Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for transferring money using email. One of the methods includes receiving a user input of a funds-transfer request from a sender associated with a first identifier to one or more recipients associated with one or more second identifiers, respectively, generating one or more electronic messages based on the user input, each being operable to allow a respective recipient to send a funds-transfer authorization, sending the electronic messages to the recipients based on the second identifiers, receiving one or more funds-transfer authorizations from the one or more recipients, respectively, identifying a sender account based on the first identifier and one or more recipient accounts based on the one or more second identifiers, respectively; and initiating one or more transfers of funds from the one or more recipient accounts to the sender account, respectively.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment service system receives a request to associate a proxy identifier with a user account of a charity. The proxy identifier is individually distinguishable from other proxy identifiers associated with user accounts of other users, and has a syntax including a symbol and a string of one or more characters. The symbol and the string are concatenated such that the symbol appears immediately before the string. The payment service system receives, via an application on a user device of a user, an input associated with the proxy identifier, and performs a database lookup to identify the user account associated with the proxy identifier. Information associated with the user account of the charity is presented via a user interface presented by the application. The user interface enables the user to donate funds from a financial account of the user to the user account of the charity.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment system generates, for a first user, a proxy identifier having a syntax including a symbol and a string of one or more characters that are concatenated such that the symbol appears immediately before the string. The proxy identifier is associated with a financial account of the first user. The payment system receives an indication of an intent to transfer funds from a second user to the first user. The indication includes the proxy identifier in lieu of financial account information of the first user, and to identify the financial account of the first user for receiving the funds. Based at least on identifying the proxy identifier, the payment system accesses the financial account information of the first user and initiates the transfer of funds from the financial account of the second user to the financial account of the first user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for discovery of and communication with nearby devices using direct radio signal communication. One of the methods includes receiving, by a payment service system, a message authorizing a payment from a user account to a merchant account, wherein the message was sent by a user device using direct radio signal communication to a nearby merchant device and forwarded to the payment service system by the merchant device. The message is decrypted to obtain a session token that authenticates the user device as being associated with the user account. If the session token is valid a payment transaction is conducted between the user account and the merchant account.

Abstract: A device may run an application having information with multiple accounts associated with processing of transactions. The application may provide account information that is used to process the transactions. At the same time, a background application may operate on the device. The background application may be compatible with a second device, and when within range of the second device, may communicate background messages relevant to the transaction. The transaction may then be processed based on the account information and the background messages.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for discovery of and communication with nearby devices using direct radio signal communication. One of the methods includes receiving, by a payment service system, a message authorizing a payment from a user account to a merchant account, wherein the message was sent by a user device using direct radio signal communication to a nearby merchant device and forwarded to the payment service system by the merchant device. The message is decrypted to obtain a session token that authenticates the user device as being associated with the user account. If the session token is valid a payment transaction is conducted between the user account and the merchant account.

Abstract: An analytic device comprising a device housing, a dock to receive a camera enabled mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone and other smart devices, and a processing device to communicate with the mobile electronic device and to control a condition of the assay tube, such as temperature. In another example, the analytic device comprises a device housing and a circuit board. A processing device, a heating block defining a recess to support assay tube, and a resistive heater are surface mounted to the circuit board. A light source and a fan are also provided. A dock may be provided to support a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device communicates with the processing device to cause the application of reaction conditions to the assay tube, to perform a PCR procedure, for example. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, a system receives a request to associate a user-defined payment proxy with a financial account of a first user. The payment proxy has a syntax including a symbol followed by a string of characters. The system may generate a webpage in which the user-defined payment proxy is included in the URL of the webpage. The system may detect the payment proxy in a message associated with a second user, and may cause the webpage to be displayed on the device of the second user, including an entry field for receiving a payment amount to transfer to the first user. Based on identifying the financial account of the first user at least based on the payment proxy included in the URL of the webpage, the system initiates a transfer of the payment amount to the financial account of the first user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a payment service system may receive a request to split a bill between two or more peer users. The request may include information identifying at least the two or more peer users and an amount of the bill to be split. The two or more peer users may be identified based on determining a presence of two or more mobile devices that are respectively associated with the two or more peer users. The payment service system may send a payment request to each mobile device associated with the two or more peer users. The payment service system may receive a response, which may indicate the respective user's approval of a specified amount for payment of a portion of the bill associated with the user. The payment service system may cause a funds transfer based on specified amounts approved by the two or more peer users.

Abstract: An analytic device comprising a device housing, a dock to receive a camera enabled mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone and other smart devices, and a processing device to communicate with the mobile electronic device and to control a condition of the assay tube, such as temperature. In another example, the analytic device comprises a device housing and a circuit board. A processing device, a heating block defining a recess to support assay tube, and a resistive heater are surface mounted to the circuit board. A light source and a fan are also provided. A dock may be provided to support a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device communicates with the processing device to cause the application of reaction conditions to the assay tube, to perform a PCR procedure, for example. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, a system generates an identifier for association with a user financial account. The identifier may have a syntax including a currency indicator and a string including one or more characters concatenated together such that the currency indicator appears immediately before the string. The system generates a user-defined identifier and maps, in a database, the user-defined identifier to the user financial account. The system receives a message indicating an intent to transfer funds from a sending user to a receiving user. The message may include the user-defined identifier in lieu of account information of the user financial account, to identify the user as the receiving user. The system parses the message to identify the user-defined identifier and accesses the account information of the user financial account using the identifier. The system initiates a transfer of funds from the sending user account to the user financial account.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment service system receives a request to associate a proxy identifier with a user account of a charity. The proxy identifier is individually distinguishable from other proxy identifiers associated with user accounts of other users, and has a syntax including a symbol and a string of one or more characters. The symbol and the string are concatenated such that the symbol appears immediately before the string. The payment service system receives, via an application on a user device of a user, an input associated with the proxy identifier, and performs a database lookup to identify the user account associated with the proxy identifier. Information associated with the user account of the charity is presented via a user interface presented by the application. The user interface enables the user to donate funds from a financial account of the user to the user account of the charity.

Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques include systems and methods for facilitating context-aware peer-to-peer transfers of items utilizing at least one of short-range wireless technologies embodied by user devices or device-accessible contact lists. After receiving a request to transfer an item, a server can cause a device of a first peer user to detect devices of second peer users in the proximity of the device of the first peer user using short-range wireless technology. Based at least in part on the detected nearby devices or a contact list of the first peer user stored by the device of the first peer user, a second peer user to receive the item is determined. Upon receiving confirmation of authorization to transfer the item, requested and provided via an electronic message between the respective devices and the server, the item is disassociated from the first peer user and associated with the second peer user.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for causing funds to be transferred between a first user and a second user of a payment transfer system includes receiving, from an application executing on a user device of the first user, a user input for a payment transfer. The user input includes an identifier associated with the second user and a payment amount. The method includes configuring a resource associated with the payment transfer system and accessible via an interactive interface element activatable at a user device of the second user. The resource is configured to initiate transfer of the payment amount. The method includes causing an electronic message associated with the payment transfer and the interactive interface element to be transmitted to the user device of the second user. The method includes, upon receiving an indication of an intent to effectuate the payment transfer, initiating a transfer of the payment amount.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment application on a mobile device receives a request from a mobile application on the mobile device to pay for a transaction initiated via the mobile application. The request may be generated in response to receiving a user input to a user interface of the mobile application for selecting the payment application as the payment method for the transaction. Further, based on the user input selecting the payment application as the payment method, the payment application is displayed on a foreground of the mobile device while the mobile application is executed in the background. The payment application sends a payment request to a payment service system to cause the payment service system to identify accounts associated with the user and the merchant, and to initiate a transfer of an amount from the user account to the merchant account as payment for the transaction.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment system generates, for a first user, a proxy identifier having a syntax including a symbol and a string of one or more characters that are concatenated such that the symbol appears immediately before the string. The proxy identifier is associated with a financial account of the first user. The payment system receives an indication of an intent to transfer funds from a second user to the first user. The indication includes the proxy identifier in lieu of financial account information of the first user, and to identify the financial account of the first user for receiving the funds. Based at least on identifying the proxy identifier, the payment system accesses the financial account information of the first user and initiates the transfer of funds from the financial account of the second user to the financial account of the first user.

Abstract: Described is a technology for facilitating money transfer between a sender and a recipient by use of a payment proxy associated with the recipient. The technology enables a sender, who desires to send cash to a recipient, using an application (e.g., a payment service application, a messaging application, etc.), to specify the recipient by inputting, in a message being created using the application, one or more alphanumeric characters and a monetary currency indicator prefixing the alphanumeric characters (e.g., $alex). The monetary currency indicator operates as a tagging mechanism that indicates to a computer system, receiving the message, to treat the input(s) as a request from the sender to transfer cash, wherein detection of a specified syntax, which includes the alphanumeric character tagged by a monetary currency indicator, triggers a transfer of cash.

Abstract: A fluid sample extraction device is disclosed comprising a housing defining an internal fluid passage having a distal open end and a proximal open end and a porous medium within the fluid passage, between the distal open end and proximal open end. The porous medium, which may be glass, is configured to allow fluid flow in the fluid passage to flow around the porous medium, toward the proximal open end of the housing, when fluid is drawn from the distal open end toward the proximal open end, and to allow fluid in the fluid passage to flow toward the distal open end of the housing, through the porous medium when the fluid is forced toward the distal open end. The porous medium is also configured to capture nucleic acids in the porous medium from the fluid when fluid is forced through the porous medium. Devices and kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, a financial transaction is effectuated between first and second users of a payment service system. The payment service system receives, from the first user, a request for a first payment proxy identifier for the first user, and receives from the second user, a request for a second payment proxy identifier for the second user. The payment service system generates the payment proxy identifiers with a currency indicator prefixing one or more alphanumeric characters. The payment proxy identifiers enable the payment service system to identify the financial accounts of the respective users in lieu of payment card mechanisms. The payment service system receives a message from the second user indicating a money transfer request, initiates a transfer of funds from an account of the second user to an account of the first user, and sends an email message to the first user indicating the transfer of funds.