Real-Time Balance On a Mobile Phone

• US 20090081990A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Granucci, Nicole Janine, Vriheas, Carrie Elaine, Hammad, Ayman A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/407
• 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 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• 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 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system, method and prepaid payment mobile phone configured to display a current prepaid balance. The prepaid payment mobile phone receives a debit balance request from input on the mobile phone. After retrieving an encoded current balance, the mobile phone displays the amount. The current balance may be calculated by the phone after a transaction, or the phone may receive a debit balance via a short message service notification.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a current balance on a prepaid payment mobile phone comprising:

receiving a balance request from an input on the prepaid payment mobile phone;

retrieving the current balance encoded on a non-volatile memory within the prepaid payment mobile phone;

displaying the current balance on a display on the prepaid payment mobile phone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting for input of a personal identification number (PIN).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether the personal identification number is valid.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the current balance on the mobile phone is displayed only if the personal identification number is determined to be valid.

5. A prepaid payment mobile phone comprising:

a non-volatile programmable memory configured to store a current balance associated with the prepaid payment mobile phone;

an input device configured to receive a request for the current balance;

a display configured to show the current balance when the input device receives the request for the current balance.

6. The prepaid payment mobile phone of claim 5, wherein the display is further configured to prompt for input of a personal identification number (PIN).

7. The prepaid payment mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising:

a processor configured to determine whether the personal identification number is valid.

8. The prepaid payment mobile phone of claim 7, wherein the current balance on a mobile phone is displayed only if the personal identification number is determined to be valid.

19. The prepaid payment mobile phone of claim 8, further comprising:

a processor configured to determine the current balance.

20. The prepaid payment mobile phone of claim 19, wherein the current balance is determined through subtracting a transaction amount from a previous balance.

9. A method of encoding a current balance on a prepaid payment mobile phone comprising:

determining the current balance;

encoding the current balance on a mobile phone on the prepaid payment mobile phone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the current balance on a mobile phone is encoded on a non-volatile programmable memory in the prepaid payment mobile phone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the current balance on the prepaid payment mobile phone is determined through subtracting a transaction amount from a previous balance.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the current balance on the prepaid payment mobile phone is determined by querying an acquirer, payment processor, or issuer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the current balance on the prepaid payment mobile phone is received from an acquirer, payment processor, or issuer via a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

14. A computer-readable medium, encoded with data and instructions, such that when executed by a device, the instructions causes the device to:

determine a current balance;

encode the current balance on the prepaid payment mobile phone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the current balance is encoded on a non-volatile programmable memory in the prepaid payment mobile phone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the current balance is determined through subtracting a transaction amount from a previous balance.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the current balance is determined through querying an acquirer, payment processor, or issuer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the current balance is received from an acquirer, payment processor, or issuer via a Short Message Service (SMS) message.