Computer network method for conducting payment over a network by debiting and crediting utilities accounts
First Claim
1. A computer method for conducting fund transfer over at least one network by crediting and debiting utility accounts comprising the steps:
- providing utility accounts linked to account identifiers maintained by at least one utility provider and said provider is connected by a network to a payment processor having memory for executing a computer program causing said processor to perform when executed by said processor, the method comprising;
receiving a request for payment from an identifiable payer for an identifiable payee;
confirming said request;
if said request is approved, crediting a payee'"'"'s utility account and debiting a payer utility account respectively with a payment amount; and
whereby said utility accounts are selected from a group consisting of water, electricity, gas, telecommunication and data services accounts and said payment amount is transferable between different and same accounts within said group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer network method for conducting payment over a network by crediting and debiting utility accounts. The computer network includes a computer connected to the Internet, which performs the following functions: (1) receiving a payment request from a prospective payer; (2) confirming the request and verifying payer'"'"'s identifier and authorization data; (3) receiving an electronic authority from the payer'"'"'s utility service computer indicating whether or not such request has been approved; (4) crediting and debiting payer'"'"'s and payee'"'"'s utility accounts with the approved amount and (5) confirming this transaction by responding a receipt to the payer'"'"'s mobile device and to payee'"'"'s server.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer method for conducting fund transfer over at least one network by crediting and debiting utility accounts comprising the steps:
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providing utility accounts linked to account identifiers maintained by at least one utility provider and said provider is connected by a network to a payment processor having memory for executing a computer program causing said processor to perform when executed by said processor, the method comprising; receiving a request for payment from an identifiable payer for an identifiable payee; confirming said request; if said request is approved, crediting a payee'"'"'s utility account and debiting a payer utility account respectively with a payment amount; and whereby said utility accounts are selected from a group consisting of water, electricity, gas, telecommunication and data services accounts and said payment amount is transferable between different and same accounts within said group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system for conducting payment over a network by crediting and debiting utility accounts comprising:
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a payment processor; utility accounts having account identifiers maintained by at least one utility provider having memory and processor and said provider is connected by a network to said payment processor having memory for executing a computer program causing said processor to perform when executed by said processor the method comprising; receiving a request for payment from an identifiable payer for an identifiable payee; confirming said request; if said request is approved, crediting a payee'"'"'s utility account and debiting a payer'"'"'s utility account respectively with a payment amount; and whereby said utility accounts are selected from a group consisting of one of the water, electricity, gas, telecommunication and data services accounts and said payment amount is transferable between different and same accounts within said group. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer to perform a method for fund transfer over at least one network by crediting and debiting utility accounts, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for payment from an identifiable payer for an identifiable payee; confirming said request; if said request is approved, crediting a payee'"'"'s utility account and debiting a payer'"'"'s utility account respectively with a payment amount; whereby said utility accounts are selected from a group consisting of water, electricity, gas, telecommunication and data services accounts and said payment amount is transferable between different and same accounts within said group; and whereby said computer is a payment processor connected to a network to at least one utility provider maintaining utility accounts having account identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification