IP Library Granted Patent US 12664546
Granted Patent B2
US 12664546 · App. 16/535,792 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Authorizing a purchase transaction using a mobile device

Inventor: Paul Aaron (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Block, Inc.
G06Q20/40G06Q20/322G06Q20/326
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12664546
App. No.
16/535,792
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for transaction facilitation are disclosed. The method includes receiving a request to initiate a payment transaction at a payment terminal of a seller, the request including a reference to a payment card associated with payment accounts of a user. In response to the request, a computer system queries a database for an identifier associated with the payment card and transmits a selection message to a mobile device based on the identifier. The selection message triggers an application executing at the mobile device to display a selection interface presenting the payment accounts, each associated with a respective interactive element, and a feedback interactive element enabling the user to provide feedback associated with the payment transaction. The computer system receives a selection of a payment account and feedback from the application, and facilitates the payment transaction based on the selected payment account and the feedback.

Claims (55)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a payment transaction at a payment terminal of a seller, wherein the request includes a reference to a payment card;

querying, in response to the request and by a computer system, a database for an identifier associated with the payment card, wherein the database includes a plurality of identifiers associated with a plurality of payment cards, and wherein the payment card is associated with a plurality of payment accounts of a user;

transmitting a selection message, by the computer system, to a mobile device based on the identifier, wherein the transmitted selection message triggers an application executing at the mobile device to display a selection interface that:

displays the plurality of payment accounts linked to the payment card used to initiate the payment transaction at the payment terminal of the seller, wherein each of the plurality of payment accounts is associated with a respective interactive element of the selection interface; and

enables the user to provide feedback associated with the payment transaction via a feedback interactive element of the selection interface;

receiving, by the computer system and from the application executing at the mobile device, a first interaction with an interactive element of the selection interface that indicates selection of a payment account of the plurality of payment accounts, wherein the selected payment account is authorized for use in the payment transaction;

receiving, by the computer system and from the application executing at the mobile device, a second interaction with the feedback interactive element of the selection interface that indicates the feedback associated with the payment transaction; and

facilitating, by the computer system, the payment transaction based on the feedback and the selected payment account.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback includes a tip amount associated with the payment transaction, and wherein the selection interface further enables the user to select, using the mobile device, the tip amount associated with the payment transaction.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback includes a tip amount associated with the payment transaction, and the selection interface further enables the user to input the tip amount associated with the payment transaction, the method further comprising causing, based on the feedback, funds corresponding to the tip amount to be obtained based on the selected payment account.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection interface further enables the user to provide, using the mobile device, an electronic signature to indicate that the user agrees to terms of the payment transaction.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection interface further enables the user to provide, using the mobile device, at least one of a personal identification number (PIN), a password, or a pass phrase.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection interface enables the user to input data via one or more of a keyboard, an alpha-numeric input device, a cursor control device, a mouse, a pointing device, a touch-sensitive pad, or a touch-sensitive screen.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier includes one or more of an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the mobile device or a phone number associated with the mobile device.

8 . A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage device communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a payment transaction at a payment terminal of a seller, wherein the request includes a reference to a payment card;

querying, in response to the request, the storage device, for an identifier associated with the payment card, wherein the storage device the payment card being linked in the storage device to a plurality of payment accounts of a user;

transmitting a selection message to a mobile device based on the identifier, wherein the transmitted selection message triggers an application executing at the mobile device to display selection interface that:

displays the plurality of payment accounts associated with the payment card, wherein each of the plurality of payment accounts is associated with a respective interactive element of the selection interface; and

enables the user to provide feedback associated with the payment transaction via a feedback interactive element of the selection interface;

receiving, from the mobile device, a first interaction with an interactive element of the selection interface that indicates selection of a payment account of the plurality of payment accounts, wherein the selected payment account is authorized for use in the payment transaction;

receiving, from the mobile device, a second interaction with the feedback interactive element of the selection interface that indicates the feedback associated with the payment transaction; and

facilitating the payment transaction based on the feedback and the selected payment account.

9 . The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

accessing a database at the storage device to obtain account information for the selected payment account; and

transmitting the account information to a financial system to obtain a transaction authorization for the payment transaction, the transaction authorization indicating that the selected payment account has access to adequate funds for a payment amount associated with the payment transaction.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the selection interface further enables the user to provide, using the mobile device, an electronic signature to indicate that the user agrees to terms of the payment transaction.

11 . The system of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

transmitting the electronic signature for use in resolving a dispute related to the payment transaction.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the feedback includes a tip amount associated with the payment transaction, and wherein the selection interface further enables the user to indicate, using the mobile device, the tip amount associated with the payment transaction.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein an input device associated with the mobile device executing the application comprises one or more of a keyboard, an alpha-numeric input device, a cursor control device, a mouse, a pointing device, a touch-sensitive pad, or a touch-sensitive screen.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the identifier includes one or more of an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the mobile device or a phone number associated with the mobile device.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of a device comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a payment transaction at a payment terminal of a seller, wherein the request includes a reference to a payment card;

querying a database, in response to the request, for an identifier associated with the payment card, wherein the database includes a plurality of identifiers associated with a plurality of payment cards, and wherein the payment card is associated with a plurality of payment accounts of a user;

transmitting a selection message to a mobile device based on the identifier, wherein the transmitted selection message triggers an application executing at the mobile device to display a selection interface that:

displays the plurality of payment accounts linked to the payment card used at the payment terminal of the seller, wherein each of the plurality of payment accounts is associated with a respective interactive element of the selection interface; and

enables the user to provide feedback associated with the payment transaction via a feedback interactive element of the selection interface;

receiving, from the application, a first interaction with an interactive element of the selection interface that indicates selection of a payment account of the plurality of payment accounts, wherein the selected payment account is authorized for use in the payment transaction;

receiving, from the application, a second interaction with the feedback interactive element of the selection interface that indicates the feedback associated with the payment transaction; and

facilitating the payment transaction based on the feedback and the selected payment account.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the selection interface further enables the user to provide, using the mobile device, at least one of an electronic signature to indicate that the user agrees to terms of the payment transaction, a personal identification number (PIN), a password, or a pass phrase.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the feedback includes a tip amount associated with the payment transaction, and wherein the selection interface further enables the user to indicate, using the mobile device, the tip amount associated with the payment transaction.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the selection interface further enables the user to provide an electronic signature to indicate that the user agrees to terms of the payment transaction, the operations further comprising:

transmitting the electronic signature for use in resolving a dispute related to the payment transaction.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback includes a tip amount associated with the payment transaction, wherein the feedback interactive element includes a tip interactive element of the selection interface, and wherein receiving, by the computer system and from the application executing at the mobile device, the second interaction with the feedback interactive element of the selection interface further comprises:

receiving, by the computer system and from the application executing at the mobile device, a third interaction with the tip interactive element of the selection interface that indicates the tip amount.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the tip interactive element of the selection interface includes at least one of:

a text box for the user to enter the tip amount;

a first selectable control for the user to select one of multiple different tip amounts; or

a second selectable control for the user to select one of multiple different percentages for the tip amount.