Systems and methods for making a payment using a wireless device

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for performing a payment transaction. A method for performing a payment transaction may include receiving purchase information from a merchant and associating the purchase information with an identifier. The method may also include transmitting the identifier to the merchant and receiving the identifier from a wireless device of a customer. The wireless device may obtain the identifier by receiving a code from a merchant device and by interpreting the code. The method may additionally include associating the identifier with the purchasing information, determining a payment account associated with the customer, transmitting a request to a payment service provider system to provide funds for the payment transaction, and receiving an authorization from the payment service provider system to provide the funds. The method may additionally include transmitting a confirmation of the authorization to the merchant.

1 . A method for performing a payment transaction comprising:
 receiving, at a payment transaction system, purchase information from a merchant terminal in a payment transaction, the purchase information comprising information associated with one or more goods or services to be purchased by a customer during the payment transaction;   associating, via the payment transaction system, the purchase information with a transaction identifier;   transmitting the transaction identifier from the payment transaction system to the merchant terminal for the payment transaction, wherein a machine readable code is generated by the merchant terminal based on the transaction identifier;   receiving, at the payment transaction system, the transaction identifier from a wireless device associated with the customer, the transaction identifier having been obtained by the wireless device upon the wireless device receiving the machine readable code from the merchant terminal during the payment transaction and subsequently converting the machine readable code into the transaction identifier;   associating, via the payment transaction system, the transaction identifier received from the wireless device with the purchasing information previously received from the merchant terminal;   determining, via the payment transaction system, a payment account associated with the customer for use in the payment transaction;   transmitting, from the payment transaction system and to a payment service provider, an authorization request for the payment service provider to provide funds for the payment transaction;   receiving, at the payment transaction system and from the payment service provider, an authorization for the payment service provider to provide funds for the payment transaction; and   transmitting a confirmation of the authorization from the payment transaction system and to the merchant terminal to finalize the payment transaction and effect a transfer of the one or more goods or services to the customer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a payment account comprises receiving an identification at the payment transaction system and from the customer of an account to use in completing the payment transaction from among a plurality of accounts stored on a cloud network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identification of the account to use in completing the transaction is provided by the customer in response to a request for account information transmitted to the wireless device from the payment transaction system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment account comprises an account selected by the customer for use in funding payment transactions, wherein the selection of the account occurs prior to the step of the payment transaction system receiving purchase information from the merchant terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the payment transaction system, coupon information or other benefit from the wireless device of the customer;   associating, via the payment transaction system, the coupon information with the one or more goods or services to be purchased by the customer during the payment transaction; and   completing the payment transaction so that the customer is credited with an amount of the coupon or other benefit.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 transmitting the coupon information from the payment transaction system and to the wireless device along with a request to use the coupon in the payment transaction; and   receiving, at the payment transaction system, a confirmation from the wireless device to use the coupon in the payment transaction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the customer obtains the coupon information via one or more means selected from the group consisting of:
 capturing an image of the coupon with the wireless device;   accessing an email comprising information associated with the coupon;   downloading information associated with the coupon;   receiving a wireless communication comprising information associated with the coupon;   receiving a Near Field Communication comprising information associated with the coupon; and   capturing an image of a barcode associated with coupon.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a payment authorization request from the payment transaction system and to the wireless device after receiving the transaction identifier from the wireless device, the payment authorization request identifying the merchant terminal and an amount of the payment transaction; and   receiving, at the payment transaction system, a confirmation from the wireless device to continue with the payment transaction.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a payment transaction notification from the payment transaction system and to the wireless device after receiving the transaction identifier from the wireless device, the payment transaction notification identifying the merchant terminal and an amount of the payment transaction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the payment authorization request further comprises an amount of funds of the payment account available for payment of the one or more goods or services. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment account information comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:
 a credit card;   a debit card;   an prepaid account;   an online payment service provider account;   a checking account; and   a savings account.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device obtains the machine readable code from the merchant terminal by capturing an image of the machine readable code displayed by the merchant terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the machine readable code is either or both a 2D barcode or a QR code. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the machine readable code is displayed on a card reader device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device receives the machine readable code by receiving a wireless signal transmitted by the merchant terminal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a request from the payment transaction system and to the payment service provider to provide funds to a merchant to pay for the one or more goods or services.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the customer based on the amount of the payment transaction, wherein authenticating the customer comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:
 verifying a biometric identification received at the payment transaction system and from the wireless device;   verifying a PIN number received at the payment transaction system and from the wireless device;   verifying, via the payment transaction system, that a GPS location of the wireless device is substantially at the same location as the merchant terminal device; and   receiving a response at the payment transaction system and from the wireless device to a USSD verification message sent from the payment transaction system to the wireless device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising registering the customer with the payment transaction system, wherein registering the customer comprises providing one or more information selected from the group consisting of:
 information about the payment account;   shipping address information;   default payment account information;   a wireless device identifier;   an identifier associated with the customer; and   an identifier associated with a wireless device application.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein registering the customer with the payment transaction system comprises registering the wireless device with the payment transaction system or registering an application of the wireless device with the payment transaction system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction identifier is received at the payment transaction system and from the wireless device via GPRS, SMS, USSD, or mobile internet. 
     
