Wireless payment method and systems

• US 7,407,094 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark Steven, Garrison, Sara, Myers, Joan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/519,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/493, 235/486, 705/40, 705/16, 705/41, 705/26, 705/44, 705/67
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method for conducting a transaction is disclosed. The method includes using a first portable electronic device, and directly transmitting a request for payment to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link. Then, the second portable electronic device transmits an approval of the request for payment to the first portable electronic device. One of the first and the second portable electronic devices then sends the request for payment to a payment hub service. The payment hub service then facilitates the transfer of funds from a payer institution to a payee institution to complete the transaction.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a transaction comprising:

using a first portable electronic device, directly transmitting a request for payment to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link;

receiving approval of the request for payment at the first portable electronic device, wherein the approval is sent directly from the second portable electronic device to the first portable electronic device through the wireless link; and

then

sending the request for payment to a payment hub service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the request for payment to the payment hub service comprises using the first portable electronic device to send the request for payment to the payment hub service.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless link comprises an infrared, RF, or optical link.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing trust between the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device before using the first portable electronic device to directly transmit the request for payment to the second portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to sending the request for payment to the payment hub service and after receiving approval of the request for payment at the transmitting portable electronic device, establishing trust between the payment hub service and either the first portable electronic device or the second portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment hub service facilitates the transfer of funds from a payer institution to a payee institution, and wherein the payer institution is a payer bank and the payee institution is a payee bank.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portable electronic device is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second portable electronic devices are mobile phones.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second portable electronic devices are mobile phones.

8. A method of facilitating a transaction comprising:

receiving an approval of a request for payment at a server computer at a payment hub service, wherein the approval of the request for payment was obtained after a first portable electronic device directly transmitted a request for payment to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link, and after the approval of the request was received at the first portable electronic device, wherein the approval was sent directly from the second portable electronic device to the first portable electronic device through the wireless link; and

then

facilitating payment from a payer'"'"'s account to a payee'"'"'s account.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the payer account is in a payer bank and the payer'"'"'s account is in a payee bank.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant or a mobile phone.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the first portable electronic device is operated by a seller and the second portable electronic device is operated by a buyer.

12. A computer readable medium comprising code for performing the method of claim 8.

13. A server computer comprising the computer readable medium of claim 12.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the first and second portable electronic devices are mobile phones.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first and second portable electronic devices are mobile phones.