merchant is determined to be valid.

The present invention provides a system in which a validation server, e.g. a trusted party independent of the merchants and consumers, is able to validate the electronic vouchers, and so provide a degree of confidence in the validity of the vouchers and in the authenticity of the consumers and merchants.

The validation server may issue the vouchers itself, and/or may validate vouchers issued by other parties. The validation server will monitor the voucher database, and update the database when vouchers are redeemed, so that the vouchers cannot be re-used at a later date.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the consumer has a mobile communications device, and the validation request message is sent to the validation server by the consumer using the mobile device and an electronic messaging service associated with the mobile device.

The mobile communications device may be for example a mobile telephone, and could also be a PDA or a smart phone. The messaging service may be an SMS, EMS or MMS messaging service, although it could also take other forms, such as an email service or other internet messaging service. The use of a mobile communications device allows the validation system to be used in a number of different situations. It allows a consumer to request validation of a voucher whilst attending a merchant's premises, e.g. at the point of sale, time of sale, of a product, and so marries the ease of use and distribution of electronic vouchers with the ability to purchase product at a physical location.

The validation message may be sent to the merchant and/or the consumer, and preferably to both, and is preferably sent to a mobile communications device. It would also however be possible to send the validation message to the merchant via other communications channels. The validation message could for example be sent to the merchant via a PSTN line, e.g. to a standard telephone or facsimile machine. It could also be sent by a pager or the like, and could be sent via the Internet, if the merchant has an online connection.

The validation messaging could also be integrated with a merchant's point-of-sale equipment, and any private communications network that might exist. A useful feature of the validation system, however, is that it does not need to rely on an internet or other such connection, and, the use of mobile telephones for both the consumer and merchant can provide a system having widespread applicability.

In one preferred form, the validation server identifies the consumer using the consumer's messaging service ID, e.g. the consumer's telephone number, email address or the like. This can provide a useful identification, as the messaging service ID can be hard to falsify, especially if it is a telephone number. Other means of identification can also be utilised, e.g. a MAC address or the like of the consumer's or merchant's equipment, or a personal identification number (PIN), which a consumer may have received previously, e.g. through a separate communications system, such as a standard postal service.

The validation server may obtain the necessary transaction information from a message field and/or an address field, e.g. recipient and sender fields, of the validation request message. The information may be inserted into the message manually by the sender, e.g. the consumer, and/or may be inserted automatically by the consumer's mobile communications device.

For example, an electronic voucher may be issued to a consumer by a voucher notification message sent via an electronic messaging system. Transaction information may then be automatically included in a validation request message by generating the validation request message from the voucher notification message, e.g. by forming the validation request message as a reply to the notification message or by forwarding the notification message to an appropriate address.

In one embodiment, the notification message has the validation server's address in the sender field so that, on reply, the validation message will be sent to the validation server. The notification sender field may also include a voucher identification code, e.g. appended to the server's address, so that the server can parse the sender field to obtain the voucher ID.

The voucher ID may be a unique dynamic session ID generated for each notification message, and may be a suffix to the validation server's address. The validation server's address may be an access code, e.g. a short code, common short code, used by a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) or the like to direct traffic between cellular and computer networks.

The validation request message may also include data that identifies the merchant involved in the transaction, e.g. in the message field. This data may be obtained from a staff member at the point of sale. In one embodiment, however, a messaging service ID for the validation server is merchant specific, so that the server knows that any validation request message sent to that ID is in relation to a particular merchant. The validation server may also have action specific addresses, e.g. a specific address that deals only with voucher redemption, so that all messages received at that address are dealt with as redemption requests. If this is not the case, then the validation request message may include a command word to identify it as a redemption request. This may be parsed by the server so that the appropriate action can be taken. For example, a user may type a keyword such as "CLAIM" into the validation request message.

