Methods and Systems For Making a Payment Via A Stored Value Card in a Mobile Environment

• US 20080040265A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Firethorn Holdings LLC (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cochran, Kyle Leighton, Porter, Warren Derek, Rackley III, Brady Lee, Rickman, Gregory Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,911,114 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 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• 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 20/32 using wireless 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 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods and systems for making a financial payment to a payee via a stored value (SV) card utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone (cellphone) or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA). The mobile device communicates wirelessly with a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) that stores user information and transaction information. A user enters information via the mobile device identifying a payee and indicating a stored value card payment method. The mobile device generates a mobile payment instruction that includes information corresponding to the identified payee and indicating a stored value card payment method. The mobile payment instruction is wirelessly communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS generates an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient that can issue a new stored value card and/or reload funds onto a pre-existing stored value card. The MFTS communicates the MFTS payment instruction to the payment instruction recipient, which arranges for payment to the identified payee by issuing a new stored value card or reloading funds onto a pre-existing stored value card.

Claims

1. A method for making a financial payment to a payee via a stored value (SV) card utilizing a mobile device connected for communications via a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

receiving user input at the mobile device of information identifying a payee for a payment to be made by a stored value (SV) card payment method;

at the user mobile device in response to the user input, generating a mobile payment instruction comprising information corresponding to the identified payee;

wirelessly communicating the mobile payment instruction from the user mobile device to a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS);

at the MFTS and in response to receipt of the mobile payment instruction, determining information corresponding to an identified payee for receiving the payment and information indicating payment by a SV card method;

at the MFTS, generating an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient that maintains a relationship with a SV card entity, the MFTS payment instruction including at least an amount, information corresponding to the identified payee, and information corresponding to potential payment by a SV card payment method;

communicating the MFTS payment instruction from the MFTS to the payment instruction recipient; and

at the payment instruction recipient, in response to receipt of the MFTS payment instruction, effecting a payment to the identified payee by a stored value card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by selection of one of a plurality of prestored names.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by user entry of a mobile number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying information at the user mobile device corresponding to selection by the user/payer of use a SV card payment method for effecting the payment to the payee from among a plurality of different payment methods.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selectable payment methods include:

a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer, a paper check, and a stored value (SV) card.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment instruction recipient is one of a financial service provider, a billing aggregator, a stored value card issuer, a retail establishment that handles stored value cards.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing a cached account balance in the mobile device representative of the balance in the at least one account as of a particular date;

receiving updated account balance information for the account; and

in response to receipt of updated account balance information, displaying updated account balance information corresponding to the account to the user via the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating information to the payee advising that payment by SV card may be received.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving user selection of at least one selectable payment source for the payment at the user mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selection of a payment source for making a payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein selection of a payment source causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from one or more financial service providers and wirelessly communicate the current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the one or more financial service providers.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) includes a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) database for storing user information and payment source information associated with at least one account associated with at least one financial service provider;

and

further comprising the step of determining information corresponding to a selected account at a financial service provider identified in the payment instruction by retrieving said information from information prestored in the MFTS database.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the MFTS stores transaction information corresponding to a user'"'"'s financial transactions, the transaction information including the payment information in addition to other information utilized to track status of the payment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transaction information includes one or more of the following items of information:

a user ID number, a transaction identifier, an amount, a financial service provider identifier, an account identifier, a payee identifier, a pending/complete flag.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some payee information is input by the user via an Internet-accessible web site accessible by the user for input of payee information and is thereafter wirelessly communicated to the mobile device for display to the user.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a Mobile Wallet application on the user mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the Mobile Wallet application provides a display on the mobile device of selectable commands including a Pay Anyone command, a Payment Source selection command, and a Payment Method selection command.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein user activation of a Payment Source selection command causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from the selected financial service provider and wirelessly communicate current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the selected financial service provider.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving user input corresponding to selection of a payment source for making a payment in response to display of a Payment Source selection command via the Mobile Wallet.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the selection of a payment source for making the payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a payment confirmation message at the MFTS from the payment instruction recipient in response to completion of a predetermined stage in making the payment.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating a payment confirmation message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of selectable payment methods including, in addition to a stored value (SV) card method, one or more of a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer method, and a paper check method.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the MFTS is further coupled for electronic communications with a user'"'"'s computer via a data communications network such as the Internet, and further comprising the steps of:

