Payment transactions on mobile device using mobile carrier

Abstract

A user makes a purchase request through a merchant app on a mobile device, such as by selecting an item for purchase. A mobile SDK of a payment provider is installed in the merchant app. The payment request includes the phone number for the mobile device. The payment provider verifies the phone number of the user and requests approval of the payment from a mobile operator providing wireless communication services on the mobile device. If the request is approved, the payment is charged to the user mobile operator account. The user simply taps a button to select an item to purchase and selects another button to confirm the purchase. Once processing is done, the user is notified on the mobile device of a successful payment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a memory storing user account information, wherein the information comprises a mobile phone number for a user account; and   one or more processors for
 receiving, electronically by a third party payment provider, a payment request from a merchant application on a user mobile device, wherein the payment request comprises a phone number for the user mobile device and a payment amount; 
 verifying, electronically by the third party payment provider, the phone number with a user account with the third party payment provider comprising generating, by the third party payment provider, a token, transmitting, by the third party payment provider, the token to the user mobile device, and receiving, by the third party payment provider, the token from the user mobile device; 
 transmitting, electronically by the third party payment provider, the payment request, by a payment provider, to a mobile operator providing wireless communication services for the user mobile device; 
 receiving, electronically by the third party payment provider, an approval or decline notification determined by and from the mobile operator; and 
 transmitting, electronically by the third party payment provider, an electronic notification to the user mobile device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payment request is for a purchase of a digital good. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payment request is received from a tap on the user mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payment request is received from a mobile software development kit (SDK) installed in the merchant application. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the token comprises a unique identifier associating the payment request with the token. 
     
     
         6 . A system comprising:
 a memory storing user account information, wherein the information comprises a mobile phone number for a user account; and   one or more processors for
 receiving, electronically by a third party payment provider, a payment request from a merchant application on a user mobile device, wherein the payment request comprises a phone number for the user mobile device and a payment amount; 
 verifying, electronically by the third party payment provider, the phone number with a user account with the third party payment provider; 
 transmitting, electronically by the third party payment provider, the payment request, by a payment provider, to a mobile operator providing wireless communication services for the user mobile device; 
 receiving, electronically by the third party payment provider, an approval or decline notification determined by and from the mobile operator; 
 processing, by the third party payment provider, the payment request upon receiving the approval, wherein the processing comprises crediting an account of the merchant; and 
 transmitting, electronically by the third party payment provider, an electronic notification to the user mobile device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processing further comprises billing the mobile operator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processing further comprises debiting an account for the payment amount. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the token comprises a unique identifier associating the payment request with the token. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a memory storing user account information, wherein the information comprises a mobile phone number for a user account; and   one or more processors for
 receiving, electronically by a mobile carrier, a payment request from a third party payment provider made on behalf of a user based on a purchase request from an application of a merchant on a mobile device, wherein the payment request comprises an amount and an identifier for a user account with the mobile carrier; 
 accessing, by the mobile carrier, the user account with the mobile carrier; 
 determining, by the mobile carrier, whether to approve the payment request; and 
 processing, by the mobile carrier, the payment request. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the payment request comprises merchant information. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing comprises adding the amount to the user account with the mobile carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing comprises crediting an account of the merchant. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the payment request is initiated from a tap by the user on the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving, electronically by a processor of a mobile carrier, a payment request from a third party payment provider made on behalf of a user based on a purchase request from an application of a merchant on a mobile device, wherein the payment request comprises an amount and an identifier for a user account with the mobile carrier;   accessing, by the processor of the mobile carrier, the user account with the mobile carrier;   determining, by the processor of the mobile carrier, whether to approve the payment request; and   processing, by the mobile carrier, the payment request.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the payment request comprises merchant information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the processing comprises adding the amount to the user account with the mobile carrier. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the processing comprises crediting an account of the merchant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the purchase request is for a purchase of a digital good. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the purchase request is received from a tap on the mobile device.