Although the above preferably discusses the sending of the validation request message by a consumer, it would also be possible for a merchant to sent this message, in which case the merchant would need to identify the consumer, e.g. in the body of the message field. Such a system could still provide many of the above advantages.

The present invention extends to methods of redeeming electronic vouchers, and, viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a method of redeeming an electronic voucher including the steps of: providing a validation server remote from a merchant and consumer; sending a message from said merchant or consumer requesting validation of a voucher; processing said message to determine the identity of said merchant and customer; determining the validity of said voucher for said consumer and merchant; and issuing a transaction validation message from said validation server to said merchant and customer. Such a method may include any of the features discussed above.

Preferably, the consumer uses a mobile communications device to send the transaction validation message to the validation server, and the consumer preferably receives a voucher in a voucher notification message, and replies to the notification message in order to validate the voucher. Preferably, the validation server issues the validation message to both the consumer and the merchant, and, preferably, the validation message is sent to the validation server at the time of the transaction.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of validating an electronic voucher stored on a mobile communications device, the method including the steps of: compiling a validation request message for an electronic messaging service on said communications device, said validation request message including data relating to a voucher identification, a voucher owner identification and a merchant identification; sending said validation request message via said electronic messaging service to a validation server; receiving a transaction validation message from said validation server; and using said transaction validation message to obtain a product. Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a voucher system for use with wireless mobile devices, the system including a validation server, wherein the validation server includes: means for receiving a validation request message from a mobile device via an electronic messaging system, the validation request message requesting use of a voucher at a merchant; means for checking that said voucher is valid by determining from said message a messaging system ID for the mobile device and an identity of said voucher, and by looking up said messaging system ID and voucher identification in a voucher database, said voucher database including data regarding the validity of voucher and messaging system ID combinations; and means for sending a validation message to said mobile device and to said merchant when said voucher ID and messaging ID combination is determined to be valid.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides an electronic voucher system wherein an electronic voucher is issued to a mobile communications device of a consumer, said consumer requests validation of said voucher for a transaction at a merchant's point of sale by sending an electronic message to a validation centre from said mobile communications device, and said validation centre checks the validity of said voucher for said transaction, and, if valid, issues a validation notification to said merchant.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides an electronic voucher system wherein a consumer receives an electronic voucher in a voucher notification message sent via a messaging system for a mobile communications device, and wherein said consumer validates said voucher by sending a validation request message based on said notification message to a central validation authority via said messaging system. It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below, as appropriate.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic voucher system; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronic voucher system showing implementations using various types of communications service;

Figures 3 to 5 are schematic diagrams of an electronic voucher system employing mobile telephone communications, at various stages in a voucher driven transaction; and

Figures 6 and 7 respectively are a voucher notification message and a validation request message for a further electronic voucher system.

Referring to Figure 1 , an electronic voucher payment system 10 includes a validation server 12 and a voucher database 14 remote from a plurality of merchants M and consumers C. The validation server 12 manages the redemption of electronic gift vouchers V. These vouchers V may be issued by the validation server 12 or another party and are provided to consumers C for redemption at the appropriate merchants M.

The vouchers V are stored on suitable electronic equipment of the consumers C, and voucher details are recorded on the voucher database 14 when the vouchers are issued. The voucher data may include assigned recipient, assigned merchant or merchants, voucher value, validity statuses, product information, expiry dates, issue date and the like. The database 14 may also record customer and merchant contact information. The server 12 accesses the database 14 for voucher validation purposes, and updates the voucher information when vouchers V are redeemed. The server 12 communicates with the consumers C and merchants M through a suitable communications system 16.

