Shared Mobile Payments

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for facilitating shared mobile payments. According to an embodiment, a user can initiate a purchase using a mobile device. The mobile device can display a total price for the purchase. The first user can cooperate with one or more second users to share the cost of the purchase. The cooperation can be facilitated via the first and second users' mobile devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more memories storing information regarding a first user and a plurality of second users;   one or more processors operable to:
 receive a first communication including an indication of a desire of the first user to purchase a product and to share a payment for the product with the second users; 
 access the information to determine communication addresses for the second users; 
 send a second communication to the second users requesting that the second users share the payment for the product; and 
 facilitate the payment to the merchant from the second users who agree to share the payment for the product. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more memories is a memory of a first user's mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more memories is a memory of a server. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more processors is a processor of a first user's mobile device and the first communication is from an input device of the first user's mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more processors is a processor of a server and the first communication is from a first user's mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more memories is a memory of a first user's mobile device;   at least one of the one or more processors is a processor the first user's mobile device; and   the first user's mobile device is near field communication enabled.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more memories is a memory of a first user's mobile device;   at least one of the one or more processors is a processor the first user's mobile device; and   the first user's mobile device is configured to scan a code/sticker.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to receive the first communication from a first user's mobile device and the information is representative of a scan of a near field communication (NFC) sticker, a quick response (QR) code, a barcode, or a stock keeping unit (SKU). 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second communication sent via near field communication. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to facilitate the payment from second users directly to the merchant. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to facilitate the payment from second users through an intermediary to the merchant. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to facilitate the payment from second users through the first user to the merchant. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to display a total price for the product. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to display contributions of the second users. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to:
 substantially equally divide the purchase price among the first user and the second users to determine a divided purchase price; and   send the communicate to the second users requesting that each of the second users contribute the divided purchase price to share the payment for the product.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information is account information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information is identification and contact information. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to sum contributions of the second users to determine a needed contribution of the first user. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving, electronically via one or more processors, a first communication including an indication of a desire of a first user to purchase a product and to share a payment for the product with a plurality of second users, wherein the indication comprises information communicated through the first user capturing a code associated with the purchase of the product through a first user device and the first user device communicating directly with devices of the plurality of second users through near field communication;   determining, electronically via one or more processors, communication addresses for the plurality of second users;   sending, electronically via one or more processors, a second communication to the plurality of second users requesting that the plurality of second users share the payment for the product; and   processing, electronically via one or more processors, the payment to the merchant from the plurality of second users who agree to share the payment for the product.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable and executable code for instructing one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a first communication including an indication of a desire of the first user to purchase a product and to share a payment for the product with the second users;   accessing the information to determine communication addresses for the second users;   sending a second communication to the second users requesting that the second users share the payment for the product; and   facilitating the payment to the merchant from the second users who agree to share the payment for the product.