providing a web application in association with the MFTS;

receiving user information via the web application corresponding to financial service providers, accounts at financial service providers, and billing entities; and

storing the user information input via the web application in an MFTS database for use in connection with payments initiated via the user mobile device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of retrieving and displaying transaction information corresponding to transactions conducted via the user mobile device, via the web application, to a user on the user'"'"'s computer.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number to the user for confirmation that the payment is to be made by crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein information corresponding to the payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card is stored in an MFTS database and wirelessly communicated to the user mobile device for display to the user and confirmation by user command.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a data entry screen on the mobile device for entry of a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number for purposes of crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

wirelessly communicating a message to a payee'"'"'s mobile device, the message advising the payee that a payment has been sent by the user via SV card; and

receiving input from the payee at the payee'"'"'s mobile device indicating a selected manner in which the payee wishes to receive the payment via SV card.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device comprises a text message.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device is provided via a Mobile Wallet application installed on the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the selected manner in which the payee can receive payment via SV card includes crediting the payment to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card and issue of a new SV card.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the steps of, in response to an indication by the payee of receipt of payment via a new SV card:

displaying a data entry screen on the payee'"'"'s mobile device for receiving entry of information to identify a location for receipt of a new SV card;

receiving payee input of information for identifying a location for receipt of the new SV card;

wirelessly communicating the location information to the MFTS; and

in response to payee input of information identifying a location for receipt of the new SV card, wirelessly communicating information to the payee identifying a specific retail location at which the new SV card may be obtained.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of communicating card pickup information to the SV card issuer that enables the SV card issuer to issue a card to the payee and further enables a retail location that issues SV cards to verify the identity of the payee for SV card pickup.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the card pickup information comprises a transaction number provided by the MFTS that is associated with the payment, a card number, and a mobile phone number associated with the payee.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating the card pickup information to the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

37. A system for effecting a stored value card payment via use of a mobile device connected for communications with a wireless network, comprising:

at least one user mobile device coupled for wireless communications with a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) and operative for receiving user input of payee identifying information and payment information, the mobile device further operative for generating a mobile payment instruction comprising information corresponding to an identified payee and wirelessly communicating the mobile payment instruction to the MFTS; and

a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) coupled for wireless communications with one or more mobile devices of a user using a mobile communication service provider (MCSP), the MFTS coupled for electronic communications with a payment instruction recipient that effects a payment via a stored value card, the MFTS including a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) database for storing user information and payment, the MFTS including MFTS software comprising program code for carrying out the computer-implemented steps of;

in response to receipt of the mobile payment instruction, determining information corresponding to an identified payee for receiving the payment and information indicating payment by a SV card method;

generating an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient that maintains a relationship with a SV card entity, the MFTS payment instruction including at least an amount, information corresponding to the identified payee, and information corresponding to potential payment by a SV card payment method; and

communicating the MFTS payment instruction from the MFTS to the payment instruction recipient,

whereby at the payment instruction recipient, in response to receipt of the MFTS payment instruction, a payment to the identified payee is effected by a stored value card.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by selection of one of a plurality of prestored names.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by user entry of a mobile number.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the mobile device is further operative for displaying information corresponding to selection by the user/payer of a SV card payment method for effecting the payment to the payee from among a plurality of different payment methods.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the selectable payment methods include:

a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer, a paper check, and a stored value (SV) card.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein the payment instruction recipient is one of a financial service provider, a billing aggregator, a stored value card issuer, a retail establishment that handles stored value cards.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the user mobile device stores a cached account balance in the mobile device representative of the balance in the at least one account as of a particular date;

wherein the user mobile device receives updated account balance information for the account and wirelessly communicates updated account balance information from the MFTS to the user mobile device; and

wherein in response to receipt of updated account balance information from the MFTS, the user mobile device displays updated account balance information corresponding to the account to the user.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for wirelessly communicating information to the payee advising that payment by SV card may be received.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the mobile device is further operative for receiving user selection of at least one selectable payment source for the payment at the user mobile device.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the selection of a payment source for making a payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein selection of a payment source causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from one or more financial service providers and wirelessly communicate the current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the one or more financial service providers.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) includes a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) database for storing user information and payment source information associated with at least one account associated with at least one financial service provider;

and

wherein the MFTS software is further operative for determining information corresponding to a selected account at a financial service provider identified in the payment instruction by retrieving said information from information prestored in the MFTS database.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the MFTS stores transaction information corresponding to a user'"'"'s financial transactions, the transaction information including the payment information in addition to other information utilized to track status of the payment.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the transaction information includes one or more of the following items of information:

a user ID number, a transaction identifier, an amount, a financial service provider identifier, an account identifier, a payee identifier, a pending/complete flag.

