Systems and methods to facilitate online transactions

• US 8,041,639 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vidicom Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Glyn Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US12/406,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 705 10- 44
• US Class Current: 705/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-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 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account and a phone number associated with the account and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats; and the converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format to facilitate deposit transactions and payment transactions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a first user request to deposit a first amount of funds into an account associated with a telephone number;

transmitting a first message to a mobile device at the telephone number to confirm the first user request;

receiving a reply to the first message transmitted to the mobile device to confirm the first user request;

calculating, using a computing device, a set of premium messages to charge the first amount;

in response to the reply to the first message, transmitting the set of premium messages to the mobile device at the telephone number to bill the first amount;

receiving a first portion of the first amount from a telecommunication carrier of the telephone number, after the telecommunication carrier deducts a second portion from the first amount as a fee; and

crediting the account a second amount more than the first portion of the first amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first message is transmitted via short message service (SMS).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second amount is equal to the first amount.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the set of premium messages is calculated based on a set of pre-determined prices for premium messages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user request is from the mobile device at the telephone number.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user request is via short message service (SMS).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user request is from a web browser running on a user terminal separate from the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request to pay a third amount of funds from the account associated with the telephone number;

transmitting a second message to the mobile device at the telephone number to confirm the second request;

receiving a reply to the second message transmitted to the mobile device to confirm the second user request; and

in response to the reply to the second message, transferring a fourth amount of funds to a payee according to the second request, wherein the fourth amount is no greater than the third amount.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

charging the account a fee in response to the reply to the transferring of the fourth amount.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

deducting a difference between the third amount and the fourth amount from the account.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the reply to the second message includes a correct code, wherein the transferring is in response to the correct code in the reply to the second message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the code comprises a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the account.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the code to a user terminal through which the second request is received.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the second request includes a correct code, wherein the second message is transmitted in response to the correct code.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a third message to the mobile device in response to completion of the transferring.

17. A computer-readable media storing instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a first user request to deposit a first amount of funds into an account associated with a telephone number;

transmitting a first message to a mobile device at the telephone number to confirm the first user request;

receiving a reply to the first message transmitted to the mobile device to confirm the first user request;

calculating, the computer, a set of premium messages to charge the first amount;

in response to the reply to the first message, transmitting the set of premium messages to the mobile device at the telephone number to bill the first amount;

receiving a first portion of the first amount from a telecommunication carrier of the telephone number, after the telecommunication carrier deducts a second portion from the first amount as a fee; and

crediting the account a second amount more than the first portion of the first amount.

18. A system, comprising:

a data storage facility to store an account and a phone number associated with the account; and

an interchange coupled with the data storage facility, the interchange including a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers, the converters configured 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 instruct a first controller of the controllers, via a first converter of the converters, to transmit a first message to a mobile device at a telephone number to confirm a first user request to deposit a first amount of funds into the account associated with the telephone number, responsive to a reply to the first message, the common format processor to calculate a set of premium messages to charge the first amount and to instruct the first controller, via the first converter, to transmit the set of premium messages to the mobile device at the telephone number to bill the first amount, after a telecommunication carrier of the mobile device deducts a portion from the first amount as a fee, the common format processor to credit the account a second amount more than a portion of the first amount received from the telecommunication carrier.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the common format processor includes a decision engine to calculate the set of premium messages based on a set of predetermined constraints.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the common format processor further includes a mobile message generator.