Cash payment for remote transactions

• US 9,098,849 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Hansen, Kurt, Stoutenburg, Earney E., Sayor, Thomas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): St Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/046,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/382, 235/388, 235/462.46, 235/472.02, 705/39, 705/40, 705 66- 72
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• 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 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

Methods coordinate payment for a remote transaction with a first party. An identification of the first party is received at a host system. Acknowledgment of receipt of a cash payment from a second party is received. The cash payment is associated with the identification of the first party. A money transfer corresponding to the cash payment to the control of the first party is executed with a request for the first party to perform on previously agreed terms of the remote transaction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a host system, an identification of a transaction between a first party and a second party;

receiving, at the host system, a selection of a cash payment option for the transaction by the second party;

sending, from the host system, a transaction identifier associated with the transaction for receipt by the second party;

receiving, at the host system, the transaction identifier and an indication that a cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received; and

associating, with the host system, the cash payment with the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the identification of the transaction comprises:

receiving an online purchase request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the transaction identifier comprises:

sending a money-transfer transaction identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction identifier is selected by a party to the transaction, and sending the transaction identifier comprises:

sending an affirmation of the transaction identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transaction identifier comprises:

a phone number of the party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication that the cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received comprises:

receiving a notification that a receipt of the cash payment has occurred at an agent location of a money-transfer service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication that the cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received comprises:

receiving a notification that a receipt of the cash payment has occurred at a retail location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the retail location is associated with a party to the transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication that the cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received comprises:

receiving a notification that a receipt of the cash payment has occurred at a physical location associated with the host computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

notifying a party to the transaction that payment has been received.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

a first party to the transaction providing a good or a service to a second party to the transaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

causing shipment of a good to a party to the transaction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, at the host system, the transaction identifier; and

sending, from the host system, an amount due.

14. A non-transitory machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by a processor for at least:

receiving an identification of a transaction between a first party and a second party;

receiving a selection of a cash payment option for the transaction by the second party;

sending a transaction identifier associated with the transaction for receipt by the second party;

receiving the transaction identifier and an indication that a cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received; and

associating the cash payment with the transaction.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein receiving the indication that the cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received comprises:

receiving a notification that a receipt of the cash payment has occurred.

16. A system comprising:

a host computer configured to;

receive an identification of a transaction between a first party and a second party;

receive a selection of a cash payment option for the transaction by the second party;

send a transaction identifier associated with the transaction for receipt by the second party;

receive the transaction identifier and an indication that a cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received; and

associate the cash payment with the transaction.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein receiving the indication that the cash payment associated with the transaction identifier has been received comprises:

receiving a notification that a receipt of the cash payment has occurred.