COMMUNICATION DEVICE INCLUDING MULTI-PART ALIAS IDENTIFIER

• US 20090281948A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,715,709 B2
• 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 20/40 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for allowing financial transactions to be conducted using consumer devices. In some embodiments, the consumer device is a mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone. A payer initiates a transaction by sending a payment request message from a mobile phone which specifies the payee and amount to be paid. Payees are identified by unique aliases, which are maintained in a database. The aliases, in turn, are comprised of multiple parts. Each part of the alias may identify a relevant aspect of the transaction. For example, one part of the alias may identify the payee and another part of the alias may identify the financial institution of the account of the payee. Methods for assembling the enrollment and alias database are included.

Claims

1. A consumer device comprising:

a processor;

a network interface configured to send messages from the consumer device; and

a computer readable medium comprising code executable by the processor, wherein the code executable by the processor comprises;

code for sending a payment request message to a server computer via the network interface, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, wherein the payment request message contains an alias identifier, wherein the alias identifier comprises a first part and a second part, wherein at least the second part identifies a financial institution of a destination account for the predetermined amount of money, Wherein the server computer is configured to facilitate the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination account.

2. The consumer device of claim 1 wherein the consumer device is a portable consumer device.

3. The consumer device of claim 2 wherein the network interface comprises an antenna.

4. The consumer device of claim 3 wherein the antenna enables the consumer device to communicate over a cellular network and wherein the payment request message is an SMS message sent over the cellular network.

5. A method comprising:

sending a payment request message from a consumer device to a payment processing network, wherein the consumer device comprises a network interface configured to send and receive messages, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, wherein the payment request message contains an alias identifier, wherein the alias identifier comprises a first part and a second part, wherein at least the second part identifies a financial institution of a destination account for the predetermined amount of money, wherein the server computer is configured to facilitate the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination account.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the consumer device is a portable consumer device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the network interface comprises an antenna.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the antenna enables the consumer device to communicate over a cellular network and wherein the payment request message is an SMS message sent over the cellular network.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a payment confirmation message on the consumer device indicating the completion of the transfer of funds, wherein the payment confirmation message comprises a payment confirmation code.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving in response to the payment request message an authentication request message, where the authentication request message is received on the consumer device; and

sending an authentication token in response to the authentication request message.

11. A system comprising:

a server computer comprising a processor, a network interface, and a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises code executable by the processor, wherein the code executable by the processor comprises;

code for receiving a payment request message over the network interface;

wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, wherein the payment request message contains an alias identifier, wherein the alias identifier comprises a first part and a second part, wherein at least the second part identifies a destination account of the predetermined amount of money;

code for determining from the second part of the alias identifier the destination account of the predetermined amount of money;

code for facilitating the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination account; and

a database comprising data records that associates the second part of alias identifiers with destination accounts, wherein the database is communicatively coupled to the server computer, wherein the server computer accesses the database to determine the destination account of the predetermined amount of money.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the payment request message received over the network interface is an SMS message.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the payment request message received over the network interface is received over the internet.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the code executable by the processor further comprises:

code for generating an IVR callback to confirm the request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the code executable by the processor further comprises:

code for receiving a PIN in response to the IVR callback; and

code for verifying the PIN before facilitating the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination account.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the code executable by the processor further comprises:

code for sending a confirmation message after the predetermined amount of money has been transferred.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the code for facilitating the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination comprises:

code for requesting the predetermined amount of money from a payer'"'"'s account; and

code for sending the requested funds to the destination account of the predetermined amount of money.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the code for facilitating the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination account comprises:

code for sending a payment message to an institution associated with a payer'"'"'s account, wherein the payment message instructs the institution to transfer the predetermined amount of money to the destination account.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a payment request message at a server computer;

wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, wherein the payment request message contains an alias identifier, wherein the alias identifier comprises a first part and a second part, wherein at least the second part identifies a destination account of the predetermined amount of money;

determining from the second part of the alias identifier the destination account of the predetermined amount of money; and

facilitating the transfer of the predetermined amount of money to the destination account.

20. A computer readable medium comprising code for performing the method of claim 19.