51. The system of claim 37, wherein at least some payee information is input by the user via an Internet-accessible web site accessible by the user for input of payee information and is thereafter wirelessly communicated to the mobile device for display to the user.

52. The system of claim 37, further comprising the step of providing a Mobile Wallet application on the user mobile device.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the Mobile Wallet application provides a display on the mobile device of selectable commands including a Pay Anyone command, a Payment Source selection command, and a Payment Method selection command.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein user activation of a Payment Source selection command causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from the selected financial service provider and wirelessly communicate current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the selected financial service provider.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the mobile device is further operative for receiving user input corresponding to selection of a payment source for making a payment in response to display of a Payment Source selection command via the Mobile Wallet.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the selection of a payment source for making the payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

57. The system of claim 37, wherein the MFTS receives a payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient in response to completion of a predetermined stage in making the payment.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for wirelessly communicating a payment confirmation message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient.

59. The system of claim 37, wherein the mobile device is further operative to provide a plurality of selectable payment methods including, in addition to a stored value (SV) card method, one or more of a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer method, and a paper check method.

60. The system of claim 37, wherein the MFTS is further coupled for electronic communications with a user'"'"'s computer via a data communications network such as the Internet, and wherein the MFTS software is further operative for:

providing a web application;

receiving user information via the web application corresponding to financial service providers, accounts at financial service providers, and billing entities; and

storing the user information input via the web application in an MFTS database for use in connection with payments initiated via the user mobile device.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for retrieving and displaying transaction information corresponding to transactions conducted via the user mobile device, via the web application, to a user on the user'"'"'s computer.

62. The system of claim 37, wherein the mobile device is further operative for displaying a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number to the user for confirmation that the payment is to be made by crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein information corresponding to the payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card is stored in an MFTS database and wirelessly communicated to the user mobile device for display to the user and confirmation by user command.

64. The system of claim 37, wherein the mobile device is further operative for providing a data entry screen on the mobile device for entry of a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number for purposes of crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

65. The system of claim 37, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for:

wirelessly communicating a message to a payee'"'"'s mobile device, the message advising the payee that a payment has been sent by the user via SV card; and

receiving input from the payee at the payee'"'"'s mobile device indicating a selected manner in which the payee wishes to receive the payment via SV card.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device comprises a text message.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device is provided via a Mobile Wallet application installed on the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the selected manner in which the payee can receive payment via SV card includes crediting the payment to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card and issue of a new SV card.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein in response to an indication by the payee of receipt of payment via a new SV card:

the payee'"'"'s mobile device displays a data entry screen for receiving entry of information to identify a location for receipt of a new SV card;

receives payee input of information for identifying a location for receipt of the new SV card;

wirelessly communicates the location information to the MFTS; and

the MFTS software, in response to payee input of information identifying a location for receipt of the new SV card, wirelessly communicates information to the payee identifying a specific retail location at which the new SV card may be obtained.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for communicating card pickup information to the SV card issuer that enables the SV card issuer to issue a card to the payee and further enables a retail location that issues SV cards to verify the identity of the payee for SV card pickup.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the card pickup information comprises a transaction number provided by the MFTS that is associated with the payment, a card number, and a mobile phone number associated with the payee.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for communicating the card pickup information to the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

73. A method for making a financial payment to a payee via a stored value (SV) card utilizing a mobile device connected for communications via a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

receiving user input at the mobile device of information identifying a payee for a payment to be made by a stored value (SV) card payment method;

generating a mobile payment instruction comprising information corresponding to the identified payee; and

wirelessly communicating the mobile payment instruction from the user mobile device to a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS), the MFTS coupled for communications with a payment instruction recipient that can issue a SV card to a payee,

whereby the MFTS communicates a payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient and the payment instruction recipient effects a payment to the identified payee via a stored value card.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by selection of one of a plurality of prestored names in the mobile device.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by user entry of a mobile number.

76. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of displaying information at the mobile device corresponding to selection by the user/payer of use a SV card payment method for effecting the payment to the payee from among a plurality of different payment methods.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the selectable payment methods include:

a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer, a paper check, and a stored value (SV) card.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the payment instruction recipient is one of a financial service provider, a billing aggregator, a stored value card issuer, a retail establishment that handles stored value cards.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising the steps of:

storing a cached account balance in the mobile device representative of the balance in the at least one account as of a particular date;

receiving updated account balance information for the account; and

in response to receipt of updated account balance information, displaying updated account balance information corresponding to the account to the user via the mobile device.

80. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of receiving user selection of at least one selectable payment source for the payment at the user mobile device.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the selection of a payment source for making a payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein selection of a payment source causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from one or more financial service providers and wirelessly communicate the current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the one or more financial service providers, and

wherein the mobile device is operative to display the current account information to the user.

83. The method of claim 73, wherein at least some payee information is input by the user via an Internet-accessible web site accessible by the user for input of payee information and is thereafter wirelessly communicated to the mobile device for display to the user.

84. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of providing a Mobile Wallet application on the user mobile device.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the Mobile Wallet application provides a display on the mobile device of selectable commands including a Pay Anyone command, a Payment Source selection command, and a Payment Method selection command.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein user activation of a Payment Source selection command causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from the selected financial service provider and wirelessly communicate current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the selected financial service provider.

87. The method of claim 85, further comprising the step of receiving user input corresponding to selection of a payment source for making a payment in response to display of a Payment Source selection command via the Mobile Wallet.

88. The method of claim 85, wherein the selection of a payment source for making the payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

89. The method of claim 88, further comprising the step of wirelessly receiving a payment confirmation message at the mobile device from the MFTS in response to receipt of the payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient.

90. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of selectable payment methods on the mobile device including, in addition to a stored value (SV) card method, one or more of a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer method, and a paper check method.

91. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of displaying a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number to the user for confirmation that the payment is to be made by crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein information corresponding to the payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card is stored in an MFTS database and wirelessly communicated to the user mobile device for display to the user and confirmation by user command.

93. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of providing a data entry screen on the mobile device for entry of a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number for purposes of crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

94. A mobile device making a financial payment to a payee via a stored value (SV) card, comprising:

a mobile device connected for wireless communications via a mobile communication service provider to a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS), the mobile device including a display, user input means, a processor, and a memory; and

mobile device software operative on the mobile device processor comprising program code for carrying out the computer-implemented steps of;

receiving user input at the mobile device of information identifying a payee for a payment to be made by a stored value (SV) card payment method;

generating a mobile payment instruction comprising information corresponding to the identified payee; and

wirelessly communicating the mobile payment instruction from the user mobile device to a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS), the MFTS coupled for communications with a payment instruction recipient that can issue a SV card to a payee,

whereby the MFTS communicates a payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient and the payment instruction recipient effects a payment to the identified payee via a stored value card.

95. The device of claim 94, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by selection of one of a plurality of prestored names in the mobile device.

96. The device of claim 94, wherein the user information identifying a payee comprises identifying a payee by user entry of a mobile number.

97. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile device is further operative for displaying information corresponding to selection by the user/payer of use a SV card payment method for effecting the payment to the payee from among a plurality of different payment methods.

98. The device of claim 97, wherein the selectable payment methods include:

a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer, a paper check, and a stored value (SV) card.

99. The device of claim 94, wherein the payment instruction recipient is one of a financial service provider, a billing aggregator, a stored value card issuer, a retail establishment that handles stored value cards.

100. The device of claim 99, wherein the user mobile device stores a cached account balance in the mobile device representative of the balance in the at least one account as of a particular date;

wherein the user mobile device receives updated account balance information for the account and wirelessly communicates updated account balance information from the MFTS to the user mobile device; and

wherein in response to receipt of updated account balance information from the MFTS, the user mobile device displays updated account balance information corresponding to the account to the user.

101. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile device is further operative for receiving user selection of at least one selectable payment source for the payment at the user mobile device.

