Funds transfer electronically
First Claim
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, 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 a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer to effect the payment for the order.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 of the customer; populate the database with an identification of 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, the database including an identification of classifications for the telephone number of the customer; and determine whether to allow or prohibit transmission of text messages to effect payment based upon the identification of the classifications for the telephone number of the customer.
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Citations
17 Claims
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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, the apparatus comprising:
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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 a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer to effect the payment for the order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. 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 premium rate mobile terminating text messages 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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- populating a database at a server computer with an indication of a telephone number of a customer;
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13. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
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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 premium rate mobile terminating text messages 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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification