Computer-based funds transfer system

US7194437B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Amazon.com, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark Britto · Baton Rouge, US
• Aimee K. Cardwell · Plymouth, US
• FuMing Young · Los Altos, US
• Nicholas K. Peddy · Mountain View, US
• Adrian J. Blakey · Alameda, US
• Angela C. Lee · Burlingame, US
• Erich L. Ringewald · Belvedere, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 20, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 13, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q20/102
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A service configured to be accessible by two or more parties to a two-sided funds transfer transaction through a computer network (e.g., the Internet) provides functionality for sending a payment request to a target payer or payee who is not yet registered with the service. Depending upon who is initiating the transaction (i.e., a payer or a payee) the payment requests may be received as requests to send payments or requests to collect payments. In the latter case, the service may be further organized to solicit a payment, for example by transmitting an e-mail message to a second party to the funds transfer transaction. When used to collect payments, the service may be further organized to process one or more responses to the above-mentioned solicitations.