U.S. patent application number 10/273436 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-22 for wireless communication device account payment notification systems and methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to First Data Corporation. Invention is credited to Algiene, Kenneth, Frazier, Patricia A..
Application Number | 20040078327 10/273436 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32092797 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040078327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frazier, Patricia A. ; et
al. |
April 22, 2004 |
Wireless communication device account payment notification systems
and methods
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for notifying a wireless
communication device user regarding an account payment. One method
comprises dialing a phone number of a wireless communication
device, preferably a cell phone. A communication relating to an
account payment that includes a balance due is then transmitted or
delivered to a wireless communication device user. Optionally, at
the same time or a later time, input from the wireless
communication device user may be received regarding payment of the
balance due. Such notification methods may be carried out by a host
computer system which has a record of when the account payment is
due and dials and transmits within a predetermined time frame.
Generally, such methods will further comprise pre-registering or
enrolling the wireless communication device user.
Inventors: |
Frazier, Patricia A.;
(Dallas, TX) ; Algiene, Kenneth; (Littleton,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
First Data Corporation
Englewood
CO
|
Family ID: |
32092797 |
Appl. No.: |
10/273436 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/40 ;
455/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/04 20130101;
G06Q 30/04 20130101; G06Q 20/3221 20130101; G06Q 20/32 20130101;
G06Q 40/00 20130101; G06Q 20/102 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/040 ;
455/406 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60; H04M
011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for notifying a wireless communication device user
regarding an account payment, the method comprising: dialing a
phone number of a wireless communication device; transmitting a
communication relating to an account payment that includes a
balance due; and receiving input from a wireless communication
device user regarding payment of the balance due.
2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving an answer
from the wireless communication device prior to transmitting the
communication.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the answer comprises a live
verbal response from the wireless communication device user or a
voice mail of the wireless communication device user.
4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a
verbal communication or text message.
5. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises
requesting whether no, partial, or full payment of the balance due
is to be made.
6. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises
requesting a new credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer
authorization or a pre-registered payment option approval from the
wireless communication device user for a partial or full payment of
the balance due.
7. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises
identifying a provider location where payment is made in-person by
currency, check, credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer from a
bank account.
8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the provider is a third party
payment service provider affiliated with a plurality of
offices.
9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the provider is a wireless
communication device provider.
10. A method as in claim 7, wherein the provider is a billing
party.
11. A method as in claim 1, wherein receiving input further
comprises receiving a new credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer
authorization or a pre-registered payment option approval from the
wireless communication device user for a partial or full payment of
the balance due.
12. A method as in claim 1, wherein receiving input further
comprises receiving a return phone call to a customer service
representative or an IVR system, a return text message, an internet
response, an e-mail response, an in-person visit from the wireless
device user, or a mail response.
13. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving a payment
of at least a portion of the balance due in response to the
received input from the wireless device user.
14. A method as in claim 15, further comprising transferring the
payment of at least a portion of the balance due to a billing
party.
16. A method as in claim 13 or 14, further comprising transmitting
a payment receipt to the wireless communication device user.
17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the payment receipt is
transmitted to a wireless communication device user's mailing
address, e-mail address, text message number, or voice mail
number.
18. A method as in claim 13 or 14, further comprising updating
account payment records.
19. A method as in claim 1, wherein in the wireless communication
device comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant device,
or a wireless communication device that receives verbal
communication or text messaging.
20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising pre-registering the
wireless communication device user.
21. A method as in claim 20, wherein pre-registering comprises
receiving and storing information from the wireless communication
device user or a billing party regarding at least one bill payment
account.
22. A method as in claim 21, further comprising creating a name
identifier associated with each bill payment account.
23. A method as in claim 20, wherein pre-registering comprises
receiving and storing information from the wireless communication
device user regarding a payment option.
24. A method as in claim 23, wherein the payment option is selected
from a group consisting of checks, credit cards, debit cards, or
ACH transfer from a bank account.
25. A method as in claim 20, further comprising creating a user
identifier associated with the wireless communication device
user.
26. A method as in claim 25, wherein the user identifier is the
wireless communication device phone number.
27. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dialing and transmitting is
carried out by a host computer system which has a record of when
the account payment is due and dials and transmits within a
predetermined time frame.
28. A method as in claim 1, wherein the account balance is not past
due.
29. A method for receiving account payment notification on a
wireless communication device, the method comprising: answering a
phone call on a wireless communication device; receiving by a
provider a communication relating to an account payment that
includes a balance due; and transmitting payment information in
accordance with the balance due to the provider.
30. A method as in claim 29, wherein answering comprises a live
verbal response from the wireless communication device user or a
voice mail of the wireless communication device user.
31. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable
program embodied therein for directing operation of a computer
system for a provider, the computer system including a
communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein
the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating
the computer system to notify a wireless communication device user
regarding an account payment in accordance with the following:
dialing a phone number of a wireless communication device; and
transmitting a communication relating to an account payment that
includes a balance due.
32. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 31, wherein the
computer-readable program further includes instructions for
operating the computer system for receiving input from a wireless
communication device user regarding payment of the balance due.
33. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 32, wherein the
computer-readable program further includes instructions for
operating the computer system for receiving a payment of at least a
portion of the balance due in response to the received input from
the wireless device user.
34. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 33, wherein the
computer-readable program further includes instructions for
operating the computer system for transferring the payment of at
least a portion of the balance to a billing party.
35. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 33 or 34,
wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions
for operating the computer system for transmitting a payment
receipt to the wireless device user.
36. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 33 or 34,
wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions
for operating the computer system for updating account payment
records.
37. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 31, wherein the
computer-readable program further includes instructions for
operating the computer system for receiving and storing
pre-registered information on a wireless device communication
user.
38. An account payment notification system, the system comprising:
a host computer; and a database associated with the host computer,
the database having a record of pre-registered information on a
wireless communication device user including a user identifier, an
account payment, and when the account payment is due; wherein the
host computer is configured to dial a phone number of a wireless
communication device and transmit a communication relating to the
account payment that includes a balance due within a predetermined
time period.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to account payment
systems and methods. More particularly, the present invention
relates to systems and methods that allow a provider, such as an
independent third party bill payment service provider or a billing
party, to deliver account payment information to a wireless
communication device user, preferably to a cell phone user.
[0002] Millions of households need to spend a significant amount of
time and energy each month to respond to numerous account or bill
payments. Such account payments may include utility bills (e.g.,
cell phone, telephone, water, electricity, gas, garbage, cable),
credit card bills, loan payment bills (e.g., home mortgage
payments, car loan payments, student loan payments, commercial
business loan payments), insurance payments, tax bill payments
(e.g., property tax, personal income tax, business tax), merchant
bills, bank bills, etc.
[0003] The most common method of account payment is mail delivery
of a paper bill or coupon book by a billing party to a bill payer.
The bill payer in return writes a paper check for the appropriate
amount and mails the check along with the associated account
payment coupon to the billing party. This method is labor intensive
and time consuming for the bill payer. Moreover, account payments
must be done on multiple occasions each month since bills do not
normally arrive or become due on the same date. In addition, the
bill-payer has to absorb the cost of postage in mailing the paper
checks to the billing parties. In short, the bill payer is required
to inconveniently go through multiple steps for account payment,
including manually receiving each bill, keeping track of account
payments for a variety of bills depending on when they arrive or
become due, and manually paying each bill as well as absorbing
postage costs. Further, mail delivery of a bill may be problematic
in certain circumstances. For example, the bill payer may misplace,
lose, or never receive a mailed account payment notification or be
away from home on a business trip or vacation, without receiving a
bill in the mail, resulting in the bill being unpaid and possibly
becoming overdue. Overdue bills may in turn result in finance
charges being assessed to the bill payer and/or cause other
inconveniences, such as, the trouble of getting canceled or
terminated services reinstated.
