Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080228615 | GRADUAL CONVERSION OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to link a secondary account to a primary account with an account management module associated with the primary account and to control access to funds in the secondary account with respect to a secondary account holder through the account management module. The secondary account includes a spending account and a savings account. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228637 | SPENDING AND SAVINGS SECONDARY LINKED ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to link a secondary account to a primary account with an account management module associated with the primary account and to control access to funds in the secondary account with respect to a secondary account holder through the account management module. The secondary account includes a spending account and a savings account. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228638 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING LINKED ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to link a secondary account to a primary account and to control transfer of funds from an outside source to the secondary account. In an additional embodiment, the secondary account includes an dependent source portion controlled by an account management module and an independent source portion controlled only by a secondary account holder management module. In another additional embodiment, the account management module includes an account suspension feature to enable suspension of the secondary account. | 09-18-2008 |
20080275817 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCOURAGING THE FORMATION AND JOINING OF ONLINE ACCOUNT GROUPS - Formation of grouped online monetary accounts. Accounts can be grouped together, and higher interest rates can be offered to each account within the group, based on the total of the account balances of the group. More specifically, individual accounts within the group are not pooled—they remain separate accounts. However, the interest rate applied to the separate accounts is determined according to the total value of the accounts within the group. Groups with larger total assets are offered higher interest rates, which encourages account owners to join groups so as to take advantage of these higher rates. In some embodiments, group owners are given control over who is invited to join their group. | 11-06-2008 |
20090076949 | CENTRALIZED TRANSACTION RECORD STORAGE - Various methods and systems are provided to permit the storage of online transaction records associated with user-merchant transactions facilitated by a payment service provider. In one example, such transaction records may be aggregated by the payment service provider to permit a user to search the records. In another example, such transaction records may be associated with user-selectable links to permit users to reorder previously purchased items referenced by the transaction records. In yet another example, such transaction records may be associated with warranty information to permit users to conveniently view warranty details associated with previously purchased items. In a further example, a client device may be implemented to determine whether a webpage includes transaction information associated with a user-merchant transaction. The transaction information may be captured and passed by the client device over a network in order to facilitate storage of the transaction information in a transaction record. | 03-19-2009 |
20090112763 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF CONTROLLING ACTIVITIES OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS - Embodiments describe a method and a system to control activities of a financial account. A holder of the financial account may be restricted to transact only with a first set of merchants. The holder of the financial account may be prohibited from transacting with a second set of merchants. The holder of the financial account may further be restricted to transact based on at least one of category or spending limit. | 04-30-2009 |
20090132405 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTO-FILLING INFORMATION - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a plug-in feature for a browser that allows for secure financial transactions on a communication network. The plug-in feature auto-fills transaction information including user-generated information, such as billing and/or shipping information of a user. The plug-in feature allows a user to store receipts in an efficient and convenient manner to track online shopping activities. The plug-in feature generates secure card numbers (e.g., single-use and/or multi-use secure card numbers) to pay for purchases. The plug-in feature may be implemented in a toolbar of a browser. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132417 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING SECURE CARD NUMBERS - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a plug-in feature for a browser that allows for secure financial transactions on a communication network. The plug-in feature generates secure card numbers (e.g., single and multi-use credit card numbers) to pay for purchases. The plug-in feature auto-fills billing and shipping information. The plug-in feature allows a user to store receipts in an efficient and convenient manner to track online shopping activities. The plug-in feature may be implemented in a toolbar of a browser. | 05-21-2009 |
20090171776 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VARIABLE INCENTIVES BASED ON SPENDING - Systems and methods for providing incentives to a customer based on spending behavior include a customer account established with the customer for depositing funds and for purchasing one or more items from at least one merchant. A first rate of return is applied to the deposited funds in the customer account based on the amount of funds spent from the customer account. A second rate of return is applied to funds in the customer account based on the amount of funds not spent from the customer account. The first rate of return is at least greater than the second rate of return, and the first and second rates of return comprise an interest rate. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171836 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION OVER A FINANCIAL NETWORK - A system and method for identification verification over a network is described herein. In one embodiment, the system for identification verification over a network comprises a communication interface; and a payment provider system configured to receive via the communication interface an image of an individual from a merchant system, verify the image received from the merchant system by comparing the image received with a known good image of the individual, and indicated one of positive identification or negative identification back to the merchant system. | 07-02-2009 |
