Mobile Value Transfer System

• US 20090112709A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jiawen Su, Sanjeev Bhalla, William J. Barhydt
• Original Assignee: Jiawen Su, Sanjeev Bhalla, William J. Barhydt
• Inventors: Barhydt, William J., Bhalla, Sanjeev, Su, Jiawen
• Application Number:
  US11/926,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112709A1
• 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 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

The present invention provides for a financial value transfer system wherein financial value can be transferred between an account associated with a mobile telephone user and a stored value card. The transfer is facilitated using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device, thereby providing greater flexibility with the use of stored value cards

Claims

1. A method of transferring value in a stored value card, comprising:

accessing a first user account associated with a mobile telephone user, wherein the first user account maintains a financial value;

providing a stored value card identification number to the first user account; and

transferring a value from the first user account to a second account associated with the stored value identification number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second account is maintained by an issuer of the stored value card.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing a first user account with a mobile communication device; and

entering a stored value card identification number via an interface on the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the interface is an SMS/MMS, WAP, or GUI interface.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

confirming the value transfer via an interface on a mobile telecommunications device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the interface is an SMS/MMS, WAP or GUI interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring value adds value to the second account associated with the stored value card identification number.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring value subtracts value from the second account associated with the stored value card identification number.

9. A method of transferring value over a mobile telecommunications network, comprising:

accessing a first user account associated with a mobile telephone user, wherein the first user account maintains a financial value;

identifying a second account, wherein the second account maintains a financial value;

transferring financial value from the first user account to the second account using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device, wherein the second user account is configured to transfer value to or from a stored value card.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second account is associated with a mobile telephone user.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second account is associated with a mobile telephone user different from the mobile telephone user associated with the first user account.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising obtaining acceptance of the transfer of value from the mobile telephone user associated with the second account.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein accessing the first user account and identifying a second account are via an interface on a mobile telecommunications device.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the interface is an SMS/MMS, WAP or GUI interface.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein transferring value subtracts value from the second account and adds value to the first account.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the second account is associated with a bank account, credit card account, stored value card identification number, or a mobile value transfer account.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising confirming the value transfer using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device.

18. A method of activating a stored value card comprising:

accessing a first user account associated with a mobile telephone user;

providing a stored value card identification number using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device;

activating the stored value card with the stored value card issuer;

recording activation of the stored value card in the first user account; and

confirming activation of the stored value card via an interface on a mobile telecommunications device.

19. A method of transferring financial value associated with a stored value card, comprising:

obtaining a stored value card having a stored value card identification number;

accessing a first user account associated with a mobile telephone user;

providing the stored value card identification number via an interface on a mobile telecommunications device;

entering a financial value transfer amount using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device;

transferring the entered financial value amount from the first user account to a second account associated with the stored value card identification number; and

confirming the transfer of financial value using an interface on a mobile telecommunications device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the transfer of financial value subtracts value from the second account and adds value to the first user account.

21. A system for transferring value associated with a stored value card comprising:

a first server operative to maintain a stored value card account associated with a stored value card identification number;

a second server in communication over a network with the first server and operative to maintain a mobile value transfer account associated with a mobile telephone number;

a mobile telecommunications device having an interface for communicating with the second server wherein the mobile telecommunications device communicates over a mobile telecommunications network; and

a mobile value transfer application configured to receive a stored value card identification number from the mobile telecommunications device and transfer financial value between the second server and the first server.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a third server in communication with the second server and operative to maintain a financial value account; and

a mobile value transfer application configured to receive information identifying the financial value account entered in an interface on the mobile telecommunications device and transfer financial value between the third server and the first server.

23. A method of transferring value in a stored value card, comprising:

accessing a first user account associated with a mobile telephone user, wherein the first user account maintains a financial value;

providing a stored value card identification number to the first user account;

transferring a value from the first user account to a second account associated with the stored value identification number; and

depositing a reward value to the first account.

24. A method of transferring value in a stored value card, comprising:

accessing a first user account associated with a mobile telephone user, wherein the first user account maintains a financial value;

providing a stored value card identification number to the first user account;

transferring a value from the first user account to a second account associated with the stored value identification number; and

inserting content to a mobile device associated with the first mobile telephone user.