102. The device of claim 101, wherein the selection of a payment source for making a payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

103. The device of claim 101, wherein selection of a payment source causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from one or more financial service providers and wirelessly communicate the current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the one or more financial service providers, and

wherein the mobile device is operative to display the current account information to the user.

104. The device of claim 94, wherein at least some payee information is input by the user via an Internet-accessible web site accessible by the user for input of payee information and is thereafter wirelessly communicated to the mobile device for display to the user.

105. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile software comprises a Mobile Wallet application on the user mobile device.

106. The device of claim 105, wherein the Mobile Wallet application provides a display on the mobile device of selectable commands including a Pay Anyone command, a Payment Source selection command, and a Payment Method selection command.

107. The device of claim 106, wherein user activation of a Payment Source selection command causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from the selected financial service provider and wirelessly communicate current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the selected financial service provider.

108. The device of claim 106, wherein the mobile device is further operative for receiving user input corresponding to selection of a payment source for making a payment in response to display of a Payment Source selection command via the Mobile Wallet.

109. The device of claim 106, wherein the selection of a payment source for making the payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

110. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile device is further operative for wirelessly receiving a payment confirmation message at the mobile device from the MFTS in response to receipt of the payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient.

111. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile device is further operative for providing a plurality of selectable payment methods on the mobile device including, in addition to a stored value (SV) card method, one or more of a recipient-defined method, an ACH funds transfer method, and a paper check method.

112. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile device is further operative for displaying a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number to the user for confirmation that the payment is to be made by crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

113. The device of claim 112, wherein information corresponding to the payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card is stored in an MFTS database and wirelessly communicated to the user mobile device for display to the user and confirmation by user command.

114. The device of claim 94, wherein the mobile device software is further operative for providing entry screen on the mobile device for entry of a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number for purposes of crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

115. A computer-implemented method for a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) to effect a financial payment to a payee via a stored value (SV) card in response to a mobile device connected for communication via a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

wirelessly receiving a mobile payment instruction from a mobile device, the mobile payment instruction including at least information corresponding to a stored value card payment method and an amount;

in response to receipt of the mobile payment instruction, determining information corresponding to an identified payee for receiving the payment and information indicating payment by a SV card method;

generating an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient that maintains a relationship with a SV card entity, the MFTS payment instruction including at least an amount, information corresponding to the identified payee, and information corresponding to potential payment by a SV card payment method; and

communicating the MFTS payment instruction from the MFTS to the payment instruction recipient,

whereby at the payment instruction recipient, in response to receipt of the MFTS payment instruction, a payment is effected to the identified payee by a stored value card.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the mobile payment instruction includes information identifying a payee as one of a plurality of names prestored at the MFTS.

117. The method of claim 115, wherein the mobile payment instruction includes information identifying a payee via a mobile number.

118. The method of claim 115, wherein the payment instruction recipient is one of a financial service provider, a billing aggregator, a stored value card issuer, a retail establishment that handles stored value cards.

119. The method of claim 118, further comprising the steps of:

storing a cached account balance in the mobile device representative of the balance in the at least one account as of a particular date;

receiving updated account balance information for the account; and

in response to receipt of updated account balance information, displaying updated account balance information corresponding to the account to the user via the mobile device.

120. The method of claim 115, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating information to the payee advising that payment by SV card may be received.

121. The method of claim 115, wherein the mobile payment instruction further includes information selecting at least one selectable payment source of the user for the payment.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein the selection of a payment source for making a payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

123. The method of claim 121, wherein selection of a payment source causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from one or more financial service providers and wirelessly communicate the current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the one or more financial service providers.

124. The method of claim 121, wherein the mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) includes a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) database for storing user information and payment source information associated with at least one account associated with at least one financial service provider;

and

further comprising the step of determining information corresponding to a selected account at a financial service provider identified in the payment instruction by retrieving said information from information prestored in the MFTS database.

125. The method of claim 115, wherein the MFTS stores transaction information corresponding to a user'"'"'s financial transactions, the transaction information including the payment information in addition to other information utilized to track status of the payment.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein the transaction information includes one or more of the following items of information:

a user ID number, a transaction identifier, an amount, a financial service provider identifier, an account identifier, a payee identifier, a pending/complete flag.

127. The method of claim 115, wherein at least some payee information is input by the user via an Internet-accessible web site accessible by the user for input of payee information and is thereafter wirelessly communicated to the mobile device for display to the user.

128. The method of claim 115, further comprising the step of providing a downloadable Mobile Wallet application for installation and use on the user mobile device.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein user activation of a Payment Source selection command on the Mobile Wallet application causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from the selected financial service provider and wirelessly communicate current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the selected financial service provider.

130. The method of claim 115, further comprising the step of receiving a payment confirmation message at the MFTS from the payment instruction recipient in response to completion of a predetermined stage in making the payment.

131. The method of claim 130, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating a payment confirmation message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient.

132. The method of claim 115, wherein the MFTS is further coupled for electronic communications with a user'"'"'s computer via a data communications network such as the Internet, and further comprising the steps of:

providing a web application in association with the MFTS;

receiving user information via the web application corresponding to financial service providers, accounts at financial service providers, and billing entities; and

storing the user information input via the web application in an MFTS database for use in connection with payments initiated via the user mobile device.

133. The method of claim 132, further comprising the step of retrieving and displaying transaction information corresponding to transactions conducted via the user mobile device, via the web application, to a user on the user'"'"'s computer.

134. The method of claim 115, wherein information corresponding to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card is stored in an MFTS database and wirelessly communicated to the user mobile device for display to the user and confirmation by user command.

135. The method of claim 115, further comprising the step of receiving information from the mobile device corresponding to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number for purposes of crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

136. The method of claim 115, further comprising the steps of:

wirelessly communicating a message to a payee'"'"'s mobile device, the message advising the payee that a payment has been sent by the user via SV card; and

receiving input from the payee at the payee'"'"'s mobile device indicating a selected manner in which the payee wishes to receive the payment via SV card.

137. The method of claim 136, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device comprises a text message.

138. The method of claim 136, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device is provided via a Mobile Wallet application installed on the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

139. The method of claim 136, wherein the selected manner in which the payee can receive payment via SV card includes crediting the payment to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card and issue of a new SV card.

140. The method of claim 139, further comprising the step of, in response to an indication by the payee of receipt of payment via a new SV card:

in response to payee input of information identifying a location for receipt of the new SV card, wirelessly communicating information to the payee identifying a specific retail location at which the new SV card may be obtained.

141. The method of claim 139, further comprising the step of:

communicating card pickup information to the SV card issuer that enables the SV card issuer to issue a card to the payee and further enables a retail location that issues SV cards to verify the identity of the payee for SV card pickup.

142. The method of claim 141, wherein the card pickup information comprises a transaction number provided by the MFTS that is associated with the payment, a card number, and a mobile phone number associated with the payee.

143. The method of claim 141, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating the card pickup information to the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

144. A system for effecting a stored value card payment in response to a communication from a mobile device connected for communications with a wireless network, comprising:

a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) coupled for wireless communications with one or more mobile devices of a user using a mobile communication service provider (MCSP), the MFTS coupled for electronic communications with a payment instruction recipient that effects a payment via a stored value card, the MFTS including a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) database for storing user information and payment information, the MFTS including MFTS software comprising program code for carrying out the computer-implemented steps of;

wirelessly receiving a mobile payment instruction from a mobile device, the mobile payment instruction including at least information corresponding to a stored value card payment method and an amount;

in response to receipt of the mobile payment instruction, determining information corresponding to an identified payee for receiving the payment and information indicating payment by a SV card method;

generating an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient that maintains a relationship with a SV card entity, the MFTS payment instruction including at least an amount, information corresponding to the identified payee, and information corresponding to potential payment by a SV card payment method; and

communicating the MFTS payment instruction from the MFTS to the payment instruction recipient,

whereby at the payment instruction recipient, in response to receipt of the MFTS payment instruction, a payment is effected to the identified payee by a stored value card.

145. The system of claim 144, wherein the mobile payment instruction includes information identifying a payee as one of a plurality of names prestored at the MFTS.

146. The system of claim 144, wherein the mobile payment instruction includes information identifying a payee via a mobile number.

147. The system of claim 144, wherein the payment instruction recipient is one of a financial service provider, a billing aggregator, a stored value card issuer, a retail establishment that handles stored value cards.

148. The system of claim 144, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for wirelessly communicating information to the payee advising that payment by SV card may be received.

149. The system of claim 144, wherein the mobile payment instruction further includes information selecting at least one selectable payment source of the user for the payment.