[0004] With respect to the billing party, the cost for preparing
and mailing a paper bill may be a significant per unit cost. These
costs include the paper for the bill, any enclosures, the envelope,
postage, printing, data management, etc. Paper check processing
also entails significant costs to the billing parties who receive
and handle remittances in this manner. Billing parties have a large
incentive to try to reduce this high cost associated with mailing
account payment statements. Furthermore, receipt of a paper bill in
the mail does not necessarily encourage the bill payer to reply
using more cost effective and efficient bill payment methods
preferred by the billing party, such as telephone bill paying or
electronic bill payment methods, which are described in more detail
below.
[0005] Attempts have been made to improve the efficiency of account
payment methods. One such method involves payment of bills though
electronic bill payment systems, such as PayPal, CheckFree, C2it by
Citibank, Visa ePay, Quicken, MS Money, etc., that are directly
operated by the billing party or an independent third party payment
service provider. For example, bill delivery and payment is
transacted over a communication network such as the well-known
internet network or the world wide web thereof. The bill payer
typically uses a personal computer to access or login in on a web
site provided by a server computer to view bill information and
instruct the server computer to make bill payments accordingly.
Optionally, without visiting a web site, a bill payer may be
provided with electronic bills in the form of electronic mail
(e-mail) at his/her e-mail address. After opening an electronic
bill by accessing or logging into an e-mail site, a bill payer may
make the bill payment by replying to the electronic bill or by
accessing a web site to secure electronic payment.
[0006] Although such electronic means over the internet (via
accessing or logging into a web site or e-mail site) for account
payment takes advantage of the advanced personal computer and
internet communication technologies, such electronic means often is
not a viable option to bill payers who may have limited or no
access to the internet to carry out such electronic banking
services. For example, business or leisure travelers who are often
on the road or employees at off-site work locations typically have
limited or no access to the internet or e-mail sites to receive any
bill payment notification or transmit any bill payments. Moreover,
internet or e-mail account payment services often fail to provide
instantaneous, real-time notification to a bill payer and are not
always conveniently accessible at all locations (e.g., when driving
or taking public transportation, no household/work internet access,
etc.).
[0007] Other alternatives that have been proposed are
pre-authorizations from a bill payer to a billing party or third
party payment service that automatically deduct a bill payment from
a bill payer account each month (i.e., recurring electronic funds
transfer (REFT) from a checking or savings account or having a
credit card charged automatically). This type of account payment
method suffers from a lack of bill payer control as the bill payer
no longer has the choice of not to pay the bill. For example, if
the bill payer wants to dispute a charge on the bill, it is often
very difficult to, short of closing the account, to prevent the
billing party from taking a disputed amount from the bill payer's
account due to the pre-authorization. Moreover, typically such
pre-authorizations require that the bill payer use a specific
funding account, in turn making it difficult for the bill payer to
change the funding account at the time of payment as bill payment
is automatically processed without input from the bill payer. It
has further been suggested to use telephone systems, such as
TelPay, for handling bill payments. Such systems typically
incorporate voice response technology that allows a bill payer to
make a one-time electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment from a
checking or savings or a one-time credit card payment. However, to
date, such systems are limited in that they rely on the bill payer
to initiate the bill-paying process by calling the telephone bill
paying system first after receiving a bill, typically in the mail,
and providing the telephone system with information on the bills to
be paid.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for alternate
methods and systems that facilitate efficient account payment
whereby a bill payer may conveniently and reliably receive bill
delivery from any location and optionally, at the same time or a
later time, effectively make the bill payment by taking full
advantage of advanced wireless communication technologies. Such an
improved account payment system may further leverage existing
systems, such as an existing telephone bill paying system. These
and other shortcomings in the prior art are addressed in the
present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and
systems for providing notification to a wireless communication
device user regarding an account payment. One method comprises
dialing a phone number of a wireless communication device. A
communication relating to an account payment that includes a
balance due is then transmitted or delivered to a wireless
communication device user. Optionally, at the same time or a later
time, input from the wireless communication device user may be
received regarding payment of the balance due. Such embodiments
take full advantage of wireless communication technologies, such as
cell phones, personal digital assistance devices (PDA's), or other
wireless communications devices that are configured to have a phone
number and to receive verbal communication or text messaging, to
provide instantaneous, real-time, live billing notification.
