Apparatus and method for an electronic telephone wallet and/or communication device wallet

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing an electronic wallet device, including a memory device for storing payment identifier information associated with an account holder, a processing device for processing a payment command, wherein the processing device retrieves the payment identifier information from the memory device, and a transmitter for transmitting the payment identifier information to a merchant computer, wherein the merchant computer is associated with a merchant, and further wherein the payment identifier information is utilized in a transaction with the merchant.

1 . A method of electronic commerce, the method comprising:
 storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at a storage device of a central processing computer;   receiving by the central processing computer from a first remote communication device a first payment command;   retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device; and   transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer;   wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing a first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the first remote communication device, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the central processing computer through the first remote communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first transaction comprises a purchase of a first subject of transaction by the first user, the first subject of transaction being a good or a service,   the method further comprising:   consummating the first transaction between the first user and the first merchant.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving by the central processing computer from the first remote communication device order information associated with the first transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the remote communication device is a wireless communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the remote communication device comprises a telephone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising storing a second pre-specified payment identifier of the first user at the storage device of the central processing computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving by the central processing computer from a selected remote communication device of the first user a second payment command;   retrieving, in response to receiving the second payment command by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;   transmitting to a selected merchant computer of a selected merchant, by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the second pre-specified payment identifier to the selected merchant computer; and   consummating a second transaction between the first user and the selected merchant.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the selected merchant is a second merchant, the second merchant being different from the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is a merchant computer of the second merchant, the selected merchant computer being different from the first merchant computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the selected merchant is the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is the first merchant computer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving by the central processing computer from a selected remote communication device of the first user a second payment command;   retrieving, in response to receiving the second payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;   transmitting to a selected merchant computer of a selected merchant, by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the selected merchant computer; and   consummating a second transaction between the first user and the selected merchant.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the selected merchant is a second merchant, the second merchant being different from the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is a merchant computer of the second merchant, the selected merchant computer being different from the first merchant computer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the selected merchant is the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is the first merchant computer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 storing a second pre-specified payment identifier of a second user at the storage device of the central processing computer;   receiving by the central processing computer from a remote communication device of the second user a second payment command;   retrieving, in response to receiving the second payment command by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier of the second user from the storage device;   transmitting to a selected merchant computer of a selected merchant, by the central processing computer, the second pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the second user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the second pre-specified payment identifier to the selected merchant computer; and   consummating a second transaction between the second user and the selected merchant;   wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the second user to cause a payment corresponding to the second payment command to be made to the selected merchant for processing the second transaction without storing the second pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the second user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected merchant is a second merchant, the second merchant being different from the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is a merchant computer of the second merchant, the selected merchant computer being different from the first merchant computer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected merchant is the first merchant, and the selected merchant computer is the first merchant computer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first pre-specified payment identifier comprises an account number of the first user, the account number being selected from the group consisting of a credit account number and a debit account number. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first pre-specified payment identifier comprises expiration date of an account of the first user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first pre-specified payment identifier comprises confidential information used to verify identity of the first user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the confidential information comprises mother's maiden name of the first user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the confidential information comprises a password. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the steps of receiving and transmitting is performed at least in part over the Internet. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the steps of receiving and transmitting is performed at least in part over a satellite communication network. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the steps of receiving and transmitting is performed at least in part over a wireless communication network. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising storing at the central processing computer information regarding the first merchant and at least one other merchant. 
     
     
         25 . A processing computer comprising:
 a storage device; and   a processing device coupled to the storage device;   
       wherein the processing computer is configured to perform steps of a method of electronic commerce, the method comprising:
 storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at a storage device of a central processing computer; 
 receiving by the central processing computer from a remote communication device of the first user a first payment command; 
 retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device; 
 transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer; and 
 consummating a first transaction between the first user and the first merchant; 
 wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing the first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the first user, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the central processing computer through the remote communication device of the first user. 
 
     
     
         26 . The processing computer of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a receiver coupled to the processor, wherein the processing computer is further configured to perform the step of receiving through the receiver; and   a transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the processing computer is further configured to perform the step of transmitting through the transmitter.   
     
     
         27 . A processing computer comprising:
 a means for storing; and   a means for processing coupled to the means for storing;   wherein the processing computer is configured to perform steps of a method of electronic commerce, the method comprising:   storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at the means for storing of the processing computer;   receiving by the processing computer from a remote communication device of the first user a first payment command;   retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the means for storing;   transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the means for storing, whereby the first user is enabled to request the processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer; and   consummating a first transaction between the first user and the first merchant;   wherein the processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing the first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the first user, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the processing computer through the remote communication device of the first user.   
     
     
         28 . A memory device storing software for performing a method of electronic commerce at a central processing computer, the method comprising steps of:
 storing a first pre-specified payment identifier of a first user at a storage device of the central processing computer;   receiving by the central processing computer from a remote communication device of the first user a first payment command;   retrieving, in response to receiving the first payment command by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier of the first user from the storage device;   transmitting to a first merchant computer of a first merchant, by the central processing computer, the first pre-specified payment identifier retrieved from the storage device, whereby the first user is enabled to request the central processing computer to provide the first pre-specified payment identifier to the first merchant computer; and   consummating a first transaction between the first user and the first merchant;   wherein the central processing computer is configured to enable the first user to cause a payment corresponding to the first payment command to be made to the first merchant for processing the first transaction (1) without storing the first pre-specified payment identifier at the remote communication device of the first user, and (2) without the first user providing the first pre-specified payment identifier to the central processing computer through the remote communication device of the first user.