Early Warning Services, LLC

Paul Finch

Lou Anne Alexander

Aaron Bartrim

A system including one or more processors, a merchant account database including a plurality of merchant identifiers being associated with a plurality of merchants, a plurality of account identifiers associated with the plurality of merchants, and a mapping associating the plurality of merchant identifiers with the plurality of account identifiers, a transaction database and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform certain operations. The operations can include receiving, at the system and based on a consumer using a mobile device to initiate a payment for one or more items to be purchased from a merchant by the consumer for a payment amount, a message including a merchant identifier of the plurality of merchant identifiers. The operations also can include determining, at the system and using the merchant account database, first information including a second account identifier for a second account of the merchant at the second financial institution. The operations additionally can include sending the first information from the system to the first financial institution. The operations further can include receiving in real-time over a network, at the system and from the first financial institution, payment information regarding the payment to the second account from a first account of the consumer at the first financial institution to pay the merchant the payment amount for the one or more items. The operations additionally can include logging the payment information in the transaction database. The operations further can include sending in real-time over the network, from the system to the merchant, a notification of the payment from the consumer to the merchant. Other embodiments are described.

Secure real-time transactions

A system including one or more processors, a merchant account database including a plurality of merchant identifiers being associated with a plurality of merchants, a transaction database, and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform certain acts. The acts can include receiving, at the system and from a mobile device being used by a consumer, a request including a merchant identifier of the plurality of merchant identifiers; determining, at the system and using the merchant account database, first information including a second account identifier for a second account of the merchant at the second financial institution; sending the first information from the system to the first financial institution; receiving in real time over a network, at the system and from the first financial institution, payment information regarding a payment to the second account from a first account of the consumer at the first financial institution to pay the merchant the payment amount for the one or more items; logging the payment information in the transaction database; and sending in real time over the network, from the system to the merchant, a notification of the payment from the consumer to the merchant. Other embodiments are described.

A method being implemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run at one or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The method can include receiving, at a transaction system being situated along a proxy communication channel extending from a point-of-sale terminal of a first entity to a mobile wallet provider, an encrypted transaction code. The encrypted transaction code can be generated and sent to the point-of-sale terminal by a mobile device that runs a mobile application associated with the mobile wallet provider. The mobile device receives from a point-of-sale terminal an identifier of the first entity, a transaction amount of a transaction, and a transaction identifier for the transaction, receives an authorization from a user of the mobile device for the transaction while the user is at the point-of-sale terminal, and determines that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the mobile wallet provider. The encrypted transaction code includes a preauthorization from the user to pay the first entity for the transaction amount from a first account of the user maintained by a first financial institution. The method also can include sending the encrypted transaction code through the proxy communication channel to the mobile wallet provider, to cause the mobile wallet provider to decrypt the encrypted transaction code and verify the preauthorization from the user. The method additionally can include receiving, from the first financial institution, a request comprising the identifier of the first entity. The method further can include determining an account identifier of a second account of the first entity maintained by a second financial institution based on the identifier of the first entity. The method additionally can include sending the account identifier of the second account to the first financial institution. The method further can include receiving, from the first financial institution, payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the first account for the transaction. The method additionally can include sending the payment information to the second financial institution, to cause the point-of-sale terminal to receive a notification in real-time while the user remains at the point-of-sale terminal. Other embodiments are described.

Secure transactions with offline device

A method being implemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run at one or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The method can include receiving a preauthorization code at a mobile device while the mobile device is in data communication with a mobile wallet provider. The preauthorization code can include a preauthorization amount, an expiration time, and a digital signature. The method also can include storing the preauthorization code in the mobile device. The method additionally can include receiving, at the mobile device, an authorization from a user of the mobile device for a transaction having a transaction amount while the user is at a point-of-sale terminal of a first entity. The method further can include determining that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the mobile wallet provider. The method additionally can include verifying that the transaction amount is less than or equal to the preauthorization amount. The method further can include, while the mobile device is unable to communicate with the mobile wallet provider, providing a transaction code from the mobile device to the point-of-sale terminal to cause the first entity to send the transaction amount and the preauthorization code to a transaction system, and to cause the transaction system to send an approval for the transaction in real-time while the user remains at the point-of-sale terminal of the first entity. The transaction code can include the preauthorization code, a transaction identifier, and the transaction amount. Other embodiments are described.

A method being implemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run at one or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The method can include receiving a transaction amount and a preauthorization code from a first entity. The preauthorization code can include a preauthorization amount, an expiration time, and a digital signature. The transaction amount is for a transaction authorized by a user of a mobile device at a point-of-sale terminal of the first entity. The transaction amount is less than or equal to the preauthorization amount. The mobile device received the preauthorization code and stored the preauthorization code in the mobile device while the mobile device was in data communication with a mobile wallet provider. The mobile device provided a transaction code to the point-of-sale terminal while the mobile device was unable to communicate with the mobile wallet provider. The transaction code includes the preauthorization code, a transaction identifier for the transaction, and the transaction amount. The method also can include verifying the preauthorization code using the digital signature of the preauthorization code. The method additionally can include sending an approval for the transaction to the first entity in real-time while the user remains at the point-of-sale terminal of the first entity. Other embodiments are described.

