Wide area network person-to-person payment

• US 20040059672A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated), Western Union
• Inventors: Karas, Peter M., Sherrard, Jeff D., Neofytides, Cheryl L., Cowell, James E., Milberger, Susan M., Dunker, Amy M., Abrahams, Susan F., Yoder, James R., Platte, Eric L., Golub, Matt F., Baig, Aamer Ali, MacFarlane, Jackie M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• 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: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user (110) in a stored value account on a server computer system (170). At the server computer system (170), a request from the first user (110) to send money to a second user (130) based on the stored value account is received. An electronic notification is sent from the server computer (170) to the second user (130) to notify the second user (130) of the request. A debit in the stored value account of the first user (110) is created. The requested money is sent to the second user (130) upon a receipt of a request at the server computer (170) from the second user (130).

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method for providing a person-to-person payment service through a computer server of a computer network, comprising steps of:

maintaining a database of e-mail addresses corresponding to individuals having accounts that provide the individuals with functionality offered by the computer server for online management of financial transactions;

receiving from a first individual located at a remote computer an e-mail address of a second individual to whom the first individual wants to send an amount of money;

searching the database of e-mail addresses for the e-mail address of the second individual; and

completing a payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual if the e-mail address of the second individual was previously found in the database of e-mail addresses.

2. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, wherein completing the payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual comprises steps of:

transferring the amount of money into a first stored value account using a first money transfer method;

transferring the amount of money from the first stored value account to a second stored value account; and

transferring the amount of money from the second stored value using a second money transfer method.

3. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 2, wherein the second money transfer method comprises a default money receipt method that the second individual has selected for an account associated with the e-mail address of the second individual.

4. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 2, wherein the second money transfer method includes at least one of a gift certificate, an electronic gift certificate, a check, a money order, a coupon, a savings bond, a negotiable instrument, airline mileage credit, a credit card credit, a debit card credit, a bank transfer, an electronic funds transfer, cancellation of a debt with a third party, a telegram, a gift announcement, a printed greeting card, and an electronic greeting card.

5. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, wherein completing step comprises steps of:

initiating a transfer of the amount of money from the first individual to a first intermediary bank account using a first money transfer method;

sending an e-mail to the e-mail address of the second individual in order to notify the second individual of the payment and that the second individual can receive the payment by providing authorization for receipt of the payment;

receiving the authorization from the second individual for receipt of the payment; and

transferring the amount of money from a second intermediary bank account to the second individual using a second money transfer method after receiving the authorization from the second individual for the receipt of the payment.

6. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 5, further comprising a step of receiving from the second individual a selection of a method for receiving the payment, and wherein the second money transfer method comprises the method for receiving the payment.

7. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, wherein completing step comprises steps of:

initiating a transfer of the amount of money from the first individual to an intermediary bank account using a first money transfer method; and

crediting a stored value account of the second individual with the amount of money.

8. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 7, wherein completing step comprises steps of:

issuing a physical card to the second individual;

receiving an indication that the physical card has been run through a point-of sale swipe terminal of a merchant in order to make a purchase;

debiting the stored value account of the second individual by the cost of the purchase; and

paying the merchant the cost of the purchase from the intermediary bank account.

9. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of:

if the e-mail address for the second individual was not found in the database of e-mail addresses, then sending the second individual an e-mail to notify the second individual that the second individual can receive the payment of the amount of money by registering for an account with the computer server.

10. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 9, further comprising steps of:

determining that the second individual has registered for the account with the computer server in response to the e-mail; and

completing the payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual after the second individual has registered for the account with the computer server.

11. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 9, further comprising steps of:

if the e-mail address for the second individual was not found in the database of e-mail addresses, then;

querying the first individual for a question to be posed to the second individual to authenticate the second individual;

further querying the first individual for an expected response to the question;

posing the question to the second individual;

receiving an actual response to the question from the second individual;

comparing the actual response to the expected response; and

providing the second individual with the account only if the actual response matches the expected response.

12. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving from the first individual a future date for which the payment of the amount of money should be scheduled, and wherein completing step comprises steps of:

on the future date, initiating a transfer of the amount of money from the first individual to a first intermediary bank account using a first money transfer method; and

then transferring the amount of money from a second intermediary bank account to the second individual using a second money transfer method.

13. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 12, wherein receiving from the first individual the future date for which the payment of the amount of money should be scheduled comprises steps of:

providing the first individual with a graphical calendar interface having dates that can be selected with a pointing device; and

from the first individual, receiving a selection of the future date through the pointing device from the dates that can be selected.

14. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 12, further comprising steps of:

receiving a frequency and duration for recurrence of the payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual; and

repeating the payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual in accordance with the frequency and duration for the recurrence of the payment.

15. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving step comprises a step of:

providing the first individual with an online e-mail address book;

receiving a selection of the e-mail address of the second individual from the online e-mail address book.

16. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual has one of the accounts, and further comprising making statements of pending and history transactions available for online viewing by the first individual.

17. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 1, further comprising steps of:

receiving a trigger condition for a stored value account of the first individual;

automatically transferring credit from the stored value account of the first individual when the trigger condition is satisfied.

18. The computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 17, wherein the trigger condition is selected from the following:

a credit balance in the stored value account exceeding a specified amount; and

a period of time expiring.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network of claim 1.

20. A computer system adapted to perform the computer-implementable method for providing the person-to-person payment service through the computer server of the computer network of claim 1.

21. A computer-implementable method for providing a money request service through a computer server of a computer network, comprising steps of:

maintaining a database of e-mail addresses corresponding to individuals having accounts that provide the individuals with functionality offered by the computer server for online management of financial transactions;

receiving from a first individual located at a remote computer an e-mail address of a second individual from whom the first individual wants to request an amount of money;

sending an e-mail to the e-mail address of the second individual to notify the second individual that the first individual is requesting the amount of money;

receiving authorization from the second individual to pay the amount of money to the first individual; and

completing a payment of the amount of money from the second individual to the first individual.

22. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, wherein completing steps comprises steps of:

initiating a transfer of the amount of money from the second individual to a first intermediary bank account using a first money transfer method; and

transferring the amount of money from a second intermediary bank account to the first individual using a second money transfer method.

23. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, wherein the e-mail includes a link to a Web page through which the second individual can provide the authorization to pay the amount of money to the first individual.

24. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, further comprising searching the database of e-mail addresses for the e-mail address of the second individual, and wherein if the e-mail address of the second individual is not found in the database of e-mail addresses, then the e-mail further invites the second individual to register for an account with the computer server in order to pay the first individual the amount of money.

25. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 24, wherein the e-mail further includes a link that the second individual can follow to register for the account with the computer server, and further comprising providing the second individual with a Web page through which the second individual can authorize payment of the amount of money to the first individual after second individual has registered for the account.

26. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, further comprising receiving from the first individual a message to be included in the e-mail, and wherein sending the e-mail to the e-mail address of the second individual comprises including the message in the e-mail.

27. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 26, further comprising receiving from the first individual a subject for the e-mail, and wherein, sending the e-mail to the e-mail address of the second individual comprises including the subject in a subject line of the e-mail.

28. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, wherein receiving from the first individual located at the remote computer the e-mail address of the second individual from whom the first individual wants to request the amount of money comprises:

providing the first individual with an online e-mail address book; and

receiving a selection of the e-mail address of the second individual from the online e-mail address book.

29. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, wherein the remote computer at which the first individual is located comprises a wireless device for accessing the computer network.

30. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 21, further comprising steps of:

receiving a trigger condition for a stored value account of the first individual;

automatically transferring credit from the stored value account of the first individual when the trigger condition is satisfied.

31. The computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network as recited in claim 30, wherein the trigger condition is selected from the following:

a credit balance in the stored value account exceeding a specified amount; and

a period of time expiring.

32. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computers implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network of claim 21.

33. A computer system adapted to perform the computer-implementable method for providing the money request service through the computer server of the computer network of claim 21.

34. A system for enabling person-to-person payments over a wide area network, the system comprising:

a payment enabler web site that receives input from a payor;

a first stored value account associated with the payor;

a second stored value account associated with a payee;

a first transfer intermediary interface that receives a credit that is applied to the first stored value account; and

a second transfer intermediary interface that transmits the credit from the second stored value account, wherein the payment enabler web site organizes transfer of the credit between a first transfer intermediary, the second stored value account, and a second transfer intermediary.

35. The system for enabling person-to-person payments over the wide area network as recited in claim 34, wherein the first transfer intermediary includes one of a bank, a credit card company, a debit card company, a retail storefront, and a third stored value account.

36. The system for enabling person-to-person payments over the wide area network as recited in claim 34, further comprising a database of counter parties accessible by either the payee or payor.

37. The system for enabling person-to-person payments over the wide area network as recited in claim 36, wherein the database comprises at least one group of counter parties that can be selected at once as the payee or the payor for a person-to-person payment.

38. The system for enabling person-to-person payments over the wide area network as recited in claim 34, wherein the second transfer intermediary includes at least one of a bank, a credit card company, a debit card company, a retail storefront, a third stored value account, an airline mileage program, a gift certificate issuer, an electronic gift certificate issuer, and a money order issuer.

