Patent ID: 8335745
Filing Date: 2012-12-18
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a micropayment transaction between a payer and a payee, the method comprising: receiving, by a website, from a user interface, a request to make a purchase of an item or service with a transaction value; comparing the transaction value with a pre-defined threshold; displaying, by the website on the user interface, different payment source options from which a selection is to be made, wherein if the transaction value is less than the threshold then the payment source options include a micropayment option, and if the transaction value is not less than the threshold then the payment source options do not include a micropayment option, the micropayment option relating to payment for the purchase to be provided by a non-transitory micropayment processing system; receiving, by the website from the user interface, a selection of the micropayment option and, in response, sending a payment authorization request to the micropayment processing system; receiving the payment authorization request at the micropayment processing system, the payment authorization request including a payer identifier, a transaction amount and an identification of the item or service for purchase; the micropayment processing system verifying the payer's identity based at least in part on the payer identifier; the micropayment processing system determining whether the payment authorization request satisfies one or more pre-defined account parameters, wherein the one or more pre-defined account parameters are specific to an account associated with the payer identifier; the micropayment processing system determining whether the transaction value is less than the pre-defined threshold, wherein access to the micropayment processing system for processing payment authorization requests is restricted to requests for amounts less than the pre-defined threshold; the micropayment processing system determining whether the account associated with the payer identifier contains a prefunded account balance greater than or equal to the transaction value; the micropayment processing system approving the payment authorization request when the micropayment processing system has determined that the payment authorization request satisfies the one or more pre-defined account parameters, the transaction value is less than the pre-defined threshold, and the account associated with the payer identifier contains the prefunded account balance greater than or equal to the transaction value, and the micropayment processing system causing the transaction value to be transferred from the prefunded account balance to a financial account of the payee.