Patent ID: 7194437

Claim:
A server system that provides a network-based service for transferring funds between users, the server system comprising: a web-based user interface module that is adapted to be used by both payers and payees to effect funds transfer transactions, the web-based user interface module including: a registration interface through which users register with the funds transfer service to send payments to other users and/or receive payments from other users, wherein the registration interface collects financial account information and authentication information from the users; and a payment request interface through which a payer can generate a payment request for initiating payment to a target payee, and through which a payee can generate a payment request for requesting payment from a target payer, wherein the payment request interface enables generation of a payment request that specifies an email address of a target payer or payee who is not yet registered with the funds transfer service; and a transaction processing engine that receives and processes the payment requests submitted via the web-based user interface module, wherein the transaction processing engine is responsive to the payment request that specifies the email address of the target user who is not registered with the funds transfer service by sending to the email address of the target user an email message specifying a URL for accessing the server system, whereby the target user may access the URL to register with the funds transfer service and supply instructions for completing an associated funds transfer transaction.