Patents Assigned to Boku, Inc.
-
Patent number: 9003079Abstract: A phone-on-file opt-in method is described. A phone-on-file opt-in request is received at the billing server including a msisdn and a merchant supplied unique consumer identifier. The billing server confirms the phone-on-file opt-in with a consumer device and records a phone-on-file opt-in status as active if the first phone-on-file is confirmed. A charge method includes receiving, at the billing server, a charge API call from a merchant server including at least one identifier and an amount, determining a phone-on-file opt-in status corresponding to the identifier at the billing server and transmitting a request to charge a user account to a carrier server if the phone-on-file opt-in status is active, but not if the phone-on-file opt-in status is inactive, the request including an amount corresponding to the amount received in the charge API call.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: John P. Browne, Pankhudi Pankhudi, Natalya Elkanova, James C. McIntyre, Annie Minh Ma
-
Patent number: 9003078Abstract: A system and method is described for managing subscriptions between a consumer mobile phone, merchant server, billing server and carrier server. A charge-info method is used for the merchant server to retrieve charge elements from the billing server for constructing a user interface for the consumer mobile phone. An opt-in method is used to confirm a consumer's opt-in for a subscription. A remind-charge method is used to remind the consumer of an upcoming charge on the subscription. A charge method allows the merchant server to charge a user account on a carrier server via the billing server. A cancel method is used for the consumer to cancel the subscription.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: John P. Browne, James C. McIntyre, Marcin L. Pawlowski
-
Publication number: 20150088711Abstract: A code is communicated between the billing server and subscription server. The billing server receives a code request text message from the user device. The billing server identifies a carrier server from the code request text message. The billing server receives an authorization text message from the user device in response to an authorization request text message and charges an account of the carrier server that has been identified. If the charge has been successful, then the billing server transmits a code redemption text message to the user device including the code and a link to a redemption page of a website of a subscription server. The subscription server processes redemption to a code and transmits an account set up page to the user device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Steif, Kurt Davis, Katherine Ann Corner, Samantha Elena Nebrich
-
Publication number: 20150073880Abstract: A parking request text message is transmitted from a user mobile phone to a billing server and is forwarded to a parking server. The parking server makes a charge API call to the billing server, including a custom text, an amount to be billed and a msisdn of the mobile phone. The billing server charges an account at a carrier server corresponding to the msisdn, receives a charge confirmation from the carrier server, transmits a billing result to the parking server, and sends a confirmation text message to the user mobile phone with the custom text. The parking server updates a parking data structure to indicate that parking has been allotted based on a parking identification in the parking request text message.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventors: Katherine Ann Corner, Wellington W. Sculley, Oliver J. McCarthy-Foecke, Chia-ling Sung, John Ly, Samantha Elena Nebrich
-
Publication number: 20150073881Abstract: A parking request text message is transmitted from a user mobile phone to a billing server and is forwarded to a parking server. The parking server makes a charge API call to the billing server, including a custom text, an amount to be billed and a msisdn of the mobile phone. The billing server charges an account at a carrier server corresponding to the msisdn, receives a charge confirmation from the carrier server, transmits a billing result to the parking server, and sends a confirmation text message to the user mobile phone with the custom text. The parking server updates a parking data structure to indicate that parking has been allotted based on a parking identification in the parking request text message.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventors: Katherine Ann Corner, Wellington W. Sculley, Oliver J. McCarthy-Foecke, Chia-ling Sung, John LY, Samantha Elena Nebrich
-
Publication number: 20150058221Abstract: A method and system of processing a sale of an article, a virtual article, a service or a functionality such as a game is described. A code is generated by a server. A charge request is transmitted to an account server to charge an account of a user for a value of the code. The code is transmitted to a user device. The code is then processed by redeeming the code, wherein redemption of the code includes receiving the code from a user device and in response allowing access to the user device to the article, virtual article, a service or a functionality.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventors: Katherine Ann Corner, John P. Browne, Daniel Keegan Flanigan, Samantha Elena Nebrich
-
Publication number: 20150052049Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing transactions with a billing server, including receiving, with the billing server, a transaction request API call from a merchant computer including a msisdn, transmitting, with the billing server, a transaction request response to the merchant computer in response to the transaction request API call, including a transmission ID, receiving, with the billing server, a payment authorization text message from a consumer device at the msisdn including a transaction ID, determining, with the billing server, a match between the transaction ID in the text message with the transaction ID in the transaction request response and if a match is determined between the transaction ID's, transmitting, with the billing server, a charge request to a carrier server to charge an account on the carrier server corresponding to the msisdn.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventors: Jang Kim, Yanting Li, Daniel Keegan Flanigan, Wesley D. Mateo
-
Publication number: 20150052034Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing transaction with at least one merchant computer, including receiving, with the at least one merchant computer, a confirmation of a purchase from a consumer device, triggering, with the at least one merchant computer, in response to the confirmation of the purchase, a silent text message to the consumer device, wherein a purchasing unit on the consumer device responds to the silent text message by sending a text message with a unique transaction ID to a short code of a billing server via a carrier server to the billing server and receiving, with the at least one merchant computer, in response to triggering the silent text message, a callback notification from the billing server with the transaction ID.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventors: Jang Kim, Yanting Li, Daniel Keegan Flanigan, Wesley D. Mateo
-
Patent number: 8958772Abstract: Systems and methods to accelerate transactions made via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes: a data storage facility to store information associated with past payment transactions and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats, and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. After a payment request identifying the phone number is received in the interchange, the common format processor is to determine whether to skip mobile communications with a mobile phone at the phone number to confirm/authenticate the request, based on real time information about the current transaction, the historical transaction data related to the phone number, and other data such as social graph data related to the user of the phone number.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Jang Kim, Ron Hirson
-
Publication number: 20140323082Abstract: The billing gateway charge method and system are disclosed. A charge is processed by receiving a charge API call from a merchant server, detecting a select carrier server from a plurality of servers, transmitting a charge request to the select carrier server, and returning a charge result callback notification to the merchant server. If the charge request fails, the merchant server can submit a new request and an indication of acceptance and failure of the charge request is returned to the merchant server based on the new requests provided that the new request has a new request-id. A continue method allows for managing consumer opt-in in order to complete a transaction. Once the transaction is completed, a refund request from the merchant server can be processed by transmission to the carrier server.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: John P. Browne, Pankhudi Pankhudi, James C. Mclntyre, Marcin L. Pawlowski, Teerawat Vilaisakulyong
-
Publication number: 20140324696Abstract: A transaction is authorized by receiving an authorize API call from a merchant server, detecting a select carrier server, and transmitting an authorize request to the select carrier server. The carrier server will then reserve an amount of funds based on the authorization request. The authorized transaction is then recorded based on the authorize request. The consumer may then request to cancel the transaction. If a capture request is received, a determination is made whether the cancel request has been received and whether the authorized transaction has been cancelled. If the transaction has not been cancelled, a billing request is transmitted to the carrier server so that the carrier server charges for the transaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: John P. Browne, Pankhudi Pankhudi, James C. McIntyre, Marcin L. Pawlowski, Teerawat Vilaisakulyong
-
Publication number: 20140279456Abstract: A system and method is described for managing subscriptions between a consumer mobile phone, merchant server, billing server and carrier server. A charge-info method is used for the merchant server to retrieve charge elements from the billing server for constructing a user interface for the consumer mobile phone. An opt-in method is used to confirm a consumer's opt-in for a subscription. A remind-charge method is used to remind the consumer of an upcoming charge on the subscription. A charge method allows the merchant server to charge a user account on a carrier server via the billing server. A cancel method is used for the consumer to cancel the subscription.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: John P. Browne, James C. McIntyre, Marcin L. Pawlowski
-
Publication number: 20140279455Abstract: A system and method is described for managing subscriptions between a consumer mobile phone, merchant server, billing server and carrier server. A charge-info method is used for the merchant server to retrieve charge elements from the billing server for constructing a user interface for the consumer mobile phone. An opt-in method is used to confirm a consumer's opt-in for a subscription. A remind-charge method is used to remind the consumer of an upcoming charge on the subscription. A charge method allows the merchant server to charge a user account on a carrier server via the billing server. A cancel method is used for the consumer to cancel the subscription.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: John P. Browne, James C. Mclntyre, Marcin L. Pawlowski
-
Publication number: 20140235198Abstract: A repeat payment computer system includes a merchant server and mobile billing operator server that are programmed for user acquisition through carrier billing and subsequent conversion to credit card billing. An advantage of the process is that the user does not have to enter credit card information for the default billing cycles to occur. The user only enters a phone number and password. Fewer barriers are provided for the user to become a regular repeat customer of the merchant server. The fees associated with mobile billing according to the default billing cycles have to be paid by the merchant server and may be too high in the long run. The merchant server can avoid the high fees associated with carrier billing by switching the user to billing according to the credit card information provided. The user is typically switched after the user has already become a regular customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Adam Lee, Jonathan P. Prideaux, Katherine Ann Corner, Samantha Elena Nebrich
-
Publication number: 20140235202Abstract: A repeat payment computer system includes a merchant server and mobile billing operator server that are programmed for user acquisition through carrier billing and subsequent conversion to credit card billing. An advantage of the process is that the user does not have to enter credit card information for the default billing cycles to occur. The user only enters a phone number and password. Fewer barriers are provided for the user to become a regular repeat customer of the merchant server. The fees associated with mobile billing according to the default billing cycles have to be paid by the merchant server and may be too high in the long run. The merchant server can avoid the high fees associated with carrier billing by switching the user to billing according to the credit card information provided. The user is typically switched after the user has already become a regular customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Adam Lee, Jonathan P. Prideaux, Katherine Ann Corner, Samantha Elena Nebrich
-
Publication number: 20140235197Abstract: A text-to-bill processing transaction system is described. A consumer transmits a text message having a merchant keyword component and a transaction details component. The merchant keyword component is used to find a select merchant server from a merchant server data store. The transaction details component is then routed to the select merchant server. The select merchant server then returns a charge amount corresponding to the transaction details component and a fulfillment message. A billing gateway then causes entry of the charge amount against a phone number in an accounts database of a carrier server. A success message transmission module transmits a text message back to the consumer that includes the fulfillment message. The fulfillment message may for example be a code that has to be entered by a consumer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventors: Katherine Ann Corner, Chia-ling Sung, John Ly
-
Patent number: 8799162Abstract: The invention provides a computer system and method for managing electronic transactions. A plurality of consumer accounts stored in the data store. A payment source storing module stores a plurality of payment sources. A payment source selector is set upon receiving a payment source selection to indicate a selected one of the payment sources. A communication and routing module receives a charge request over the network interface device. A transaction processing system determines a payment source selected with the payment source selector, and processes the charge request based on the payment source selected by the payment source selector.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventor: David Yoo
-
Publication number: 20140214508Abstract: The invention provides a computer-based method of managing electronic transactions. A plurality of merchant accounts with offers are stored in a data store. A card number and a mobile phone number are then stored. Due to registration of the card number at least one of the offers is transmitted to a consumer mobile phone at the mobile phone number. A charge advisory is received after transmitting the offer to the consumer mobile phone. The offer is then applied against an account having a card number that matches a card number in the charge advisory.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: BOKU, INC.Inventor: Adam Lee
-
Patent number: 8774757Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate repeated purchase and payment transactions. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility configured to store payment transaction records associated with phone numbers. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is configured to identify a prior payment transaction associated with a phone number in response to a message from a mobile phone having the phone number, communicate with a merchant to repeat a purchase according to the prior payment transaction, and transmit via one of the converters premium messages to the mobile phone to collect funds for a payment to repeat the purchase.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Kurt Davis, Jang Kim, David Yoo, James Goodsall
-
Patent number: 8774758Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate repeated purchase and payment transactions. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility configured to store payment transaction records associated with phone numbers. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is configured to identify a prior payment transaction associated with a phone number in response to a message from a mobile phone having the phone number, communicate with a merchant to repeat a purchase according to the prior payment transaction, and transmit via one of the converters premium messages to the mobile phone to collect funds for a payment to repeat the purchase.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Boku, Inc.Inventors: Kurt Davis, Jang Kim, David Yoo, James Goodsall