Systems and methods to facilitate online transactions

• US 8,660,911 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Inventors: Hirson, Ron, Cahill, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Rob
• Application Number:
  US12/886,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a communication interface to receive an input from a merchant; a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers for delivery of messages sent by the system to collect funds for purchases made by customers; and a common format processor coupled with the plurality of converters to send the messages. The common format processor determines a total price of one or more messages, in response to a first customer making a first purchase from the merchant at a first price. The total price of the one or more messages is based on the first price and a portion of service charges associated with the one or more messages, where the portion is specified by the input received via the interface.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request to process a payment for an amount to a merchant;

determining, by the computing device, service charges associated with one or more messages;

providing, by the computing device, an interface to communicate with the merchant after the amount is received by the computing device, the interface including the service charges and an input field for the merchant to enter an input;

receiving, in the computing device, the input from the merchant;

determining, by the computing device, a total price of one or more messages, in response to a first customer making a first purchase from the merchant at a first price, wherein a total price of the one or more messages is based on the first price and a portion of the service charges associated with the one or more messages, the portion being specified by the input received via the interface;

transmitting, from the computing device, the one or more messages to one or more telecommunication carriers of a mobile phone of the first customer, in response to the customers making purchases from a merchant;

receiving funds from the one or more telecommunication carriers, wherein the one or more telecommunication carriers charge the first customer according to the total price and provide the funds after deducting service charges associated with the messages; and

paying the merchant for the purchases on behalf of the customer using the funds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a web based user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an application programming interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input specifies the portion as a percentage of the service charges associated with the one or more messages.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, in the computing device, an input from the merchant using the interface to change the percentage for subsequent purchases.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input specifies the portion as a fixed amount.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, in the computing device, a second input from the merchant using the interface to change the fixed amount for purchases that occur after the second input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is for first items offered by the merchant;

and the method further comprises;

receiving, in the computing device, a second input from the merchant using the interface for second items offered by the merchant; and

determining, by the computing device, a total price of second one or more messages, in response to a second customer purchasing one of the second items from the merchant, wherein a total price of the second one or more messages is based on a second portion of service charges associated with the second one or more messages, the second portion being specified by the second input received via the interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first items comprise one of:

products and services.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first items comprise virtual objects.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first items comprise one of points, virtual currency, and credits.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the input includes the first price.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the input includes an identification of an item sold in the first purchase.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, by the computing apparatus, a web page to confirm payment to be made via the one or more messages;

in response to a confirmation via the web page, transmitting a confirmation message to a mobile phone of the first customer to confirm payment to be made via the one or more messages; and

after receiving a response to the non-premium message, transmitting, by the computing apparatus, the one or more premium messages to the mobile phone of the first customer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the web page identifies to the first customer that the merchant offers to pay for the portion of service charges associated with the one or more messages.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the confirmation message indicates that the merchant offers to pay for the portion of service charges associated with the one or more messages.

17. A computer storage medium storing instructions, the instructions causing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request to process a payment for an amount to a merchant;

determining, by the computing device, service charges associated with one or more messages;

providing, by the computing device, an interface to communicate with the merchant after the amount is received by the computing device, the interface including the service charges and an input field for the merchant to enter an input;

receiving, in the computing device, the input from the merchant;

determining, by the computing device, a total price of one or more messages, in response to a first customer making a first purchase from the merchant at a first price, wherein a total price of the one or more messages is based on the first price and a portion of the service charges associated with the one or more messages, the portion being specified by the input received via the interface;

transmitting, from the computing device, the one or more messages to one or more telecommunication carriers of a mobile phone of the first customer, in response to the customers making purchases from a merchant;

receiving funds from the one or more telecommunication carriers, wherein the one or more telecommunication carriers charge the first customer according to the total price and provide the funds after deducting service charges associated with the messages; and

paying the merchant for the purchases on behalf of the customer using the funds.

18. A system, comprising:

a communication interface to receive an input from an merchant;

a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers for delivery of messages sent by the system to collect funds for purchases made by customers; and

a common format processor coupled with the plurality of converters to send the messages, the converters to communicate with the controllers in different formats, the converters to communicate with the common format processor in a common format, the common format processor to receive a request to process a payment for an amount to a merchant, to determine service charges associated with one or more messages, to provide an interface to communicate with the merchant after the amount is received by the computing device, the interface including the service charges and an input field for the merchant to enter an input, to receive the input from the merchant, to determine a total price of one or more messages, in response to a first customer making a first purchase from the merchant at a first price, wherein a total price of the one or more messages is based on the first price and a portion of the service charges associated with the one or more messages, the portion being specified by the input received via the interface, to transmit the one or more messages to one or more telecommunication carriers of a mobile phone of the first customer, in response to the customers making purchases from a merchant, to receive funds from the one or more telecommunication carriers, wherein the one or more telecommunication carriers charge the first customer according to the total price and to provide the funds after deducting service charges associated with the messages and pay the merchant for the purchases on behalf of the customer using the funds.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication interface comprises a web server to provide a user interface via web pages.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication interface comprises a networking device controlled by an application programming interface.