A method being implemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run at one or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The method can include receiving, at a mobile device from a point-of-sale terminal of a first entity, an identifier of the first entity, a transaction amount for a transaction, and a transaction identifier for the transaction. The method also can include receiving an authorization from a user of the mobile device for the transaction while the user is at the point-of-sale terminal, the mobile device running a mobile application that is associated with a mobile wallet provider. The method additionally can include determining that the mobile device is unable to communicate with the mobile wallet provider. The method further can include generating an encrypted transaction code. The encrypted transaction code can include a preauthorization from the user to pay the first entity for the transaction amount from a first account of the user maintained by a first financial institution. The method additionally can include sending the encrypted transaction code from the mobile device to the point-of-sale terminal to cause the encrypted transaction code to be sent through a proxy communication channel extending from the point-of-sale terminal, through a transaction system, to the mobile wallet provider, to cause the mobile wallet provider to decrypt the encrypted transaction code and verify the preauthorization from the user, to cause the first financial institution to retrieve from the transaction system an account identifier of a second account of the first entity maintained by a second financial institution based on the identifier of the first entity and send to the transaction system payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the first account for the transaction, to cause the payment information to be routed through the transaction system to the second financial institution, and to cause the point-of-sale terminal to receive a notification of the payment for the transaction in real-time while the user remains at the point-of-sale terminal. Other embodiments are described.

A method including determining, at a point-of-sale terminal at a store of a merchant, a payment amount for one or more items to be purchased from the merchant by a consumer in a transaction. The method also can include sending first information from the point-of-sale terminal to a mobile device used by the consumer. The first information can include a merchant identifier, a transaction identifier, and the payment amount, such that the mobile device sends a request to pay the merchant for the payment amount from one or more first accounts of the consumer maintained by a first financial institution, such that the first financial institution, upon receiving the request to pay, retrieves from a transaction system an account identifier of a second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution based on the merchant identifier, such that the first financial institution sends to the transaction system payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the one or more first accounts, and such that the payment information is routed through the transaction system to the second financial institution. The one or more first accounts can include at least one non-demand deposit account. The transaction system can be maintained by an entity that is different from the merchant, the first financial institution, and the second financial institution. The payment information can include the transaction identifier, the account identifier of the second account, and the payment amount. The method additionally can include receiving, at the point-of-sale terminal, a notification of payment for the transaction in real-time while the consumer remains at the store of the merchant. Other embodiments are provided.

A method including performing, at a mobile device being used by a consumer, an identity authentication of the consumer. The method also can include receiving, at the mobile device, first information from a point-of-sale terminal at a store of a merchant. The first information can include a merchant identifier, a transaction identifier, and a payment amount. The merchant identifier can be associated with the merchant. The payment amount can be for one or more items to be purchased from the merchant by the consumer in a transaction. The transaction identifier can be associated with the transaction. The method additionally can include sending, from the mobile device, a request to pay the merchant for the payment amount from one or more first accounts of the consumer maintained by a first financial institution, such that the first financial institution, upon receiving the request to pay, retrieves from a transaction system an account identifier of a second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution based on the merchant identifier, such that the first financial institution sends to the transaction system payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the one or more first accounts, such that the payment information is routed through the transaction system to the second financial institution, and such that the point-of-sale terminal receives a notification of payment for the transaction in real-time while the consumer remains at the store of the merchant. The one or more first accounts can include at least one non-demand deposit account. The transaction system can be maintained by an entity that is different from the merchant, the first financial institution, and the second financial institution. The payment information can include the transaction identifier, the account identifier of the second account, and the payment amount. Other embodiments are provided.

A method including receiving, at a transaction system from a first entity, a request including a merchant identifier associated with a merchant. The transaction system can be in data communication with a first financial institution that maintains one or more first accounts of a consumer and a second financial institution that maintains a second account of the merchant. The one or more first accounts can include at least one non-demand deposit account. The transaction system can be maintained by an entity that is different from the merchant, the first financial institution, and the second financial institution. The consumer can use a mobile device at a store of the merchant to authorize paying a payment amount for one or more items in a transaction using the one or more first accounts. The method also can include determining, at the transaction system, an account identifier of the second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution using a merchant account database. The method additionally can include sending the account identifier from the transaction system to the first financial institution. The method further can include receiving, at the transaction system from the first financial institution, payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the one or more first accounts. The payment information can include a transaction identifier, the account identifier of the second account, and the payment amount. The method additionally can include sending, from the transaction system to the second financial institution, the payment information, such that a point-of-sale terminal at the store of the merchant receives a notification of payment for the transaction in real-time while the consumer remains at the store of the merchant. Other embodiments are provided.

