Systems and methods for facilitating purchases at a gas station

Abstract

A method of remotely activating a transaction device includes receiving, at a computing system, a mobile device identifier from a mobile application executed on a mobile device. A selection of the transaction device is received from the application. The selection includes an identifier of the transaction device. A selection of a transaction amount related to purchase of a product is received from the application. An authorization request for a payment account associated with the mobile device is communicated to an issuer of the payment account. The authorization request is for a transaction of at least the transaction amount. An authorization approval for the transaction is received from the issuer and a signal to activate the transaction device to dispense the product is sent based on the identifier. The transaction device is deactivated upon dispensing the transaction amount and a receipt of the transaction is provided to the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing system, a mobile device identifier from a mobile application executed on a mobile device within a detection range of a transaction device, the mobile device identifier being associated with the mobile device;   receiving a selection of the transaction device from the mobile application, the selection comprising an identifier associated with the transaction device;   receiving from the mobile application a selection of a transaction amount related to a purchase of a product;   communicating an authorization request for a payment account associated with the mobile device to an issuer of the payment account, the authorization request being for a transaction of at least the transaction amount;   receiving an authorization approval for the transaction from the issuer;   sending a signal to activate the transaction device to dispense the product, wherein the signal is transmitted based on the identifier associated with the transaction device;   deactivating the transaction device upon dispensing the transaction amount; and   providing a receipt of the transaction to the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving the selection of the transaction device further comprises receiving a selection of a product type to be dispensed.   
     
     
         3 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transaction amount comprises one or more of a dollar amount or a quantity of the product to be dispensed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transaction device comprises a fuel pump, and the method further comprises sending a notification that the fuel pump is ready for use.   
     
     
         5 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 receiving the selection of the fuel pump further comprises receiving a selection of a fuel grade.   
     
     
         6 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving location information from the mobile device and the transaction device; and   comparing the location information from the mobile device with the location information from the transaction device to authenticate the transaction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining that the location information from the mobile device does not match the location information from the transaction device;   communicating one or more challenge questions to the mobile application;   receiving a response to the one or more challenge questions from the mobile application; and   determining based on the response whether to authenticate the transaction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving mobile device account information associated with the mobile device from a carrier network provider of the mobile device, the mobile device account information comprising first user identity information;   receiving payment account information associated with the payment account, the payment account information comprising second user identity information; and   comparing the first user identity information with the second user identity information to authenticate the transaction.   
     
     
         9 . A method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device, the method comprising:
 determining that a mobile device is within a detection range of a transaction device;   providing a mobile device identifier associated with the mobile device to a computing device;   providing a selection of the transaction device to the computing device, the selection comprising an identifier associated with the transaction device;   receiving, on a user interface of the mobile application, a selection of a transaction amount related to a purchase of a product;   providing an authorization request for the transaction amount to the computing device such that upon authorization of the transaction amount the transaction device is activatable by the computing device to dispense the product; and   receiving a receipt of the purchase upon the product being dispensed.   
     
     
         10 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 determining that the mobile device is within the detection range comprises determining a location of the mobile device matches a known location of the transaction device within a predetermined distance.   
     
     
         11 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 determining that the mobile device is within the detection range comprises detecting a signal emitted from the transaction device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 determining that the mobile device is within the detection range comprises receiving an input from one or more of a barcode, a QR code, an RFID tag positioned proximate to the transaction device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 receiving the selection of the transaction amount comprises determining a position of a slider on the user interface, the position being indicative of the transaction amount.   
     
     
         14 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the transaction amount comprises one or more of a dollar amount or a quantity of the product to be dispensed.   
     
     
         15 . The method of remotely activating a transaction device using a mobile application executed on a mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 providing the selection of the transaction device further comprises providing a selection of a product type to be dispensed.   
     
     
         16 . A method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing device, an input from a point of sale device of a merchant, the input comprising payment information associated with a payment media and originating from an interaction of the payment media with a payment reader of the point of sale device during a purchase transaction;   storing the payment information;   receiving a mobile device identifier from the point of sale device;   sending a communication to a mobile device associated with the mobile device identifier, the communication providing access to a download for a mobile application associated with the merchant;   associating the mobile device identifier with the payment information;   receiving authentication credentials comprising a user identifier and password from the mobile application being executed on the mobile device; and   creating a user account associated with the mobile device identifier, the payment information, and the authentication credentials.   
     
     
         17 . The method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving location information from the mobile device and the point of sale device; and   comparing the location information from the mobile device with the location information from the point of sale device to authenticate the user account.   
     
     
         18 . The method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining that the location information from the mobile device does not match the location information from the point of sale device;   communicating one or more challenge questions to the mobile application;   receiving a response to the one or more challenge questions from the mobile application; and   determining based on the response whether to authenticate the user account.   
     
     
         19 . The method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving mobile device account information associated with the mobile device from a carrier network provider of the mobile device, the mobile device account information comprising first user identity information;   receiving payment account information associated with the payment media, the payment account information comprising second user identity information; and   comparing the first user identity information with the second user identity information to authenticate the user account.   
     
     
         20 . The method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 causing the point of sale device to prompt a user of the payment media to complete an enrollment process for mobile transactions.   
     
     
         21 . The method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the communication comprises a link directing a browser of the mobile device to a download source for the mobile application.   
     
     
         22 . The method of enrolling a mobile device for use in mobile transactions of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the communication directs the mobile device to a download location for the mobile application on a mobile application database operated by a third party.