METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING CREDITS VIA A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130144789A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Saru, Sami
• Application Number:
  US13/753,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/2295 Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 : Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 : Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 : Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 : using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

System and method for delivering upon request credits having monetary value to a mobile device using a communications network. An account of available credit for the user of the mobile device is maintained and authorization to issue credit is generated when a request for credit for the mobile device is received and there is available credit in the account associated with the mobile device equal to or greater than the requested credit. Credit may be offset, or sponsored, by one or more token providers and issued to the user, upon authorization, to enable the user to use the mobile device to purchase items, e.g., at a point of sale terminal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a mobile computing device, a credit request requesting that a sponsor authorize issuance of a credit having monetary value to the mobile computing device; and

receiving, at the mobile computing device, from an issuing server, the credit having monetary value, wherein the credit having monetary value is issued to the mobile computing device upon the sponsor authorizing the credit request and the user of the mobile computing device is notified upon receiving the credit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the credit having monetary value is debited from an account associated with the user of the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the credit having monetary value is debited from an account associated with the sponsor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sponsor authorizes the credit having monetary value by transmitting an authorization message to the issuing server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the credit request is transmitted to a mobile computing device of the sponsor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the credit request is transmitted to the issuing server and the issuing server transmits a second credit request to a mobile computing device of the sponsor, wherein the credit request identifies the sponsor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the credit request includes data indicating a requested monetary amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the credit request includes data identifying an on sale item, wherein the requested monetary amount is based on a purchase price of the on sale item.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

entering a code associated with the on sale item, the code indicating the purchase price of the on sale item.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein entering the code comprises scanning the code.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to a point of sale system, data indicative of the credit having monetary value to purchase an on sale item.

12. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

transmit a credit request requesting that a sponsor authorize issuance of a credit having monetary value to the mobile computing device; and

receive, from an issuing server, the credit having monetary value, wherein the credit having monetary value is issued to the mobile computing device upon the sponsor authorizing the credit request and the user of the mobile computing device is notified upon receiving the credit.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the credit having monetary value is debited from an account associated with the user of the mobile computing device.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the credit having monetary value is debited from an account associated with the sponsor.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the sponsor authorizes the credit having monetary value by transmitting an authorization message to the issuing server.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the credit request is transmitted to a mobile computing device of the sponsor.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the credit request is transmitted to the issuing server and the issuing server transmits a second credit request to a mobile computing device of the sponsor, wherein the credit request identifies the sponsor.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the credit request includes data indicating a requested monetary amount.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 18, wherein the credit request includes data identifying an on sale item, wherein the requested monetary amount is based on a purchase price of the on sale item.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

enter a code associated with the on sale item, the code indicating the purchase price of the on sale item.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein entering the code comprises scanning the code.

22. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

transmit, to a point of sale system, data indicative of the credit having monetary value to purchase an on sale item.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to:

transmit, a credit request requesting that a sponsor authorize issuance of a credit having monetary value to the mobile computing device; and

receiving, from an issuing server, the credit having monetary value, wherein the credit having monetary value is issued to the mobile computing device upon the sponsor authorizing the credit request and the user of the mobile computing device is notified upon receiving the credit.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the credit having monetary value is debited from an account associated with the user of the mobile computing device.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the credit having monetary value is debited from an account associated with the sponsor.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the sponsor authorizes the credit having monetary value by transmitting an authorization message to the issuing server.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the credit request is transmitted to a mobile computing device of the sponsor.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the credit request is transmitted to the issuing server and the issuing server transmits a second credit request to a mobile computing device of the sponsor, wherein the credit request identifies the sponsor.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the credit request includes data indicating a requested monetary amount.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the credit request includes data identifying an on sale item, wherein the requested monetary amount is based on a purchase price of the on sale item.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

enter a code associated with the on sale item, the code indicating the purchase price of the on sale item.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein entering the code comprises scanning the code.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

transmit, to a point of sale system, data indicative of the credit having monetary value to purchase an on sale item.