The server 12 may comprises a collection of servers and other devices, and the database 14 may be housed directly by the server 12 or may be one or more separate databases with which the server 12 can communicate. The communications system 16 may be a collection of networks, such as a combination of computer-based networks, and PSTN and cellular telephone networks. In operation, the validation server 12 will receive a validation request message over the communications system 16 in relation to a transaction between a consumer C and merchant M, and will process the message to determine the identities of the consumer C, the merchant M and the voucher V. The server 12 can then interrogate the voucher database 14 to determine whether the transaction is valid. This may require a determination of whether the voucher exists, is owned by the consumer, and is shown as used or unused, as well as whether the merchant is eligible to receive the voucher. Other restrictions and conditions may also be checked, e.g. voucher expiry dates, product types, transaction amounts and the like.

Thus, the server will include means for receiving a validation request message in relation to a voucher transaction between a consumer and a merchant; means for processing the validation request message to identify the consumer, merchant and voucher of the voucher transaction; means for accessing the voucher database to determine whether the voucher transaction is valid; and means for issuing a transaction validation message when said transaction is determined to be valid. These means may be provided by suitable software running on the server, the server invoking appropriate routines based on the message received and the steps needing to be taken. Although the validation request message may be sent out by a merchant, it preferably originates from a consumer. A consumer may validate a voucher before or during a transaction.

Once a voucher is found to be valid, the validation server 12 issues a transaction validation message, so as to confirm that the transaction is acceptable. This message may be sent to the consumer or merchant, and preferably a validation message is sent to both. If a consumer receives a validation message, the consumer may present this to a merchant as proof of ownership of the voucher, and the merchant may compare the consumer validation message with their own validation message before completing the transaction.

A finding of an invalid transaction may also be suitably advised to the consumer, merchant and any other appropriate parties.

In a particularly preferred form, electronic vouchers V are stored on mobile communications devices of the consumers C. These devices may be for example mobile telephones, smart phones, PDAs or the like. This provides for simple and convenient storage of vouchers, and is enhanced by the validation system, which enables consumers to validate their vouchers through a messaging service with which the mobile communications device is connected.

A consumer C may for example send an SMS, EMS, or MMS message to the validation server 12 in order to validate a voucher. The validation server allows the consumers and merchants to be confident in the validity of a voucher transaction, and allows for the vouchers to be used in many different situations.

A particular advantage of the system is that it enables electronic vouchers to be used at physical locations, e.g. at a merchant's store, with confidence and in the knowledge that the vouchers are not forged, duplicated or previously claimed. Thus, the system allows a consumer to validate vouchers and purchase product whilst they attend a merchant's premises, although the system could also be used for remote purchases, e.g. to confirm a purchase over the telephone or in the on-line purchase of products, e.g. over the Internet.

The validation server 12 may issue the transaction validation message to the merchant via any suitable communications channel. This could be by email or Internet messaging, but preferably again is by a mobile phone messaging service, e.g. SMS, EMS or MMS, as the merchant does not then need to have an Internet connection. In this regard, also, merchant communication could be via a telephone call, a pager call or a facsimile transmission.

As well as phone messaging services, the consumer validation request message could be sent by other forms of electronic messaging service, e.g. email or internet messaging, depending on the abilities of the consumer device that is used.

Consumers may receive vouchers by a voucher notification message over a suitable messaging service, and, when wishing to buy a product, may generate a validation request message from the voucher notification message. This may be achieved by replying to the notification message, if received from the server, or by forwarding the message to the validation server, if received from an alternative voucher issuing party. This allows for the automatic input of all or some of the necessary validation information into the validation request message through the use of information in the notification message. Any further information required may be input into the validation request message manually. This extra information might include for example a merchant's identification, product identification or the like.

The validation server 12 may be independent of the merchants M and consumers C, and may be a trusted third party for facilitating transactions. It may obtain revenue from for example selling vouchers, from taking a percentage of any transactions, from taking a service payment from merchants, and/or from retaining and investing voucher payments until vouchers are redeemed.

Once a transaction is complete, a suitable voucher reconciliation procedure may be instigated to allow merchants to obtain funds in respect of the vouchers and products exchanged.

