CUSTOMER TO SUPPLIER FUNDS TRANSFER

• US 20120278152A1
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Glyn Barry
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.

Claims

1. An apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier, the customer having a mobile cellular telephone with a telephone number, a mobile cellular operator providing mobile cellular services to the mobile cellular telephone, a customer browser component connected to a network, a supplier browser component connected to the network, the apparatus comprising:

a server component connected to the network; and

a database component coupled to the server component, wherein the server component is configured to;

transmit a message to the mobile cellular telephone to request a confirmation after the customer has placed an order with the supplier;

in response to the confirmation, calculate an amount of the order;

populate the database component with an identification of the telephone number of the customer;

transmit a message to the mobile cellular telephone for the customer to select whether a discount is required;

receive a message from the mobile cellular telephone with a selection of whether the discount is required or not required;

if the discount is required, register the customer by prompting the customer to supply additional personal data, and populating the database component with the additional personal data against the telephone number in response to the additional personal data, and applying the discount to the amount; and

transmitting at least one message to effect a payment from the customer for the amount as modified by the discount if the customer has been registered.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server component is configured to transmit the plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages spread over a number of days.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the customer is prompted to supply further information about the customer via the customer browser component.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server component is configured to provide to the supplier browser information derived from the additional data received from the customer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server component is configured to use the database component to store the additional data received from the customer.

6. A method to transfer funds electronically, the method comprising:

transmitting, from a server computer, a message to a mobile cellular telephone at a telephone number of a customer to request a confirmation after the customer has placed an order with a supplier;

in response to the confirmation, calculating an amount of the order;

populating a database at the server computer with an identification of the telephone number;

transmitting a message to the mobile cellular telephone for the customer to select whether a discount is required;

receiving a message from the mobile cellular telephone with a selection of whether the discount is required or not required;

if the discount is required, registering the customer by prompting the customer to supply additional personal data, and populating the database component with the additional personal data against the telephone number in response to the additional personal data, and applying the discount to the amount; and

transmitting at least one message to effect a payment from the customer for the amount as modified by the discount if the customer has been registered.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising scheduling transmission of the premium rate mobile terminating text messages to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising prompting the customer to supply further information about the customer via the browser.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising supplying to the supplier information derived from the additional personal data received from the customer.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the additional personal data within the database.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the computer, a message to a mobile cellular telephone at a telephone number of a customer to request a confirmation after the customer has placed an order with a supplier;

in response to the confirmation, calculating an amount of the order;

populating a database at the server computer with an identification of the telephone number;

transmitting a message to the mobile cellular telephone for the customer to select whether a discount is required;

receiving a message from the mobile cellular telephone with a selection of whether the discount is required or not required;

if the discount is required, registering the customer by prompting the customer to supply additional personal data, and populating the database component with the additional personal data against the telephone number in response to the additional personal data, and applying the discount to the amount; and

transmitting at least one message to effect a payment from the customer for the amount as modified by the discount if the customer has been registered.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises scheduling transmission of the at least one message to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises prompting the customer to supply further information about the customer via the browser.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises providing to the supplier information derived from the additional personal data received from the customer.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises storing the additional personal data within the database.

16. An apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier, the customer having a mobile cellular telephone with a telephone number, a mobile cellular operator providing mobile cellular services to the mobile cellular telephone, a customer browser component connected to a network, the apparatus comprising:

a server component connected to the network; and

a database coupled to the server component, wherein the server component is configured to;

populate the database with an identification of a telephone number of a customer and an identification of classifications permitted for the telephone number of the customer;

receive classifications of offers sold by a plurality of suppliers;

populate the database with a table associating the suppliers with classifications of the offers sold by the suppliers;

receiving parental blocking commands including a telephone number, an associated classification for the telephone number and a password;

storing the classification in the blocking command against a telephone number in the database matching the telephone number in the blocking command if the password is authenticated;

after the customer has placed an order with the supplier, determine whether to allow or prohibit transmission of text messages to effect a payment for the order based upon the classification for the telephone number of the customer and a classification associated with the supplier;

in response to a determination that the transmission of text messages to effect the payment for the order is allowed, transmit a message to the mobile cellular telephone to request a confirmation; and

in response to the confirmation, transmit at least one message to effect the payment for the order.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the server determines whether to allow or prohibit the transmission of the text messages based on the classifications for the telephone number of the customer, wherein the classifications are based on age.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the suppliers identifies appropriate classifications for each product sold through the transmitting premium rate mobile terminating text messages.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the server is configured to transmit the premium rate terminating text messages in accordance with a schedule over a number of days to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the server component is configured to prompt customers to supply additional personal data and populate the database with the additional personal data.

21. A method to transfer funds electronically, the method comprising:

populating a database at a server computer with an indication of a telephone number of a customer;

receiving a classification of an offer sold by a supplier;

populating the database to associate the supplier with the classification;

receiving parental blocking commands including a telephone number, an associated classification for the telephone number and a password;

storing the classification in the blocking command against a telephone number in the database matching the telephone number in the blocking command if the password is authenticated; and

determining whether to allow transmitting of at least one message to effect payment from the customer to the supplier dependent upon classification permitted for the telephone number of the customer and the classification associated with the supplier.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the classification is based on age.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein a parent supplying blocking commands also supplies an unblocking code.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmitting of the premium rate terminating text messages is scheduled to occur over a number of days to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting an additional text message to the mobile cellular telephone requesting additional data from the customer and receiving the additional data from the mobile cellular telephone.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising prompting the customer to supply additional personal data and populating a database with the additional personal data.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising facilitating access to transaction records for the customer after receiving details related to the telephone number of the customer.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

populating a database at the computer with an indication of a telephone number of a customer;

receiving a classification of an offer sold by a supplier;

populating the database to associate the supplier with the classification;

receiving parental blocking commands including a telephone number, an associated classification for the telephone number and a password;

storing the classification in the blocking command against a telephone number in the database matching the telephone number in the blocking command if the password is authenticated; and

determining whether to allow transmitting of at least one messge to effect payment from the customer to the supplier dependent upon the classification permitted for the telephone number of the customer and the classification associated with the supplier.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises receiving and recording an unblocking code from a parent.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises transmitting an additional text message to the mobile cellular telephone requesting additional data from the customer and receiving the additional data from the mobile cellular telephone.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises prompting the customer to supply additional personal data and populating the database with the additional personal data.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises facilitating access to transaction records for the customer via the telephone number of the customer.