Payment processing system including point-of-sale device with a unique identifier and associated methods

A method of operating a wireless communications device for communication with a point of sale (POS) device via a secure intermediary, the secure intermediary associating a unique POS identifier with the POS device, the POS device having a merchant account associated therewith, the wireless communications device comprising a receiver module, a memory configured to store account access information for a payment account, and a processor coupled to the receiver module and the memory, the method comprising:

• determining the unique POS identifier using the receiver module in cooperation with the processor;
• and
• sending the account access information to the POS device via the secure intermediary using the unique POS identifier, the POS device operable to request a transfer of funds from the payment account to the merchant account.

A point of sale (POS) device for communication with a secure intermediary, the secure intermediary associating a unique POS identifier with the POS device, the POS device having a merchant account associated therewith, the POS device comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive, via the secure intermediary and based on the unique POS identifier, account access information for a payment account sent to the secure intermediary by a wireless communications device, and
• send the account access information together with transaction information to a transaction server to request a transfer of funds from the payment account to the merchant account.

A method of operating point of sale (POS) device for communication with a secure intermediary, the secure intermediary associating a unique POS identifier with the POS device, the POS device having a merchant account associated therewith, the method comprising:

• receiving, via the secure intermediary and based upon the unique POS identifier, account access information for a payment account sent to the secure intermediary by a wireless communications device;
• and
• sending the account access information together with transaction information to a transaction server to request a transfer of funds from the payment account to the merchant account.

A method of operating a server to act as a secure intermediary between a point of sale (POS) device and a wireless communications device, the secure intermediary associating a unique POS identifier with the POS device and a unique wireless communications device identifier with the wireless communications device, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a network interface coupled to a processor, the unique POS identifier and account access information from the wireless device;
• and
• sending the account access information to the POS device using the unique POS identifier, the POS device operable to request a transfer of funds from a payment account associated with the account access information to a merchant account associated with the POS device.