20090276356 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENT MEDIA - Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide a method for distributing payment media to a customer. In various embodiments, the systems and methods include receiving a request from a user via a network, generating a virtual payment number related to the user, associating the virtual payment number to an RFID chip embedded in a sticker, and distributing the sticker to the user via, for example, the mail. | 11-05-2009 |
20090327099 | ESCROW PAYMENT TO FACILIATE ON-LINE TRANSACTIONS - A system and method enables sellers to define a secret shared with an on-line payment provider when listing an item or service for purchase. Consumers deposit funds into an on-line escrow or holding account before committing to a financial on-line transaction or purchase. Once an item is located, the consumer may contact the seller for additional information. By placing funds in escrow, the seller may be more willing to spend the time and effort to deal with the consumer. The consumer, in turn, receives more information to make a purchasing decision. If the transaction is to he completed, the consumer instructs the payment provider maintaining the escrow account to release the funds to the seller's account. The seller is notified by the payment provider, where the notification includes the secret. This enables the seller to authenticate the confirmation message. | 12-31-2009 |
20100010823 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NETWORK BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE - In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for facilitating customer service over a network include receiving a service request from a user via the network, verifying an account related to the user, determining a priority of the user, generating a service identifier, and providing the service identifier to the user via the network. In various implementations, users may be prioritized based on a perceived value of the user so as to provide express customer service and support to highly valued and/or top-rated users. Users may select a support link to obtain a service code which may be used to immediately connect the user to a customer service agent that may provide the user with resolution to problems encountered by the user. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017302 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING PAYMENTS FROM SELECTED FUNDING SOURCES - Systems and methods for operating a payment service provider include storing information associating the identity of a buyer with a plurality of the buyer's payment source accounts and a plurality of personal identity numbers (PINs) respectively associated therewith in a database of the payment service provider. Upon receipt of an authorization from the buyer that includes a specified payment amount and the associated PIN of the selected buyer's account from which the payment is to be made, a transaction device of the service provider is operable to effect a transfer of the specified payment amount from the selected buyer's account to the designated seller's account. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023450 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING FUND TRANSFERS OVER A NETWORK - In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for facilitating financial transactions over a network include communicating with a financial institution over the network, wherein the financial institution includes a first user account related to a user. The systems and methods include receiving a fund transfer request from the financial institution on behalf of the user and establishing a second user account related to the user based on user information passed with the fund transfer request. The systems and methods include processing the fund transfer request by linking the first user account to the second user account based on the user information passed with the fund transfer request, receiving funds from the financial institution associated with the first user account, and depositing the received funds in the second user account on behalf of the user. | 01-28-2010 |
20100084462 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION AT POINT OF SALE - A method for verifying the identity of an individual at a selected location, such as a point of sale (POS), includes storing a photograph of the individual with an associated verifier, such as the individual's verified name, at a remote service provider. A request for a photograph of the individual having the associated verifier is transmitted from the selected location to the remote service provider via a secure data communication network. In response to the request, the service provider matches the verifier with the verifier stored in the database and transmits the photograph associated therewith back to the selected location via the network. The individual's photograph is displayed at the selected location and used by a merchant or the like to verify the identity of the individual. | 04-08-2010 |
20110029400 | NO AUTHENTICATION PAYMENT AND SEAMLESS AUTHENTICATION - A easy authentication or payment is made by creating an account associated with a particular web browser or device that accesses an on-line page. Payments are made, such as for full-access viewing of an article or viewing content without visible ads, by selecting a payment button on the on-line page. Selection can be with a specific swiping motion or device motion previously defined for the user. Once selected, the payment is made without the user having to authorize or authenticate. The motion can be used independently to authorize or authenticate the user through the device. | 02-03-2011 |
20110078076 | SHORT CODES FOR BILL PAY - A system and method for secure transfer of a debt payment, according to one or more embodiments, provides for: receiving a request for a billing service from a biller; providing a reference code to the biller in response to the request, in which the reference code uniquely corresponds to a bill code; receiving a reply corresponding to the bill code from a customer via a network-based device in response to the bill code being included in a bill to the customer; and transferring a payment corresponding to the reference code to the biller while keeping selected financial information of the customer secure with respect to the biller. | 03-31-2011 |
