Method and system for data management in electronic payments transactions

• US 20030119478A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citibank (South Dakota) NA (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citibank (South Dakota) NA (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cox, David, Thompson, Michael, Landry, John, Nagy, Dan, Pang, Michael C., Goott, Paul, Favole, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 : using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 : with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 : Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method and system for prepaying wireless telecommunications charges utilizes computer hardware and software including, for example, a user'"'"'s mobile phone, a mobile operator'"'"'s interactive voice response unit, a mobile payments interactive voice response unit, SMS, test messaging, email, ATM, kiosk, the Internet, and/or WAP or the like, a mobile payments engine, a mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system, a subscriber database, a payment gateway, and a transaction processing platform. The mobile payments engine receives information identifying a user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit, passes the information to the mobile operator'"'"'s billing system with a request for validation of a mobile account for the user, and if validation is received, the mobile payments engine receives financial source account and user identity verification information from the user, assigns a mobile personal identification number for the user, and arranges a credit from the source account to the user'"'"'s mobile account.

Claims

1. A method for prepaying wireless telecommunications charges, comprising:

receiving information identifying a user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device by a mobile payments engine via a mobile payments interactive voice response unit;

passing the information identifying the wireless telecommunication device to a mobile operator'"'"'s billing system with a request for validation of a mobile account for the user related to the device;

if validation of the account is received from the mobile operator'"'"'s billing system, receiving financial source account information from the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit;

receiving user identity verification information from the user by the mobile payments engine;

assigning a mobile personal identification number for the user by the mobile payments engine; and

arranging a credit from the financial source account to the user'"'"'s mobile account by the mobile payments engine via the mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information identifying the wireless telecommunications device further comprises receiving a mobile phone number of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the user'"'"'s mobile phone number further comprises receiving the user'"'"'s mobile phone number via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit from a mobile operator'"'"'s interactive voice response unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the financial source account information further comprises prompting the mobile payments interactive voice response unit by the mobile payments engine to play a script for the user for entry of the financial source account information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the financial source account information further comprises receiving financial source account identification information for at least one of a user'"'"'s credit card account, a user'"'"'s debit card account, and a user'"'"'s deposit account.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the financial source account information further comprises storing the financial source account information in a subscriber'"'"'s database by the mobile payments engine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user identity verification information further comprises receiving by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit the user'"'"'s entry of a secret shared between the user and the mobile payments engine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the user'"'"'s entry of the shared secret further comprises receiving the user'"'"'s entry of at lease two debit amounts previously charged to the financial source account for the user via the mobile payments engine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the user'"'"'s entry of the at least two debit amounts further comprises generating the at lease two debit amounts by the mobile payments engine that sum to a predetermined total debit amount requested by the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the at least the two debit amounts further comprises formatting and sending debit transactions for the at least two debit amounts to a payment gateway by the mobile payments engine.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the at least two debit amounts further comprises notifying the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit that at least two sums equal to the predetermined total debit amount will be charged to the financial source account without disclosing the at least two debit amounts to the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the user'"'"'s entry of the at least two debit amounts further comprises prompting the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to contact a financial institution with which the financial source account is held to ascertain the at least two debit amounts.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user identity verification information further comprises receiving an identification characteristic assigned by a trusted third party for the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the identification characteristic assigned by the trusted third party further comprises receiving a Social Security System number for the user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the mobile personal identification number further comprises generating the mobile personal identification number for the user by the mobile payments engine.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the mobile personal identification number further comprises allowing the user to self-select the mobile personal identification number.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the credit further comprises receiving the information identifying the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device, the user'"'"'s mobile personal identification number, and a credit amount for the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein arranging the credit further comprises mapping the information identifying the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device to the user'"'"'s financial source account and validating the user'"'"'s mobile payments personal identification number by the mobile payments engine.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein arranging the credit further comprises sending an authorization request for the credit amount to a payment gateway by the mobile payments engine and receiving an authorization response for the credit amount by the mobile payments engine from the payment gateway.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein arranging the credit further comprises sending a message by the mobile payments engine to the mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system to credit the user'"'"'s account with the credit amount, receiving a response by the mobile payments engine from the mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system confirming the credit, and confirming the credit to the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing an automated, recurring credit to the user'"'"'s mobile account by the mobile payments engine.

