Systems and methods to restrict payment transactions

• US 8,700,524 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Michael, Kingston, Jonathan Michael, Mullins, Kelly Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPEN, KELLY SCAGGS
• Application Number:
  US13/071,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20120171990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39, 705/40, 705/27.1, 705/34, 705/67, 705/64, 705/76, 705/44, 705/318, 455/406, 455/558, 455/409, 235/375, 235/380, 235/492, 709/203
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/888 severing connection after predetermined time or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to selectively restrict payment transactions. In one aspect, a system includes: a data storage facility to store restriction data in association with a phone number; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with mobile controllers. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. In response to a payment request identifying the phone number and a merchant, the common format processor determines whether to reject the payment request based at least in part on the restriction data and the identity of the merchant. If the request is not rejected, the common format processor uses one of the converters to communicate with a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed by an interchange computing device for managing transactions between a merchant server and a consumer having a telephonic apparatus, comprising:

storing, in the interchange computing device, restriction data in association with a phone number, the restriction data having at least one of a merchant and a merchant category;

receiving, in the interchange computing device, a payment request from the merchant server identifying the phone number, and a merchant identifier associated with the merchant server;

determining, by the interchange computing device, whether the restriction data is applicable to the merchant as identified by the merchant identifier;

if the restriction data is applicable to the merchant then determining, by the interchange computing device, whether to reject the payment request based at least in part on the restriction data;

if the payment request is not rejected based on the restriction data;

communicating, by the interchange computing device, with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request,

after confirmation of the payment request, transmitting, by the interchange computing device, a notification to the merchant, and

fulfilling, by the interchange computing device, the payment request using funds associated with the phone number;

if the payment request is rejected based on the restriction data then determining whether the restriction data can be modified;

if the restriction data can be modified then seeking, with the interchange computing device, authorization to modify the restriction data;

if the authorization is received to modify the restriction data then;

communicating, by the interchange computing device, with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request,

after confirmation of the payment request, transmitting, by the interchange computing device, a notification to the merchant, and

fulfilling, by the interchange computing device, the payment request using funds associated with the phone number; and

if the payment authorization is not received then refusing, by the interchange computing device, fulfilling of the payment request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the interchange computing device, at least one premium message to the phone number to collect, via a telecommunication carrier of the telephonic apparatus, funds for the payment request;

wherein the notification is transmitted to the merchant after receiving a confirmation from the telecommunication carrier for the delivery of the at least one premium message; and

the premium message is transmitted via a short message service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fulfilling the payment request comprises charging a financial account associated with the phone number to collect funds for fulfillment of the payment request.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the financial account is one of:

a credit account, a debit account, a prepaid account, a checking account, and a savings account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction data identifies a merchant category;

the determining of whether to reject the payment request includes determining whether the merchant is in the merchant category;

if the merchant is not in the merchant category, the payment is not rejected; and

if the merchant is in the merchant category, the payment request is to be rejected.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction data identifies a list of one or more banned merchants;

the determining of whether to reject the payment request includes determining whether the merchant is in the list;

if the merchant is not in the list, the payment is not rejected; and

if the merchant is in the list, the payment request is to be rejected.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction data allows payments using funds associated with the phone number for purchasing a first item from a merchant but not a second item from a merchant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first item and the second item are one of:

products and services.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the restriction data identifies a purchase category including the second item;

and the determining of whether to reject the payment request includes determining whether the item to be paid for is in the purchase category.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction detail includes a time;

the restriction data allows payments using funds associated with the phone number for purchasing from the merchant during a first time period but not a second time period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction detail includes an amount;

the restriction data includes a threshold for an aggregated amount; and

the determining of whether to reject the payment request includes determining whether the threshold would be exceeded by fulfillment of the payment request based on the amount.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction data includes a threshold for purchase frequency from the merchant;

and the determining of whether to reject the payment request includes determining whether the threshold would be exceeded by fulfillment of the payment request.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the computing device, at least a portion of the restriction data based on input from a parent of a user of the phone number.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the computing device, at least a portion of the restriction data based on input from a merchant from which a user of the phone number has made a purchase paid for via the computing device using the phone number.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the computing device, at least a portion of the restriction data based on past payment transactions processed by the computing device using funds associated with the phone number.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction data includes indications of reasons for the restrictions;

and wherein the reasons identify entities that are authorized to modify respective restrictions in the restriction data.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method executed by an interchange computing device for managing transactions between a merchant server and a consumer having a telephonic apparatus, the method comprising:

storing, in the interchange computing device, restriction data in association with a phone number, the restriction data having at least one of a merchant and a merchant category;

receiving, in the interchange computing device, a payment request from the merchant server identifying the phone number, and a merchant identifier associated with the merchant server;

determining, by the interchange computing device, whether the restriction data is applicable to the merchant as identified by the merchant identifier;

if the restriction data is applicable to the merchant then determining, by the interchange computing device, whether to reject the payment request based at least in part on the restriction data;

if the payment request is not rejected based on the restriction data;

communicating, by the interchange computing device, with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request,

after confirmation of the payment request, transmitting, by the interchange computing device, a notification to the merchant, and

fulfilling, by the interchange computing device, the payment request using funds associated with the phone number;

if the payment request is rejected based on the restriction data then determining whether the restriction data can be modified;

if the restriction data can be modified then seeking, with the interchange computing device, authorization to modify the restriction data;

if the authorization is received to modify the restriction data then;

communicating, by the interchange computing device, with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request,

after confirmation of the payment request, transmitting, by the interchange computing device, a notification to the merchant, and

fulfilling, by the interchange computing device, the payment request using funds associated with the phone number; and

if the payment authorization is not received then refusing, by the interchange computing device, fulfilling of the payment request.

18. A system, comprising:

a data storage facility to store restriction data in association with a phone number, the restriction data having at least one of a merchant and a merchant category; and

an interchange computing device for managing transactions between a merchant server and a consumer having a telephonic apparatus coupled with the data storage facility, the interchange computing device 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;

wherein, in response to a payment request from the merchant server identifying the phone number, and a merchant identifier associated with the merchant server, the common format processor determines, by the interchange computing device, whether the restriction data is applicable to the merchant as identified by the merchant identifier;

if the restriction data is applicable to the merchant then determining whether to reject the payment request based at least in part on the restriction data;

if the payment request is not rejected based on the restriction data;

the common format processor uses one converter of the converters to communicate, by the interchange computing device, with a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request;

the common format processor transmits, by the interchange computing device, a notification to the merchant after confirmation of the payment request; and

fulfilling, by the interchange computing device, the payment request using funds associated with the phone number;

if the payment request is rejected based on the restriction data then determining whether the restriction data can be modified;

if the restriction data can be modified then seeking, with the interchange computing device, authorization to modify the restriction data;

if the authorization is received to modify the restriction data then;

i. communicating, by the interchange computing device, with the telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the payment request,

ii. after confirmation of the payment request, transmitting, by the interchange computing device, a notification to the merchant, and

iii. fulfilling, by the interchange computing device, the payment request using funds associated with the phone number; and

if the payment authorization is not received then refusing, by the interchange computing device, fulfilling of the payment request.