Method and system for virtual consolidation of biller direct web sites

• US 20060229985A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paymentus Corp.
• Original Assignee: Billeo
• Inventors: Lalwani, Rajesh, Subbarao, Murali
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a system for consolidating bill payment-related information. A consolidation toolbar is installed inside the browser of a user'"'"'s computer. The consolidation toolbar enables the user to interact with a virtual consolidation system for facilitating online bill payment-related activities. Lists of all the billers that are of interest to the user are presented through the consolidation toolbar. On selecting a biller, the user is presented with the login page on the biller'"'"'s web site. The virtual consolidation system assists the user in providing the required information on various web pages on the selected biller'"'"'s web site, to perform various payment-related activities.

Claims

1. A method for virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites, comprising the steps of:

a. presenting a toolbar inside the browser to a user, the toolbar comprising a list, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller from the list, the selection being performed by the user; and

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of presenting the list comprises presenting a list with at least one of:

name of the biller and Universal Resource Locator (URL) for the web site of the biller.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of presenting the list comprises presenting a dropdown list in the browser of the user.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of presenting the list comprises presenting the list after the user is authenticated.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of presenting the list comprises presenting the list of billers which has been personalized by the authenticated user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the user authentication page of the selected biller comprises displaying the page on the biller web site that requests for user identity and password.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the user identity and password are automatically filled for the user.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a. presenting a toolbar inside the browser to a user, the toolbar comprising a list, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller from the list, the selection being performed by the user;

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller;

d. providing user authentication information on the page; and

e. displaying a menu, the contents of the menu being extracted from the page of the selected biller.

9. A method for virtual bill consolidation, comprising the steps of:

a. downloading a toolbar for enabling the process of virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites;

b. confirming user authentication information from a user for using the toolbar;

c. presenting a list to the authenticated user, the list comprising at least one biller;

d. selecting one biller, the selection being performed by the user; and

e. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller.

10. A method for virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites, comprising the steps of:

a. presenting a toolbar inside the browser to a user, the toolbar comprising a list, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller, the selection being performed by the user;

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller;

d. providing authentication information on the user authentication page; and

e. performing at least one bill payment related activity.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of providing authentication information comprises the steps of:

a. providing the user authentication information, the information being provided by the user; and

b. storing the user authentication information.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprises the step of providing the stored information automatically when the user authentication page of the selected biller is displayed to the user.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of performing at least one activity comprises paying a bill.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of paying the bill further comprises the steps of:

a. storing information relating to at least one method of payment in a memory;

b. selecting at least one method of payment from the memory;

c. providing information corresponding to the selected method of payment to the page of the selected biller; and

d. paying the bill through the selected method of payment.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of storing information comprises storing information relating to a credit card of the user.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of storing information comprises storing information relating to a bank account of the user.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of performing at least one activity comprises viewing a bill.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of performing at least one activity comprises saving a payment confirmation for viewing in the future.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of performing at least one activity comprises creating an automated reminder for reminding about future bill payments.

20. A method for virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites, comprising the steps of:

a. presenting a toolbar inside the browser to a user, the toolbar comprising a list, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller from the list, the selection being performed by the user;

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller;

d. providing user authentication information on the page; and

e. displaying a menu, the contents of the menu being extracted from the page of the selected biller.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of displaying the menu comprises displaying the menu inside the browser of the user.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the extracted menu contents include at least one of:

buttons, images, menu structures, and sub-menu structures.

23. A method for virtual bill consolidation, comprising the steps of:

a. presenting a list to a user, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller from the list, the selection being performed by the user;

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller;

d. providing the user authentication information on the user authentication page;

e. performing at least one bill payment related activity; and

f. saving the page related to the bill payment activity.

24. A system for virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites, comprising:

a. a computer running a process for consolidating and presenting a list of billers inside the browser of a user through a toolbar;

b. a database containing information relating to the list of billers; and

c. a server providing an interface between the computer and the database, the server enabling presenting consolidated bills to the user.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the database further comprises information relating to the list of billers selected by the user.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the database further comprises information relating to the links contained within the web page of a biller, the biller being selected by the user.

27. A computer program product for use with a computer, for virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites, the computer program product performing the steps of:

a. presenting a toolbar inside the browser to a user, the toolbar comprising a list, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller from the list, the selection being performed by the user; and

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller.

28. A computer program product for use with a computer, for virtual consolidation of biller-direct web sites, the computer program product performing the steps of:

a. presenting a toolbar inside the browser to a user, the toolbar comprising a list, the list comprising at least one biller;

b. selecting one biller from the list, the selection being performed by the user;

c. displaying a user authentication page of the selected biller;

d. providing authentication information on the user authentication page; and

e. performing at least one bill payment related activity.