Patents by Inventor Glyn Barry Smith

Glyn Barry Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180247293
    Abstract: Systems and methods are to provide information to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store and associate personal information of a user with a telephone number of the user, 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to communicate with the mobile phone of a user to approve the providing of the personal information from the data storage facility to a website.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry SMITH
  • Patent number: 9990623
    Abstract: Systems and methods are to provide information to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store and associate personal information of a user with a telephone number of the user, 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to communicate with the mobile phone of a user to approve the providing of the personal information from the data storage facility to a website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 9697510
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate retail transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a retail terminal includes: a user interface to receive a phone number of a customer; a memory; a data communication interface; and a processor coupled with the memory and the data communication interface to transmit the phone number to a server computer to cause the server computer to communicate with a mobile phone at the phone number to confirm a transaction at the retail terminal and to transmit one or more premium messages to the mobile phone to collect funds for the transaction, and to receive from the server computer a message indicating that the funds are available for the transaction. The retail terminal is to perform the transaction in response to the message from the server computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Rachel Jane Gillam, Michael Cahill
  • Patent number: 9652761
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats; and the converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format to facilitate electronic payment transactions using the account identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 9449313
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 8768778
    Abstract: Effecting an electronic payment from customers to vendors over the Internet is disclosed. A vendor offers a product to potential customer over the Internet. A customer browsers the Internet and the customer has a mobile cellular phone configured to receive premium rate mobile terminating text messages. Transaction details are transmitted from the vendor to the browsing customer. Order details are then transmitted from the browsing customer to the vendor that require a payment to be made by the customer. In order to effect payment, a plurality of premium rate text messages are transmitted to the mobile cellular phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Publication number: 20140141745
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to process transactions initiated by users of mobile devices. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store phone numbers of users, 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to transmit at least one premium message to a mobile phone at a first telephone number to provide an amount to the mobile phone using funds associated with a second telephone number, in response to a request initiated from a mobile phone at the second telephone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 8700530
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to process transactions initiated by users of mobile devices. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store phone numbers of users, 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to transmit at least one premium message to a mobile phone at a first telephone number to provide an amount to the mobile phone using funds associated with a second telephone number, in response to a request initiated from a mobile phone at the second telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Publication number: 20130311379
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to communicate with the mobile phone of a user to confirm the identity of the user using a user terminal separate from the mobile phone for subsequent payment requests from the user terminal to be fulfilled using the account identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 8566188
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account and a phone number associated with the account 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 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 to select a first controller based at least in part on reducing cost, and to instruct the first controller of the controllers, via a first converter of the converters, to transmit a first message to a mobile device at the phone number to facilitate a transaction related to funds associated with the phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Ron Hirson
  • Patent number: 8548426
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user 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 different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to communicate with the mobile phone of a user to confirm the identity of the user using a user terminal separate from the mobile phone for subsequent payment requests from the user terminal to be fulfilled using the account identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 8359005
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate on-site processing of transaction requests. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user 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 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 to transmit a message to a telephone at the telephone number of the user to prompt the user to confirm a request and to receive a confirmation of the request via the telephone. The request is received via a user interface embedded in a web page of a first website without reloading or refreshing the web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Jonathan Michael Kingston
  • Patent number: 8326261
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier, includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the first mobile cellular telephone to effect a transfer of funds from the customer for reception by the supplier, after the customer has placed an order with the supplier; and transmit a notification message to a second mobile cellular telephone having a second telephone number to confirm that the transfer of funds has taken place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Publication number: 20120278152
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Boku, Inc.
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Publication number: 20120142312
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate on-site processing of transaction requests. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user 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 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 to transmit a message to a telephone at the telephone number of the user to prompt the user to confirm a request and to receive a confirmation of the request via the telephone. The request is received via a user interface embedded in a web page of a first website without reloading or refreshing the web page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Jonathan Michael Kingston
  • Patent number: 8160943
    Abstract: Systems and methods to verify and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associated with a first phone number; 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 of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request from a first user via a social networking website, identifies a first phone number of the first user and a second phone number of a second user, based on the social networking website, and uses the converters to communicate with at least one of the mobile phones at the first and second phone numbers to confirm and/or approve the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Ron Hirson, Nicholas Reidy
  • Patent number: 8131258
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate on-site processing of transaction requests. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user 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 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 to transmit a message to a telephone at the telephone number of the user to prompt the user to confirm a request and to receive a confirmation of the request via the telephone. The request is received via a user interface embedded in a web page of a first website without reloading or refreshing the web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Boku, Inc.
    Inventors: Glyn Barry Smith, Jonathan Michael Kingston
  • Patent number: 8117124
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to transfer funds electronically via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database component coupled to the server component. The server is configured to transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with the supplier. The server component is configured to populate the database component with an identification of the customer telephone number. The server component is configured to prompt the customer to supply additional personal data. In response to the additional personal data, the server component populates the database component with the additional personal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Vidicom Limited
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 8116747
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer; populate the database with an identification of 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, the database including an identification of classifications for the telephone number of the customer; and determine whether to allow or prohibit transmission of text messages to effect payment based upon the identification of the classifications for the telephone number of the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Vidicom Limited
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 8116730
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to control online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a first telephone number with a second telephone number; 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. The common format processor is to receive a payment request including the first telephone number, identify the second telephone number based on the data, and communicate with a mobile phone at the second telephone number for approval of the payment request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Vidicom Limited
    Inventor: Glyn Barry Smith