System and method for prepaid account replenishment

Abstract

A system and method for replenishing prepaid account balances is disclosed. Consumers are issued a prepaid account card similar to a credit card. Funds are added to prepaid accounts at retail locations by providing cash or equivalent to a clerk along with the prepaid account card. The clerk swipes the prepaid account card in an authorization terminal and rings up the transaction in a manner similar to a normal credit card transaction. The transaction is transmitted to a bank which processes the transaction and notifies a replenishment system that the customer has added value to the prepaid account. The replenishment system provides the customer with a confirmation number associated with the transaction. The replenishment system notifies a prepaid engine for the prepaid account. The prepaid engine updates the user's prepaid account balance, thereby making funds available for future purchases by the user. The user may also add funds to the prepaid account via an automated teller machine (ATM), via the Internet or by dialing certain feature codes on a wireless telephone.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 at a mobile device having memory and one or more processors:
 receiving an instruction from a user of the mobile device to move a predefined amount of money or equivalent from a first user account to a second user account, wherein the mobile device is associated with the first user account and the instruction includes an identifier of the second user account; and 
 sending the instruction to a financial transaction server, wherein the financial transaction server is authorized to perform a financial transaction between the first user account and the second user account. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a confirmation from the financial transaction server, wherein the confirmation indicates whether the predefined amount of money or the equivalent has been successfully moved from the first user account to the second user account. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction includes a set of alphanumerical characters entered by the user through an input device of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the set of alphanumerical characters includes a PIN number provided by the financial transaction server. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction is a SMS text message. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a unique identifier of the mobile device and the instruction to the financial transaction server. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the identifier of the mobile device is a mobile identification number that a wireless carrier uses to identify the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 at a computer server system having memory and one or more processors:
 receiving a first request to associate a first user account with a unique identifier of a mobile device; 
 in response to the first request, storing information that associates an identifier of the first user account with the unique identifier of the mobile device; 
 receiving a second request from the mobile device to move a predefined amount of money or equivalent from the first user account to a second user account, wherein the second request includes information corresponding to the unique identifier of a mobile device and an identifier of the second user account; and 
 performing a financial transaction between the first user account and the second user account in accordance with the second request. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising returning a confirmation to the mobile device, wherein the confirmation indicates whether the predefined amount of money or the equivalent has been successfully moved from the first user account to the second user account. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein storing information includes generating an entry in a database communicatively connected to the computer server system, wherein the entry associates the identifier of the first user account with the unique identifier of the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein performing a financial transaction between the first user account and the second user account includes:
 authenticating the second request by checking whether the second request includes information corresponding to the unique identifier of the mobile device in the database entry;   determining whether the first user account has a balance that is sufficient for the movement of the predefined amount of money or equivalent;   checking whether there is another database entry that includes the identifier of the second user account; and   performing one or more database operations to update the respective balances at the first user account and the second user account.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the computer server system is configured to access the first user account and the second user account that are managed by other entities. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the second request includes a PIN number and the PIN number is used for authenticating the second request is from a preauthorized mobile device by the computer server system. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the second request is a SMS text message. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the computer server system via at least one wireless network. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is a wireless telephone. 
     
     
         17 . A computer server system, comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving a first request to associate a first user account with a unique identifier of a mobile device; 
 in response to the first request, storing information that associates an identifier of the first user account with the unique identifier of the mobile device; 
 receiving a second request from the mobile device to move a predefined amount of money or equivalent from the first user account to a second user account, wherein the second request includes information corresponding to the unique identifier of a mobile device and an identifier of the second user account; and 
 performing a financial transaction between the first user account and the second user account in accordance with the second request. 
   
     
     
         18 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for returning a confirmation to the mobile device, wherein the confirmation indicates whether the predefined amount of money or the equivalent has been successfully moved from the first user account to the second user account. 
     
     
         19 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions for storing information include instruction for generating an entry in a database communicatively connected to the computer server system, wherein the entry associates the identifier of the first user account with the unique identifier of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer server system of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions for performing a financial transaction between the first user account and the second user account include instruction for:
 authenticating the second request by checking whether the second request includes information corresponding to the unique identifier of the mobile device in the database entry;   determining whether the first user account has a balance that is sufficient for the movement of the predefined amount of money or equivalent;   checking whether there is another database entry that includes the identifier of the second user account; and   performing one or more database operations to update the respective balances at the first user account and the second user account.   
     
     
         21 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the computer server system is configured to access the first user account and the second user account that are managed by other entities. 
     
     
         22 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the second request includes a PIN number and the PIN number is used for authenticating the second request is from a preauthorized mobile device by the computer server system. 
     
     
         23 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the second request is a SMS text message. 
     
     
         24 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the computer server system via at least one wireless network. 
     
     
         25 . The computer server system of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile device is a wireless telephone.