Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining relevance scores for locations. In one aspect, a method includes storing a respective plurality of category-location relevance scores for each location of a plurality of geographic locations. A category-location relevance score is based on a plurality of category-entity-location relevance scores for a plurality of entities associated with the category at the location. A first category-location relevance score is determined for a first geographic location that is not one of the plurality of geographic locations. Determining the first category-location relevance score includes calculating the first category-location relevance score based on a second category-location relevance score for a second geographic location in the plurality of geographic locations and a physical distance between the first geographic location and the second geographic location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronic billing activation are provided. A request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer is received by a first electronic financial service provider (EFSP) that supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks (EFSNs) from a second EFSP that supports a second of the plurality of EFSNs. Each of the plurality of EFSNs includes a respective plurality of billers or payers, and the biller is associated with the first EFSN and not associated with the second EFSN, while the payer is not associated with the first EFSN. In response to the received request, activation confirmation information is transmitted by the first EFSP to the second EFSP. The electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining relevance scores for locations. In one aspect, a method includes storing a respective plurality of category-location relevance scores for each location of a plurality of geographic locations. A category-location relevance score is based on a plurality of category-entity-location relevance scores for a plurality of entities associated with the category at the location. A first category-location relevance score is determined for a first geographic location that is not one of the plurality of geographic locations. Determining the first category-location relevance score includes calculating the first category-location relevance score based on a second category-location relevance score for a second geographic location in the plurality of geographic locations and a physical distance between the first geographic location and the second geographic location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: A method and system for electronic billing across unassociated electronic bill presentment networks is provided. Each network includes a billing service provider. A request to receive an electronic bill from a biller not associated with a first network is received by a first billing service provider. A request to determine a network with which the biller is associated is transmitted by the first billing service provider. In response to this determination request, information indicating that the biller is associated with a second network is received. An activation instruction to receive electronic bills is transmitted from the first billing service provider to a second billing service provider which is a part of the network with which the biller is associated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronic billing activation are provided. A request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer is received by a first electronic financial service provider (EFSP) that supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks (EFSNs) from a second EFSP that supports a second of the plurality of EFSNs. Each of the plurality of EFSNs includes a respective plurality of billers or payers, and the biller is associated with the first EFSN and not associated with the second EFSN, while the payer is not associated with the first EFSN. In response to the received request, activation confirmation information is transmitted by the first EFSP to the second EFSP. The electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to information on a network where a first network entity receives a message requesting access to stored information via a network communication. The received message includes a first component encrypted with a first crypto-key associated with the first network entity and a second component encrypted with a second crypto-key associated with a second network entity such that both can be decrypted by the first network entity. The second network entity controls access to the network by the user. After receiving the message, the first network entity decrypts the first component and the second component and then transmits the stored information to the user based on the content of the first component and the second component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating access to stored information associated with a user, where a service provider receives, from a network entity controlling access to the stored information, a first message component encrypted with a first crypto-key associated with the network entity that can be decrypted by the network entity and a network address associated with the stored information. The service provider then receives a request for information enabling access to the stored information from an access portal associated with the user. Next, the service provider generates a response that includes the network address and the first message component and transmits the response to the access portal. The generated response is extensible by the access portal to include a second message component. The second message component is encrypted with a second crypto-key associated with the access portal. The extended response is usable to obtain access to the stored information.

Abstract: To facilitate access to information on a network, an extended network universal resource locator is generated. The generated extended network universal resource locator has (i) a network address, such as an Internet URL, at which stored information, such as detailed bill information, can be accessed on a network, (ii) identity information associated with a first network entity and an integrity value corresponding to the identity information, and (iii) voucher information indicating that a third network entity has authenticated the first network entity and that transmission of the extended network universal resource locator by the third network entity to the first network entity occurred at a particular time. The identity information could, for example, include an identification of the stored information and an account number associated with the first network entity. The integrity value could, for example, be a hash of the identity information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to information on a network where a first network entity receives a message requesting access to stored information via a network communication. The received message includes a first component encrypted with a first crypto-key associated with the first network entity and a second component encrypted with a second crypto-key associated with a second network entity such that both can be decrypted by the first network entity. The second network entity controls access to the network by the user. After receiving the message, the first network entity decrypts the first component and the second component and then transmits the stored information to the user based on the content of the first component and the second component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating access to stored information associated with a user, where a service provider receives, from a network entity controlling access to the stored information, a first message component encrypted with a first crypto-key associated with the network entity that can be decrypted by the network entity and a network address associated with the stored information. The service provider then receives a request for information enabling access to the stored information from an access portal associated with the user. Next, the service provider generates a response that includes the network address and the first message component and transmits the response to the access portal. The generated response is extensible by the access portal to include a second message component. The second message component is encrypted with a second crypto-key associated with the access portal. The extended response is usable to obtain access to the stored information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for making inter-network payments. A payment request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received. A first payment service provider receives this request. The payment is directed to a payee that is associated with a second payment service provider. The first payment service provider determines the identity of the second payment service provider and transmits a payment instruction to the second payment service provider to complete the payment.

Abstract: To facilitate access to information on a network, an extended network universal resource locator is generated. The generated extended network universal resource locator has (i) a network address, such as an Internet URL, at which stored information, such as detailed bill information, can be accessed on a network, (ii) identity information associated with a first network entity and an integrity value corresponding to the identity information, and (iii) voucher information indicating that a third network entity has authenticated the first network entity and that transmission of the extended network universal resource locator by the third network entity to the first network entity occurred at a particular time. The identity information could, for example, include an identification of the stored information and an account number associated with the first network entity. The integrity value could, for example, be a hash of the identity information.

Abstract: An electronic message for transmission over a network, such as the Internet, is created by encrypting a first component with a first crypto-key, which is associated with a first network entity, such that the encrypted first component can be decrypted by only the first network entity. The first crypto-key could, for example, be a symmetric crypto-key known only to the first network entity or the public non-symmetric crypto-key of a private-public non-symmetric key pair, where the private non-symmetric crypto key is known only to the first network entity. A second component, which is different than the first component, is encrypted with a second crypto-key, which is associated with a second network entity, such that the encrypted second component can also be decrypted by the first network entity.