System and methods to process user initiated transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to process transactions initiated by users of mobile devices. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store phone numbers of users, and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to transmit at least one premium message to a mobile phone at a first telephone number to provide an amount to the mobile phone using funds associated with a second telephone number, in response to a request initiated from a mobile phone at the second telephone number.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, by an interchange computer system, a payment request initiated by a mobile phone having a first phone number, the request including a payee, an identification of an account and an amount;   in response to receiving the payment request initiated by the mobile phone of the first phone number, transmitting, by the interchange computer system, a message to the mobile phone at the phone number to confirm the payment request;   receiving, by the interchange computer system, a confirmation from the mobile phone in response to the message transmitted to the mobile phone at the phone number to confirm the payment request;   in response to receiving the confirmation from the mobile phone, approving, by the interchange computer system, the payment request;   in response to the approval of the payment request, transmitting by the interchange computer system, at least one message to a telecommunication carrier to bill an account at the telecommunication carrier corresponding to the phone number for at least the amount;   receiving, with the interchange computer system, payment for at least the amount from the telecommunication carrier; and   in response to the approval of the payment request, transferring, by the interchange computer system, funds for at least the amount from an account corresponding to the phone number to the payee.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying an account number of the account based on a second phone number associated with the account number on a data storage facility coupled with the server computer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 communicating with a mobile phone at the second phone number to identify one of a plurality of accounts associated with the second phone number.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transferring comprises providing the funds via the telecommunication carrier of a mobile phone at the second phone number. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment request comprises a message sent from the mobile phone via short message service (SMS). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the identification of the account is based on a phone number to which the message is sent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment request is transmitted from the mobile phone to the server computer via a premium message; and the funds are collected via the telecommunication carrier based on the premium message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the request includes a personal identification number associated with the first phone number on a data storage facility coupled with the server computer;   wherein the transferring is in response to a determination that the request includes the personal identification number associated with the first phone number on a data storage facility coupled with the server computer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether to communicate with the mobile phone to confirm the request based on a transaction history associated with the first phone number.   
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable storage media storing instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an interchange computer system, a payment request initiated by a mobile phone having a first phone number, the request including a payee, an identification of an account and an amount;   in response to receiving the payment request initiated by the mobile phone of the first phone number, transmitting, by the interchange computer system, a message to the mobile phone at the phone number to confirm the payment request;   receiving, by the interchange computer system, a confirmation from the mobile phone in response to the message transmitted to the mobile phone at the phone number to confirm the payment request;   in response to receiving the confirmation from the mobile phone, approving, by the interchange computer system, the payment request;   in response to the approval of the payment request, transmitting by the interchange computer system, at least one message to a telecommunication carrier to bill an account at the telecommunication carrier corresponding to the phone number for at least the amount;   receiving, with the interchange computer system, payment for at least the amount from the telecommunication carrier; and   in response to the approval of the payment request, transferring, by the interchange computer system, funds for at least the amount from an account corresponding to the phone number to the payee.