Patents Assigned to The Western Union Company
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FOR IMPLEMENTING VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL BANKING
    Publication number: 20170004465
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting a money transfer include providing a virtual banking account for the money transfer and determining standing instructions corresponding to the virtual banking account. The standing instructions may include a protocol-based workflow for conducting the money transfer. The systems and methods may further include identifying a trigger corresponding to a movement of monetary funds from an originating account to the virtual banking account, and after identifying the trigger, initiating a transfer of at least a portion of the monetary funds from the virtual banking account to a destination account based on the standing instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventor: Girish Balasubramanian
  • Secure contactless payment systems and methods
    Patent number: 9489669
    Abstract: According to the invention, a system for providing payments to a point of sale device is disclosed. The system may include a mobile device having a storage medium, an input device, a wireless transmission device, and a processor. The storage medium may include individual authentication information and device authentication information. The input device may be configured to receive an input. The wireless transmission device may be configured to selectively transmit the device authentication information to a nearby point of sale device. The processor may be configured to compare the input with the individual authentication information, and activate the wireless transmission device to transmit the device authentication information if the input is correlated with the individual authentication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Rebecca Loevenguth, Evans Mehew, Dave Owen, Dianna Lyons, Scott Paintin
  • MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20160314444
    Abstract: A method for transferring money may include providing a money transfer instrument having product information and a monetary value associated therewith. The method may also include capturing the product information by a POS terminal in response to the sender purchasing the money transfer instrument. The method may further include generating and issuing a personal identifier to the sender on a receipt printed at the POS terminal. The method may additionally include receiving from the sender money transfer information along with the personal identifier. The method may moreover include generating and transmitting to the sender a money transfer control identifier that is separate from the personal identifier. The method may furthermore include receiving from the recipient the money transfer control identifier to receive transferred money at a money transfer location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Assaad G. Hanna, Kurt L. Hansen, Dean A. Seifert
  • ALTERNATIVE VALUE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20160307268
    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: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Evans Mehew, Gail Galuppo
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT COMPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160291902
    Abstract: Systems and methods for bypassing a print dialog box that indicates a print confirmation, a prompt message, or a page preview, by employing a background print applet. The systems and methods may include detecting a print content to be printed by a printer, identifying one or more features of the print content, and determining one or more print settings based on the identified one or more features. The systems and methods may further include initiating the print content to be printed by the printer based on the determined print settings, whereby initiating the print content includes bypassing the print dialog box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Anthony Scillieri, Venkateshwarlu Kotagiri, Denis McCarthy
  • Money transfer system and method
    Patent number: 9384476
    Abstract: A method for transferring money may include providing a money transfer instrument having product information and a monetary value associated therewith. The method may also include capturing the product information by a POS terminal in response to the sender purchasing the money transfer instrument. The method may further include generating and issuing a personal identifier to the sender on a receipt printed at the POS terminal. The method may additionally include receiving from the sender money transfer information along with the personal identifier. The method may moreover include generating and transmitting to the sender a money transfer control identifier that is separate from the personal identifier. The method may furthermore include receiving from the recipient the money transfer control identifier to receive transferred money at a money transfer location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Assaad G. Hanna, Kurt L. Hansen, Dean A. Seifert
  • Methods and systems for improving disclosure requirement compliance
    Patent number: 9384428
    Abstract: Systems and methods for bypassing a print dialog box that indicates a print confirmation, a prompt message, or a page preview, by employing a background print applet. The systems and methods may include detecting a print content to be printed by a printer, identifying one or more features of the print content, and determining one or more print settings based on the identified one or more features. The systems and methods may further include initiating the print content to be printed by the printer based on the determined print settings, whereby initiating the print content includes bypassing the print dialog box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Anthony Scillieri, Venkateshwarlu Kotagiri, Denis McCarthy
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IDENTIFYING FUNDS TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA
    Publication number: 20160180318
    Abstract: A method for identifying a funds transfer opportunity in an electronic media accessed by a mobile device may include monitoring the electronic media for the funds transfer opportunity, identifying the funds transfer opportunity in the electronic media, and outputting indication for the funds transfer opportunity in the electronic media. The method may further include receiving confirmation to instantiate a funds transfer based on the indicated funds transfer opportunity on the mobile device and instantiating the funds transfer based on the received confirmation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventor: CRAIG BROOKS
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT COMPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160171351
    Abstract: Systems and methods for bypassing a print dialog box that indicates a print confirmation, a prompt message, or a page preview, by employing a background print applet. The systems and methods may include detecting a print content to be printed by a printer, identifying one or more features of the print content, and determining one or more print settings based on the identified one or more features. The systems and methods may further include initiating the print content to be printed by the printer based on the determined print settings, whereby initiating the print content includes bypassing the print dialog box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: ANTHONY SCILLIERI, VENKATESHWARLU KOTAGIRI, DENIS MCCARTHY
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VALIDATING MOBILE DEVICES OF CUSTOMERS VIA THIRD PARTIES
    Publication number: 20160127898