     
         21 . A payment system for performing a transaction comprising:
 a communication interface;   a memory device having instruction stored thereon; and   a processor communicatively coupled with the memory, wherein the instructions stored on the memory cause the processor to perform the following functions:   receive, at the payment system, purchase information from a merchant terminal via the communication interface, the purchase information comprising information about one or more items to be purchased by a customer during a payment transaction for one or more goods or services;   associate, via the payment system, the purchase information with a transaction identifier;   transmit the transaction identifier from the payment system to the merchant terminal via the communication interface;   receive, at the payment system, the transaction identifier via the communication interface from a wireless device associated with the customer, the transaction identifier having been obtained by the wireless device upon the wireless device receiving a readable code from the merchant terminal and decoding the readable code into the transaction identifier;   determine, via the payment system, payment account information associated with the customer for use in the payment transaction;   transmit an authorization request via the communication interface from the payment system to a payment service provider for the payment service provider to provide funds for the payment transaction;   receive, at the payment system, an authorization for the transaction from the payment service provider via the communication interface; and   transmit via the communication interface, a confirmation of the authorization from the payment system and to the merchant terminal to finalize the payment transaction and effect a transfer of the one or more goods or services to the customer.   
     
     
         22 . A method for performing an electronic transaction comprising:
 transmitting, via one or more processors of a host computer system, a transaction identifier to a merchant for use in a subsequent payment transaction;   in the subsequent payment transaction pending at the merchant, receiving, at the host computer system, the transaction identifier and information about a particular purchase pending between the merchant and a customer, the transaction identifier having been associated with the particular purchase by the merchant for the subsequent payment transaction in which a machine readable code is generated by a merchant terminal based on the transaction identifier;   during the subsequent payment transaction pending at the merchant, receiving a transaction identifier at the host computer system and from a wireless device associated with the customer, the transaction identifier having been obtained by the wireless device receiving readable code from the merchant terminal and by the wireless device converting the readable code into the transaction identifier;   associating, via the one or more processors, the transaction identifier received from the wireless device with the particular purchase;   determining, via the one or more processors, payment account information associated with the customer;   transmitting, via the one or more processors and to a payment service provider system, a payment authorization request to provide funds for payment of the particular purchase;   receiving, at the host computer system and from the payment service provider system, an authorization to provide funds for the particular purchase;   transmitting, via the one or more processors, a transaction authorization request to the wireless device to authorize the transaction;   receiving, at the host computer system, a confirmation from the wireless device to authorize the transaction; and   transmitting, via the one or more processors, payment information to the merchant to effect a transfer of one or more goods or services to the customer.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the payment information comprises a shipping address of the customer. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A computer program product comprising a memory device and a processor configured to perform the following functions:
 receive purchase information from a merchant terminal comprising information about one or more goods or services to be purchased by a customer during a payment transaction for one or more goods or services;   associate the purchase information with a transaction identifier for use during the payment transaction at the merchant terminal;   transmit the transaction identifier to the merchant terminal for use during the payment transaction;   receive the transaction identifier from a wireless device associated with the customer, the transaction identifier being obtained by the wireless device receiving a readable code from the merchant terminal and decoding the readable code into the transaction identifier;   determine payment account information associated with the customer for use in the payment transaction;   transmit an authorization request to a payment service provider for the payment service provider to provide funds for the payment transaction;   receive an authorization for the transaction from the payment service provider; and   transmit a confirmation of the authorization to the merchant terminal to finalize the payment transaction and effect a transfer of one or more goods or services to the customer.