150. The system of claim 149, wherein the selection of a payment source for making a payment includes selection of a financial service provider and selection of a particular account associated with the selected financial service provider for making the payment.

151. The system of claim 150, wherein the MFTS communicates with the financial service provider to obtain updated account balance information for the account;

wherein the MFTS wirelessly communicates updated account balance information from the MFTS to the user mobile device; and

whereby in response to receipt of updated account balance information from the MFTS, the mobile device displays updated account balance information corresponding to the account to the user.

152. The system of claim 150, wherein selection of a payment source causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from one or more financial service providers and wirelessly communicate the current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the one or more financial service providers.

153. The system of claim 150, wherein the mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) database also stores payment source information associated with at least one account associated with at least one financial service provider;

and

wherein the MFTS software is further operative for determining information corresponding to a selected account at a financial service provider identified in the payment instruction by retrieving said information from information prestored in the MFTS database.

154. The system of claim 153, wherein information corresponding to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card is stored in an MFTS database and wirelessly communicated to the user mobile device for display to the user and confirmation by user command.

155. The system of claim 144, wherein the MFTS stores transaction information corresponding to a user'"'"'s financial transactions, the transaction information including the payment information in addition to other information utilized to track status of the payment.

156. The system of claim 155, wherein the transaction information includes one or more of the following items of information:

a user ID number, a transaction identifier, an amount, a financial service provider identifier, an account identifier, a payee identifier, a pending/complete flag.

157. The system of claim 144, wherein at least some payee information is input by the user via an Internet-accessible web site accessible by the user for input of payee information and is thereafter wirelessly communicated to the mobile device for display to the user.

158. The system of claim 144, wherein the system provides a downloadable Mobile Wallet application for installation and use on the user mobile device.

159. The system of claim 158, wherein user activation of a Payment Source selection command on the Mobile Wallet application causes the MFTS to retrieve current account information from a financial service provider and wirelessly communicate current account information to the mobile device upon receipt of such information from the financial service provider.

160. The system of claim 144, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for receiving a payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient in response to completion of a predetermined stage in making the payment.

161. The system of claim 160, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for wirelessly communicating a payment confirmation message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the payment confirmation message from the payment instruction recipient.

162. The system of claim 144, wherein the MFTS is further coupled for electronic communications with a user'"'"'s computer via a data communications network such as the Internet, and further comprising:

a web application in association with the MFTS operative for receiving user information via the web application corresponding to financial service providers, accounts at financial service providers, and billing entities; and

the MFTS software further operative for storing the user information input via the web application in an MFTS database for use in connection with payments initiated via the user mobile device.

163. The system of claim 162, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for retrieving and displaying transaction information corresponding to transactions conducted via the user mobile device, via the web application, to a user on the user'"'"'s computer.

164. The system of claim 144, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for receiving information from the mobile device corresponding to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card account number for purposes of crediting a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card.

165. The system of claim 144, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for:

wirelessly communicating a message to a payee'"'"'s mobile device, the message advising the payee that a payment has been sent by the user via SV card; and

receiving input from the payee at the payee'"'"'s mobile device indicating a selected manner in which the payee wishes to receive the payment via SV card.

166. The system of claim 165, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device comprises a text message.

167. The system of claim 165, wherein the message to the payee'"'"'s mobile device is provided via a Mobile Wallet application installed on the payee'"'"'s mobile device.

168. The system of claim 165, wherein the selected manner in which the payee can receive payment via SV card includes crediting the payment to a payee'"'"'s pre-existing SV card and issue of a new SV card.

169. The system of claim 168, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for, in response to an indication by the payee of receipt of payment via a new SV card:

in response to payee input of information identifying a location for receipt of the new SV card, wirelessly communicating information to the payee identifying a specific retail location at which the new SV card may be obtained.

170. The system of claim 168, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for communicating card pickup information to the SV card issuer that enables the SV card issuer to issue a card to the payee and further enables a retail location that issues SV cards to verify the identity of the payee for SV card pickup.

171. The system of claim 170, wherein the card pickup information comprises a transaction number provided by the MFTS that is associated with the payment, a card number, and a mobile phone number associated with the payee.

172. The system of claim 170, wherein the MFTS software is further operative for wirelessly communicating the card pickup information to the payee'"'"'s mobile device.