Each consumer may have multiple vouchers, with each voucher being uniquely identified by a combination of the consumer's identity and the voucher identity, e.g. CiV₁ and C₂V₂ will identify two different vouchers uniquely in the database 14.

Fig. 2 is a more detailed diagram of an electronic voucher system, in which various types of messaging service and consumer and merchant types are represented.

In a particularly preferred voucher system, a consumer C^ receives and stores an electronic voucher Vi on a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone

20. When the consumer C₁ desires to purchase product, the consumer sends an SMS₁ EMS or MMS validation request message to the validation server 12 via a base station 21 and an SMSC 22 (Short Message Service Centre) or an

EMSC or MMSC, as appropriate. The SMSC 22 is a bridge between the mobile telephone network and the Internet-based validation server 12. It processes the validation request message, and passes it on to the correct IP address for the validation server through the Internet 18.

On receiving the validation request message, the validation server 12 processes the message to obtain the required customer, merchant and voucher data, and any other necessary data, and then validates the transaction through a check of the voucher database 14.

The validation server 12 issues an SMS, EMS or MMS transaction validation message to both the merchant M₁ and to the customer C₁ to confirm that the voucher V is valid, and updates the database 14 to show that the voucher V has been used. It may also take any other necessary action. For example, if only a portion of a voucher is used, it may issue a new voucher for the remainder of the voucher value or may decrement the value of the current voucher, and inform the consumer accordingly. If the voucher is deemed invalid, a suitable invalidity protocol may be instigated, e.g. the merchant and consumer may be informed of the invalidity and the consumer may be given a contact number or the like to obtain further information. The transaction validation message may be sent to the consumer via the same messaging service through which the validation request message was sent.

The transaction validation message may be sent to the merchant in a similar manner, e.g. via an SMSC 23 and base station 24 to a mobile communications device 25, such as again a mobile telephone. In this way, the merchant need not have a permanent connection or a broadband internet connection or the like in order to take part in a voucher scheme. Such a voucher validation system, using mobile devices to contact a validation centre, is thus particularly flexible and may be used in many different types of situation. It is especially useful in situations where usual forms of communications infrastructures are poor or where internet connections are not wide-spread.

Other means of merchant communication, with similar advantages, are also possible. For example, the merchant may be informed via a PSTN line 26, e.g. through a standard fixed line telephone or facsimile machine 27. If a telephone is used, the validation message may take the form of an automated voice call. In another possibility, the merchant may receive the validation message on a pager device 28 via a pager service 29 and network 30. Again, such communications systems may already be available in the community, and so enable electronic vouchers to be provided in many types of merchant situation without great expense.

Where a merchant M₂ has a computer network connection, e.g. an Internet connection through an ISP 31 , the validation server 12 may issue the validation message through this medium, e.g. as an email message or other Internet messaging service. Indeed, as well as the SMS, EMS and MMS messaging services, other messaging services, e.g. email or internet messaging services, may also be used to communicate with the mobile devices 20,25 of the consumer Ci or merchant Mi. Thus, many mobile telephones can support email messaging, as can smart phones and PDAs. Although a particular advantage of the validation system is that it provides the ability to validate a voucher whilst attending a merchant, the system also allows for remote transactions. For example, a consumer Ci may telephone a merchant M₂ to agree a transaction, and then follow this up with a validation of the voucher via e.g. their mobile telephone. A consumer may also purchase product online, e.g. over the internet, and, in parallel, validate the associated voucher by mobile telephone.

Where the consumer C₂ is online, e.g. via an ISP 32, they may also submit the voucher validation request to the validation server 12 through an online communication, e.g. via email or a web-based application, rather than by using a mobile device.

A method of voucher validation using SMS technology is shown in Figs.