A method including receiving, at a mobile device being used by a consumer, a transaction code from a point-of-sale terminal at a store of a merchant. The transaction code can include a merchant public identifier being associated with the merchant, a payment amount for one or more items to be purchased from the merchant by the consumer in a transaction, a transaction identifier for the transaction, and a digital signature. The method also can include verifying the digital signature for the transaction code. The method additionally can include sending, from the mobile device, a request to pay the merchant for the payment amount from a first account of the consumer maintained by a first financial institution, such that the first financial institution, upon receiving the request to pay, retrieves from a transaction system an account identifier of a second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution based on the merchant public identifier, such that the first financial institution sends to the transaction system payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the first account, such that the payment information is routed through the transaction system to the second financial institution, and such that the point-of-sale terminal receives a notification of payment for the transaction in real-time while the consumer remains at the store of the merchant. The transaction system can be maintained by an entity that is different from the merchant, the first financial institution, and the second financial institution. The payment information can include the transaction identifier, the account identifier of the second account, and the payment amount. Other embodiments are provided.

A method including receiving, at a transaction system from a first entity, a request including a merchant public identifier associated with a merchant. The transaction system can be in data communication with a first financial institution that maintains a first account of a consumer and a second financial institution that maintains a second account of the merchant. The transaction system can be maintained by an entity that is different from the merchant, the first financial institution, and the second financial institution. The consumer can use a mobile device at a store of the merchant to pay for one or more items in a transaction. The mobile device can receive a transaction code from a point-of-sale terminal at the store. The transaction code can include a transaction identifier, a payment amount for the transaction, the merchant public identifier, and a digital signature. The transaction code can be verified by the mobile device using the digital signature of the transaction code. The method also can include determining, at the transaction system, an account identifier of the second account based on the merchant public identifier using a merchant account database. The method additionally can include sending the account identifier to the first financial institution. The method further can include receiving, at the transaction system from the first financial institution, payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the first account. The method additionally can include sending, from the transaction system to the second financial institution, the payment information, such that the point-of-sale terminal receives a notification of payment for the transaction in real-time while the consumer remains at the store of the merchant. The payment information can include the account identifier of the second account, the payment amount, and the transaction identifier. Other embodiments are provided.

A method including determining, at a point-of-sale terminal at a store of a merchant, a payment amount for one or more items to be purchased from the merchant by a consumer in a transaction. The method also can include generating a transaction code including a merchant public identifier, the payment amount, a transaction identifier for the transaction, and a digital signature. The method additionally can include providing the transaction code to a mobile device being used by the consumer, such that the mobile device verifies the digital signature and sends a request to pay the merchant for the payment amount from a first account of the consumer maintained by a first financial institution, such that the first financial institution, upon receiving the request to pay, retrieves from a transaction system an account identifier of a second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution based on the merchant public identifier, and such that the first financial institution sends to the transaction system payment information regarding a payment to be made to the second account from the first account. The transaction system can be maintained by an entity that is different from the merchant, the first financial institution, and the second financial institution. The payment information can be routed through the transaction system to the second financial institution. The payment information can include the transaction identifier, the account identifier of the second account, and the payment amount. The method further can include receiving, at the point-of-sale terminal, a notification of payment for the transaction in real-time while the consumer remains at the store of the merchant. Other embodiments are provided.

A method including receiving, at a first system from a first entity, a request comprising a merchant identifier. The method also includes determining, at the first system, using the merchant account database, first information comprising an account identifier of a second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution. The method additionally includes sending the first information from the first system to the first financial institution. The method further includes receiving, at the first system from the first financial institution, payment information regarding a deposit to be made in the second account from the first account to pay the merchant for one or more items to be purchased from the merchant by the consumer for the payment amount. The method additionally includes sending, from the first system to the second financial institution, the payment information such that the second financial institution, upon receiving the payment information, notifies the merchant to satisfy an expectation of the merchant for payment from the consumer. Other embodiments are provided.

Secure real-time processing of payment transactions

A method can include receiving, at a first financial institution from a mobile device of a consumer, a first request to pay a merchant for a payment amount from a first account of the consumer maintained by the first financial institution. The method also can include determining, at the first financial institution, second information including an account identifier of a second account of the merchant maintained by a second financial institution, at least partially based on the merchant identifier and third information obtained from a first system. The method additionally can include authorizing, at the first financial institution, a payment from the first account to the second account. The method further can include sending, from the first financial institution to the first system, payment information regarding a deposit to be made in the second account from the first account. Other embodiments are provided.

Secure real-time payment transactions

A network includes an account status system for checking the status of checking accounts used to make payments, and a payment account monitoring system that includes linking files that store, for individual credit card accounts, the account numbers for checking accounts used to pay the credit card accounts. The monitoring system periodically retrieves checking account numbers from the linking files and checks the account numbers at the status system. If a negative status is indicated at the status system, an alert is provided to the credit card company.

Growing community of inventors

Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Paul Finch