System and Method for Location-Based Transactions

Abstract

A system and method for using at least location information to facilitate a transaction is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile application operating on a mobile device is used to determine a location of the mobile device. Location information is then provided to a host device, where it is used to identify a second party (e.g., a store at the location, etc.). Information on the second party (e.g., store name, etc.) and acts of commerce (e.g., goods and services) offered by the second party is then provided to the mobile application. A first party can then interact with the mobile application to select or confirm an act of commerce that they would like to purchase. The host device then charges a payment method linked to the first party's account, and receipts of the purchase are provided to the mobile application and a merchant device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using at least location information to facilitate a transaction between a first party and a second party, comprising:
 opening an application on a mobile device, said application being in communication with a host device via a wide area network (WAN);   receiving login information from said first party, said login information being used to identify an account for said first party, said account being linked to at least one payment method;   determining a location of said mobile device, said location being provided to said host device via said WAN and used to identify said second party and at least a particular act of commerce, said particular act of commerce comprising at least one of performing a service and supplying a product;   receiving from said host device via said WAN information on at least said second party and said particular act of commerce, said application being used to provide said information to said first party;   receiving by said application an acknowledgement that said first party would like to purchase at least said particular act of commerce from said second party, said acknowledgement being provided to said host device via said WAN and resulting in said payment method being used for said purchase; and   providing by said application a receipt for said purchase to said first party.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving login information from said first party comprises receiving at least a user name, a password associated with said account, and at least one biometric of said first party. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a location of said mobile device comprises using at least data acquired from global positioning satellites (GPS) to determine said location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a location of said mobile device comprises using multilateration of radio signals between plural cellular towers in communication with the mobile device to determine said location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a location of said mobile device comprises using location information provided by at least one radio head in communication with said mobile device to determine said location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a purchase request at a time, said location and said time being used to identify at least said particular act of commerce. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of receiving said purchase request comprises receiving said purchase request from said second party. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of receiving said purchase request comprises receiving said purchase request from said first party. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information further comprises information on plural acts of commerce that are provided by said second party, said first party selecting at least said particular act of commerce from said plural acts of commerce. 
     
     
         10 . A system for using at least location information to facilitate a transaction between a first party and a second party, comprising:
 A mobile device in communication with a host device via a wide area network (WAN) and comprising at least one memory device for storing an application adapted to perform the steps of:
 receiving login information from said first party, said login information being used to identify an account for said first party, said account being linked to at least one payment method; 
 determining a location of said mobile device, said location being provided to said host device via said WAN and used to identify at least said second party and a particular act of commerce, said particular act of commerce comprising at least one of performing a service and supplying a product; 
 receiving from said host device via said WAN information on at least said second party and said particular act of commerce; 
 providing said information to said first party via a display on said mobile device; 
 receiving from said first party an acknowledgement that said first party would like to purchase at least said particular act of commerce from said second party, said acknowledgement being provided to said host device via said WAN, after which said payment method is used for said purchase; and 
 providing a receipt for said purchase to said first party via said display on said mobile device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said login information comprises at least a user name, a password associated with said account, and at least one biometric of said first party. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said location of said mobile device is determining using at least data acquired from global positioning satellites (GPS). 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said location of said mobile device is determined using at least multilateration of radio signals from a plurality of cellular towers in communication with said mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said location of said mobile device is acquired from at least one radio head in communication with said mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said host device receives a purchase request at a time, at least said time and said location being used to identify said particular act of commerce. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said purchase request is received from said second party. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said purchase request is received from said first party. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said information further comprises information on plural acts of commerce that are provided by said second party, and said application is further configured to receive a selection from said first party of at least said particular act of commerce from said plural acts of commerce. 
     
     
         19 . A method for facilitating a transaction between a first party and a second party, comprising:
 receiving from said first party data that can be used to at least identify an account for said first party, said account being linked to at least one payment method;   receiving by said application data that can be used to determine a location of said mobile device, said location being used to identify at least said second party and a particular act of commerce provided by said second party, said second party being located at said location;   using said application to provide information to said first party on at least said second party and said particular act of commerce;   receiving by said application an acknowledgement that said first party would like to purchase at least said particular act of commerce from said second party, said acknowledgement resulting in said payment method being used for said purchase; and   providing by said application a receipt for said purchase to said first party.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of receiving a purchase request at a time, said location and said time being used to identify at least said particular act of commerce.