Voice over internet protocol (“VoIP”) communication systems allow the user of a device, such as a personal computer, to make calls across a computer network such as the Internet These systems are beneficial to the user as they are often of significantly lower cost than fixed line or mobile networks. This may particularly be the case for long distance calls. To use VoIP, the user must install and execute client software on their device. The client software provides the VoIP connections as well as other functions such as registration and authentication. In addition to voice communication, the client may also provide video calling and instant messaging (“IM”).

One type of VoIP communication system uses a peer-to-peer (“P2P”) topology built on proprietary protocols. To access the peer-to-peer system, the user must execute P2P client software provided by a P2P software provider on their PC, and register with the P2P system. When the user registers with the P2P system the client software is provided with a digital certificate from a server. Once the client software has been provided with the certificate communication can subsequently be set up and routed between users of the P2P system without the further use of a server. In particular, the users can establish their own communication routes through the P2P system based on exchange of one or more digital certificates (or user identity certificates, “UIC”) to acquire access to the P2P system. The exchange of the digital certificates between users provides proof of the user's identities and that they arc suitably authorized and authenticated in the P2P system. Therefore, the presentation of digital certificates provides trust in the identity of the user. It is therefore a characteristic of peer-to-peer communication that the communication is not routed using a server but directly from end-user to end-user. Further details on such a P2P system are disclosed in WO2005/009019.

VoIP communication systems therefore have a valuable resource in that each user has a contact list of other VoIP system users (contacts). This provides a level of trust between the users. Currently, however, these contact lists are only used for initiating communication events between the user and contact or contacts (e.g. VoIP calls, IM chat video calls, file transfers, etc.)

SUMMARY

According to various embodiments there is provided a method of transferring a payment between a first user of a communication system and a second user of the communication system, comprising: displaying a contact list in a user interface of a client executed at a user terminal of the first user, said contact list comprising said second user; said client retrieving and displaying at least one page from a payment provider responsive to said first user selecting the second user from the contact list and receiving information related to said payment entered into said at least one page by said first user; and said client transmitting said information related to said payment to said payment provider to cause said payment provider to transmit a message to a user terminal of the second user over the communication system and transfer said payment from an account of the first user to an account of the second user.

In one embodiment, the communication system is a voice over internet protocol communication system, in another embodiment, the communication system is an instant messaging communication system.

The step of said first user selecting the second user may include detecting the activation by the first user of a displayed name of the second user displayed in the user interface of the client. The client may be implemented as a computer program downloaded and executed on the user terminal of the first user.

The step of retrieving said at least one page from the payment provider may include downloading said at least one page over the Internet. The downloading of said at least one page over the Internet may use a secure protocol.

The step of displaying said at least one page from the payment provider may include said client triggering the display of a pop-up window, wherein said at least one page is displayed in said pop-up window.

The information related to said payment may be transmitted to said payment provider over the Internet. The information related to said payment may be transmitted over the Internet using a secure protocol. The information related to said payment may include payment provider authorization information for the first user. The payment provider authorization information for the first user may include a payment provider username and a payment provider password. The username may he an email address for the first user.

The information related to said payment may include an identity of the second user in the communication system. The identity of the second user in the communication system may include a communication system username of the second user. The information related to said may include comprises at least one of a payment amount, a currency, and a message.

In one embodiment, said message transmitted by said payment provider is transmitted to a secure interface of a messaging system over the Internet, and forwarded by said messaging system over said communication system to the user terminal of the second user. In another embodiment, said message transmitted by said payment provider is an email message transmitted to an email address of the second user. In another embodiment, said message transmitted by said payment provided is an SMS message transmitted to a telephone number of said second user.

The method may further comprise the step of said user terminal of the second user receiving said message in a client program executed at the user terminal of the second user. The method may further comprise the steps of authorizing said second user with the communication system, authorizing said second user with the payment provider, and transmitting an acceptance message from said user terminal of said second user to said payment provider to initiate the transfer of said payment.

The method may further comprise the step of linking authorization information of the second user in the communication system with authorization information of the second user in the payment provider, such that, for subsequent payments, the steps of authorizing said second user with the communication system and authorizing said second user with the payment provider are not required, and the step of transferring said payment is initiated without transmitting an acceptance message from the user terminal of the second user. The step of linking may include storing the authorization information of the second user in the communication system and the authorization information of the second user in the payment provider at a network node. The authorization information of the second user in the communication system may be a communication system username of the second user, and the authorization information of the second user in the payment provider may be a payment provider username of the second user.

In one or more implementations, the communication system is a peer-to-peer communication system.

In one or more implementations, there is provided a computer program product comprising program code means which when executed by a computer implement the steps according to the above-defined method of transferring a payment.

In one or more implementations, there is provided a system for transferring a payment between a first user or a communication system and a second user of the communication system, comprising: a user terminal of said first user arranged to execute a client and display a contact list in a user interface of said client, said contact list comprising said second user; and a payment provider; wherein said client is configured to retrieve and display at least one page from the payment provider responsive to said first user selecting the second user from the contact list, receive information related to said payment entered into said at least one page by said first user, and transmit said information related to said payment to said payment provider; and wherein the payment provider is arranged to transmit a message from said payment provider to a user terminal of the second user over the communication system responsive to receiving said information related to said payments, and transfer said payment from an account of the first user to an account of the second user.

In one or more implementations, there is provided a user terminal for transferring a payment between a first user of a communication system and a second user of the communication system, comprising: a processor arranged to execute a client; and a display arranged to display a contact list to said first user in a user interface of said client, said contact list comprising said second user; wherein said client is configured to retrieve and display at least one page from a payment provider responsive to said first user selecting the second user from the contact list receive information related to said payment entered into said at least one page by said first user, and transmit said information related to said payment to said payment provider to cause said payment provider to transmit a message to a user terminal of the second user over the communication system responsive to receiving said information related to said payments and transfer said payment from an account of the first user to an account of the second user.

