INVOICE PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

1 . A method comprising:

scanning, using a code scanner, a first quick response (QR) code that encodes a merchant identification code assigned to a merchant that generates a first invoice, wherein the first invoice comprises first invoice data;

decoding, using the code scanner, the first QR code to recover the merchant identification code encoded within the first QR code;

selecting, using the code scanner, a first payment instrument to pay the first invoice;

transmitting, from the code scanner to an application server for an initial attempt of paying the first invoice, the merchant identification code encoded in the first QR code, data pertaining to the first payment instrument, and at least a portion of the first invoice data; and

receiving, at the code scanner from the application server, first status data indicating whether the initial attempt of paying the first invoice was successful or unsuccessful.

2 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first QR code encodes the first invoice data of the first invoice, and

wherein decoding the first QR code includes the code scanner recovering the first invoice data encoded within the first QR code,

the method further comprising:

displaying, using the code scanner, the first invoice data recovered from the first QR code.

3 . The method of claim 2 ,

wherein at least one of the merchant identification code and the first invoice data encoded within the first QR code is encrypted, and

wherein decoding the first QR code includes the code scanner using an encryption key to decrypt the at least one of the merchant identification code and the first invoice data.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

amending, using the code scanner, a portion of the first invoice data,

wherein the at least a portion of the first invoice data transmitted to the application server comprises the amended portion of the first invoice data.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the amended portion of the first invoice data comprises at least one of a payment amount and a billing address associated with a user of the code scanner.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

scanning, using the code scanner, a second QR code that encodes a merchant identification code assigned to a merchant that generates a second invoice, wherein the second invoice comprises second invoice data;

decoding, using the code scanner, the second QR code to recover the merchant identification code encoded within the second QR code;

selecting, using the code scanner, a first payment instrument to pay the second invoice;

transmitting, from the code scanner to the application server for an initial attempt of paying the second invoice, the merchant identification code encoded in the second QR code, data pertaining to the first payment instrument selected to pay the second invoice, and at least a portion of the second invoice data;

receiving, at the code scanner from the application server, second status data indicating whether the initial attempt of paying the second invoice was successful or unsuccessful; and

if the second status data indicates the initial attempt of paying the second invoice was successful, then displaying, using the code scanner, a notification that payment of the second invoice was successful, otherwise, if the second status data indicates the initial attempt of paying the second invoice was unsuccessful, then displaying, using the code scanner, a notification that payment of the second invoice was unsuccessful.

7 . The method of claim 6 ,

wherein the merchant that generates the first invoice is the merchant that generates the second invoice,

wherein the merchant identification code encoded in the first QR code is identical to the merchant identification code encoded in the second QR code.

8 . The method of claim 6 ,

wherein the merchant that generates the first invoice is different than the merchant that generates the second invoice,

wherein the merchant identification code encoded in the first QR code differs from the merchant identification code encoded in the second QR code.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the payment instrument selected to pay the second invoice is the first payment instrument.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the payment instrument selected to pay the second invoice is a payment instrument other than the first payment instrument.

11 . The method of claim 6 ,

wherein the second status data indicates the initial attempt of paying the second invoice was unsuccessful,

the method further comprising:

transmitting, from the code scanner to the application server, data for performing at least one additional attempt of paying the second invoice;

receiving, at the code scanner from the application server, data indicating that an additional attempt of paying the second invoice was successful and then displaying, using the code scanner, a notification that the additional attempt of paying the second invoice was successful.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

selecting, using the code scanner, a second payment instrument to pay the second invoice,

wherein the data for performing the at least one additional attempt of paying the second invoice comprises data pertaining to the second payment instrument selected to pay the second invoice.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

selecting, using the code scanner, a partial payment amount that is less than a total amount due on the second invoice;

wherein the data for performing the at least one additional attempt of paying the second invoice comprises the partial payment amount that is less than a total amount due on the second invoice, and

wherein successful payment of the second invoice occurs by paying the partial payment amount that is less than a total amount due on the second invoice.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the notification that the additional attempt of paying the second invoice was successful indicates a remaining balance due to a merchant.

15 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first status data indicates the initial attempt of paying the first invoice was unsuccessful,

the method further comprising:

transmitting, from the code scanner to the application server, data for performing at least one additional attempt of paying the first invoice;

receiving, at the code scanner from the application server, data indicating that an additional attempt of paying the first invoice was successful and then displaying, using the code scanner, a notification that the additional attempt of paying the first invoice was successful.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

selecting, using the code scanner, a second payment instrument to pay the first invoice,

wherein the data for performing the at least one additional attempt of paying the first invoice comprises data pertaining to the second payment instrument.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

selecting, using the code scanner, a partial payment amount that is less than a total amount due on the first invoice;

wherein the data for performing the at least one additional attempt of paying the first invoice comprises the partial payment amount, and

wherein successful payment of the first invoice occurs by paying the partial payment amount that is less than a total amount due on the first invoice.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the notification that the additional attempt of paying the first invoice was successful indicates a remaining balance due to a merchant.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the first QR code comprises scanning the first QR code from a paper copy of the first invoice.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the first QR code comprises scanning the first QR code from the first invoice displayed on a QR code display device.

21 - 110 . (canceled)