System and method for secure reverse payment

• US 20020194128A1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yasuda, Hiroyuki, Maritzen, Michael, Tsukamura, Yoshihiro
• Application Number:
  US10/108,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles

Abstract

A system and method for providing a reverse payment model that automatically transfers funds a merchant to a consumer are described. The invention allows a consumer to create, edit, and store profile information including consumer accounts and corresponding default accounts. In one embodiment, the invention includes an input module for receiving a confirmation; a matching module coupled to the input module for comparing the confirmation to a plurality of consumer accounts and matching a selected account from the plurality of consumer accounts wherein the selected account has a default account; and a connection module coupled to the matching module for automatically connecting a merchant bank with a consumer bank associated with the default account corresponding to the selected account.

Claims

1. A reverse payment system comprising:

a. an input module for receiving a confirmation;

b. a matching module coupled to the input module for comparing the confirmation to a plurality of consumer accounts and matching a selected account from the plurality of consumer accounts wherein the selected account has a default account; and

c. a connection module coupled to the matching module for automatically connecting a merchant bank with a consumer bank associated with the default account corresponding to the selected account.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the confirmation is based on receiving a returned product.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the confirmation is based on receiving a notice to suspend a service.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a transfer module coupled to the connection module for transferring a currency from the merchant bank to the default account.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the currency is one of traditional currency, electronic currency, store credit, and loyalty credit.

6. A method comprising:

a. receiving a confirmation;

b. matching the confirmation with a selected consumer account from among a plurality of consumer accounts; and

c. transferring funds from a merchant account to a particular default account associated with the selected consumer account.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising storing the plurality of consumer accounts and a corresponding plurality of default accounts.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the confirmation represents receipt of a product by a merchant.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the confirmation represents receipt of a service cancellation by a merchant.

10. The method according to claim 6 wherein the funds comprise one of traditional currency, electronic currency, store credit, and loyalty credit.

11. A method of initializing comprising:

a. authenticating an identity of a consumer;

b. receiving a consumer account from the consumer for use with a reverse payment model; and

c. associating a corresponding default account with the consumer account.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein authenticating the identity is accomplished by receiving a biometric parameter from the consumer.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising storing the consumer account and the corresponding default account.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein authenticating the identity is accomplished by receiving a PIN from the consumer.

15. The method according to claim 11 further comprising authenticating an identity of a merchant.

16. The method according to claim 11 further comprising authenticating an identity of a financial institution.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

a. receiving a confirmation;

b. matching the confirmation with a selected consumer account from among a plurality of consumer accounts; and

c. transferring funds from a merchant account to a particular default account associated with the selected consumer account.