3 to 5. This method allows a consumer to compile a voucher validation request by replying to a voucher notification message 33, and employs an access code or short code, e.g. a common short code, to identify the validation server 12 to the SMSC 23, as well as a dynamically generated suffix ID to identify the voucher V by identifying the session during which the voucher notification message was generated. Access codes and dynamically generated suffix IDs are also discussed in International Patent Application No. PCT/SG01 /00255, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In Fig. 3, a voucher notification message 33 is sent from the validation server 12 to a consumer's mobile telephone 20. The validation server 12 compiles the voucher notification message 33 so that the consumer's mobile telephone number is in the recipient address field 34, e.g. +639189876543. The number entered in the sender's address field 35 is a combination of the validation server's access number, e.g. 3333, and a dynamically generated session ID suffix, e.g. 98765. The message field 36 provides a message to the consumer about the voucher, e.g. "You have received a mobile voucher for merchant X worth $10. You may use this at any merchant X outlet. The mobile voucher code is 12345." The message may also include instructions as to how to validate and use the voucher, and could include information on any restrictions or conditions of use, e.g. a time limit.

Once the consumer has received the voucher notification message 33, they may store the message in their phone 20 for later use. As shown in Fig. 4, when a consumer C wishes to make a purchase, e.g. whilst at a merchant outlet Mi, the consumer obtains a merchant code, e.g. 987, from the merchant M-i, which for example may identify a particular merchant or a particular merchant outlet. The consumer then brings up the voucher notification message 33 and compiles a validation request message 40 by replying to it and inserting the merchant code.

The reply 40 will have the combination of the validation server's access number and the voucher session ID number in the recipient's field 41 , the consumer's telephone number in the sender field 42, and the merchant code in the message field 43. Thus, when the message 40 is received by the validation server 12 it is able to parse the message and obtain the information needed to look up the database 14 and determine the voucher's validity.

As shown in Fig. 5, once the voucher is validated, the validation server 12 sends out a consumer validation confirmation message 50 and a merchant validation confirmation message 55. The validation server 12 is able to obtain the merchant's mobile phone number, e.g. +63912345678, or other messaging service ID for the merchant, from the database 14 using the merchant code, e.g. 987.

The consumer's validation message may for example read "Your merchant X voucher 12345 worth $10 is valid. You may now use it at merchant X, branch 987".

The merchant validation message may for example read "Merchant X mobile voucher 12345 worth $10 being claimed by +639189876543 is valid. You may release equivalent items". Once the confirmation messages 50 and 55 have been received, the consumer can, if required, show the message to the merchant for confirmation of their authority to use the voucher, and the merchant can confirm the voucher details with their own validation message and accordingly supply the consumer with the appropriate product. The merchant could also ask to inspect the consumer's mobile communications device to determine its messaging ID, e.g. telephone number, as indicated in the merchant's validation message.

The merchant can later undertake any suitable reconciliation method in order to obtain the funds associated with the voucher and product exchange. Fig. 6 shows a voucher notification message 60 and validation request message 65 for another verification method, which is similar to that of Figs. 3 to 5, but does not use a dynamic suffix ID to identify the voucher.

In this method, the notification message that issues a voucher to a consumer includes the consumer telephone number in the recipient field 61 , the validation server's access code in the sender field 62, and the voucher information in the message field 63, which in this case must include an identification number for the voucher, e.g. 12345. Although the voucher number was also included in the voucher notification request message in the session suffix ID method, it is not strictly required by the consumer in that method, unless to identify the voucher should a problem occur.

The validation request message 65 is again a reply to the notification message 60, and includes the validation server's access code in the recipient field 66 and the consumer's telephone number in the sender's field 67. This time, in the message field 68, the consumer must provide both the merchant code 987 and the voucher code 12345, so that the validation server 12 has sufficient information to identify and validate the voucher.

