Bill payment system and method with merchant information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of paying bills using a computer, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
selecting a payment type from a group consisting of a first payment type and a second payment type; and
, directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type.
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Abstract
A computerized payment system by which a consumer may instruct a service provider by telephone, computer terminal, or other telecommunications means to pay various bills without the consumer having to write a check for each bill. The system operates without restriction as to where the consumer banks and what bills are to be paid. The service provider collects consumers'"'"' information, financial institutions'"'"' information and merchant information and arranges payment based on a financial risk analysis to the merchants according to the consumers'"'"' instructions.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of paying bills using a computer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
selecting a payment type from a group consisting of a first payment type and a second payment type; and
,directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of paying bills using a computer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an instruction to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
searching a database having deposit account numbers, each representing a respective deposit account maintained at one of a plurality of associated financial institutions by a plurality of consumers including the particular consumer, to identify the deposit account number of the deposit account of the particular consumer;
selecting a payment type; and
,directing payment of the bill by the type of payment selected from funds in the identified deposit account. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of electronically paying bills, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
selecting a payment type from the group consisting of a draft, a check, and an electronic funds transfer; and
,directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer readable medium; and
computer software stored on the computer readable medium, the computer software comprising a set of instructions directing a computer to perform the steps of;
receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
selecting a payment type; and
,directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type.
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30. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer readable medium; and
computer software stored on the computer readable medium, the computer software comprising a set of instructions directing a computer to perform the steps of;
receiving an instruction to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
searching a database having deposit account numbers, each representing a respective deposit account maintained at one of a plurality of associated financial institutions by a plurality of consumers including the particular consumer, to identify the deposit account number of the deposit account of the particular consumer;
selecting a payment type; and
,directing payment of the bill by the type of payment selected from funds in the identified deposit account.
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31. A system for paying bills using a computer, comprising:
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means for receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
means for selecting a payment type; and
,means for directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A system for paying bills using a computer, comprising:
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a communications apparatus for receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer; and
,a computer processor operatively connected to the communications apparatus for selecting a payment type and directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type.
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34. A system for paying bills using a computer, comprising:
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a communications switch operatively connected to a network for receiving a request to pay a bill of a particular merchant on behalf of a particular consumer;
a computer processor operatively connected to the network for selecting a payment type and directing payment of the bill using the selected payment type. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification