Patent ID: 8116747

Claim:
An apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier, the customer having a mobile cellular telephone with a telephone number, a mobile cellular operator providing mobile cellular services to the mobile cellular telephone, a customer browser component connected to a network, the apparatus comprising: a server component connected to the network; and a database coupled to the server component, wherein the server component is configured to: populate the database with an identification of a telephone number of a customer and an identification of classifications permitted for the telephone number of the customer; receive classifications of offers sold by a plurality of suppliers; populate the database with a table associating the suppliers with classifications of the offers sold by the suppliers; receiving parental blocking commands including a telephone number, an associated classification for the telephone number and a password; storing the classification in the blocking command against a telephone number in the database matching the telephone number in the blocking command if the password is authenticated; after the customer has placed an order with the supplier, determine whether to allow or prohibit transmission of text messages to effect a payment for the order based upon the classification for the telephone number of the customer and a classification associated with the supplier; in response to a determination that the transmission of text messages to effect the payment for the order is allowed, transmit a message to the mobile cellular telephone to request a confirmation; and in response to the confirmation, transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer to effect the payment for the order.