[0010] Embodiments of the present invention advantageously dial a
wireless communication device, preferably a cell phone, to allow
for account payment delivery and optionally payment processing. A
wide base of bill payers are reached as a relatively large number
of bill payers often carry a cell phone on their possession at all
times and locations due to its small size, low cost, and
convenience/safety factors. As such, a bill payer may conveniently
and reliably receive bill delivery from any location and/or at any
time. Bill delivery by dialing a cell phone number and transmitting
account payment information to a user over a cell phone network may
further prevent against a bill being misplaced, lost, or never
received. Cell phone account payment is especially of benefit to
individuals who are frequent business or leisure travelers or
employees at off-site work locations who may have limited or no
access to internet banking services, such as internet or e-mail
sites, or are not at home for conventional mail delivery. Such
wireless communication bill delivery may further prevent against
bills becoming past due as well as the incurrence of any finance
charges and/or service terminations that often accompany past due
bills. From the perspective of a provider, billing over a wireless
communication network greatly reduces the high cost associated with
preparing and mailing paper account statements. A provider may also
build upon an existing telephone bill paying system (that relies on
a user to initiate the telephone bill-paying process) so that it is
reconfigured to dial and transmit account payment communications to
a wireless communication device user.
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention allow for account
payment of a variety of bills, including utility bills (e.g., cell
phone, telephone, water, electricity, gas, garbage, cable), credit
card bills, loan payment bills (e.g., home mortgage payments, car
loan payments, student loan payments, commercial business loan
payments), insurance payments, tax bill payments (e.g., property
tax, personal income tax, business tax), merchant bills, bank
bills, etc. The account balance being transmitted is generally not
past due. Typically, account payment delivery and optionally
payment processing is carried out by a provider. The provider may
be an independent third party payment service provider, which in
certain embodiments is an entity affiliated with a plurality of
offices, such as Western Union. Optionally, the provider may be a
direct billing party. For example, the billing party may preferably
be a wireless communication device provider, such as Sprint,
AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, etc., that may easily
transmit a cell phone bill to its cell phone customer each month
over its cellular phone network. This is because the wireless
communication device provider is already in a position to have a
pre-existing account record for the user including an account
number, balance due, balance due date, etc. as well as the
associated cell phone number.
[0012] The methods of the present invention may preferably be
carried out by a host computer system which has a record of when
the account payment is due and dials and transmits within a
predetermined time frame. For example, if an account payment is due
August 31, a predetermined time frame in a range from about 31 days
to 1 day prior to the due date, in this instance from July 31 to
August 30, may trigger the host computer to dial and transmit bill
notification. The host computer will further incorporate a
communications systems, such as an interactive voice response unit
(IVR system) that may transmit a verbal communication to the
wireless communication device user or a text messaging system that
may transmit a text message to the wireless communication device
user. Generally, such methods will further comprise pre-registering
or enrolling the wireless communication device user. For instance,
pre-registering may comprise receiving and storing information from
the wireless communication device user or a billing party regarding
at least one bill payment account. Such information as the billing
party's name, address, phone number, and/or bank, the user's
account number, the balance due, the balance due date, etc. will be
received and stored on the host computer. Additional information
such as pre-registered payment options may also be received and
stored on the host computer. A personal identification number (PIN)
or user identifier associated with the wireless communication
device user will also be created. This identifier may simply
comprise the wireless communication device phone number as this
identifier may be easily rememberable and memorizable by a wireless
device user. Hence, the host computer may keep track of account
payments for a variety of bills as well as any payment option is
associated with each account and dial and transmit such billing
notices depending on when account payments become due. The host
computer may further facilitate payment of the balance due in a
variety of fashions which encourage a bill payer to submit
remittances using more cost effective and time efficient bill
payment systems for both the bill payer (i.e., reduce postage
costs) and the provider (i.e., reduce payment processing time and
costs).
[0013] The methods of the present invention may be embodied in a
computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program
embodied therein for directing operation of a computer system. Such
a computer system may include a communications system, a processor,
and a storage device. The computer-readable program includes
instructions operating the computer system to notify a wireless
communication device user regarding an account payment in
accordance with the embodiments described above.
