Transacting Mobile Person-to-Person Payments

• US 20070255620A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Obopay Incorporated (OBP Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Obopay Incorporated (OBP Investments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schwartz, David, Tumminaro, John, Hosokawa, Pete, Shawki, Hesham
• Application Number:
  US11/694,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255620A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.270
• 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 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3263 characterised by activation or deactivation of payment capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/16 : with lock-out or secrecy provision in party-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

In a mobile payment system, registered users or members may send payment to other member or unregistered users or nonmembers. In a specific implementation, a person-to-person payment system allows existing members of a payment system to send funds to nonmembers with the intent that the nonmember becomes a member. This ability of a payment system may be referred to as “viral” because it promotes new member registrations in an exponential spreading fashion.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a payment instruction from a first user to pay a second user a money amount, where the first user is a registered user and the second user is identified by a telephone number for the second user;

based on the telephone number, determining that the second user is not a registered user;

sending a first electronic message to a device associated with the telephone number notifying the second user of the pending payment from the first user;

after sending the first electronic message, registering the second user and presenting the second user with an first option to accept the pending payment from the first user and a second option to reject the pending payment from the first user;

when the second user selects the first option, debiting the money amount from a first account associated with the first user and crediting the money amount to a second account associated with the second user; and

when the second user selects the second option, sending a second electronic message to the first user that the payment was declined.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second account is in a pooled account and when the first user is a no-card, registered user, the first account is in the pooled account, and the debiting and crediting comprises maintaining the money amount within the pooled account.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second account is in a pooled account and when the first user is a no-card, registered user, the first account is in the pooled account, and the debiting and crediting comprises not transferring the money amount outside the pooled account.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein when the first user is a no-card, registered user, the first account is in a first pooled account and the second account is in a second pooled account, different from the first pooled account, and the debiting and crediting comprises transferring the money amount from the first pooled account to the second pooled account.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user is a carded, registered user and the second account is in a pooled account, and the debiting and crediting comprises transferring the money amount from the first account to the second account in the pooled account, whereby the pooled account is increased by the money amount.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving in addition to the payment instruction a sequence number generated by a device that sent the payment instruction; and

after receiving the sequence number, generating a transaction number for the payment instruction.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

processing the payment instruction only if the sequence number does not match any previously received sequence number stored in a database.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the database comprises received sequence numbers for a rolling time period.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

after receiving the sequence number, generating an expected sequence number; and

processing the payment instruction only if the sequence number matches the expected sequence number.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a payment instruction from a first user to pay a second user a money amount, where the first user is a registered user and the second user is identified by a telephone number for the second user;

based on the telephone number, determining that the second user is not a registered user;

sending a first electronic message to a device associated with the telephone number notifying the second user of the pending payment from the first user;

after sending the first electronic message, registering the second user and presenting the second user with an first option to accept the pending payment from the first user, a second option to reject the pending payment from the first user, and a third option to request a change to the pending payment from the first user;

when the second user selects the first option, debiting the money amount from a first account associated with the first user and crediting the money amount to a second account associated with the second user; and

when the second user selects the second option, sending a second electronic message to the first user that the payment was declined.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising:

when the second user selects the third option, sending a third electronic message to the first user that the second user has requested a change in the pending payment.

12. The method of claim 10 comprising:

when the second user selects the third option,

receiving a request from the second user to change the pending payment to have a different money amount,

sending a third electronic message to the first user notifying the first user of the change to the pending payment,

presenting the first user with a fourth option to accept the change to the pending payment or a fifth option to reject the change to the pending payment, and

when the first user selects the fourth option, debiting the different money amount from an account of the first user and crediting the different money amount to an account associated with the second user.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the device is at least one of a smartphone, mobile telephony device, portable e-mail device, personal digital assistant, or computer.

14. The method of claim 10 comprising:

after determining the second user is not a registered user, placing a hold on the money amount in the first account.

15. The method of claim 10 comprising:

after determining the second user is not a registered user, placing a hold on the money amount in the first account; and

after a certain number of days elapses from the time the payment instruction was received and the second user has not registered, removing the hold on the money amount in the first account.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a payment instruction from a first user to pay a second user a money amount, where the first user is a registered user and the second user is identified by a telephone number for the second user;

based on the telephone number, determining that the second user is not a registered user;

sending a first electronic message to a device associated with the telephone number notifying the second user of an attempted payment from the first user;

after sending the first electronic message, registering the second user, sending the first user a second electronic message to the first user that second user has registered, and presenting the first user with a first option to pay the second user the money amount; and

when the first user selects the first option, debiting the money amount from a first account associated with the first user and crediting the money amount to a second account associated with the second user.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

after the second user registers, crediting the first account with a referral bonus amount.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising:

after the second user registers, crediting the second account with a referral bonus amount.

19. The method of claim 16 comprising:

sending a second electronic message to the first user that second user is not registered user.

20. The method of claim 16 comprising:

receiving in addition to the payment instruction a sequence number generated by a device that sent the payment instruction; and

after receiving the sequence number, generating a transaction number for the payment instruction.