Direct payment with token

• US 20050267842A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weichert, Margaret M., Mascavage, John J. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,903 B2
• 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 20/10 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 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• 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 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, a method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide area network when the transfer information is incomplete at some point is disclosed. In one step, initial transfer information for a transfer of funds from the payor to the payee is received. In another step, supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee is received. The transfer of funds from the payor to the payee is completed using both the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee and the supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee.

Claims

1. A method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein transfer information is incomplete at some point, the method comprising:

receiving initial transfer information for a transfer of funds from a payor to a payee, wherein the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee comprises;

a transfer amount, wherein the transfer amount comprises a quantity of funds to be transferred from the payor to the payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee,

a payee identifier, wherein the payee identifier designates the payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, and

a source handler, wherein the source handler comprises a first method of payment of the payor for the transfer of funds from the payor;

providing a notification of the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the notification comprises the payee identifier;

waiting to receive supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein;

the supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee comprises a target handler,

the target handler comprises a second method of payment to the payee for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, and

the second method of payment to the payee for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee is chosen by the payee; and

completing the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee using both the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee and the supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee after the waiting step is complete.

2. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein the payee identifier comprises an e-mail address.

3. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein the transfer amount corresponds to at least one of:

currency, monetary value, coupon credit, airline mileage, promotional program points, gift certificate credit, and commodities.

4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1.

5. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee further comprises a second payee identifier, wherein the second payee identifier designates a second payee in the transfer of funds from the payor.

6. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee received during the receiving initial transfer information step is received separately from a second portion of the initial information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee.

7. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein the supplemental transfer information is received from the payor.

8. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein the completing the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee step comprises:

executing a first transfer of funds in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the first transfer of funds in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee comprises transferring the transfer amount from the source handler to a stored value fund.

9. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 8, wherein the completing the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee step further comprises maintaining the transfer amount in the stored value fund until the waiting step is complete.

10. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 8, wherein the completing the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee step further comprises executing a second transfer in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the second transfer in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee comprises transferring the transfer amount from the stored value fund using the supplemental transfer information.

15. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 1, wherein the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee further comprises a second payee identifier, wherein the second payee identifier designates a second payee in the transfer of funds from the payor.

11. A method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point, the method comprising:

receiving initial transfer information for a transfer of funds from a payor to a payee, wherein the initial transfer information for a transfer of funds from a payor to a payee comprises;

a transfer amount, wherein the transfer amount comprises a quantity of funds to be transferred from the payor to the payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee,

a payee identifier, wherein the payee identifier designates the payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, and

a source handler, wherein the source handler comprises a first method of payment of the payor for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee;

providing a notification of the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the notification comprises the payee identifier;

executing a first transfer of funds in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the first transfer of funds comprises transferring the transfer amount from the source handler to a stored value fund using the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee;

waiting to receive supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein;

the supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee comprises a target handler,

the target handler comprises a second method of payment of the payee for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, and

the second method of payment to the payee for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee is chosen by the payee;

maintaining the transfer amount in the stored value fund until the waiting step is complete; and

executing a second transfer of funds in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the second transfer of funds comprises transferring the transfer amount from the stored value fund using the supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee after the waiting step is complete.

12. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 11, wherein the payee identifier comprises an e-mail address.

13. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 11, wherein the transfer amount corresponds to at least one of:

currency, monetary value, coupon credit, airline mileage, promotional program points, gift certificate credit, and commodities.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 11.

16. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 11, wherein a first portion of the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee received during the receiving initial transfer information step is received separately from a second portion of the initial transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee.

17. The method for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 11, wherein the supplemental transfer information is received from the payor.

18. A payment enabler for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point, the payment enabler comprising:

a plurality of money handlers, wherein each of the plurality of money handlers corresponds to a method of payment;

a first payment handler interface, wherein;

the first payment handler interface is configured to interact with the plurality of money handlers;

a second payment handler interface, wherein;

the second payment handler interface is configured to interact with the plurality of money handlers;

a plurality of user interfaces, wherein each of the plurality of user interfaces is configured to accept information for a transfer of fuids from a payor to a payee; and

a payment controller, wherein;

the payment controller is communicatively coupled to;

the first payment handler interface,

the second payment handler interface, and

the plurality of user interfaces;

initial transfer information is received from the payor that relates to the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, wherein the initial transfer information comprises;

a transfer amount, wherein the transfer amount comprises a quantity of funds to be transferred from the payor to the payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee, and

a payee identifier, wherein the payee identifier designates the payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee,

a source handler, wherein the source handler corresponds to one or more of the plurality of money handlers, and

the source handler is chosen by the payee;

supplemental transfer information is received that relates to the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee from the payee, wherein;

the supplemental transfer information for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee comprises a target handler,

the target handler for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee corresponds to one or more of the plurality of money handlers, and

the target handler for the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee is chosen by the payee.

19. The payment enabler for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 18, wherein the initial transfer information further comprises a second payee identifier, wherein the second payee identifier designates a second payee in the transfer of funds from the payor to the payee.

20. The payment enabler for transferring funds from a payor to one or more payees using a wide-area computer network, wherein the transfer information is incomplete at some point of claim 18, further comprising a stored value fund, wherein:

the stored value fund comprises a storage for the transfer amount, and

the stored value fund is communicatively coupled to;

the payment controller,

the first payment handler interface,

the second payment handler interface, and

the plurality of user interfaces.