Transaction processing method, apparatus and system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transaction processing and method. A device associated with a payer, which may be a suitably adapted mobile telephone is involved in the payment transaction process. The transaction processing is information, such as goods to be purchased and amount, is provided from the payer electronic device to a transaction processing system. A transaction processing system then advises a payee (e.g. merchant) that goods have been ordered from the payee and provides the payee with the information on the ordered goods, and also confirms that payment has been made. The merchant subsequently provides the goods to the payer.

1 . A method of making a payment, comprising the steps of:
 providing information associated with a payer, the information being provided in a manner so that a payee can access the information,   receiving information about the payment by a payer electronic device associated with the payer, and   giving instructions for making the payment using the electronic device associated with the payer.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the information about the payment includes payment information, and further comprising the step of the payer electronic device recognising the payment information associated with the payment. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the step of giving instructions includes the step of the payer electronic device formulating a message including the payment information and transmitting the message to a transaction processing system. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the payment information includes a price of a product. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the payment information includes an identity of a product. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the payment information includes a payment identity of the payee, whereby the transaction processing system is able to pay an account of the payee. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the payer electronic device includes a display, and further comprising the step of the payer electronic device being arranged to display on the display payment information. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the information about the payment includes a payment amount, and wherein the method includes the further step of the payer electronic device varying the payment amount. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the payer electronic device includes a user input means and the step of varying the payment amount includes the step of the user inputting via the input means a varied payment amount. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the information about the payment includes product information in the form of a listing including at least one product identifier, and the method includes the step of the payer electronic device selecting at least one product identifier and the information associated with the payer includes the selected product identifier. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the listing includes a plurality of the product identifiers comprising a menu of products provided by the payee, whereby the payer electronic device may select one or more of the products, enabling the payee to provide the products. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for facilitating a payment transaction from a payer to a payee, comprising a payer electronic device associated with the payer, the payer electronic device including payment information receiving means for receiving information about the payment, and payment instructing means for giving instructions for making the payment. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the payer electronic device includes payment processing means which is arranged to recognise payment information. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the payer electronic device includes messaging means arranged to formulate a message including payment information, and transmission means for transmitting the message to a transaction processing system. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the payment information includes payment amount. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the payment information includes an identity of a product. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the payment information includes a payment identity of the payee, whereby to facilitate the transaction processing system processing the payment to an account of the payee. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the payer electronic device includes a display and is arranged to display payment information. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the information about the payment includes a payment amount, and wherein the payer electronic device includes an input means enabling the user to vary the payment amount. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the information about the payment includes product information including at least one product identifier, the payer electronic device includes selection means for selecting at least one product identifier for transmission to a payee. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the product information is in the form of a listing including a plurality of product identifiers from which the payer electronic device may select. 
     
     
         22 . A transaction processing system for processing a payment transaction, including payment instruction receiving means arranged to receive instructions for making a payment from payer to a payee, from a payer electronic device associated with the payer, and a payment processing means for authorising transfer of funds from a payer account to a payee account.