Patent ID: 7788174
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating a value exchange, said method comprising: having a database memory of accountholder information for a plurality of mobile payment accounts used for making purchases, wherein each said mobile payment account corresponds with an accountholder and is provided by a corresponding one of a plurality of mobile providers, and wherein said database is employed by at least one electronic processor; storing in said database memory information indicative of said plurality of mobile providers, wherein said storing in said database memory information indicative of a plurality of mobile providers comprises storing information indicative of an identity of each mobile provider and transactional or settlement requirements of each mobile provider that are used in processing or settling a purchase transaction made with a said mobile payment account associated with its corresponding mobile provider, and wherein each said mobile payment account is associated with a one of said mobile providers and said storing in said database memory information indicative of said plurality of mobile providers including particularly storing information indicative of the identity of each mobile provider and transactional or settlement requirements of each mobile provider employs at least one electronic processor; receiving information pertaining to a purchase transaction that is being made with a one of said mobile payment accounts by its corresponding accountholder, wherein said purchase transaction is initiated via a payments device associated with a corresponding one of said mobile providers, and wherein said receiving information pertaining to a purchase transaction further comprises receiving information indicative of the account of the accountholder making said purchase transaction, wherein said received information pertaining to the purchase transaction does not include information that identifies the mobile provider associated with said mobile payment account, wherein said receiving information pertaining to a purchase transaction that is being made with a one of said mobile payment accounts including particularly said receiving information indicative of the accountholder making said purchase transaction is performed by at least one electronic processor; using said received information indicative of the mobile payment account of the accountholder making said purchase transaction to initially identify the mobile provider associated with said mobile payment account by retrieving from said database memory information corresponding to said mobile payment account that identifies said mobile provider, wherein said identifying the mobile provider associated with said mobile payment account utilizes at least one electronic processor; retrieving from said database memory at least a portion of said requirements of the identified mobile provider for use in determining whether to authorize use of said mobile payment account for which said indicating information was received for said purchase transaction, wherein said retrieving from said database memory at least a portion of said requirements of the identified mobile provider for use in determining whether to authorize use of said mobile payment account for said purchase transaction utilizes at least one electronic processor; authorizing said purchase transaction upon determining that said retrieved requirements of the identified mobile provider are met, wherein said authorizing said purchase transaction employs at least one electronic processor; and processing a settlement of said purchase transaction, wherein said processing the settlement of said purchase transaction utilizes the mobile payment account, of the accountholder, associated with said mobile provider corresponding to the mobile payment account of the accountholder, and wherein said processing a settlement of the purchase transaction employs at least one electronic processor.