Broker-mediated payment systems and methods

A method of processing an authorization transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

• at a brokerage server operated by a payment broker, causing a processor to execute stored instructions for authenticating a payer;
• receiving, by the brokerage server via a telecommunication network, a payer selection of at least one funding source and at least one real account associated with the payer;
• computationally retrieving, by the brokerage server from a database in a memory, information identifying a payee;
• receiving, at the brokerage server via a telecommunications network, an instruction from the payer to obtain authorization for a payment to the payee from the at least one payer-selected real account;
• sending, by the brokerage server via a telecommunications network, a request for authorization to the at least one payer-selected funding source of the payment to be made from the at least one payer-selected real account;
• receiving, by the brokerage server via a telecommunication network, authorization from the at least one payer-selected funding source of the payment to be made from the at least one payer-selected real account;
• and
• sending, via a telecommunications network by the brokerage server, (i) notice of the authorization of the payment to the payee without divulging the identity of the at least one payer-selected funding source or the at least one payer-selected real account to the payee, and (ii) a guarantee of the payment by the payment broker, the payment broker's guarantee being based on the authorization.

A server for processing an authorization transaction, the server comprising:

• a processor;
• a payee database;
• a communications module executed by the processor for receiving, via a telecommunications network, communications from a payer;
• an authentication module executed by the processor to execute stored instructions for authenticating the payer;
• and
• a authorization module executed by the processor for:
• (i) receiving, via the communications module, (A) a payer selection of at least one funding source and at least one real account associated with the payer, and (B) an instruction from the payer instructing that authorization for a payment to a payee be obtained from the at least one payer-selected funding source with regard to the at least one payer-selected real account;
• (ii) computationally retrieving, from the payee database, information identifying the payee;
• (iii) sending, via the communications module, a request for authorization from the at least one payer-selected funding source of the payment to be made from the at least one payer-selected real account;
• (iv) receiving, via the communications module, authorization from the at least one payer-selected funding source of the payment to be made from the at least one payer-selected real account;
• and
• (v) sending, via the communications module, (i) notice of the authorization of the payment to the payee without divulging the identity of the at least one payer-selected funding source or the at least one payer-selected real account to the payee, and (ii) a guarantee of payment by the payment broker, the payment broker's guarantee being based on the authorization.

A system for processing an authorization transaction, the system comprising:

• a electronic device running an application for authenticating or obtaining authentication information from a payer, obtaining payee-identifying information, and receiving a selection by the payer of at least one funding source and at least one real account associated with the payer;
• and
• a server for (i) authenticating and identifying the payer based on the authentication information and requesting authorization from the payer-selected funding source to make a payment, (ii) computationally retrieving, from a database, information identifying the payee, (iii) receiving, via a telecommunications network, at the server, an instruction from the payer instructing that authorization for a payment to the payee be obtained from the at least one payer-selected funding source with regard to the at least one payer-selected real account, (iv) sending, via a telecommunications network by the server, a request for authorization from the at least one payer-selected funding source of the payment to be made from the at least one payer-selected real account, (v) receiving, via a telecommunications network, authorization from the at least one payer-selected funding source of the payment to be made from the at least one payer-selected real account, and (vi) sending to the payee, via a telecommunications network, (A) notice of the authorization of the payment to the payee without divulging the identity of the at least one payer-selected funding source or the at least one payer-selected real account to the payee, and (B) a guarantee of the payment by the payment broker, the payment broker's guarantee being based on the authorization.