Abstract: The disclosure herein describes generating, managing, and finalizing group reservations of travel resources (e.g., plane tickets, hotel and other lodging reservations, etc.) via a group reservation system. A group reservation request is received including group member data and travel resource reservation data. The reservation data is transmitted to group members based on the group member data. Reservation feedback is then received from the group members. The reservation feedback includes an acceptance message or a rejection message for participation with the travel resource(s). A quantity of acceptance messages received in the reservation feedback is compared to a reservation threshold and, based on the comparison, the group reservation is finalized, wherein the finalized group reservation is associated with group members from whom an acceptance message was received.

Abstract: The subject invention advantageously allows a merchant to provide an override payment option, as an enticement, to pre-pay all or a portion of a series of recurring payments. With respect to recurring payments, the subject invention allows a merchant to alter pricing, if necessary, and/or to charge beyond a fixed term, e.g., to maintain a subscription. The invention includes monitoring payment requests made on a recurring payment basis over a payment network to ensure that any override payment is being properly accounted for along with any adjusted pricing and/or additional payments. This unconventional processing is not provided for with standard recurring payment systems.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes generating, managing, and finalizing group reservations of travel resources (e.g., plane tickets, hotel and other lodging reservations, etc.) via a group reservation system. A group reservation request is received including group member data and travel resource reservation data. The reservation data is transmitted to group members based on the group member data. Reservation feedback is then received from the group members. The reservation feedback includes an acceptance message or a rejection message for participation with the travel resource(s). A quantity of acceptance messages received in the reservation feedback is compared to a reservation threshold and, based on the comparison, the group reservation is finalized, wherein the finalized group reservation is associated with group members from whom an acceptance message was received.

Abstract: The subject invention advantageously allows a merchant to provide an override payment option, as an enticement, to pre-pay all or a portion of a series of recurring payments. With respect to recurring payments, the subject invention allows a merchant to alter pricing, if necessary, and/or to charge beyond a fixed term, e.g., to maintain a subscription. The invention includes monitoring payment requests made on a recurring payment basis over a payment network to ensure that any override payment is being properly accounted for along with any adjusted pricing and/or additional payments. This unconventional processing is not provided for with standard recurring payment systems.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a recurring payment between a merchant and a consumer with a recurring payment management (RPM) system as an interface between a consumer and one or more merchant recurring payment systems. The RPM system obviates the need for the consumer to individually manage his/her recurring payment obligations by acting as a gatekeeper to manage each of a plurality of recurring payments for a plurality of merchants over a plurality of merchant recurring payment systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting funds can include a payment processor configured to receive, from a user device, a request to collect funds for a specified purpose. The payment processor can transmit, to the user device, an authorization code for payment authorization and a link to share with one or more contributors through which funds can be collected for the specified purpose in a virtual account associated with the specified purpose and a user of the user device. In response to receiving a request from a merchant-side processor for payment, the payment processor can determine that the merchant-side processor is requesting payment for the specified purpose, request the user device to authorize payment to the merchant-side processor using the authorization code, and instruct a financial institution-side processor to transfer a requested amount to the merchant from the virtual account.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting funds can include a payment processor configured to receive, from a user device, a request to collect funds for a specified purpose. The payment processor can transmit, to the user device, an authorization code for payment authorization and can determine whether a user qualifies to receive an approved amount of funds from at least one grant for the specified purpose based on one or more user attributes of the user and the specified purpose. Upon determining that the user qualifies to receive the at least one grant and in response to receiving a request from a merchant for payment, the payment processor can determine that the merchant is requesting payment for the specified purpose, request the user device to authorize payment to the merchant using the authorization code, and transmit a request to the philanthropic organization to provide the approved amount of funds to the merchant.