The message field 68 also includes the keyword "CLAIM", which can be used to instruct the validation server 12 as to the nature of the message. This may be required if the messages received by the validation server through the messaging ID access code 3333 can take different forms. For example, as well as validation requests, the server 12 may receive various control and management messages, e.g. a merchant query regarding overall numbers of voucher transactions or the like, and the "CLAIM" command is needed to distinguish the validation request message from other messages. The server

12 may however have a set channel, which e.g. may be identified by the access code 3333, which only receive validation requests, and, in this case, a keyword such as "CLAIM" would not be required. Similarly, the server 12 may have dedicated channels for specific merchants, so that e.g. the access code 3333 only receives validation requests in respect of a particular merchant outlet or the like. In this case, no merchant ID would be required in the validation request message.

As discussed previously, voucher validation may be implemented in other ways also, and for example, whilst still using a mobile communications device, a consumer may send messages via an alternate messaging service, e.g. an email or internet messaging service. Such implementations may still utilise the above discussed features, e.g. the consumer may still reply to a voucher notification message to compile a voucher validation request message, although in this case the recipient and sender fields may take appropriate forms for the particular messaging service. Further, instead of replying to a message, a consumer may be instructed to compile a message in another way, e.g. to forward the message to another number, e.g. provided in the body of the message, or to dial a short code number or the like. As well as, or as an alternative to, providing identification through the consumer ID used by the consumer's messaging service, e.g. the consumer's telephone number, the validation system may utilise a personal identification number (PIN) or other code. Thus, a consumer may be assigned a PIN by the validation server 12, and may be requested to input the PIN in the body of their validation request messages. The PIN may be provided in any suitable manner, and may be transmitted to the consumer separately from the voucher notification message, e.g. by a standard mail delivery service or the like. A PIN may be especially useful when using email-type messaging service, as email addresses may be vulnerable to imitation and spoofing. An advantage of the use of mobile phones is that a user's ID can be harder to mimic.

Other forms of identification could also be utilised, e.g. a hardware identification code, such as a MAC address of a consumer's communication device.

The communications devices may vary, and for example could take the form of a smart phone, PDA or the like.

In other embodiments, the voucher validation request message may be sent out by the merchant instead of by the consumer. In this case, the consumer may inform the merchant of their identification code and a voucher code, so that the merchant can pass the data onto the validation server. Although the above implementations show the electronic voucher originating at the validation server 12, this need not be the case, and the voucher may be provided in any suitable manner, e.g. by a further party, so long as the validation server and/or the validation database is informed of the voucher and consumer information. If the notification message does not come from the validation server, then the consumer must be informed of the messaging ID of the server, e.g. a short code number or email address, so as to be able to send the validation request message.

Where the merchant has suitable resources, the validation message may be sent to a POS system of the merchant, and the validation system may be integrated with the POS system.

Although only a single messaging request and answer method is discussed, it would be possible to have a validation routine that included one or more further messaging steps. For example, the validation server 12 could ask a security question or the like. The validation server could also supply validation codes to a consumer and merchant which should be compared in order to confirm the consumer's identity.

It is to be understood that various alterations, additions and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the present invention, and that, in the light of the above teachings, the present invention may be implemented in software, firmware and/or hardware in a variety of manners as would be understood by the skilled person.

Claims

1. An electronic voucher system including a validation server, remote from a merchant, said merchant participating in an electronic voucher redemption scheme, wherein said validation server includes: means for receiving a validation request message in relation to a voucher transaction between a consumer and a merchant; means for processing said validation request message to identify said consumer, said merchant and a voucher associated with said voucher transaction; means for accessing a database of voucher data to determine whether said voucher transaction between said consumer and said merchant is a valid transaction; and means for issuing a transaction validation message when said transaction between said consumer and said merchant is determined to be valid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said consumer has a mobile communications device, and said validation request message is sent to said validation server by said consumer using said mobile device and an electronic messaging service associated with said mobile device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said mobile device is a mobile telephone.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3, wherein said messaging service is an SMS, EMS or MMS messaging service.

5. The system of claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein a messaging service ID is associated said consumer for identifying said consumer to said messaging service, and wherein said validation server identifies said consumer using said consumer messaging service ID.

