System and method for mobile payments

Abstract

A system and method for distributing incentives via mobile devices is described. One embodiment, a computer-server-based method, receives a request from a merchant to generate an incentive which incentive is funded and initiated by the merchant, receives the incentive, associates the incentive with a recipient's phone number, and transmits a notification of the incentive to a mobile device associated with the recipient's phone number, the computer server acting as a server-side wallet for the incentive, the incentive being usable, through interaction with the computer server, by the recipient for the purchase of goods or services from the merchant associated with the incentive.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer server-based method of conducting a transaction, comprising:
 authenticating a mobile user associated with a mobile device;   providing a one-use authorization code to the mobile device in connection with the transaction and in response to the authentication;   receiving the one-use authorization code from a merchant in connection with a requested amount; and   returning an authorization to the merchant in response to a determination that the mobile user has available funds in the requested amount.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that an incentive is associated with the merchant and the mobile device; and   querying the mobile device whether to apply the incentive to the transaction.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 applying the incentive to the requested amount.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein authenticating the mobile user comprises:
 receiving a user identifier from the mobile device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user identifier comprises a personal identification number (PIN). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a balance to the mobile device for a tender available to the mobile user in connection with the one-use authorization code.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tender comprises at least one of: a financial account or an incentive. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting an electronic receipt of the transaction to the merchant and the mobile device.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for conducting a transaction, comprising:
 at least one processor; and,   a memory containing a plurality of program instructions executable by the at least one processor, the plurality of program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to:   authenticate a mobile user associated with a mobile device;   provide a one-use authorization code to the mobile device in connection with the transaction and in response to the authentication;   receive the one-use authorization code from a merchant in connection with a requested amount; and   return an authorization to the merchant in response to a determination that the mobile user has available funds in the requested amount.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 determine that an incentive is associated with the merchant and the mobile device; and   query the mobile device whether to apply the incentive to the transaction.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 apply the incentive to the requested amount.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 receive a user identifier from the mobile device.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the user identifier comprises a personal identification number (PIN). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 transmit a balance to the mobile device for a tender available to the mobile user in connection with the one-use authorization code.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the tender comprises at least one of: a financial account or an incentive. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 transmit an electronic receipt of the transaction to the merchant and the mobile device.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of program instructions configured to cause at least one processor to:   authenticate a mobile user associated with a mobile device;   provide a one-use authorization code to the mobile device in connection with a transaction and in response to the authentication;   receive the one-use authorization code from a merchant in connection with a requested amount; and   return an authorization to the merchant in response to a determination that the mobile user has available funds in the requested amount.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 determine that an incentive is associated with the merchant and the mobile device; and   query the mobile device whether to apply the incentive to the transaction.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 apply the incentive to the requested amount.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 transmit a balance to the mobile device for a tender available to the mobile user in connection with the one-use authorization code.