Remote Portal Bill Payment Platform Apparatuses, Methods and Systems

• US 20130346302A1
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Purves, Thomas, Vandrevala, Zubin, Romanek, Tamara, Kim, James
• Application Number:
  US13/923,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20130346302A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

The REMOTE PORTAL BILL PAYMENT PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“Bill Pay”) transforms user bill payment request message via Bill Pay components into transaction bill payment transaction settlements, and/or the like and use of the Bill Pay. In one implementation, a method is disclosed, comprising: obtaining a bill payment transaction request from a bill payment component instantiated within a hosting portal site, said bill payment component being operated independent of a billing party, said bill payment transaction request includes bill information of a bill issued by the biller and payer identifying information; determining a type of the bill payment component; verifying the obtained bill information including a payment amount based on the type of the bill payment component; retrieving payer account information based on the obtained payer identifying information; and transferring an approved amount of funds to the biller'"'"'s account from the payer account.

Claims

1. A bill payment apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to;

obtain a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill; and

wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill;

obtain user-provided postponement criteria;

wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length;

calculate estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

provide for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria;

calculate for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

provide to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtain authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generate via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user;

update the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount;

receive from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reduce the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expire the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero;

wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

2. A bill payment apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to;

obtain a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

obtain user-provided postponement criteria;

calculate for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

provide to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtain authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generate via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user; and

update the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising instructions to:

receive from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reduce the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expire the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deactivating the account.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the magnitude of the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes a number of desired repayments for the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising instructions to:

receive updated user-provided postponement criteria based on the transaction payment postponement offer; and

provide to the user an updated transaction payment postponement offer based on the updated user-provided postponement criteria.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained during checkout.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained after a purchase has been conducted.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account further comprises instructions to:

obtain authorization from an issuer for creation of a virtual Primary Account Number (PAN).

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein authorization of the creation of a temporary postponement payment account depends on at least one of:

the user'"'"'s current credit history;

the quantity of temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user; and

an amount of total funds owed in all temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising instructions to:

calculate estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

provide for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria.

17. A bill payment apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to;

generate via a processor a bill payment lightbox for payment of a user'"'"'s bill to a first billing party;

display the bill payment lightbox for the first billing party on a bill payment portal for a second billing party;

receive an indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill using the bill payment lightbox; and

forward the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill to the first billing party.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second billing parties are each one of a merchant, issuer, or a financial account provider.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill also contains acceptance of a transaction payment postponement offer.

20. A bill payment system, comprising means for:

obtaining a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill; and

wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill;

obtaining user-provided postponement criteria;

wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length;

calculating estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

providing for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria;

calculating for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

providing to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generating via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user;

updating the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount;

receiving from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reducing the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expiring the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero;

wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

21. A bill payment system, comprising means for:

obtaining a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

obtaining user-provided postponement criteria;

calculating for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

providing to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generating via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user; and

updating the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reducing the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expiring the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deactivaing the account.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the magnitude of the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes a number of desired repayments for the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving updated user-provided postponement criteria based on the transaction payment postponement offer; and

providing to the user an updated transaction payment postponement offer based on the updated user-provided postponement criteria.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained during checkout.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained after a purchase has been conducted.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account further comprises:

obtaining authorization from an issuer for creation of a virtual Primary Account Number (PAN).

32. The system of claim 31, wherein authorization of the creation of a temporary postponement payment account depends on at least one of:

the user'"'"'s current credit history;

the quantity of temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user; and

an amount of total funds owed in all temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill.

35. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

calculating estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

providing for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria.

36. A bill payment system, comprising means for:

generating via a processor a bill payment lightbox for payment of a user'"'"'s bill to a first billing party;

displaying the bill payment lightbox for the first billing party on a bill payment portal for a second billing party;

receiving an indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill using the bill payment lightbox; and

forwarding the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill to the first billing party.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first and second billing parties are each one of a merchant, issuer, or a financial account provider.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill also contains acceptance of a transaction payment postponement offer.

39. A bill payment non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions, said instructions executable by a processor to:

obtain a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill; and

wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill;

obtain user-provided postponement criteria;

wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length;

calculate estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

provide for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria;

calculate for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

provide to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtain authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generate via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user;

update the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount;

receive from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reduce the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expire the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero;

wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

40. A bill payment non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions, said instructions executable by a processor to:

obtain a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

obtain user-provided postponement criteria;

calculate for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

provide to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtain authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generate via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user; and

update the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount.

