Abstract: An electronic safety system on a vehicle comprising a positioning unit configured to determine a geographic location of the vehicle; a sensor unit configured to detect a distress signal; and a telecommunication unit coupleable to the positioning unit and the sensor unit; wherein the telecommunication unit is configured to transmit an alert notification to an emergency service organization in response to the detected distress signal; the alert notification including the determined geographic location of the vehicle. A vehicle having the electronic safety system and a method of generating an alert notification are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic system and method for managing usage of resources in a merchant facility. The system comprises a server and a merchant communication device, where the server is configured to receive, from the merchant communication device, identification details of a consumer from a wearable device during a first communication; communicate merchant data from the merchant communication device to the consumer wearable device upon receipt of the consumer identification details; receive, via the merchant communication device, resource usage data provided by the wearable device during a second communication; and receive a payment confirmation message upon transfer of an aggregated cost from a payment instrument of the consumer to the merchant financial account, wherein usage of the resources is tracked by the wearable device, and the aggregated cost is determined by the wearable device based on the tracked usage and rate details of the resources.

Abstract: A system for processing payment, comprising: a processor module in communication with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a payment module, wherein the processor module is configured to: (i) receive, from the POS terminal: a first set of characters that is a proxy for a first account number associated with a fund recipient's account; a second set of characters that is a proxy for a second account number associated with a fund sender's account; and an amount of funds requested by the fund recipient from the fund sender for payment; (ii) convert: the first set of characters into the first account number; the second set of characters into the second account number; and (iii) transmit, to the payment module: the first and second account numbers; and an instruction to deduct the amount of funds requested by the fund recipient from the fund sender's account that is associated with the second account number.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for scheduling payments. The method comprises the operations of: a) storing, in a memory, instructions for an action to be taken when at least one specified criterion is fulfilled, the specified criterion relating to anticipated funds to be received and/or anticipated funds authorized for receipt; b) receiving, by a processor, details of funds received and/or funds authorized for receipt; c) checking, by the processor, whether the specified criterion is fulfilled; d) repeating steps b) and c) until the specified criterion is fulfilled; and e) upon fulfillment of the specified criterion, actioning the instructions stored in the memory.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for authorizing an electronic transaction between two entities. The method includes receiving, at a verification module, coincidentally captured facial image data relating to both of the two entities and authenticating each of the two entitiesbased on a comparison between the coincidentally captured facial image data and respective facial image templates relating to each of the two entities enrolled in a database. The method also includes retrieving, from the database, account data relating to each of the two entities based on the coincidentally captured facial image data, on determining that each of the two entities are positively authenticated, and generating an authorization message for authorizing the electronic transaction, where the authorization message comprises the account data relating to each of the two entities retrieved from the database.

Abstract: A smart key device for use with a vehicle is disclosed. The smart key comprises: an interface configured to communicatively couple with a controller of the vehicle; and a non-volatile storage module configured to store a deactivation message configured to cause the controller of the vehicle to deactivate and/or limit the functionality of the vehicle. The deactivation message may include an indication of a time period or distance driven after which the vehicle will be deactivated. A vehicle controller; a smart key write device and associated methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing a record submission for tax assessment is disclosed. The method comprises receiving transaction data associated with an electronic payment transaction carried out using a payment account held by an account holder at a financial institution, said transaction data being indicative of a transaction amount. A tax account, which is held by the account holder at a tax authority, is identified through an association between the payment account and the tax account. Accordingly, the account holder may choose to associate the electronic payment transaction with the tax account such that the transaction data may be provided for tax assessment purposes. An apparatus for carrying out the method and associated methods and apparatus for obtaining and making records submissions for tax assessment are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a personnel records database are disclosed. The personnel records database includes data entries associated with a plurality of human subjects. In one aspect, the method includes a computer server, for each of a plurality of human subjects, (a) receiving, over a communication network, information characterizing an educational qualification held by the human subject, wherein said information is indicative of an identity of an educational institution associated with the education qualification and an identity of the human subject; (b) transmitting an electronic request for verification of the educational qualification to a verification server; (c) receiving an outcome of the verification from the verification server; and if the verification is successful, (di) generating a data entry associating the educational qualification with the identity of the associated human subject; and (dii) storing the data entry in a database in communication with the computer server.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of processing an authorization request for a transaction in a first territory associated with a payment card issued in a second territory is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, at a server of a payment network, a transaction authorization request, the transaction authorization request comprising an indication of a payment card identifier of a payment card associated with the transaction; determining, using the payment card identifier, a local nominated issuer, the local nominated issuer being an issuing authority within the first territory authorized to process authorization requests associated with the payment card; routing the transaction authorization request to a server of the local nominated issuer; and receiving a transaction authorization response from the server of the local nominated issuer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided for managing events which includes receiving a host request, through a host access terminal, the host request comprising one or more event constraints that at least partially define an event. The method also includes searching a database of service proposals to locate at least one service proposal complying with one or more of the event constraints; transmitting the at least one service proposal to the host access terminal; receiving at least one service proposal acceptance from the host terminal; and receiving client access details of one or more clients. Once client access details are received, a token is generated for each client, the token being for accessing one or more accepted service proposals and an event request is transmitted to each of the one or more client terminals, each event request comprising the requisite token.

