Inter-Network Electronic Billing
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a first electronic financial service provider from a second electronic financial service provider, a request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer, wherein the first electronic financial service provider supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks and the second electronic financial service provider supports a second of the plurality of electronic financial service networks, each of the plurality of electronic financial service networks comprising a respective plurality of billers or payers, wherein the biller is associated with the first electronic financial service network and not associated with the second electronic financial service network, and wherein the payer is not associated with the first electronic financial service network; and
transmitting, by the first electronic financial service provider to the second electronic financial service provider responsive to the received request, activation confirmation information associated with the request,wherein electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer, andwherein the above steps are performed by one or more computers associated with the first electronic financial service provider.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for electronic billing activation are provided. A request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer is received by a first electronic financial service provider (EFSP) that supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks (EFSNs) from a second EFSP that supports a second of the plurality of EFSNs. Each of the plurality of EFSNs includes a respective plurality of billers or payers, and the biller is associated with the first EFSN and not associated with the second EFSN, while the payer is not associated with the first EFSN. In response to the received request, activation confirmation information is transmitted by the first EFSP to the second EFSP. The electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a first electronic financial service provider from a second electronic financial service provider, a request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer, wherein the first electronic financial service provider supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks and the second electronic financial service provider supports a second of the plurality of electronic financial service networks, each of the plurality of electronic financial service networks comprising a respective plurality of billers or payers, wherein the biller is associated with the first electronic financial service network and not associated with the second electronic financial service network, and wherein the payer is not associated with the first electronic financial service network; and transmitting, by the first electronic financial service provider to the second electronic financial service provider responsive to the received request, activation confirmation information associated with the request, wherein electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer, and wherein the above steps are performed by one or more computers associated with the first electronic financial service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a network interface operable to receive, at a first electronic financial service provider, a request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer, wherein the first electronic financial service provider supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks and the second electronic financial service provider supports a second of the plurality of electronic financial service networks, each of the plurality of electronic financial service networks comprising a respective plurality of billers or payers, wherein the biller is associated with the first electronic financial service network and not associated with the second electronic financial service network, and wherein the payer is not associated with the first electronic financial service network; and a processor associated with the first payment service provider and operable to (i) receive the request from the network interface, and (ii) direct, by the network interface to the second electronic financial service provider, the transmission of activation confirmation information associated with the request, wherein electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system, comprising:
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means for receiving, by a first electronic financial service provider from a second electronic financial service provider, a request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer, wherein the first electronic financial service provider supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks and the second electronic financial service provider supports a second of the plurality of electronic financial service networks, each of the plurality of electronic financial service networks comprising a respective plurality of billers or payers, wherein the biller is associated with the first electronic financial service network and not associated with the second electronic financial service network, and wherein the payer is not associated with the first electronic financial service network; and means for transmitting, by the first electronic financial service provider to the second electronic financial service provider responsive to the received request, activation confirmation information associated with the request, wherein electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.
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Specification