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention further provide methods
for receiving account payment notification on a wireless
communication device. One method comprises answering a phone call
on a wireless communication device. A communication relating to an
account payment that includes a balance due is received from a
provider. Payment information is then transmitted in accordance
with the balance due to the provider. Answering the phone call may
comprise a live verbal response from the wireless communication
device user in the case of a picked up phone call or a voice mail
of the wireless communication device user in the case of a missed
phone call.
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention further include account
payment notification systems. Such a system may include a host
computer and a database associated with the host computer. The
database maintains records for pre-registered information on a
wireless communication device user including a user identifier, an
account payment, and the when the account payment is due. The host
computer is configured to dial a phone number of a wireless
communication device user and transmit a communication relating to
the account payment that includes a balance within a predetermined
time period.
[0016] These and other embodiments of the present invention are
described in more detail in conjunction with the text below and
attached figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the
present invention may be realized by reference to the detailed
description and claims when considered in connection with the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the
several drawings to refer to similar components.
[0018] FIG. 1 provides a flow diagram illustrating one method for
providing account payment notification to a wireless communication
device user.
[0019] FIG. 2 provides a flow diagram illustrating one method to
pre-register a wireless communication device user.
[0020] FIG. 3A provides a flow diagram illustrating a variety of
methods for providing account payment notification in response to a
live verbal answer.
[0021] FIG. 3B provides a flow diagram illustrating a variety of
methods for providing account payment notification in a text
message situation or in response to a missed phone call.
[0022] FIG. 4 provides a schematic illustration of the
interconnection of various entities in different embodiments of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 provides a schematic illustration of a configuration
of a computer system on which methods of the present invention may
be embodied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and
systems for account payments. In particular, the present invention
provides methods and systems that allow a provider to deliver
account payment information to a wireless communication device
user. Such methods and systems advantageously allow for
notification of account payment and optionally payment in a time
efficient and cost effective manner to both the device user/bill
payer and the provider/billing party. Moreover, such methods take
full advantage of the wireless communication technologies, such as
cell phones and PDA's, to provide instant billing notification to a
wide base of wireless device users who may conveniently receive
such bill delivery and optionally transmit a payment at virtually
any location and/or any time.
[0025] The flow diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates one method of
providing account payment notification to a wireless communication
device user according to the present invention. At block 100, the
provider pre-registers or enrolls a wireless communication device
user. The provider may be an independent third party payment
service provider, which in certain embodiments is an entity
affiliated with a plurality of offices so any in-person visits to
one of the provider's offices by the device user in many
geographical locations are convenient. Optionally, the provider may
be a direct billing party. For example, the billing party may
preferably be a cell phone provider that may easily enroll or
pre-register a cell phone user at the same time the cell phone user
signs up for cell phone service. This way the cell phone company
may easily transmit a cell phone bill to its cell phone customer
each month over its cell phone network. Alternatively, the billing
party may comprise a utility company that transmits a utility bill,
a credit card company that transmits a credit card bill, a loan
company that transmits a loan bill, an insurance company that
transmits an insurance bill, a federal or state government that
transmits a tax bill, etc., over the wireless communication network
each month. At block 102, a phone number of the wireless
communication device is dialed and at block 104 a communication
relating to an account payment that includes a balance due is then
transmitted or delivered to the wireless communication device user.
The account balance being transmitted by the provider is generally
not past due. At block 106, optionally, at the same time or a later
time, input from the wireless communication device user may be
received regarding payment of the balance due.
