Funds transfer electronically

• US 8,116,747 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vidicom Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Glyn Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): ALMATRAHI, FARIS S
• Application Number:
  US12/413,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20100015957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• 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 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• 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 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

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.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server determines whether to allow or prohibit the transmission of the text messages based on the classifications for the telephone number of the customer, wherein the classifications are based on age.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the suppliers identifies appropriate classifications for each product sold through the transmitting premium rate mobile terminating text messages.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to transmit the premium rate terminating text messages in accordance with a schedule over a number of clays to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server component is configured to prompt customers to supply additional personal data and populate the database with the additional personal data.

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.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the classification is based on age.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a parent supplying blocking commands also supplies an unblocking code.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitting of the premium rate terminating text messages is scheduled to occur over a number of days to avoid exceeding a pre-established maximum daily limit.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting an additional text message to the mobile cellular telephone requesting additional data from the customer and receiving the additional data from the mobile cellular telephone.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising prompting the customer to supply additional personal data and populating a database with the additional personal data.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising facilitating access to transaction records for the customer after receiving details related to the telephone number of the customer.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

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.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises receiving and recording an unblocking code from a parent.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises transmitting an additional text message to the mobile cellular telephone requesting additional data from the customer and receiving the additional data from the mobile cellular telephone.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises prompting the customer to supply additional personal data and populating the database with the additional personal data.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises facilitating access to transaction records for the customer via the telephone number of the customer.