39. A method for transferring money using a computer network, the method comprising:

saving information on credit received for a first user in a stored value account on a server computer system;

receiving at the server computer system a first request from the first user to send money to a second user based on the stored value account;

sending an electronic notification from the server computer to the second user to notify the second user of the request;

creating a debit in the stored value account of the first user; and

sending the requested money to the second user upon a receipt of a second request at the server computer from the second user.

40. The method for transferring money using the computer network as recited in claim 39, wherein the second-listed sending step comprises a step of crediting a stored value account of the second user on the server computer with a value corresponding to the requested money.

41. The method for transferring money using the computer network as recited in claim 39, wherein the second-listed sending step comprises at least one of the following steps:

sending money to a bank account of the second user;

sending a credit to a credit or debit card of the second user;

sending a check or money order to the second user;

sending a telegram or greeting card with a check or money order to the second user; and

sending an electronic greeting card to the second user with an electronic payment notification embedded therewith.

42. A method for transferring money using a wide-area computer network and a stored value account, the method comprising:

creating the stored value account for a first user on a server computer system;

receiving at the server computer system a request from the first user to have a second user transfer money into the stored value account of the first user;

sending an electronic notification from the server computer system to the second user to notify the second user of the request to transfer money into the stored value account of the first user; and

crediting the stored value account of the first user with the requested money upon receipt of an authorization at the server computer system from the second user.

43. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, wherein the authorization includes information on a payment instrument from the second user.

44. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, further comprising steps of:

receiving a trigger condition for the stored value account of the first user;

automatically transferring credit from the stored value account of the first user when the trigger condition is satisfied.

45. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 44, wherein the trigger condition is selected from the following:

a credit balance in the stored value account exceeding a specified amount; and

a period of time expiring.

46. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, wherein the first user, the second user and the server computer system are remote to each other.

47. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, wherein the authorization includes an authorization to debit a second stored value account of the second user that is maintained on the server computer system.

48. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, further comprising a step of receiving a second request at the server computer system to deposit funds into a bank account of the first user originating from the stored value account of the first user.

49. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, wherein the computer server system comprises a plurality of computers coupled together by a computer network.

50. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 42, wherein the requested money is unavailable until a future time specified by the second user.

51. A method for transferring money using a wide-area computer network, the method comprising:

receiving at a server computer system a first request from a sender to send money to a plurality of recipients;

sending electronic notifications from the server computer system to the recipients to notify the recipients of the request; and

providing payment to the recipients upon a receipt of a second request at the server computer system from each recipient.

52. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the electronic notification includes at least one of a page, an instant message, an e-mail message, and a web page.

53. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the first request includes a list of recipient e-mail addresses that have been manually entered by the sender.

54. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the first request to transfer includes a list of recipient e-mail addresses that have been selected by the sender from an address book maintained on the server computer system.

55. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the first request includes a list of recipient e-mail addresses received by the server computer system from a computer file submitted by the sender.

56. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the first request includes a list of recipient e-mail addresses received by the server computer and pasting the list into a field of a page created by the server computer.

57. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the receiving step includes receiving the first request that includes a unique money amount for at least two of the plurality of recipients.

58. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 51, wherein the computer server system comprises a plurality of computers coupled together by a computer network.

59. A method for transferring money using a wide-area computer network, the method comprising:

receiving at a server computer system a first request from a sender to send money to a recipient;

sending an electronic notification from the server computer system to the recipient to notify the recipient of the first request;

receiving a second request at the server computer system to receive at least some of the money as a money order; and

sending a third request from the server computer system to a payment service to generate a negotiable instrument to permit the negotiable instrument to be delivered to the recipient, wherein the second request includes a delivery address and the amount of the negotiable instrument.

60. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 59, wherein recipient can request at least a portion be sent to a third party.

61. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 59, wherein the second-listed receiving step comprises a step of receiving the request at the server computer system from the sender.

62. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 59, wherein the negotiable instrument is selected from a group consisting of a gift certificate, an electronic gift certificate, a check, a money order, a coupon, a savings bond, and an airline mileage credit.

63. The method for transferring money using the wide-area computer network as recited in claim 59, wherein the computer server system comprises a plurality of computers coupled together by a computer network.

64. A method for transferring money using a wide-area computer network and a stored value account, the method comprising:

creating the stored value account for a user on a server computer system;

receiving money in the stored value account;

receiving input from the user indicating a transfer method and trigger condition;

determining if the trigger condition is satisfied; and

automatically transferring credit from the stored value account of the user using the transfer method if the trigger condition is satisfied.

65. The method for transferring money using the computer network and the stored value account as recited in claim 64, wherein determining step includes one of the following steps:

determining a credit balance in the stored value account exceeds a specified amount; and

determining that a period of time has expired.