Mobile payment system and method using alias

• US 7,848,980 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basit; Abdul
• Application Number:
  US11/767,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• 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 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• 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

Methods and systems are disclosed for allowing financial transactions to be conducted using mobile phones. A payer initiates a transaction by sending a payment request message from a mobile phone which specifies the payee and amount to be paid. Payees are identified by unique aliases, which are maintained in a database. Methods for assembling the enrollment and alias database are included.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a transaction comprising:

receiving a payment request message, at a server computer, from a mobile phone operated by a payer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, and wherein the payment request message comprises a combination of a personal alias associated with the payee, a payment card alias, and a transaction amount, and wherein the personal alias allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

analyzing the payment request message, using the server computer, to determine if the payer is authorized to pay the payee; and

sending a payment notification message, using the server computer, to the payee indicating that a payment from the payer to the payee has been made.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an authentication request message to the payer, wherein the authentication request message includes a message asking the payer to enter a PIN; and

receiving the PIN.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payment processing organization alias.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payer alias.

3. A computer readable medium comprising code for:

receiving a payment request message from a mobile phone operated by a payer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, and wherein the payment request message comprises a combination of a personal alias associated with the payee, a payment card alias, and a transaction amount, and wherein the personal alias allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

analyzing the payment request message to determine if the payer is authorized to pay the payee; and

sending a payment notification message to the payee indicating that a payment from the payer to the payee has been made.

4. A server computer comprising a computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving a payment request message from a mobile phone operated by a payer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, and wherein the payment request message comprises a combination of a personal alias associated with the payee, a payment card alias, and a transaction amount, and wherein the personal alias allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

code for analyzing the payment request message to determine if the payer is authorized to pay the payee; and

code for sending a payment notification message to the payee indicating that a payment from the payer to the payee has been made.

5. A system comprising:

a server computer comprising a computer readable medium comprising;

code for receiving a payment request message from a mobile phone operated by a payer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, and wherein the payment request message comprises a combination of a personal alias associated with the payee, a payment card alias, and a transaction amount, and wherein the personal alias allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

code for analyzing the payment request message to determine if the payer is authorized to pay the payee; and

code for sending a payment notification message to the payee indicating that a payment from the payer to the payee has been made; and

a mobile phone.

6. A method for conducting a transaction comprising:

receiving a payment request message, at a server computer, from a payer, the payment request message comprising a combination of an amount of money to be paid to a payee, an alias associated with the payee, and a payment card alias, and wherein the alias associated with the payee allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential, where the payment request message is sent by the payer via a mobile phone operated by the payer;

sending an authentication request message, using the server computer, to the mobile phone in response to the payment request message, where the authentication request message is sent to the mobile phone;

receiving an authentication token, at the server computer, from the payer in response to sending the authentication request message, where the authentication token is sent by the payer using the mobile phone;

verifying that the authentication token is associated with the payer, using the server computer; and

if the authentication token is verified as being associated with the payer, then initiating a payment, using the server computer, for the amount of money to the payee using the alias.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the mobile phone is a first mobile phone, and wherein the method further comprises:

sending an electronic notification of the payment to a second phone mobile operated by the payee.

8. The method according to claim 6, where the payment request message is in the form of a text message.

9. The method according to claim 6, where the payment request message is in the form of an email.

10. The method according to claim 6, where the authentication request message comprises a telephone call made by an electronic interactive voice response unit.

11. The method of claim 6, where the authentication token comprises a password.

12. The method of claim 6, where the authentication token comprises a piece of personal information associated with the payee.

24. The method of claim 6 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payment processing organization alias.

28. The method of claim 6 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payer alias.

13. A method for registering an alias comprising:

receiving a registration request, at a server computer, from a payee to create an alias uniquely associated with that payee, where the request specifies the alias requested, and wherein the payee operates a mobile phone and can receive or make payments using the alias and mobile phone, and wherein the alias allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

comparing the alias, using the server computer, with other previously registered aliases associated with other payees; and

if the requested alias has not already been associated with another payee, registering the alias with the payee, using the server computer,.

14. A server computer comprising a computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving a registration request from a payee to create an alias uniquely associated with that payee, where the request specifies the alias requested, and wherein the payee operates a mobile phone and can receive or make payments using the alias and mobile phone and wherein the alias allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

code for comparing the alias with other previously registered aliases associated with other payees; and

code for if the requested alias has not already been associated with another payee, registering the alias with the payee.

15. A method for conducting a transaction comprising:

sending a payment request message using a mobile phone to a payment processing network, where the payment request message comprises a combination of a payment card alias, an amount of money to be paid and an alias, where the alias is associated with a payee, and wherein the alias associated with the payee allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

receiving in response to the payment request message an authentication request message, where the authentication request message is received via the mobile phone; and

sending an authentication token in response to the authentication request message, using the mobile phone.

16. The method according to claim 15, where the payment request message is in the form of a text message.

17. The method according to claim 15, where the payment request message is in the form of an email.

18. The method according to claim 15, where the authentication request message comprises a telephone call made by an electronic interactive voice response unit.

19. The method of claim 15, where the authentication token comprises a password.

20. The method of claim 15, where the authentication token comprises a piece of personal information associated with the consumer.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payment processing organization alias.

29. The method of claim 15 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payer alias.

21. A computer readable medium comprising code for:

sending a payment request message using a mobile phone to a payment processing network, where the payment request message comprises a combination of a payment card alias, an amount of money to be paid and an alias, where the alias is associated with a payee, and wherein the alias associated with the payee allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

receiving in response to the payment request message an authentication request message, where the authentication request message is received via the mobile phone; and

sending an authentication token in response to the authentication request message.

22. A phone comprising a computer readable medium comprising:

sending a payment request message using a mobile phone to a payment processing network, where the payment request message comprises a combination of a payment card alias, an amount of money to be paid and an alias, where the alias is associated with a payee, and wherein the alias associated with the payee allows the personal information of the payee to remain confidential;

receiving in response to the payment request message an authentication request message, where the authentication request message is received via the mobile phone; and

sending an authentication token in response to the authentication request message.

26. The phone of claim 22 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payment processing organization alias.

30. The phone of claim 22 wherein the payment request message further comprises a payer alias.