    Abstract: A method for authenticating a mobile device in real-time. The method includes detecting the mobile device, sending a text message containing a unique uniform resource locator (“URL”) to the mobile device, and detecting an access of the unique URL by the mobile device through a first communication path. In response to detecting the access of the unique URL, requesting and subsequently receiving, by the host system in real-time, a phone number and a subscriber identification ID associated with the mobile device through a second communication path distinct from the first communication path, and a device fingerprint of the mobile device through the first communication path. The method further includes initiating a risk analysis based on the phone number, the subscriber ID, and the device fingerprint and determining an authentication status of the mobile device based on the risk analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: Abhinav Gupta, Bernard McManus, Don McNelley
  • BIOMETRICALLY SECURED USER INPUT FOR FORMS
    Publication number: 20160048495
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting biometrically secured financial form data from a user are described. A user input device may receive biometric data from the user. The user may be presented with a visual medium. The visual medium may contain a plurality of fields for information necessary to conduct a financial transaction. Handwriting data may be received from the user. At least a portion of the handwriting may represent information corresponding to the plurality of fields for information necessary to conduct the financial transaction. At least a portion of the information corresponding to the plurality of fields for information necessary to conduct the financial transaction may be transmitted from the user input device to a computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: Evans Mehew, Scott Paintin, Dianna Lyons, Julene M. Robbins
  • N TO N MONEY TRANSFERS
    Publication number: 20150371209
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and devices are described for performing money transfers to one or more payees from one or more payors using a money transfer system. A party, such as a payor, a payee, or a third party may create a set of payee rules. The same or a different party may also create a set of payor rules. The payee rules may comprise conditions which, when satisfied, permit a payee to receive funds from a funds pool. The payor rules may comprise conditions which, when satisfied, permit a payor to provide funds to the funds pool. The money transfer system may determine whether requests from a payor and a payee comply with the payor rules and the payee rules, respectively. Based on the determination, the payor and/or payee may be permitted to complete their requested transaction, or their transaction may be denied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: David A. Owen, Michael Michelsen, Kurt Bulawa, Michele Demark
  • Personal writing device with user recognition capabilities and personal information storage
    Patent number: 9218510
    Abstract: Systems and method for a handheld biometrically secured user input device are described. A biometric authentication device may be coupled with a handheld enclosure, the biometric authentication device capable of collecting user authentication information from a user to authenticate the user's identity. A computer-readable storage device may be coupled with the handheld enclosure for storing confidential financial information of the user, wherein access to the confidential financial information is granted only after the user's identity has been authenticated. A sensor may be coupled with the handheld enclosure, capable of capturing the user's handwriting. Also, a communication device may be configured to transmit information gathered with the sensor to a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Evans Mehew, Scott Paintin, Dianna Lyons, Julene M. Robbins
  • UNIVERSAL LEDGER
    Publication number: 20150356674
    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: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: Michele Demark, Michael Michelsen, Diane Scott, Chris Cochran
  • Biometrically secured user input for forms
    Patent number: 9141955
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting biometrically secured financial form data from a user are described. A user input device may receive biometric data from the user. The user may be presented with a visual medium. The visual medium may contain a plurality of fields for information necessary to conduct a financial transaction. Handwriting data may be received from the user. At least a portion of the handwriting may represent information corresponding to the plurality of fields for information necessary to conduct the financial transaction. At least a portion of the information corresponding to the plurality of fields for information necessary to conduct the financial transaction may be transmitted from the user input device to a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Evans Mehew, Scott Paintin, Dianna Lyons, Julene M. Robbins
  • Staged transactions systems and methods
    Patent number: 9129464
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accepting payments for goods and services provided by a merchant. In one embodiment, a method for accepting payments from a consumer for a good or service provided by a merchant comprises receiving a transaction request from the merchant, receiving a payment from the consumer, associating the payment with the transaction request, and sending at least a portion of the payment to the merchant. In this manner, the merchant stages the transaction, and the consumer completes the transaction by making the payment. An optional time limit feature also may be used, and the transaction may be staged by the consumer, or others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Kurt L. Hansen, Thomas B. Sayor, Sharon K. Vialpando, Ken Algiene
  • Generation systems and methods for transaction identifiers having biometric keys associated therewith
    Patent number: 9123044
    Abstract: A system for generating transaction settlement identifiers includes an arrangement configured to receive a biometric sample from a customer and an arrangement configured to use the biometric sample to select the transaction settlement identifier from a pool of predetermined transaction settlements. A mapping arrangement configured to map the selected financial transaction settlement identifier to an identifier of the customer also may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventors: Tim Keane, Dean Seifert, Jonathan Grahmann
  • Cash payment for remote transactions
    Patent number: 9098849
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Kurt Hansen, Earney E. Stoutenburg, Thomas B. Sayor
  • Device and method for concealing customer information from a customer service representative
    Patent number: 9069975
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
    Inventor: Ronald G. Van Volkenburgh
  • Systems and Methods for Transferring Funds to a Pre-Paid Account
    Publication number: 20150106259
    Abstract: According to the invention, a method for transferring funds from a sender to a pre-paid account to be assigned to a recipient is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to perform a funds transfer, including an amount and a recipient, and determining whether to approve the request. Upon approval, the method may include selecting a first and second money transfer control number (MTCN). The method may include recording an association of the amount and the recipient with the first MTCN, and an association of the two MTCN's. The method may include sending the second MTCN out and later receiving a request to redeem which includes the second MTCN. The method may include determining the first MTCN based on the second MTCN, and whether to approve the request. Upon approval, an indication may be sent that the amount is available for funding of the pre-paid account of the recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Chris Cochran, Gary Jeffords, Rodrigo Sada