MONEY TRANSFERS UTILIZING UNIQUE RECEIVER IDENTIFIER

• US 20090106152A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Blair, Paul, Gilbert, Jacques, Dill, Matt, Mann, Rebecca
• Application Number:
  US12/146,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• 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 20/40 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for financial transfers utilizing a unique identifier to facility flexible payment options for the transaction. According to one embodiment, a method for supporting a money transfer transaction can comprise receiving a request to initiate the money transfer transaction. The request can include a unique identifier for a recipient of the money transfer transaction. A destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient can be determined based at least in part on the unique identifier for the recipient. The funds for the money transfer transaction can be transferred to the determined destination and the recipient can be notified of availability of funds at the determined destination.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a money transfer transaction, the method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate the money transfer transaction, the request including a unique identifier for a recipient of the money transfer transaction;

determining a destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient based at least in part on the unique identifier for the recipient;

transferring the funds for the money transfer transaction to the determined destination; and

notifying the recipient of availability of funds at the determined destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to initiate the money transfer transaction comprises receiving the request from a mobile wallet application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to initiate the money transfer transaction comprises receiving the request from a web site of a money transfer facilitator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to initiate the money transfer transaction comprises receiving the request from a retail agent location of a money transfer facilitator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to initiate the money transfer transaction comprises receiving the request from a telephone money transfer service of a money transfer facilitator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier for the recipient of the money transfer transaction comprises a phone number for a mobile device of the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier for the recipient of the money transfer transaction comprises an email address for the recipient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier for the recipient of the money transfer transaction comprises an instant messaging identifier for the recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier for the recipient of the money transfer transaction comprises a preferred customer number for the recipient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the destination for transferring funds to the recipient comprises:

determining a mobile network operator for the recipient; and

determining whether the mobile network operator for the recipient has a relationship with a money transfer facilitator supporting the money transfer transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising in response to determining the mobile network operator for the recipient has a relationship with the money transfer facilitator, determining whether the recipient is enrolled in a mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises an account associated with the mobile wallet service if the recipient is enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises a destination designate by the recipient if the recipient is not enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising in response to determining the recipient is not enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator, sending a message to the recipient inviting the recipient to enroll in the mobile wallet service.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises an account associated with the mobile wallet service if the recipient enrolls in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises a destination designated by the recipient if the mobile network operator for the recipient does not have a relationship with the money transfer facilitator.

17. A system comprising:

a mobile communications network; and

a money transfer facilitator system communicatively coupled with the mobile communications network, the money transfer facilitator system adapted to receive a request to initiate the money transfer transaction, the request including a unique identifier for a recipient of the money transfer transaction, determine a destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient based at least in part on the unique identifier for the recipient, affect a transfer of the funds for the money transfer transaction to the determined destination, and notify the recipient of availability of funds at the determined destination.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a mobile network operator system communicatively coupled with the mobile communications network, wherein the money transfer money transfer facilitator, in determining the destination for transferring funds to the recipient further determines whether the mobile network operator has a relationship with the money transfer facilitator.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile network operator system is further adapted to determine whether the recipient is enrolled in a mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises an account associated with the mobile wallet service if the recipient is enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises a destination designate by the recipient if the recipient is not enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein in response to determining the recipient is not enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator, the mobile network operator system is adapted to send a message to the recipient inviting the recipient to enroll in the mobile wallet service.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises an account associated with the mobile wallet service if the recipient enrolls in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises a destination designated by the recipient if the mobile network operator for the recipient does not have a relationship with the money transfer facilitator.

25. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to support a money transfer transaction by:

receiving a request to initiate the money transfer transaction, the request including a unique identifier for a recipient of the money transfer transaction;

determining a destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient based at least in part on the unique identifier for the recipient;

transferring the funds for the money transfer transaction to the determined destination; and

notifying the recipient of availability of funds at the determined destination.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein determining the destination for transferring funds to the recipient comprises:

determining a mobile network operator for the recipient; and

determining whether the mobile network operator for the recipient has a relationship with a money transfer facilitator supporting the money transfer transaction.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising in response to determining the mobile network operator for the recipient has a relationship with the money transfer facilitator, determining whether the recipient is enrolled in a mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises an account associated with the mobile wallet service if the recipient is enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises a destination designate by the recipient if the recipient is not enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising in response to determining the recipient is not enrolled in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator, sending a message to the recipient inviting the recipient to enroll in the mobile wallet service.

31. The machine-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises an account associated with the mobile wallet service if the recipient enrolls in the mobile wallet service of the mobile network operator.

32. The machine-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the destination for transferring funds for the money transfer transaction to the recipient comprises a destination designated by the recipient if the mobile network operator for the recipient does not have a relationship with the money transfer facilitator.