Methods and systems for electronic monetary payments
AssigneeZiptip, Inc.
InventorLois C. Hamblet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems enable payers to make monetary payments such as gratuities to payees using third-party payment processing services. Payees are assigned electronically-readable unique identifiers, which they can display to potential payers. Payers scan the unique identifiers using mobile devices such as smart phones and send instructions for making payments through a downloaded application.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of transferring payments from payers to payees, each of the payers and payees maintaining a separate account at the same or different third-party payment processing services, the method implemented in a computer server system communicating with client devices operated by the payers, the payees, and each of the same or different third-party payment processing services over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning and issuing an electronically-readable unique identifier to a payee, which the payee can display to potential payers;
- (b) associating the unique identifier assigned to the payee with the account of the payee in a third-party payment processing service;
- (c) receiving instructions from a mobile device operated by a payer for making a payment to the payee, said instructions identifying the payee based on the unique identifier electronically read by the mobile device, an amount of the payment, and information on an account of the payer at a third-party payment processing service;
- and
- (d) transmitting instructions to the third-party payment processing service maintaining the account of the payer to transfer the payment from the account of the payer to the account of the payee.
An electronic payment system for transferring payments from payers to payees, each of the payers and payees maintaining a separate account at the same or different third-party payment processing services, the system configured to communicate with client devices operated by the payers, the payees, and each of the same or different third-party payment processing services over a communications network, the system comprising:
- a data storage system for storing data on payers and payees;
- a computer server system including one or more processors configured to:
- (a) assign and issue an electronically-readable unique identifier to a payee, which the payee can display to potential payers;
- (b) associate the unique identifier assigned to the payee with the account of the payee in a third-party payment processing service, and to store data on the unique identifier and the account of the payee in the data storage system;
- (c) receive instructions from a mobile device operated by a payer for making a payment to the payee, said instructions identifying the payee based on the unique identifier electronically read by the mobile device, an amount of the payment, and information on an account of the payer at a third-party payment processing service;
- and
- (d) transmit instructions to the third-party payment processing service maintaining the account of the payer to transfer the payment from the account of the payer to the account of the payee.
A computer-implemented method of transferring gratuity payments from payers to payees, each of the payers and payees maintaining a separate account at a third-party payment processing service, the method implemented in a computer server system communicating with client devices operated by the payers, the payees, and the third-party payment processing service over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) issuing a medallion including a quick response code to a payee, which the payee can display to potential payers;
- (b) associating the quick response code with the account of the payee in a third-party payment processing service;
- (c) enabling a payer to download an application on a mobile device to facilitate gratuity payments;
- (d) receiving instructions through the application on the mobile device operated by a payer for making a payment to the payee, said instructions identifying the payee based on the quick response code electronically read by the mobile device, an amount of the payment, and information on an account of the payer at a third-party payment processing service;
- and
- (d) transmitting instructions to the third-party payment processing service maintaining the account of the payer to transfer the payment from the account of the payer to the account of the payee.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.