20110246516 | CENTRALIZED TRANSACTION RECORD STORAGE - Various methods and systems are provided to permit the storage of online transaction records associated with user-merchant transactions facilitated by a payment service provider. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of processing transaction information comprises receiving a webpage at a client device, wherein the webpage has an associated webpage address. The method also includes comparing the webpage address with a transaction webpage database. If the webpage address matches an address of the transaction webpage database, the method includes: capturing at least a portion of the webpage corresponding to transaction information associated with a user-merchant transaction, and passing the transaction information over a network in order to facilitate storage of the transaction information in a transaction record. | 10-06-2011 |
20120078749 | IDENTIFIER-BASED CHARGE ON DELIVERY TRANSACTION - Guaranteed funds from a buyer are held until a delivery to the buyer is confirmed by a payment provider. The funds are then released to the seller immediately upon confirmation. Confirmation may be accomplished by the buyer entering an identifier upon delivery or some other confirmation by the shipper, where the identifier was provided to the buyer during the transaction with the seller. In other embodiments, the identifier generated by the payment provider is provided partially to the buyer and partially to the seller. Upon receiving a match of the identifier from the buyer and seller on delivery, buyer funds are released to the seller. | 03-29-2012 |
20120203692 | Centralized Transaction Record Storage - A system according to an embodiment comprises a plurality of searchable machine-readable transaction records associated with a plurality of user accounts, the searchable machine-readable transaction records comprising transaction information associated with a plurality of user-merchant transactions, wherein the transaction information is provided by merchant server(s) and is captured and passed by one or more users to the system in response to a determination performed at a respective client device of the user(s) that a webpage comprises transaction information such that an address of the webpage matches an address in a transaction webpage database; one or more processors; and one or more memories adapted to store a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the processor(s) are adapted to cause the system to provide: a transaction record processing application configured to store the captured transaction information in the searchable machine-readable transaction records associated with the user accounts on the system. | 08-09-2012 |
20120209970 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING USER CONFIDENCE OVER A NETWORK - A system and method for facilitating user confidence over a network, according to one or more embodiments, includes receiving an inquiry from a user via a user device over the network, obtaining information related to the user from the inquiry, accessing a user account related to the user based on information passed with the inquiry, reviewing user transaction history of one or more previous transactions conducted over the network between the user and one or more other users, reviewing user connections of one or more other users that have prior knowledge of the user, determining a universal trust score based on user information related to the user transaction history and the user connections, and notifying the user of the universal trust score via the user device over the network. | 08-16-2012 |
20120284191 | IDENTIFIER-BASED CHARGE ON DELIVERY TRANSACTION - Guaranteed funds from a buyer are held until a delivery to the buyer is confirmed by a payment provider. The funds are then released to the seller immediately upon confirmation. Confirmation may be accomplished by the buyer entering an identifier upon delivery or some other confirmation by the shipper, where the identifier was provided to the buyer during the transaction with the seller. In other embodiments, the identifier generated by the payment provider is provided partially to the buyer and partially to the seller. Upon receiving a match of the identifier from the buyer and seller on delivery, buyer funds are released to the seller. | 11-08-2012 |
20120290367 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A SAVINGS GOAL - Example embodiments describe a method and a system to control activities of a financial account. In example embodiments, a secondary account is linked to a primary account. Within the secondary account, a spending account and a savings account are established. A savings goal in the savings account of the secondary account that enables a portion of the savings account of the secondary account to be set aside is created. The savings goal includes a goal amount. An automatic purchase of a product associated with the savings goal upon the goal amount being met may be allowed. | 11-15-2012 |
20130018798 | System and Methods for Facilitating Fund Transfers Over a Network - In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for facilitating financial transactions over a network include communicating with a financial institution over the network, wherein the financial institution includes a first user account related to a user. The systems and methods include receiving a fund transfer request from the financial institution on behalf of the user and establishing a second user account related to the user based on user information passed with the fund transfer request. The systems and methods include processing the fund transfer request by linking the first user account to the second user account based on the user information passed with the fund transfer request, receiving funds from the financial institution associated with the first user account, and depositing the received funds in the second user account on behalf of the user. | 01-17-2013 |
20130151360 | Digital Wallet Loading - Methods and systems are provided for loading money from a gift card into a digital wallet. The transfer can be done at a point of sale (POS), such as during a purchase of the gift card. The digital wallet can be a digital wallet of a user who is purchasing the gift card. The money in the digital wallet can be used to purchase products from the same merchant or another merchant. The money can be transferred from the digital wallet to any other person or entity. | 06-13-2013 |
20130151401 | REDEMPTION OF GIFT CARDS - A method and system for facilitating the redemption of gift cards are described. The method includes linking a gift card issued by a merchant to a user account, receiving a payment request from the user, processing the payment request so that the merchant is paid with funds in the account, receiving a transaction identifier from the merchant, identifying the merchant, verifying that the account is linked to a gift card issued by the merchant, retrieving a value of the gift card, transmitting the transaction identifier and a request to redeem the gift card, and receiving and depositing funds corresponding to a full or partial value of the gift card. | 06-13-2013 |