41. The medium of claim 40, further comprising instructions to:

receive from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reduce the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expire the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero.

42. The medium of claim 41, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

43. The medium of claim 41, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deactivaing the account.

44. The medium of claim 40, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the magnitude of the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

45. The medium of claim 40, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length.

46. The medium of claim 40, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes a number of desired repayments for the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

47. The medium of claim 40, further comprising instructions to:

receive updated user-provided postponement criteria based on the transaction payment postponement offer; and

provide to the user an updated transaction payment postponement offer based on the updated user-provided postponement criteria.

48. The medium of claim 40, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained during checkout.

49. The medium of claim 40, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained after a purchase has been conducted.

50. The medium of claim 40, wherein obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account further comprises instructions to:

obtain authorization from an issuer for creation of a virtual Primary Account Number (PAN).

51. The medium of claim 50, wherein authorization of the creation of a temporary postponement payment account depends on at least one of:

the user'"'"'s current credit history;

the quantity of temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user; and

an amount of total funds owed in all temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user.

52. The medium of claim 40, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill.

53. The medium of claim 52, wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill.

54. The medium of claim 40, further comprising instructions to:

calculate estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

provide for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria.

55. A bill payment non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions, said instructions executable by a processor to:

generate via a processor a bill payment lightbox for payment of a user'"'"'s bill to a first billing party;

display the bill payment lightbox for the first billing party on a bill payment portal for a second billing party;

receive an indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill using the bill payment lightbox; and

forward the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill to the first billing party.

56. The medium of claim 55, wherein the first and second billing parties are each one of a merchant, issuer, or a financial account provider.

57. The medium of claim 55, wherein the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill also contains acceptance of a transaction payment postponement offer.

58. A processor-implemented bill payment method, comprising:

obtaining a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill; and

wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill;

obtaining user-provided postponement criteria;

wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length;

calculating estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

providing for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria;

calculating for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

providing to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generating via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user;

updating the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount;

receiving from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reducing the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expiring the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero;

wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

59. A processor-implemented bill payment method, comprising:

obtaining a transaction payment postponement request from a user;

obtaining user-provided postponement criteria;

calculating for the user a transaction payment postponement offer based on the user-provided postponement criteria;

providing to the user the transaction payment postponement offer;

obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account;

generating via a processor a temporary postponement payment account for the user; and

updating the temporary postponement payment account with a balance value equivalent to a user-specified postponement payment amount.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

receiving from the user at least one payment for the temporary postponement payment account balance value;

reducing the value of the balance value based on the at least one payment; and

expiring the temporary postponement payment account if the balance value reaches zero.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deleting the account.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein expiring the temporary postponement payment account comprises deactivaing the account.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the magnitude of the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes the temporary postponement payment account balance value repayment period length.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein the user-provided postponement criteria includes a number of desired repayments for the temporary postponement payment account balance value.

66. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

receiving updated user-provided postponement criteria based on the transaction payment postponement offer; and

providing to the user an updated transaction payment postponement offer based on the updated user-provided postponement criteria.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained during checkout.

68. The method of claim 59, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is obtained after a purchase has been conducted.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein obtaining authorization for creation of a temporary postponement payment account further comprises:

obtaining authorization from an issuer for creation of a virtual Primary Account Number (PAN).

70. The method of claim 69, wherein authorization of the creation of a temporary postponement payment account depends on at least one of:

the user'"'"'s current credit history;

the quantity of temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user; and

an amount of total funds owed in all temporary postponement payment account balances associated with the user.

71. The method of claim 59, wherein the transaction payment postponement request is for postponing a part of a bill.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the part of the bill is at least one particular item in the bill.

73. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

calculating estimated time of repayment score (ETA score);

wherein the ETA score is calculated based on the total repayment period length of all of the user'"'"'s existing temporary postponement payment accounts; and

providing for display user-controlled ETA score recalculations based on the user'"'"'s postponement criteria.

74. A processor-implemented bill payment method, comprising:

generating via a processor a bill payment lightbox for payment of a user'"'"'s bill to a first billing party;

displaying the bill payment lightbox for the first billing party on a bill payment portal for a second billing party;

receiving an indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill using the bill payment lightbox; and

forwarding the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill to the first billing party.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the first and second billing parties are each one of a merchant, issuer, or a financial account provider.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the indication to pay at least a portion of the user'"'"'s bill also contains acceptance of a transaction payment postponement offer.