System and method for implementing a digital tipping application on a mobile device
The invention relates to a mobile device that enables a user to send a digital tip to a recipient as a standalone transaction, the mobile device comprising: a memory that stores data associated with an account and a user; a microprocessor, executing a mobile application, the processor coupled to memory and programmed to: identify whether the mobile device is near a service provider based on a geofence (or other boundary); display a prompt on the mobile device to send a tip to a mobile device of the service provider in response to the mobile device's proximity to the service provider and a prior service interaction which is independent of an underlying transaction; transmit a tip message informing the service provider of the tip and debit an amount of the tip from an account associated with a consumer.
1. A mobile device that enables a user to send a digital tip to a recipient as a standalone transaction, the mobile device comprising:
a memory that stores data associated with an account and a user;
a processor, executing a mobile application, the processor coupled to memory and programmed to:
detect a geofence, the boundaries of which, are created based on a service provider's mobile device;
identify whether the mobile device of the user is near the service provider's mobile device based on the mobile device of the user crossing the geofence;
display a prompt on the mobile device of the user to send a tip to the service provider's mobile device, directly responsive to the user's mobile device leaving the geofence associated with the service provider's mobile device and further in response to a prior service interaction where the service provider is a person who provides a service to the user and where the prior service interaction is not directly related to any prior underlying monetary transaction;
identify a tip amount for the tip;
transmit, via a first wireless communication network, a tip message to the service provider's mobile device informing the service provider of the tip; and
debit, via a second network, the tip amount from an account associated with the user.
2. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the prompt comprises an identifier associated with the user.
3. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the tip message from the user is automatically deleted after a predetermined time period of 10 to 60 seconds.
4. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the prior service interaction comprises a service that does not include a monetary transaction.
5. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the geofence comprises a boundary around a service provider.
6. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein an electronic acknowledgement is received from the service provider.
7. The user's mobile device of claim 6 , wherein the electronic acknowledgement comprises a thank you message from the service provider.
8. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the tip is predetermined.
9. The user's mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the tip is user defined.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for enabling a user to send a digital tip to a recipient as a standalone transaction, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of a computer system causes the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
detect a geofence, the boundaries of which, are created based on a service provider's mobile device;
identify whether a mobile device of the user is near the service provider's mobile device based on the mobile device of the user crossing on the geofence;
display a prompt on the mobile device of the user to send a tip to the service provider's mobile device, directly responsive to the user's mobile device leaving the geofence associated with the service provider's mobile device and further in response to a prior service interaction where the service provider is a person who provides a service to the user and where the prior service interaction is not directly related to any prior underlying monetary transaction;
identify a tip amount for the tip;
transmit, via a first wireless communication network, a tip message to the service provider's mobile device informing the service provider of the tip; and
debit, via a second network, the tip amount from an account associated with the user.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium device of claim 10 , wherein the prompt comprises an identifier associated with the user.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the tip message from the user is automatically deleted after a predetermined time period of 10 to 60 seconds.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the prior service interaction comprises a service that does not include a monetary transaction.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the geofence comprises a boundary around a service provider.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein an electronic acknowledgement is received from the service provider.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the electronic acknowledgement comprises a thank you message from the service provider.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the amount of the tip is predetermined.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the amount of the tip is user defined.