Mobile payment system and method

1. A method of authorizing a transaction with a merchant server using a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

initiating, by one or more processors of a merchant server and via a first application stored in memory of a mobile communication device, a transaction between the mobile communication device and the one or more processors of the merchant server;

providing, by the one or more processors of the merchant server to a payment server, a request token and transaction data relating to the transaction;

detecting, by the one or more processors of the merchant server, whether a payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device; and

if the one or more processors of the merchant server detect that the payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device, providing, by the one or more processors of the merchant server, the request token to the first application of the mobile communication device, such that the first application passes the request token to the payment application, wherein the payment application:

obtains the transaction data from the payment server using the request token;

obtains user authorization of the transaction, including communicating at least some of the transaction data to a user;

transmits an indication of the user authorization to the payment server;

receives an outcome token from the payment server; and

authorizes the transaction by transmitting the outcome token to the one or more processors of the merchant server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting whether a payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device is performed automatically, without user intervention.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request token is provided to the mobile communication device using a custom protocol arranged for handling by the payment application.

4. The method of claim 1 , including setting a time criterion for authorization of the transaction at the one or more processors of the merchant server, and initiating a recovery procedure if the time criterion is not met.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recovery procedure comprises amending the transaction data and authorizing the transaction with the amended transaction data.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recovery procedure comprises authorizing the original transaction, determining any changes in the transaction data, and issuing a refund to the user in respect of the changes.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recovery procedure comprises cancelling the transaction.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction comprises a purchase of one or more items from an online store, and the transaction data provides details of the one or more items.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the transaction comprises a purchase of one or more items from an online store, and the transaction data provides details of the one or more items.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the transaction comprises a purchase of one or more items from an online store, and the transaction data provides details of the one or more items.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the recovery procedure comprises determining any changes to the one or more items, and amending the transaction data accordingly.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the recovery procedure comprises determining any changes to the one or more items, and issuing the refund in respect of the changes.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more items are represented by a basket, and the transaction is initiated by checking out the basket.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user is authenticated by the payment application before or during authorization of the transaction.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the merchant server comprises a web server.

16. The method of claim 3 , wherein the merchant server comprises a web server.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first application comprises a mobile browser for accessing the web server.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first application comprises a mobile browser for accessing the web server.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the custom protocol comprises a custom URI.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of providing the request token from the one or more processors of the merchant server to the mobile communication device includes providing a link for selection by the user.

21. A method of operating a mobile communication device in communication with a merchant server and a payment server, the method comprising:

initiating, via a first application stored in memory of a mobile communication device, a transaction between the mobile communication device and one or more processors of the merchant server,

wherein the one or more processors of the merchant server detect whether the payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device;

if the one or more processors of the merchant server detect that a payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device, receiving, via the first application, a request token from the one or more processors of the merchant server and passing the request token to the payment application;

obtaining transaction data from the payment server using the request token;

obtaining user authorization of the transaction, including communicating at least some of the transaction data to the user;

transmitting an indication of the user authorization to a payment server;

receiving an outcome token from the payment server; and

authorizing the transaction by transmitting the outcome token to the one or more processors of the merchant server.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a merchant server, cause the one or more processors of the merchant server to:

initiate, via a first application stored in memory of a mobile communication device, a transaction between the mobile communication device and the one or more processors of the merchant server;

provide, to a payment server, a request token and transaction data relating to the transaction;

detect whether a payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device; and

if the one or more processors of the merchant server detect that the payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device, provide the request token to the first application of the mobile communication device, such that the first application passes the request token to the payment application,

wherein the payment application:

obtains the transaction data from the payment server using the request token;

obtains user authorization of the transaction, including communicating at least some of the transaction data to a user;

transmits an indication of the user authorization to the payment server;

receives an outcome token from the payment server; and

authorizes the transaction by transmitting the outcome token to the one or more processors of the merchant server.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by first one or more processors of a mobile communication device, cause the first one or more processors of the mobile communication device to:

initiate, via a first application stored in memory of the mobile communication device, a transaction between the mobile communication device and second one or more processors of a merchant server,

wherein the second one or more processors of the merchant server detect whether the payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device;

if the second one or more processors of the merchant server detect that a payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device, receive, via the first application, a request token from the second one or more processors of the merchant server and pass the request token to the payment application;

obtain transaction data from a payment server using the request token;

obtain user authorization of the transaction, including communicating at least some of the transaction data to the user;

transmit an indication of the user authorization to a payment server;

receive an outcome token from the payment server; and

authorize the transaction by transmitting the outcome token to the second one or more processors of the merchant server.

24. A system comprising:

one or more processors of a merchant server in communication with a mobile communications device and a payment server, the one or more processors of the merchant server having programmed instructions that, upon execution, cause the one or more processors of the merchant server to:

initiate, via a first application stored in memory of a mobile communication device, a transaction between the mobile communication device and the one or more processors of the merchant server;

provide, to a payment server, a request token and transaction data relating to the transaction;

detect whether a payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device; and

if the one or more processors of the merchant server detect that the payment application is stored in the memory of the mobile communication device, provide the request token to the first application of the mobile communication device, such that the first application passes the request token to the payment application,

wherein the payment application:

obtains the transaction data from the payment server using the request token;

obtains user authorization of the transaction, including communicating at least some of the transaction data to a user;

transmits an indication of the user authorization to the payment server;

receives an outcome token from the payment server; and

authorizes the transaction by transmitting the outcome token to the one or more processors of the merchant server.