[0026] The flow diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates one method for
pre-registering or enrolling 100 the wireless communication device
user according to the present invention. At block 108,
pre-registering comprises receiving and storing information from
the wireless communication device user or a billing party regarding
at least one bill payment account. Such information may include the
billing party's name, address, phone number, and/or bank deposit
information as well as the device user's account number and/or any
PIN number(s) that may be associated with the account, the balance
due, the balance due date, etc. In the case where the provider is a
third party payment service provider, the provider may further
verify the account payment information directly with the billing
party. At block 110 (optional), in the case where multiple account
payments are enrolled, a name identifier associated with each bill
may be created and optionally changed by the device user so that
the user may easily identify which bill is associated with each
bill payment notification. Pre-registering may further comprise
receiving and storing information from the wireless communication
device user regarding a payment option, as indicated at block 112
(optional). The payment option may be selected from a group
consisting of checks (i.e., from a checking or money market
account), credit cards (i.e., VISA, Master Card, American Express,
Discover, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, etc.), debit cards (i.e.,
banking card linked to checking, savings, certificate of deposit,
or money market account, anonymous debit cards, e.g., one
associated with Master Card, VISA, and the like, a stored value
card, internet cash card, etc.), an Automated Clearing House (ACH)
transfer from a bank account, and the like. Optionally, a
particular payment option may be associated with a particular bill
payment account. For example, a utility bill may be paid from a
credit card funding source while a mortgage payment may be paid
from a debit card source.
[0027] At block 114, a PIN or user identifier associated with the
wireless communication device user will also be created to identify
a particular bill payer with a particular set of accounts. This
identifier may simply comprise the wireless communication device
phone number as this identifier may be easily recallable. However,
for security reasons this identifier may be some other unique code
that may be changed by the device user. At block 116, an account
record is established and at block 118 a phone number of the
wireless communication device is dialed and the notification
transmitted within a predetermined time frame based on the account
record of pre-registered information. For example, a predetermined
time frame may be in a range from about 31 days to 1 day prior to
the balance due date. It will further be appreciated that any
pre-registered information with respect to each bill payment
account and/or payment option may be easily altered or changed at
any time. For example, new bill payment accounts may be added, old
bill payment accounts may be deleted, or payment option funding
accounts may be added or modified.
[0028] The flow diagram of FIG. 3A illustrates a variety of methods
for providing account payment notification in the instance of a
picked up phone call. At block 102, a phone number of the wireless
communication device is dialed. At block 120, the phone call is
answered in the form of a live verbal answer from the wireless
communication device user. Once an answer is received from the
wireless communication device in the form of the live verbal
response, a verbal communication is transmitted relating to an
account payment that includes a balance due, as shown at block 122.
Typically, verbal communication may be transmitted by an IVR system
or by a customer service representative of the provider.
Transmitting further comprises requesting whether no, partial, or
full payment of the balance due is to be made.
[0029] At block 124, input is received from the communication
device user that no payment is to be made at this time. If no
payment is to be currently made with bill notification,
transmitting further comprises identifying a provider location
where payment may be made in-person, as indicated at block 126.
Hence, in certain embodiments it is advantageous to have a provider
as an entity affiliated with a plurality of offices so any
in-person visits to one of the provider's offices by the device
user in many geographical locations are convenient. In-person
payments may be made in the form of currency (i.e., cash), checks
(i.e., from a checking or money market account), credit cards
(i.e., VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Diners Club,
Carte Blanche, etc.), debit cards (i.e., banking card linked to
checking, savings, certificate of deposit, or money market account,
anonymous debit cards, e.g., one associated with Master Card, VISA,
and the like, a stored value card, internet cash card, etc.), an
ACH transfer from a bank account, and the like. At block 128, input
from the wireless device user regarding payment of the balance due
may further comprise receiving a return phone call (wireless or
land line) to a customer service representative or an IVR system, a
return text message, an internet response, e-mail response an
in-person visit, or a mail response that includes payment of at
least a portion of the balance due 136. The payment may be tendered
in any of the forms described above, including currency, check,
credit card, debit card, and ACH transfer. In certain
circumstances, the phone number of the wireless communication
device may be re-dialed to transmit a second and/or final
notification regarding payment of the balance due if no payment
from the wireless device user is received within a certain
predetermined period of time.
