Systems and methods for facilitating bill payment functionality in mobile commerce

Abstract

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for facilitating bill payment functionality in mobile commerce. In one embodiment, a method can include receiving a transaction code at the mobile device; transmitting the transaction code to a merchant device for association with a transaction; receiving transaction information associated with a transaction based on the transaction code at the mobile device; displaying the transaction information at the mobile device; displaying at least one payment option at the mobile device; receiving a selection of one of the at least one payment option; transmitting the selected payment option and transaction information from the mobile device for approval of the payment of the transaction; receiving notification of approval of the payment at the mobile device; and receiving a payment completion code associated with the notification of approval, wherein the payment completion code is provided to the consumer on a bill associated with the transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of paying a bill from a consumer's mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving a transaction code at the mobile device;   transmitting the transaction code to a merchant device for association with a transaction;   receiving transaction information associated with a transaction based on the transaction code at the mobile device;   displaying the transaction information at the mobile device;   displaying at least one payment option for selection at the mobile device, wherein each payment option is configured to facilitate a payment of the transaction;   receiving a selection of one of the at least one payment option;   transmitting the selected payment option and transaction information from the mobile device for approval of the payment of the transaction;   receiving notification of approval of the payment at the mobile device; and   receiving a payment completion code associated with the notification of approval, wherein the payment completion code is configured to be provided to the consumer on a bill associated with the transaction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a mobile commerce program application to the consumer's mobile device; and   generating a consumer account based at least in part on personal and/or payment information associated with the consumer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a coupon for the transaction, the coupon comprising a reduction of a coupon amount;   transmitting the selected payment option, transaction information, and the coupon from the mobile device for approval of the payment of the transaction; and   receiving notification of approval of the payment at the mobile device, wherein the bill amount is reduced by the coupon amount for the transaction.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction code comprises at least one of the following: an alphanumeric string, a QR code, a bar code, or a unique number. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   receiving the bill to be split among two or more consumers;   receiving inputs associated with a number of people to split the bill among, tip amount, and identifying other consumers and/or contact information for other the consumers;   receiving payment instructions from the other consumers;   based at least in part on the inputs and/or payment instructions, facilitate payment processing of the bill among the two or more consumers;   providing payment confirmation requests and/or payment notifications to one or more of the consumers; and   providing payment confirmation notification to a merchant.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   receiving the bill to be split among two or more consumers;   receiving inputs associated with a number of people to split the bill among, tip amount, and identifying other consumers and/or contact information for other the consumers;   receiving payment instructions from the other consumers;   based at least in part on the inputs and/or payment instructions, facilitate payment processing of the bill among the two or more consumers;   providing payment confirmation requests and/or payment notifications to one or more of the consumers; and   providing payment confirmation notification to a merchant.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from a consumer to split a bill among two or more consumers;   receiving the bill to be split among the two or more consumers;   providing a list of items from the bill to each of the consumers;   receiving inputs from the consumers selecting one or more items to pay for;   receiving payment instructions for the consumers selecting one or more items to pay for;   calculating a total bill and/or tip for each consumer;   receiving payment instructions from the consumers;   facilitating payment processing of the bill among two or more consumers;   providing payment confirmation requests and/or payment notifications to two or more consumers; and   providing payment confirmation notification to the merchant.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   transmitting a bill to a split-the-bill application program;   receiving notification concerning unpaid amounts and/or items, and/or payment disputes by one or more consumers; and   receiving payment confirmation of the bill from the split-the-bill application program.   
     
     
         9 . A method of paying a bill from a consumer's mobile device, the method comprising:
 providing a mobile commerce program application to a consumer's mobile device;   generating a consumer account based at least in part on personal and/or payment information associated with the consumer;   receiving an indication the consumer is visiting a merchant location to purchase a good and/or service;   identifying the consumer at the merchant location based at least in part on information received from the consumer's mobile device;   outputting consumer information to a merchant computer system and/or merchant computer device;   associating the consumer with a merchant transaction;   receiving consumer payment information and consumer confirmation of the transaction; and   generating notification of the transaction and/or of any loyalty/reward credit for the transaction.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing a transaction number or code to the consumer;   receiving the transaction number or code from the consumer; and   associating the consumer with a merchant transaction based at least in part on the transaction number or code.   
     
     
         11 . A system for code-based payment from a consumer's mobile device, the system comprising:
 at least one processor operable to execute computer-executable instructions; and   at least one memory operable to store computer-executable instructions to:
 receive a transaction code at the mobile device; 
 direct communication of the transaction code to a merchant device for association with a transaction; 
 receive transaction information associated with a transaction based on the transaction code at the mobile device; 
 display the transaction information at the mobile device; 
 display at least one payment option for selection at the mobile device, wherein each payment option is configured to facilitate a payment of the transaction; 
 receive a selection of one of the at least one payment option; 
 direct communication of the selected payment option and transaction information from the mobile device for approval of the payment of the transaction; 
 receive notification of approval of the payment at the mobile device; and 
 receive a payment completion code associated with the notification of approval, wherein the payment completion code is configured to be provided to the consumer on a bill associated with the transaction. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:
 provide a mobile commerce program application to the consumer's mobile device; and   generate a consumer account based at least in part on personal and/or payment information associated with the consumer.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:
 receive a coupon for the transaction, the coupon comprising a reduction of a coupon amount;   transmit the selected payment option, transaction information, and the coupon from the mobile device for approval of the payment of the transaction; and   receive notification of approval of the payment at the mobile device, wherein the bill amount is reduced by the coupon amount for the transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the transaction code comprises at least one of the following: an alphanumeric string, a QR code, a bar code, or a unique number. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:
 receive an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   receive the bill to be split among two or more consumers;   receive inputs associated with a number of people to split the bill among, tip amount, and identifying other consumers and/or contact information for other the consumers;   receive payment instructions from the other consumers;   based at least in part on the inputs and/or payment instructions, facilitate payment processing of the bill among the two or more consumers;   provide payment confirmation requests and/or payment notifications to one or more of the consumers; and   provide payment confirmation notification to a merchant.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:
 receive an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   receive the bill to be split among two or more consumers;   receive inputs associated with a number of people to split the bill among, tip amount, and identifying other consumers and/or contact information for other the consumers;   receive payment instructions from the other consumers;   based at least in part on the inputs and/or payment instructions, facilitate payment processing of the bill among the two or more consumers;   provide payment confirmation requests and/or payment notifications to one or more of the consumers; and   provide payment confirmation notification to a merchant.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:
 receive an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   receive the bill to be split among the two or more consumers;   provide a list of items from the bill to each of the consumers;   receive inputs from the consumers selecting one or more items to pay for;   receive payment instructions for the consumers selecting one or more items to pay for;   calculate a total bill and/or tip for each consumer;   receive payment instructions from the consumers;   facilitate payment processing of the bill among two or more consumers;   provide payment confirmation requests and/or payment notifications to two or more consumers; and   provide payment confirmation notification to the merchant.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to:
 receive an indication from a consumer to split the bill among two or more consumers;   transmit the bill to a split-the-bill application program;   receive notification concerning unpaid amounts and/or items, and/or payment disputes by one or more consumers; and   receive payment confirmation of the bill from the split-the-bill application program.