22. A method for prepaying wireless telecommunications charges, comprising:

capturing a phone number of a wireless phone of a user by a mobile payments engine via a call by the user to an interactive voice response unit;

receiving the user'"'"'s entry by the mobile payments engine via the interactive voice response unit of financial source account identification information that allows access by the mobile payments engine to at least one source account of funds of the user through a link;

notifying the user by the mobile payments engine via the interactive voice response unit that at least two debits in an amount between 0 and a predetermined number of units of applicable currency from the financial source account will be posted to a user account with a preselected wireless phone provider;

directing the user via the interactive voice response unit to contact a financial institution with which the financial source account is held to verify the amounts of the at least two debits and to contact the interactive voice response unit via a second toll-free call with the user'"'"'s wireless phone number;

upon receiving the user'"'"'s second toll-free call by the interactive voice response unit, confirming the user'"'"'s wireless phone number via caller ID and prompting the user to enter the at least two debit amounts;

if the user enters the at least two debit amounts correctly, crediting the at least two debits to the user account with the wireless phone provider and providing the user a mobile personal identification number for use by the user in future transactions via the mobile payments engine;

thereafter, receiving information from the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit consisting at least in part of the user'"'"'s mobile personal identification number, the user'"'"'s wireless phone number and a requested replenishment amount;

mapping the information received from the user by the mobile payments engine to the financial source account information for the user;

passing the information received from the user by the mobile payments engine via the link to the financial institution with which the financial source account is held;

receiving an authorization message by the mobile payments engine via the link from the financial institution with which the financial source account is held;

passing the authorization message by the mobile payments engine to a prepaid billing system of the wireless phone provider informing the wireless phone provider to credit the user account with the wireless phone provider with the requested replenishment amount; and

sending a message to the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit by the mobile payments engine confirming the credit.

23. A method for prepaying prepaid wireless communication charges, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s entry via an interactive voice response unit by a mobile payments engine of user identification verification and financial source account information that allows the mobile payments engine access to at least one source account of funds of the user through a link;

assigning the user a mobile personal identification number for use by the user in replenishing an account of the user with a wireless telecommunications provider;

receiving the user'"'"'s selection via the interactive voice response unit by the mobile payments engine of an amount by which to increment the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account;

generating a transaction by the mobile payments engine in the amount requested by the user; and

instructing a prepaid billing system of the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications provider by the mobile payments engine to increment the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account by the requested amount.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing the user an option by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to set up an automated, recurring credit to the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account consisting of one of an automated, monthly credit on a preselected date and an automated, monthly credit, if the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account falls below a predetermined level.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing the user an option by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to receive an alert notifying the user when the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account requires replenishment.

26. A system for prepaying wireless telecommunications charges, comprising:

a mobile payments engine adapted for receiving information identifying a user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device via a mobile payments interactive voice response unit, passing the information identifying the wireless telecommunication device to a mobile operator'"'"'s billing system with a request for validation of a mobile account for the user related to the device, and if validation of the account is received from the mobile operator'"'"'s billing system, receiving financial source account information from the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit;

the mobile payments engine being further adapted for receiving user identity verification information by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit, assigning a mobile personal identification number for the user, and arranging a credit from the user'"'"'s financial source account to the user'"'"'s mobile account via the mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving the information identifying the wireless telecommunications device comprising a mobile phone number of the user.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving the user'"'"'s mobile phone number via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit from a mobile operator'"'"'s interactive voice response unit.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for prompting the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to play a script for the user for entry of the financial source account information.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving financial source account identification information for at least one of a user'"'"'s credit card account, a user'"'"'s debit card account, and a user'"'"'s deposit account.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for storing the financial source account information in a subscriber'"'"'s database.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit the user'"'"'s entry of a secret shared between the user and the mobile payments engine.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving the user'"'"'s entry of at least two debit amounts previously charged to the financial source account for the user via the mobile payments engine.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for generating the at least two debit amounts that sum to a predetermined total debit amount requested by the user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for formatting and sending debit transactions for the at least two debit amounts to a payment gateway.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for notifying the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit that at least two sums equal to the predetermined total debit amount will be charged to the financial source account without disclosing the at least two debit amounts to the user.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for prompting the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to contact a financial institution with which the financial source account is held to ascertain the at least two debit amounts.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving a Social Security System number for the user by the mobile payments engine via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit.

