Method for mobile network operator-based payment system

Abstract

A method, including the steps of: a) receiving, over a mobile communication network, a user device identifier based on information maintained by a database of the mobile communication network, and first purchase price information from an internet-accessible merchant, b) determining whether a data token is maintained in a memory of the user device, c) generating and transmitting the data token to the user device for storage when the token is not maintained, d) determining, based on the user device identifier, a credit worthiness indicator for the user device, e) transmitting an authorization signal for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions, f) monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance, and g) transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance if this exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.

1 . A computer-implemented method for a payment system comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving, over a mobile communication network, an identifier of a user device based on user device information maintained by a database associated with a control system of the mobile communication network, and information indicative of a price of a first purchase requested from an internet-accessible merchant by the user device;   b. determining whether at least one data token is maintained in a memory of the user device indicative of a prior communication between the user device and the payment system and/or the internet-accessible merchant;   c. generating the at least one data token and transmitting the generated data token to the user device for storage when the at least one data token is not determined to be maintained in the user device memory;   d. determining, based on the user device identifier, a credit worthiness indicator associated with the user device;   e. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   f monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance of an account associated with the user device; and   g. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance of the account associated with the user device identifier if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving, over a data network information indicative of a price of a second purchase requested from an internet-accessible merchant by the user device and information from the data token stored in the user device;   b. determining, based on the information from the data token, the credit worthiness indicator associated with the user device;   c. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   d. monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance of an account associated with the information of the data token; and   e. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance of the account associated with the information of the data token if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of transmitting a signal to the control system of the mobile communication network containing information indicative of the at least one token for storage in the database, wherein the transmitted signal enables the mobile communication network control system to maintain in the database information associated with at least one of the account and data tokens corresponding to the identifier of a user device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of receiving a signal from the mobile communication network control system indicative of information stored in the database of at least one token associated with the user device, and inhibiting the step of transmitting the signal to the mobile communication network control system containing the information indicative of the at least one token when the received signal from the mobile communication network control system indicative of information stored in the database corresponds to the at least one token that would otherwise have been transmitted. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the identifier of a user device is a generated device fingerprint. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of creating an account in the payment system for the user device when no account exists associated with the data token or identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of creating a combined account in the payment system for the user device when more than one account exists associated with the token and/or identifier. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7  wherein the combined account is one of the existing accounts associated with the token and/or identifier. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method for a payment system comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving, over a data network an information indicative of a price of a purchase requested from an internet-accessible merchant by a user device in substantial absence of an identifier of the user device;   b. receiving from the user device an identifier generated based on information maintained by the user device;   c. generating at least one data token based in part on the received identifier;   d. transmitting the generated data token to the user device for storage in association with at least one of the payment system and the merchant;   e. transmitting a signal to a control system of a mobile network containing information indicative of the at least one token for storage in the database, wherein the transmitted signal enables the mobile network control system to maintain in the database information associated with data tokens corresponding to the identifier of a user device;   f determining, based on the user device identifier, a credit worthiness indicator associated with the user device;   g. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   h. monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance associated with the user device; and   i. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance associated with the user device identifier if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of creating an account in the payment system for the user device when no account exists associated with the identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8  wherein the step of generating the identifier of the user device comprises generating a device fingerprint. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method for a payment system comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving, over a mobile communication network, an identifier of a user device based on user device information maintained by a database associated with a control system of the mobile communication network, and information indicative of a price of a purchase requested from an interne-accessible merchant by the user device;   b. determining whether at least one data token is maintained in a memory of the user device indicative of a prior communication between the user device and the payment system and/or the internet-accessible merchant;   c. generating the at least one data token and transmitting the generated data token to the user device for storage when the at least one data token is not determined to be maintained in the user device memory;   d. transmitting a signal to the control system of the mobile communication network containing information indicative of the at least one token for storage in the database, wherein the transmitted signal enables the mobile communication network control system to maintain in the database information associated with data tokens corresponding to the identifier of a user device; and   e. executing a settlement action by the mobile device with reference to the purchase price.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of executing the settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining that the purchase price is less than a predetermined threshold amount qualifying for deferred payment; and   b. recording in a secure memory of the payment system, the purchase price in a ledger entry in an account associated with at least one of the user device identifier or information in the at least one data token.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of executing the settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining that the purchase price is greater than a predetermined threshold amount;   b. transmitting a settlement request to a credit card company server or a bank server including information corresponding to an account associated with the at least one of the user device identifier or information in the at least one data token; and   c. receiving a confirmation signal from the credit card company server or bank server regarding payment.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of executing a settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining, based on the user device identifier, a credit worthiness indicator associated with the user device;   b. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   c. monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance associated with the user device; and   d. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance associated with the user device identifier if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of executing a settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining, based on information in the data token, a credit worthiness indicator associated with the data token;   b. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   c. monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance associated with the data token; and   d. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance associated with the data token if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method for a payment system comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving, over a data network, an information indicative of a price of a purchase requested from an internet-accessible merchant by the user device in substantial absence of an identifier of the user device;   b. receiving from the user device an identifier of the user device generated based on information maintained by the user device;   c. generating at least one data token based in part on the received identifier;   d. transmitting the generated data token to the user device for storage;   e. transmitting a signal to a control system of a mobile network containing information indicative of the at least one token for storage in the database, wherein the transmitted signal enables the mobile network control system to maintain in the database information associated with data tokens corresponding to the identifier of a user device; and   f executing a settlement action by the mobile device with reference to the purchase price.   
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of creating an account in the payment system for the user device when no account exists associated with the at least one of the user device identifier or information in the at least one data token. 
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 17  wherein the step of generating the identifier of the user device comprises generating a device fingerprint. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of executing the settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining that the purchase price is less than a predetermined threshold amount qualifying for deferred payment; and   b. recording in a secure memory of the payment system, the purchase price in a ledger entry in an account associated with at least one of the user device identifier or information in the at least one data token.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of executing the settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining that the purchase price is greater than a predetermined threshold amount;   b. transmitting a settlement request to a credit card company server or a bank server including information corresponding to an account associated with at least one of the user device identifier or information in the at least one data token; and   c. receiving a confirmation signal from the credit card company server or bank server regarding payment.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of executing a settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining, based on the user device identifier, a credit worthiness indicator associated with the user device;   b. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   c. monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance associated with the user device; and   d. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance associated with the user device identifier if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of executing a settlement action comprises the steps of:
 a. determining, based on information in the data token, a credit worthiness indicator associated with the data token;   b. transmitting an authorization signal to the internet-accessible merchant for the requested purchase without concurrently requiring payment for the purchases when the creditworthiness indicator satisfies predetermined conditions;   c. monitoring a total outstanding purchase balance associated with the data token; and   d. transmitting a request signal for the user device for settlement of at least a part of the total outstanding purchase balance associated with the data token if the total outstanding purchase balance exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the authorization signal is generated in substantial absence of registration or login to the payment system or to the content provider computer server by a user associated with the user device. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the authorization signal is generated in substantial absence of identifying a user associated with the user device. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the data token is associated with a HTTP cookie. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the payment system is associated with the mobile communication network operator.