20130173404 | REAL-TIME USER FEEDBACK - A service provider determines a user's location when the user requests to make a payment through the service provider. After the payment processed, the user is provided a feedback form on the user device, such as a smart phone, while the user is still at the payment location. The feedback form may include different ways for the user to quickly and easily provide feedback on the transaction, including speaking into the user device, entering comments, selecting from a list of ratings or satisfaction indicators, etc. The user is then able to provide feedback, which is communicated back to the service provider. The service provider can associate the feedback with the particular transaction and communicate the feedback to the merchant or other parties associated with the transaction, including management, employees, etc. | 07-04-2013 |
20130226749 | CENTRALIZED TRANSACTION RECORD STORAGE - Methods and systems according to one or more embodiments are provided for storing online transaction records associated with user-merchant transactions. In an embodiment, a system comprises one or more processors. The system also comprises one or more memories adapted to store a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to: receive transaction information captured and passed from a client device in response to the client device determining that information or content provided by a merchant server comprises transaction information, wherein the transaction information is associated with a user-merchant transaction; and store the received transaction information in a searchable machine-readable transaction record associated with a user account. | 08-29-2013 |
20140056526 | CODELESS QR CODE - A service provider receives, from a user, picture information captured by a user device from a picture mark associated with a product or service of a merchant. It determines a matching picture image by comparing the picture information with picture images in a server, previously registered by the merchant. It also determines, out of attributes previously registered by the merchant, a matching attribute set uniquely associated with the matching picture image. The attributes may be web links, mobile APPs, or any media files that the merchant desires to communicate to users about its products or services. The service provider then communicates to the user the matching attribute set to be loaded on the user device and direct the user to the web links, mobile APPs, or media files that the merchant predetermined. | 02-27-2014 |
20140061299 | IN-STORE CARD ACTIVATION - A user having an account with a payment provider is able to go to a store or merchant location and pick an unregistered payment card associated with the payment provider. The card may have a magnetic strip encoded with a number unique to the card and a machine readable code, such as a QR/barcode, embossed thereon. The card may or may not have a corresponding number embossed or printed on the card. Once a card is selected, the user may open an application on the user's mobile smart phone or other device to scan or otherwise capture the number associated with the card. The user may scan the QR/barcode, take a picture of the number, speak the number into the device, or even manually enter the number into the user's device. The user, either before or after the number capture, also authenticates with the payment provider, such as by entering login credentials, which may include a password/PIN and a user identifier if needed. The user may then confirm a request to associate or link the scanned card with the user's payment provider account. Once done, the card is now activated and linked to the user account so that the user can immediately use the card for purchases. | 03-06-2014 |
20140165174 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AUTHENTICATION USING SECURITY INDICATOR - A method to authenticate a first computer system over a network to a second computer system is disclosed. A login user interface (UI) is presented to a user of the first computer system while disconnected from the second computer system. The login UI presents at least one input field to receive login input from the user and a security indicator that has been previously selected by the user and that is local to the first computer system. Login input is selectively received from the user based on a determination that the user recognizes the security indicator as having been previously selected by the user. A connection is established between the first computer system and the second computer system over the network. The received user input is transmitted using the established connection to the second computer system for authentication of the first computer system. | 06-12-2014 |
20140249978 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A SAVINGS GOAL - Example embodiments describe a method and a system to provide mobile payments on a secondary linked account. In example embodiments, a secondary account is linked to a primary account. One or more parameters from a primary account holder of the primary account is received that define limitations on access and use of funds in the secondary account by a secondary account holder. Based on the one or more parameters, a determination that the secondary account holder is allowed to make mobile payments is made. An identifier of a mobile device and a PIN from the secondary account holder is received to activate the mobile device to make the mobile payments in response to the determining that the secondary account holder is allowed to make the mobile payments. | 09-04-2014 |
20150066682 | GIFT PACKAGE RECOMMENDATIONS - Methods and systems can provide recommendations regarding gift packages. For example, a system can comprise a memory that stores information about a gift card recipient. A hardware processor can be in communication with the memory. The hardware processor can receive a communication that includes an indication of a desire of a user to purchase a gift card for the gift card recipient. The hardware processor can access the information. The hardware processor can determine, at least in part from the information, a recommendation for use of the gift card by the recipient. The hardware processor can facilitate sending of the recommendation to the user or the recipient, such as via text messaging or email. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066799 | CHECK-IN FOR DELIVERY - Methods and systems for facilitating delivery of a package to a customer are described. The methods include receiving a delivery order, the order including a signature requirement; requesting a visual identification of an authorized receiver of the package from a user; receiving the visual identification from the user; and transmitting the visual identification to a shipping carrier. | 03-05-2015 |