Systems and Methods to Automate Transactions via Mobile Devices
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- providing a computing device configured with an application programming interface;
receiving requests using the computing device through the application programming interface, the requests comprisinga first request having an identification of a phone number, an identification of a merchant, and an amount, anda second request having an identification of the first request;
transmitting a message from the computing device to a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the first request;
after the first request is confirmed via communicating with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number, charging the user of the phone number according to the amount specified in the first request; and
providing a status of the first request in response to the second request, in accordance with the application programming interface.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided to automate transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating phone numbers with accounts and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor has an application programming interface to receive requests, such as a charge request having an identification of a phone number, an identification of a merchant, and an amount, and a status request having an identification of the first request, and is to transmit a message to a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the charge request, using one of the converters.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing a computing device configured with an application programming interface; receiving requests using the computing device through the application programming interface, the requests comprising a first request having an identification of a phone number, an identification of a merchant, and an amount, and a second request having an identification of the first request; transmitting a message from the computing device to a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the first request; after the first request is confirmed via communicating with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number, charging the user of the phone number according to the amount specified in the first request; and providing a status of the first request in response to the second request, in accordance with the application programming interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
providing a software development kit to a developer of a mobile application, the software development kit including a set of instructions to be included as part of the mobile application, when executed on a mobile phone the set of instructions to cause the mobile phone to; identify a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) of the mobile phone, communicate with a remote server to determine a set of discrete price points supported by a mobile carrier of the mobile phone, wherein the user of the phone number is chargeable via the mobile carrier at the set of discrete price points, provide the set of discrete price points to the mobile application, receive a charge request from the mobile application in accordance with an application programming interface provided by the software development kit, the charge request being based on the set of discrete price points, communicate the charge request to the remote server, monitor an inbox of the mobile phone for a message from the remote server indicating a success in fulfilling the charge request, and notify the mobile application of the success in accordance with the application programming interface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system, comprising:
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a data storage facility to store data associating phone numbers with accounts; an interchange coupled with the data storage facility, the interchange including a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications, the converters configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats, the converters to communicate with the common format processor in a common format, the common format processor configured with an application programming interface to receive requests via Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the requests including a first request having an identification of a phone number, an identification of a merchant, and an amount, and a second request having an identification of the first request, wherein the common format processor is to use one converter of the converters to transmit a message to a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the first request; wherein after the first request is confirmed via communicating with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number, the common format processor is to charge the user of the phone number according to the amount specified in the first request; and wherein the common format processor is to provide a status of the first request in response to the second request, in accordance with the application programming interface.
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Specification