39. The method of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for generating the mobile personal identification number for the user.

40. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for allowing the user to self-select the mobile personal identification number.

41. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for receiving the information identifying the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device, the user'"'"'s mobile personal identification number, and a credit amount for the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for mapping the information identifying the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunication device to the user'"'"'s financial source account and validating the user'"'"'s mobile payments personal identification number.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for sending an authorization request for the credit amount to a payment gateway and receiving an authorization response for the credit amount from the payment gateway.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for sending a message to the mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system to credit the user'"'"'s account with the credit amount, receiving a response from the mobile operator'"'"'s prepaid billing system confirming the credit, and confirming the credit to the user via the mobile payments interaction voice response unit.

45. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for establishing an automated, recurring credit to the user'"'"'s mobile account.

46. A system for prepaying wireless telecommunications charges, comprising:

a mobile payments engine adapted for capturing a phone number of a wireless phone of a user by via a call by the user to an interactive voice response unit, receiving the user'"'"'s entry via the interactive voice response unit of financial source account identification information that allows access by the mobile payments engine to at least one source account of funds of the user through a link;

the mobile payments engine being further adapted for notifying the user via the interactive voice response unit that at least two debits in an amount between 0 and a predetermined number of units of applicable currency from the financial source account will be posted to a user account with a preselected wireless phone provider and directing the user via the interactive voice response unit to contact a financial institution with which the financial source account is held to verify the amounts of the at least two debits and to contact the interactive voice response unit via a second toll-free call with the user'"'"'s wireless phone number;

the mobile payments engine being adapted, upon receiving the user'"'"'s second call via the interactive voice response unit, for confirming the user'"'"'s wireless phone number via caller ID and prompting the user to enter the at least two debit amounts, and if the user enters the at least two debit amounts correctly, crediting the two debits to the user account with the wireless phone provider and providing the user a mobile personal identification number for use by the user in future transactions via the mobile payments engine;

the mobile payments engine being further adapted for thereafter receiving information from the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit consisting at least in part of the user'"'"'s mobile personal identification number, the user'"'"'s wireless phone number and a requested replenishment amount, mapping the information received from the user to the financial source account information for the user, passing the information received from the user via the link to the financial institution with which the financial source account is held, receiving an authorization message via the link from the financial institution with which the financial source account is held, passing the authorization message to a prepaid billing system of the wireless phone provider informing the wireless phone provider to credit the user account with the wireless phone provider with the requested replenishment amount, and sending a message to the user via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit confirming the credit.

47. A system for prepaying prepaid wireless communication charges, comprising:

a mobile payments engine adapted for receiving a user'"'"'s entry via an interactive voice response unit of user identification verification and financial source account information that allows the mobile payments engine access to at least one source account of funds of the user through a link, assigning the user a mobile personal identification number for use by the user in replenishing an account of the user with a wireless telecommunications provider, receiving the user'"'"'s selection via the interactive voice response unit of an amount by which to increment the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account, and generating a transaction in the amount requested by the user, and instructing a prepaid billing system of the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications provider to increment the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account by the requested amount.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for providing the user an option via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to set up an automated, recurring credit to the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account consisting of at least one of an automated, monthly credit on a preselected date and an automated, monthly credit, if the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account falls below a predetermined level.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the mobile payments engine is further adapted for providing the user an option via the mobile payments interactive voice response unit to receive an alert notifying the user when the user'"'"'s wireless telecommunications account requires replenishment according to predefined parameters established by one of the user and the mobile payments engine.