Systems and Methods to Automate the Initiation of Transactions via Mobile Devices
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- receiving, in a computer, a web confirmation from a user, the web confirmation to confirm a first payment to a merchant and to provide an authorization to initiate communications with a mobile phone of the user for one or more subsequent payments to the merchant;
transmitting a message, by the computer responsive to the web confirmation, to the mobile phone of the user in response to the web confirmation, the message requesting the user to provide a reply to confirm the first payment;
after receiving the reply, making the first payment to the merchant using funds associated with a phone number of the mobile phone of the user;
after the first payment, receiving by the computer a request from the merchant for a second payment from the user, the request containing information identifying the phone number of the mobile phone of the user;
initiating, by the computer based on the authorization, communications with the mobile phone of the user to confirm the second payment; and
after confirmation of the second payment via the mobile phone of the user, making the second payment to the merchant using funds associated with the phone number of the mobile phone of the user.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers in different formats for delivery of premium messages; and a common format processor coupled with the plurality of converters in a common format to send the premium messages. In one embodiment, the common format processor is to obtain an authorization for the initiation of communications with a mobile phone of a user for subsequent payments to a merchant. After obtaining the authorization, the common format processor may directly initiate communications with the mobile phone, using one of the converters, to obtain confirmation of payments directly requested by the merchant. Upon confirmation with the mobile phone, the common format processor may send premium messages to the mobile phone to collect funds for making the confirmed payments.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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receiving, in a computer, a web confirmation from a user, the web confirmation to confirm a first payment to a merchant and to provide an authorization to initiate communications with a mobile phone of the user for one or more subsequent payments to the merchant; transmitting a message, by the computer responsive to the web confirmation, to the mobile phone of the user in response to the web confirmation, the message requesting the user to provide a reply to confirm the first payment; after receiving the reply, making the first payment to the merchant using funds associated with a phone number of the mobile phone of the user; after the first payment, receiving by the computer a request from the merchant for a second payment from the user, the request containing information identifying the phone number of the mobile phone of the user; initiating, by the computer based on the authorization, communications with the mobile phone of the user to confirm the second payment; and after confirmation of the second payment via the mobile phone of the user, making the second payment to the merchant using funds associated with the phone number of the mobile phone of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer storage media storing instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
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receiving, in the computer, a web confirmation from a user, the web confirmation to confirm a first payment to a merchant and to provide an authorization to initiate communications with a mobile phone of the user for one or more subsequent payments to the merchant; transmitting a message, by the computer responsive to the web confirmation, to the mobile phone of the user in response to the web confirmation, the message requesting the user to provide a reply to confirm the first payment; after receiving the reply, making the first payment to the merchant using funds associated with a phone number of the mobile phone of the user; after the first payment, receiving by the computer a request from the merchant for a second payment from the user, the request containing information identifying the phone number of the mobile phone of the user; initiating, by the computer based on the authorization, communications with the mobile phone of the user to confirm the second payment; and after confirmation of the second payment via the mobile phone of the user, making the second payment to the merchant using funds associated with the phone number of the mobile phone of the user.
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers for delivery of premium messages sent by a system to collect funds, the converters to communicate with the controllers in different formats; and a common format processor coupled with the plurality of converters to send the premium messages, the converters to communicate with the common format processor in a common format, the common format processor to receive a web confirmation from a user, the web confirmation to confirm a first payment to a merchant and to provide an authorization to initiate communications with a mobile phone of the user for one or more subsequent payments to the merchant, transmit a message, via a first one of the plurality of controllers and responsive to the web confirmation, to the mobile phone of the user in response to the web confirmation, the message requesting the user to provide a reply to confirm the first payment, after receiving the reply, transmit one or more premium messages to the mobile phone of the user to obtain funds to make the first payment to the merchant, after the first payment, receive a request from the merchant for a second payment from the user, the request containing information identifying the phone number of the mobile phone of the user, initiate, based on the authorization, communications with the mobile phone of the user to confirm the second payment via the first one of the plurality of controllers, and after confirmation of the second payment via the mobile phone of the user, transmit one or more premium messages to the mobile phone of the user to obtain funds to make the second payment to the merchant.
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Specification