[0030] At block 130, input from the device user is preferably
received that partial or full payment of the balance due is to be
made. Transmitting then further comprises requesting a new credit
card or debit card authorization or a pre-registered payment option
approval, as illustrated in FIG. 2, from the wireless communication
device user for a partial or full payment of the balance due. Such
a payment query is advantageous as it allows the device user with
enhanced options for bill payment. For instance, if a device user
is pre-registered for a specific funding account (optional) and
later, at time of bill payment, wanted to pay the bill using an
alternate funding account, the device user may easily change the
funding account at the time of bill payment by inputting the new
credit card or debit card authorization 132 for partial or full
payment of the balance due. It will further be appreciated that
block 132 may further provide other alternatives for payment
tender, such as an ACH transfer from a bank account. At block 134,
input from the wireless device user regarding payment of the
balance due may alternatively comprise receiving a pre-registered
payment option approval for partial or full payment of the balance
due. Further options may be provided at the time of payment, such
as receiving and processing a request from the device user to post
date the payment or to even cancel the payment within a
predetermined time of payment authorization. As indicated at block
136, a one-time payment of at least a portion of the balance due is
received by the provider in response to the received input from the
wireless device user 128, 132, 134.
[0031] In the instance where the provider is an independent third
party payment service provider (e.g., Western Union), payment of at
least a portion of the balance due to a billing party may be
transferred, as indicated at block 138, after payment receipt to
the provider 136. Payment to the billing party may be preferably
electronically transferred over a computer implemented transfer
network. Optionally, payment may be made to the billing party
utilizing some other negotiable instrument, such as issuing a check
and mailing it through the postal service. Examples of other
payment transfer systems that may be employed with the present
invention are QUICK COLLECT.TM. or SWIFTPAY.TM. transfer services
available from Western Union and described respectively in
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/112,440, entitled
Systems and Methods for Enrolling Consumers in Goods and Services,
filed Mar. 29, 2002, and 10/112,258, entitled Electronic Identifier
Payment Systems and Methods, filed Mar. 29, 2002, the complete
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0032] At block 140, the provider may further transmit a payment
receipt to the wireless communication device user upon receipt of
the payment 136 or after payment transfer 138. The payment receipt
may be transmitted to the wireless communication device user's
mailing address in the case of a paper receipt, e-mail address or
text message number in the case of an electronic receipt, or voice
mail number in the case of a verbal receipt. After receipt
transmission 140 or after payment transfer 136, the account payment
records for the device user may be updated indicating account
payment to the provider and/or payment to a third billing
party.
[0033] The flow diagram of FIG. 3B, illustrates a variety of
methods for providing account payment notification in the instance
of a missed phone call. At block 102, a phone number of the
wireless communication device is dialed. At block 144, the missed
phone call is answered in the form of a voice mail of the wireless
communication device user. Once an answer is received from the
wireless communication device in the form of the voice mail 144, a
verbal communication is transmitted relating to an account payment
that includes a balance due, as indicated at block 122. Typically,
verbal communication may be transmitted by an IVR system or by a
customer service representative of the provider. The flow diagram
of FIG. 3B also illustrates a variety of methods for providing
account payment notification in a text message situation. At block
102, a phone number of the wireless communication device is dialed.
At block 146, instead of a verbal communication 122, a text message
communication is transmitted to the wireless communication device
relating to the account payment and balance due. Typically, text
message communication may be transmitted from a text messaging
system of the provider.
[0034] Upon text message transmission 146 or missed phone call
transmission 144, 122, transmitting further comprises (text or
verbal) identifying a provider location where payment may be made
in-person, as indicated at block 126. In-person payments may be
made in the form of currency, checks, debit cards, an ACH transfer
from a bank account, and the like. At block 148, input from the
wireless device user regarding payment of the balance due may
comprise receiving an internet response, e-mail response, an
in-person visit or mail response that includes the pre-registered
user identification 114 to facilitate account payment and payment
of at least a portion of the balance due 136. The payment may be
tendered in any of the forms described above, including currency,
check, credit card, debit card, and ACH transfer.
[0035] Preferably, as indicated at block 150, input from the
wireless device user regarding payment of the balance due comprises
a return phone call (wireless or land line) to a customer service
representative or an IVR system or a return text message. The
device user further furnishes the pre-registered user
identification 114 to facilitate payment of the account balance. A
new credit card, debit card, or ACH authorization 132 or a
pre-registered payment option approval 134 is accordingly received.
