Patents Assigned to The Western Union Company
  • Publication number: 20140214659
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing a financial transaction. A set of conditions is received that define circumstances for execution of the financial transaction. Funds are collected for each of a plurality of partial payments prior to satisfaction of the set of conditions, with at least two of the partial payments being collected from different persons. The collected funds are accumulated for support of the financial transaction until satisfaction or failure of the set of conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Kurt Hansen
  • Publication number: 20140207685
    Abstract: A method of implementing collaborative funds transfer includes receiving, by a host computer system, from an entity a collaborative funds transfer request for a relief effort to be executed within a collaborative environment. The methods further includes verifying, by the host computer system, validity of the entity, receiving funds provided to the entity via the collaborative environment, reviewing services offered within the collaborative environment, reviewing communications regarding the funds transfer within the collaborative environment, and transferring the funds to the entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Kimberly Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20140207665
    Abstract: A mobile device for providing currency exchange, is described. The mobile device includes a computer processor, a memory device having sets of instructions stored thereon, and a camera device configured to photograph an image of currency of a first country's currency. The computer processor executes the sets of instructions, which cause the computer processor to: based on the image, determine a first amount and a country of origin of the currency, determine, using location services of the mobile device, a current location of the mobile device, based on the current location, determine a second country's currency, determine an exchange rate between the first country's currency and the second country's currency, and calculate a second amount in the second country's currency based on the first amount and the exchange rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Kimberly Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 8788408
    Abstract: The invention provides various systems and methods for implementing item-specific money transfers. The method includes receiving identification of an item, determining a vendor and a price of the item, and receiving, from a receiver, a money transfer request for an amount of the price of the item. The money transfer request identifies a sender. The method further includes sending the money transfer request to the sender, receiving, from the sender, authorization for a money transfer in an amount of the price of the item. The authorization includes an indication that funds from the money transfer are restricted for use only for the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Kimberly Dunwoody, Scott Paintin
  • Patent number: 8781966
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing money transfer transactions via a wireless communication device, such as a cellular phone, are provided. The wireless communication device may be associated with, or automatically linked to, at least one payment source account. The wireless communication device may be associated with at least one pre-paid payment source account. In one example, the wireless communication device is a pre-paid cellular phone and/or is associated with a pre-paid money transfer account. The wireless communication device may access a pre-directed phone number, e.g., *55, to access a money transfer service provider. Once connected to a money transfer service provider, a user may initiate a money transfer via the wireless device, which is optionally paid to a payee in-person at a money transfer service provider location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Paul Blair, Rex Lieurance, Diane Scott
  • Publication number: 20140188661
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking obligations incurred between individuals. The method may include receiving a request from a first party, where the request includes an expense incurred by the first party for the benefit of a second party. The method may also include providing a notice of the request to the second party and receiving an acceptance from the second party to assume an obligation associated with the expense. The method may further include associating the obligation with the second party and associating a benefit with the first party. The obligation and/or benefit may be substantially equal in value to the expense. The method may additionally include interfacing with a social network service to provide the social network service with information about the obligation and/or the benefit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Michele Demark, Michael Michelsen, Diane Scott, Chris Cochran
  • Publication number: 20140180921
    Abstract: Methods coordinate payment for a remote transaction with a first party. An identification of the first party is received at a host system. Acknowledgment of receipt of a cash payment from a second party is received. The cash payment is associated with the identification of the first party. A money transfer corresponding to the cash payment to the control of the first party is executed with a request for the first party to perform on previously agreed terms of the remote transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Kurt Hansen, Earney E. Stoutenburg, Thomas B. Sayor
  • Publication number: 20140180917
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described for a refundable prepaid transaction cards. The methods and systems include a prepaid transaction card funded with funds by a purchaser. Also included is an issuer. The issuer receives the funds a distributes a prepaid transaction card associated with the funds. The methods and systems also include a prepaid transaction card identifier, wherein the prepaid transaction card identifier identifies the prepaid transaction card. The issuer maintains a central computer system that stores at least one parameter entitling the purchaser to a refund of at least a portion of the funds. The methods and systems also include a cash pool, the cash pool holding at least a portion of the funds funded by the purchaser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Robert Enzaldo
  • Patent number: 8762288
    Abstract: The invention provides various systems and methods for establishing an identity confidence scoring system. The method includes gathering identity information about the customers from physical locations and from remote locations. The method updates the identity profiles with the gathered identity information, and based on the gathered identity information, generates an identity confidence score associated with each identity profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Matthew Leland Dill
  • Patent number: 8762267
    Abstract: A system for transferring funds from a sender to a recipient with a recorded message is disclosed. In one step the method includes receiving a request for a fund transfer from the sender. The sender may make the request for a fund transfer at a transaction processing device. In another step a payment is received from the sender for the fund transfer and a payment confirmation is transmitted to the host computer system. An identifier may then be assigned to the fund transfer. A recorded message from the sender may be received and at least a copy of the recorded message may be transmitted to a host computer system. The recorded message may then be associated with the fund transfer. A request, including the identifier, may be received from the recipient to receive the recorded messaged. In another step the recorded message may be sent to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Scott Paintin, Lance Marr, Michelle Kloosterman, Rebecca Loevenguth, Diane Scott
  • Publication number: 20140172699
    Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
  • Publication number: 20140172594
    Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
  • Publication number: 20140156497
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for exchanging alternative currencies. The method includes creating, at an alternative currency platform, a plurality of user accounts and receiving, from a first user in the plurality of user accounts, an alternative currency exchange offer. The alternative currency exchange offer includes one or more offer terms and associated assets. Furthermore, the method includes extending the alternative currency exchange offer from the first user to the second user, in response to receiving acceptance of the offer from the second user, verifying the associated assets of the first user and the second user, and in response to verification of the assets of the first user and second user, providing settlement of the alternative currency exchange offer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Evans Mehew, Gail Galuppo
  • Patent number: 8738518
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for executing a plurality of money transfers, at least one term of which is dependent on the value of a fluctuating parameter, for example a currency exchange rate or the amount of a transaction service fee. The customer may stage a first money transfer at a money-transfer system and a first value of the fluctuating parameter may be determined by a host processor. The first money transfer may then be executed by the money-transfer system using the first value of the fluctuating parameter and a unique lock-in value identifier may be stored in the host processor's memory that associates the first value of the fluctuating parameter with the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Michael F. Rodin
  • Patent number: 8725637
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for generating electronic invoices. The method may include logging on to an online invoicing service account, and looking up a customer account from multiple customers associated with the online invoicing service account. The method may further include selecting the customer account that has a pending financial transaction with a biller. A request for an electronic invoice to be generated for the selected customer is initiated and the electronic invoice may be transmitted to the selected customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Matt Bixler, Robert Newton, Dean Seifert, Dave Owen, Elizabeth Petri
  • Publication number: 20140129429
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for analyzing multiple money transfer routing schemes. Each of these multiple money transfer routing schemes may comprise a route to transmit funds from the source for the money transfer transaction to the destination for the money transfer transaction. An internal money transfer routing scheme may refer to a money transfer routing scheme that utilizes a direct money transfer arrangement between the destination of the money transfer transaction and the money transfer network. An external money transfer routing scheme may refer to a money transfer routing scheme that utilizes at least one third party money transfer network between the destination of the money transfer transaction and the money transfer network. The multiple money transfer routing schemes may be analyzed and the preferable money transfer routing scheme at least partially based on the predefined criterion from among the multiple money transfer routing schemes may be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Nicholas LeCuyer, Terra Grantham, Michael Kilbane
  • Publication number: 20140123302
    Abstract: A method of concealing customer-provided information from an operator during a telephone conversation between the operator and a customer includes receiving dual-tone-multi-frequency-encoded customer information via a telephone connection to a customer telephone and generating a request asking the customer to confirm the information. The method also includes converting the dual-tone-multi-frequency-encoded customer information into an ASCII data stream and sending the ASCII data stream to a computing device, whereby the operator is unable to discern the customer information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventor: Ronald G. Van Volkenburgh
  • Patent number: 8712910
    Abstract: Arrangements for transferring money to a bank account, typically when paid in cash or a cash equivalent at a point of sale device, are provided. Transactional information may be transmitted to a host computer system from a point of sale device. The transactional information may include information on a bank account that is to receive the money. At least some of the transaction information may be sent to an intermediary computer system that is configured to interact with a plurality of banking networks and may determine which one of the banking networks is associated with the bank account that is to receive the money. A request may be transmitted from the intermediary computer network to a local banking network and may include information on the bank account that is to receive the money and an amount of money to deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Michael Michelsen, Dan Canning, Roberto Ochoa, Rodolfo Zavaleta, Rodrigo Sada
  • Patent number: 8706640
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enrolling consumers in goods and services offered by a consumer provider are disclosed herein. Various of the methods include providing an enrollment system and displaying enrollment options via the enrollment system. Further, the methods include receiving enrollment requests and enrolling a consumer based on the enrollment request. The systems can be configured for effectuating the various enrollment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Kurt L. Hansen, Keith W. Diveley
  • Publication number: 20140108248
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the transfer of a payment for a computerized transaction between a buyer and a seller for the purchase of an item using a computer network, such as the Internet. For example, the method can include communicating data regarding the transaction between the buyer and the seller, receiving an actual payment from the buyer at one or more agent locations, and upon receiving the actual payment from the buyer at one of the agent locations, communicating a message to the seller that the actual payment for the transaction was received at the agent location, thereby permitting the seller to begin shipment of the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: Humberto C. Portillo, Stefan Ianta, Scott C. Hansen, Marcus Nicholas Cudina