Method and system for remote delivery of retail banking services

• US 20040215564A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1989
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Official Payments Corporation (ACI Worldwide Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Online Resources Corp.
• Inventors: Carmody, Timothy E., Lawlor, Matthew P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• 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 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths

Abstract

A practical system and method for the remote distribution of financial services (e.g., home banking and bill-paying) involves distributing portable terminals to a user base. The terminals include a multi-line display, keys “pointing to” lines on the display, and additional keys. Contact is established between the terminals and a central computer operated by a service provider, preferably over a dial-up telephone line and a packet data network. Information exchange between the central computer and the terminal solicits information from the terminal user related to requested financial services (e.g., for billpaying, the user provides payee selection and amount and his bank account PIN number). The central computer then transmits a message over a conventional ATM network debiting the user'"'"'s bank account in real time, and may pay the specified payees the specified amount electronically or in other ways as appropriate. Payments and transfers may be scheduled in advance or on a periodic basis. Because the central computer interacts with the user'"'"'s bank as a standard POS or ATM network node, no significant software changes are required at the banks'"'"' computers. The terminal interface is extremely user-friendly and incorporates some features of standard ATM user interfaces so as to reduce new user anxiety.

Claims

1. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications line connectable to at least one remote payment network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller begins session using a telecommunications line to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising:

prompting the caller to enter an account number identifying an account of a payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting the caller to enter a payment number selected from one or more choices of debit forms of payment;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction;

upon a payment amount being entered and during the session, accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the session, whether sufficient available funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to complete the payment transaction, and responsive to a determination that sufficient available funds exist in the associated account, charging the entered payment amount against the account associated with the entered payment number, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said entered payment number corresponds to a PIN-less form of payment.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of prompting the caller to select a credit or debit option, and prompting the caller to enter a payment amount.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting the caller to indicate the type of payment.

5. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications network line connectable to at least one remote payment card network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller begins a session using a telecommunications network line to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising:

prompting the caller to enter a payment number selected from one or more choices of debit forms of payment;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction;

accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the session, whether sufficient available credit or funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to complete the payment transaction, and upon a determination that sufficient available funds exist in the associated account, charging the entered payment amount against the account associated with the entered payment number, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction file of the system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said payment number is a PIN-less form of payment.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of prompting the caller to select a debit option, and prompting the caller to enter a payment amount.

8. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications line connectable to at least one remote payment network, wherein a caller begins a session using a telecommunications line to initiate a payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising:

prompting the caller to identify a payor account of a payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting the caller to identify a payment account selected from a one or more choices of forms of payment;

prompting the caller to designated a payment amount for the payment transaction;

upon the payment amount being designated and during the session, accessing the remote banking network which determines, during the session, whether sufficient available funds exist in the payment account to complete the payment transaction, and responsive to a determination that sufficient available funds exist in the payment account, charging the payment amount against the payment account, adding the payment amount to the payor account, informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized, and storing the payor account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of prompting the caller to select a debit option, and prompting the caller to enter a payment amount.

10. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications line connectable to at least one remote payment network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller begins a session using a telecommunications line to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising:

prompting the caller to enter or select an account number identifying an account of a payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting the caller to enter or select a payment account selected from one or more payment accounts;

prompting the caller to enter or select a payment amount for the payment transaction;

upon a payment amount being entered and during the session, the remote payment network determining, during the session, whether sufficient available funds exist in the selected payment account to complete the payment transaction, and responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the selected payment account, debiting the entered payment amount against the payment account, adding the entered payment amount to the payor account, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said payment number is a PIN-less account.

12. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications network line connectable to at least one remote payment network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller begins session using a telecommunications network line to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising:

prompting the caller to enter or select a payment number from one or more payment account choices;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction;

accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the session, whether sufficient available funds exist in the payment account to complete the payment transaction, and upon a determination that sufficient available funds exist in the payment account, charging the entered payment amount against the payment account, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with a payor account number, and storing the payor account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction file of the system.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said payment number corresponds to a checking account.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of prompting the caller to select a debit option, and prompting the caller to enter a payment amount.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of prompting the caller to indicate the type of payment.

16. A method of paying bills using a telephone connectable to at least one remote payment card network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller places a call using said telephone to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising:

prompting the caller to enter or select an account number using the telephone, the account number identifying an account of a payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting the caller to enter a payment account number using the telephone, the payment account number being selected at the discretion of the caller from any one of a number of debit forms of payment;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction using the telephone;

accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the call, whether sufficient available funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment account number to complete the payment transaction;

responsive to a determination that sufficient available funds exist in the associated account, charging the entered payment amount against the account associated with the entered payment number, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system during the call; and

responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds do not exist in the associated account, informing the caller during the call that the current payment transaction has been declined and terminating the current payment transaction.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number and informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized utilizes an approval code issued by the accessed remote payment card network.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

responsive to a determination that sufficient available funds do not exist in the associated account, informing the caller during the call that the current payment transaction has been declined and terminating the current payment transaction.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising periodically performing a settlement process, said settlement process comprising:

accessing a computer billing system of said payee; and

transmitting to said payee'"'"'s computer billing system said stored access code, account number, payment card number and payment amount from said transaction log file.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising informing said caller of results of said determination of said payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising periodically performing a settlement process, said settlement process comprising accessing a computer billing system of said payee.

22. A method of paying bills using a telephone device connectable to at least one remote payment network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a connection is made using the telephone device to initiate a payment transaction, the method comprising:

prompting for entry or selection of a valid account number using the telephony device, the account number identifying an account of a payor in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting for entry of a valid payment number using the telephony device, the payment number being selected from any one of a number of forms of payment;

prompting for entry of a payment amount using the telephony device;

responsive to entry of a payment number and payment amount, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the connection, whether sufficient available funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to cover the entered payment amount; and

responsive to a determination that sufficient available funds exist in the associated account, debiting the entered payment amount from the account associated with the entered payment number, crediting the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system during the connection.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein adding the entered payment mount to an account associated with the entered account number and informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized utilizes an approval issued by the accessed remote payment card network.

24. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications line connectable to at least one remote payment card network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller begins session using a telecommunications line to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting the caller to enter an account number identifying an account of a payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting the caller to enter a payment number selected from one or more choices of credit or debit forms of payment;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction;

upon a payment amount being entered and during the session, accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the session, whether sufficient available credit or funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to complete the payment transaction, and responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the associated account, charging the entered payment amount against the account associated with the entered payment number, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system.

25. A method of paying bills using a telecommunications network line connectable to at least one remote payment card network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller begins session using a telecommunications network line to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction to a payee, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting the caller to enter a payment number selected from one or more choices of credit or debit forms of payment;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction;

accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the session, whether sufficient available credit or funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to complete the payment transaction, and upon a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the associated account, charging the entered payment amount against the account associated with the entered payment number, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction file of the system.

26. A method of paying bills using a telephone connectable to at least one remote payment card network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller places a call using said telephone to initiate a spontaneous payment transaction, to a payee, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting the caller to enter an account number using the telephone, the account number identifying an account of a payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

responsive to entry of an account number, determining whether the entered account number is valid;

prompting the caller to enter a payment number using the telephone, the payment number being selected at the discretion of the caller from any one of a number of credit or debit forms of payment;

responsive to entry of the payment number, determining whether the entered payment number is valid;

prompting the caller to enter a payment amount for the payment transaction using the telephone;

responsive to a determination that a payment amount has been entered and further responsive to a determination that the entered account number and payment number are valid, and during the call;

accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the call, whether sufficient available credit or funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to complete the payment transaction;

responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the associated account, charging the entered payment amount against the account associated with the entered payment number, adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system; and

responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds do not exist in the associated account, informing the caller during the call that the current payment transaction has been declined and terminating the current payment transaction.

27. A method of paying bills using a telephone device connectable to at least one remote payment network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a connection is made using the telephone device to initiate a payment transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting for entry of a valid account number using the telephony device, the account number identifying an account of a payor in connection with the payment transaction;

prompting for entry of a valid payment number using the telephony device, the payment number being selected from any one of a number of forms of payment;

prompting for entry of a payment amount using the telephony device;

responsive to entry of a payment number and payment amount, accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the connection, whether sufficient available credit or funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to cover the entered payment amount; and

responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the associated account, debiting the entered payment amount from the account associated with the entered payment number, crediting the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system during the connection.

28. A system for enabling a payor to pay bills using a telephone connectable to at least one remote payment network via a payee'"'"'s agent'"'"'s system, wherein a caller places a call using the telephone to initiate a payment transaction, the system comprising:

means for prompting the caller to enter a valid account number using the telephone, the account number identifying an account of the payor with the payee in connection with the payment transaction;

means for prompting the caller to enter a valid payment number using the telephone, the payment number being selected at the discretion of the caller from any one of a number of forms of payment;

means for prompting the caller to enter a payment amount using the telephone;

means for responsive to entry of a payment number and payment amount, accessing a remote payment network associated with the entered payment number, the accessed remote payment network determining, during the call, whether sufficient available credit or funds exist in an account associated with the entered payment number to cover the entered payment amount; and

means responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the associated account, for debiting the entered payment amount from the account associated with the entered payment number, crediting the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, and

means responsive to a determination that sufficient available credit or funds exist in the associated account, for debiting the entered payment amount from the account associated with the entered payment number, crediting the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number, and storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in a transaction log file of the system during the call.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said payment number is a debit account.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein said payment number is a bank account number.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the means for adding the entered payment amount to an account associated with the entered account number and informing the caller that the payment transaction has been authorized utilizes an approval issued by the accessed remote payment card network.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein storing the account number, payment number and payment amount in the transaction log file also includes an approval code stored in the transaction log file.