Abstract: A computerised method for performing a transaction is disclosed. The method comprises: generating, by a merchant billing machine at a merchant location, transaction data comprising a transaction cost and identifying, via the merchant billing machine, a customer digital wallet and/or number for a customer mobile device. The merchant billing machine then communicates the transaction data and identification of a merchant digital wallet to the customer digital wallet and/or customer mobile device. A digital wallet server receives, upon authorisation of the transaction via the customer mobile device, the transaction data and merchant digital wallet identification along with details of a customer payment vehicle and transfers the transaction cost from the customer payment vehicle to the merchant digital wallet.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for identifying a merchant and making a reservation with the merchant. In one aspect, a method is provided utilizing a communication device configured for (a) receiving navigation data associated with a user; (b) upon receiving an activation signal, generating an electronic request using the activation signal and the navigation data, the electronic request encoding a request for goods or services corresponding to the activation signal; (c) transmitting the electronic request to a computer server to obtain merchant information of one or more candidate merchants; (d) receiving the merchant information, the merchant information including geographic locations of the one or more candidate merchants. In further aspects, a communication device is provided which has a processor and a data storage device storing computer program instructions; and, a computer server for handling an electronic request to identify a relevant merchant and an associated method are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a point of sale (POS) payment transaction at a merchant location, the method including, in one or more electronic processing devices: (a) receiving a transaction request including an indication of a transaction identifier from the user device; (b) retrieving an indication of payment information from a merchant system using the transaction identifier; (c) requesting user account information from the user device; (d) receiving the user account information in response to user input; and (e) initiating payment authorization with a payment processing system using the payment information and user account information to enable the payment transaction to be performed.

Abstract: Described is a payment vehicle for use in initiating a transaction. The payment vehicle includes a body and an image applied to the body. The image includes encrypted data that is readable by an electronic reader to ascertain account details of a payment vehicle user, thereby to initiate the transaction. The image is also visually comparable to the user, or to information produced by the user, to confirm the user's identity.

Abstract: An electronic safety system on a vehicle comprising a positioning unit configured to determine a geographic location of the vehicle; a sensor unit configured to detect a distress signal; and a telecommunication unit coupleable to the positioning unit and the sensor unit; wherein the telecommunication unit is configured to transmit an alert notification to an emergency service organization in response to the detected distress signal; the alert notification including the determined geographic location of the vehicle. A vehicle having the electronic safety system and a method of generating an alert notification are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is proposed for OTP authorisation for ATM or POS transactions. The method comprises: a) storing in a database a reference code for an OTP application installed on a user device and details for one or more of the user's payment cards in association with the reference code; b) receiving, along with payment card details, an OTP generated by the application and entered by the user into an ATM or POS terminal; c) validating the OTP; and d) on successful validation, authorising a payment transaction from the payment card.