Mobile Payment System and Method Using Alias

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for allowing financial transactions to be conducted using mobile phones. A payer initiates a transaction by sending a payment request message from a mobile phone which specifies the payee and amount to be paid. Payees are identified by unique aliases, which are maintained in a database. Methods for assembling the enrollment and alias database are included.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a server computer associated with a payment processing network, a payment request message from a mobile phone operated by a payer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, and wherein the payment request message comprises a personal alias associated with the payee, and a transaction amount;   analyzing, by the server computer, the payment request message to determine if the payer is authorized to pay the payee, including:
 analyzing the payment request message to determine payee information associated with the alias; 
 reforming the payment request message to remove the personal alias associated with the payee and to include payee information associated with the alias; and 
 sending the reformed payment request message to a payer institution for approval; and 
   sending, by the server computer a payment notification message to the payee indicating that a payment from the payer to the payee has been made.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 sending an authentication request message to the payer, wherein the authentication request message includes a message asking the payer to enter a PIN; and   receiving the PIN.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 initiating payment to the payee using the payee information associated with the alias. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the payment request message further comprises a service alias. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the payment request message further comprises a portable consumer device alias. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the payment request message further comprises a payor alias. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the payment request message further comprises a time in the future at which payment is to be initiated. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the payment request message is for a payment transaction for payment of a gift or repayment of debt to the payee. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the payee is not a merchant. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A server computer comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium coupled to the processor,   the processor configured to execute code that is stored on the computer readable medium to perform a method comprising:   receiving a payment request message from a mobile phone operated by a payer, wherein the payment request message includes a request to pay a payee a predetermined amount of money, and wherein the payment request message comprises a personal alias associated with the payee, and a transaction amount;   analyzing the payment request message to determine if the payer is authorized to pay the payee; and   sending a payment notification message to the payee indicating that a payment from the payer to the payee has been made.   
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a server computer, a payment request message from a payer, the payment request message comprising an amount of money to be paid to a payee and an alias associated with the payee, where the payment request message is sent by the payer via a mobile phone operated by the payer;   sending, by the server computer, an authentication request message to the mobile phone in response to the payment request message, where the authentication request message is sent to the mobile phone;   receiving, at the server computer, an authentication token from the payer in response to sending the authentication request message, where the authentication token is sent by the payer using the mobile phone;   verifying, using the server computer, that the authentication token is associated with the payer; and   if the authentication token is verified as being associated with the payer, then initiating, by the server computer, a payment for the amount of money to the payee using the alias.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the mobile phone is a first mobile phone, and wherein the method further comprises:
 sending an electronic notification of the payment to a second phone mobile operated by the payee.   
     
     
         40 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 38 , where the payment request message comprise a payment card alias. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 38 , where the authentication request message comprises a telephone call made by an electronic interactive voice response unit. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , where the authentication token comprises a piece of personal information associated with the payee. 
     
     
         46 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a server computer, a registration request from a payee to create an alias uniquely associated with that payee, where the request specifies the alias requested, and wherein the payee operates a mobile phone and can receive or make payments using the alias and mobile phone;   comparing, by the server computer, the alias with other previously registered aliases associated with other payees; and   if the requested alias has not already been associated with another payee, registering, by the server computer, the alias with the payee.   
     
     
         47 . A server computer comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium coupled to the processor,   the processor configured to execute code that is stored on the computer readable medium to perform a method comprising:   receiving a registration request from a payee to create an alias uniquely associated with that payee, where the request specifies the alias requested, and wherein the payee operates a mobile phone and can receive or make payments using the alias and mobile phone;   comparing the alias with other previously registered aliases associated with other payees; and   if the requested alias has not already been associated with another payee, registering the alias with the payee.   
     
     
         48 . A method comprising:
 generating a payment request message using a mobile phone, where the payment request message comprises an amount of money to be paid and an alias, where the alias is associated with a payee;   sending, using the mobile phone, the payment request message to a payment processing network;   receiving in response to the payment request message an authentication request message, where the authentication request message is received via the mobile phone; and   sending, by the mobile phone, an authentication token in response to the authentication request message.   
     
     
         49 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 48 , where the payment request message comprises a payment card alias. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 48 , where the authentication request message comprises a telephone call made by an electronic interactive voice response unit. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , where the authentication token comprises a piece of personal information associated with the consumer. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the payment request message further comprises a service alias. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the payment request message further comprises a payor alias. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the payment request message further comprises a time in the future at which payment is to be initiated. 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A phone comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium coupled to the processor,   the processor configured to execute code that is stored on the computer readable medium to perform a method comprising:   generating a payment request message using a mobile phone, where the payment request message comprises an amount of money to be paid and an alias, where the alias is associated with a payee;   sending the payment request message to a payment processing network;   receiving in response to the payment request message an authentication request message, where the authentication request message is received via the mobile phone; and   sending an authentication token in response to the authentication request message.