At block 136, payment of at least a portion of the balance due is
received in response to the input from the wireless device user
148, 132, 134. Payments may then optionally be transferred to a
billing party 138, payment receipts transmitted to the wireless
communication device user 140, or account payment records updated
142.
[0036] FIG. 4 provides schematic diagrams illustrating
communication between a provider 152, a wireless communication
device user, namely a cell phone or PDA device user 154, and a
billing party 156. The provider 152, in this illustration, is an
independent third party payment service provider. However, it will
be appreciated that the provider 152 and billing party 156 may
comprise the same entity in other embodiments of the present
invention. The provider 152 may comprise a central organization and
a plurality of offices 158-(1-4) structure. As used herein,
"office" is intended to be interpreted broadly and refers to any
place affiliated with the provider and capable of interfacing with
the cell phone user 154 and/or a billing party 156. The affiliation
between the provider 152 and a given office 158 may take the form
of a contractual, agency, joint venture, or other similar
relationship, in addition to being a subsidiary or business place
of the provider 152.
[0037] Bill delivery may be effected by having the cell phone user
154 answer a phone call and receive by the provider 152 a
communication relating to account payment that includes a balance
due, as indicated by arrow 1. The cell phone user 154 may then
transmit payment information in accordance with the balance due in
a variety of fashions. For instance, the cell phone user 154 may
preferably authorize credit card, debit card, ACH transfer
authorization or pre-registered payment option approval directly
over the phone (wireless or land line) to the provider 152, as
indicated by arrow 2a. Alternatively, the cell phone user 154 may
make a payment in-person by visiting one of the provider offices
158-4, as indicated by arrow 2b. Still further the cell phone user
154 may transmit payment in a return phone call response, return
text message response, internet response, e-mail response,
in-person visit response, or mail response to the provider 152 or
one of its affiliated offices 158. After receipt of the payment,
the provider 152 or office 158-4 may further transfer payment of at
least a portion of the balance due to a billing party 156, as
indicated respectively by arrows 3a and 3b, by the internet or
other negotiable instrument.
[0038] Bill delivery notification may preferably be carried out by
a host computer system 160 of the provider 152 which has a record
of when the account payment is due based on pre-registered
information and dials and transmits account payment notification
within a predetermined time frame. The pre-registered information
(i.e., user identifier, account name, balance, due date, etc.) on
the wireless device communication user is typically received and
stored on a computer database. The host computer system may further
receive and process input from the wireless communication device
user regarding payment of the balance due. The host computer system
may further receive a payment of at least a portion of the balance
due in response to the received input from the wireless device user
as well optionally transfer the payment to a billing party. The
host computer system may further transmit a payment receipt to the
device user and update the account payment records.
[0039] An example of a configuration that may be used for the host
provider computer 160 is shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 broadly
illustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in a
separated or more integrated manner. The provider computer 160 is
shown comprised of hardware elements that are electrically coupled
via bus 224, including a processor 204, an input device 208, an
output 212, a storage device 216, a computer-readable storage media
reader 220a, a communications system 228, a processing acceleration
unit 232 such as a DSP or special-purpose processor, and a memory
236. The computer-readable storage media reader 220a is further
connected to a computer-readable storage medium 220b, the
combination comprehensively representing remote, local, fixed,
and/or removable storage devices plus storage media for temporarily
and/or more permanently containing computer-readable information.
For the illustrated embodiment, the communications system 228
incorporates an IVR system that may transmit and receive verbal
communication or a text messaging system that may transmit and
receive text messages.
[0040] The provider computer 160 also comprises software elements,
shown as being currently located within working memory 240,
including an operating system 244 and other code 248, such as a
program designed to implement the methods and systems of the
present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that substantial variations may be used in accordance with specific
requirements. For example, customized hardware might also be used
and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware,
software (including portable software, such as applets), or both.
Further, connection to other computing devices such as network
input/output devices may be employed.
[0041] Although certain preferred embodiments and methods have been
disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure
to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents of such embodiments and
methods may be made without departing from the true spirit and
scope of the invention. Therefore, the above description should not
be taken as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by
the appended claims.
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