6. The system of any of claims 2 to 5, wherein a message field of said validation request message is parsed by said validation server so as to obtain data regarding the transaction to be validated.

7. The system of any of claims 2 to 6, wherein an address field of said validation request message is parsed by said server to obtain data regarding the transaction to be validated.

8. The system of any of claims 2 to 7, wherein information regarding said transaction is automatically inserted into said validation request message by said mobile device when said consumer compiles said validation request message.

9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein a voucher is issued to a consumer by a voucher notification message sent via an electronic messaging system, and wherein transaction information is automatically included in said validation request message by generating said validation request message from said voucher notification message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said voucher notification message includes a messaging service ID associated with said validation server in a "sender" field of said voucher notification message.

11. The system of claim 9 or 10, wherein said voucher notification message includes a voucher ID in a "sender" field of said voucher notification message.

12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein a voucher is issued to a consumer by a voucher notification message, and wherein said voucher has an ID code generated dynamically for each voucher notification message as each message is created.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said voucher ID code is combined with a messaging service ID of said validation server.

14. The system of any preceding claim, wherein a messaging service ID for said validation server is merchant specific.

15. The system of any preceding claim, wherein a messaging service ID for said validation server is action specific.

16. The system of any preceding claim, where said validation request message includes a personal identification number to identify said consumer.

17. The system of any preceding claim, wherein said validation server issues a validation message to said consumer.

18. The system of any preceding claim, wherein said validation server issues a validation message to said merchant.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said validation server issues said validation message through a mobile telephone network.

20. The system of any preceding claim, wherein said validation request message is compiled and sent to said validation server by said consumer.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said validation request message is sent to said validation server by said merchant

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said merchant sends said validation request message via a mobile communications device.

23. A method of redeeming an electronic voucher including the steps of: providing a validation server remote from a merchant and consumer; sending a message from said merchant or consumer requesting validation of a voucher; processing said message to determine the identity of said merchant and customer; determining the validity of said voucher for said consumer and merchant; and issuing a transaction validation message from said validation server to said merchant and customer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said consumer uses a mobile communications device to send a message to said validation server.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said consumer receives a voucher in a voucher notification message, and replies to said message in order to validate said voucher.

26. The method of claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein said validation server issues said validation message to said consumer and to said merchant.

27. The method of any of claims 23 to 25, wherein said validation message is sent to said validation server by said consumer or merchant at the time of said transaction.

28. A method of validating an electronic voucher stored on a mobile communications device, the method including the steps of: compiling a validation request message for an electronic messaging service on said communications device, said validation request message including data relating to a voucher identification, a voucher owner identification and a merchant identification; sending said validation request message via said electronic messaging service to a validation server; receiving a transaction validation message from said validation server; and using said transaction validation message to obtain a product.

29. A voucher system for use with wireless mobile devices, the system including a validation server, wherein the validation server includes: means for receiving a validation request message from a mobile device via an electronic messaging system, the validation request message requesting use of a voucher at a merchant; means for checking that said voucher is valid by determining from said message a messaging system ID for the mobile device and an identity of said voucher, and by looking up said messaging system ID and voucher identification in a voucher database, said voucher database including data regarding the validity of voucher and messaging system ID combinations; and means for sending a validation message to said mobile device and to said merchant when said voucher ID and messaging ID combination is determined to be valid.

30. An electronic voucher system wherein an electronic voucher is issued to a mobile communications device of a consumer, said consumer requests validation of said voucher for a transaction at a merchant's point of sale by sending an electronic message to a validation centre from said mobile communications device, and said validation centre checks the validity of said voucher for said transaction, and, if valid, issues a validation notification to said merchant.

31. An electronic voucher system wherein a consumer receives an electronic voucher in a voucher notification message sent via a messaging system for a mobile communications device, and wherein said consumer validates said voucher by sending a validation request message based on said notification message to a central validation authority via said messaging system.