289 results about "Merchant services" patented technology

Methods and systems whereby two electronic wallets communicate and exchange information. In one such system, a consumer's personal electronic wallet communicates with the exclusive or preferred wallet of a web merchant. In one such system, an internet consumer registers with a web merchant's exclusive or preferred electronic wallet (“merchant wallet”) and provides consumer information (e.g., credit card number, mailing address, and other information) to the merchant wallet, which is stored by the merchant wallet in a database on the merchant server. Such information may be automatically populated by the consumer's personal electronic wallet. The consumer maintains current consumer information in a consumer electronic wallet on the consumer's personal computer. When the consumer visits the merchant site again, and orders goods or services, the merchant's preferred wallet can be automatically updated by the consumer's electronic wallet if any of the data in the merchant's wallet has changed. For example, the consumer wallet examines the information in the merchant wallet to determine if the information in the merchant wallet conforms to the current information in the consumer wallet. If the information does not conform, the consumer wallet communicates the current consumer information to the merchant wallet.

A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server. The Internet provides the routing functionality between the client terminal and the various servers. A merchant advertises goods on a web site. A user uses the client terminal to purchase goods and/or services from the remote merchant server. The payment server processes, confirms and replies to the merchant server. The payment server is also used to authenticate the holder of a virtual card who wishes to redeem loyalty points from a merchant. To load value, the client terminal requests a load from a user account at the bank server. The load server processes, confirms and replies to the bank server.

A secure music distribution system securely distributes digital products such as music, video, and/or computer software along with related media over a public telecommunications network, such as the Internet, employing a client-server architecture. The digital products are stored and controlled by a content manager computer system and are sold by separate merchant computer systems. The secure music distribution system includes a music distribution center which operates with any number of client systems and with any number of merchant systems. The music distribution center includes a content manager and at least one delivery server. The content manager maintains a media information database, a master media file system, and a transaction database. In addition, the music distribution center interfaces with a media licensing center, which in turn communicates with one or more distributed rights agent servers and the merchant servers. The merchant server executes in a merchant computer system, which also includes an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server. The merchant servers interface with various payment processing systems. The client systems include a media player and a Web browser. Additional delivery servers and media licensing centers operate independently and externally to the music distribution center and interface with the music distribution center.

What is disclosed in this application is: an Internet payment system. An Internet payment system comprising a user device with a processor, Internet connection apparatus and an Internet browser. The Internet payment system also includes a participating merchant server supporting web pages on which product or service offerings are displayed in response to queries from the user device using the connections apparatus and browser. The merchant server interacting with the user device browser permits a user to select at least one offering and to indicate a method of payment, at least one method of payment being a transfer link. The Internet payment system also comprises a participating financial institution server maintained by a financial institution at which the user has a financial account. The server permits the user to gain direct access to his financial account. In addition, the Internet payment system includes a main transportation server to which both the user device and merchant server are connected in response to the user selecting the transfer link as the method of payment. The merchant server transmits information to the main transport server regarding payment required for the selected offering and the main transport server provides a selection of financial institutions from which the user can select an institute at which he has an account for payment for the offering. The main transport server transmits user inputs directly to the financial institution server to authorize payment to the merchant for the offering without storing the inputs.

A loyalty merchant component for facilitating communications amongst cardholder systems, merchant servers and a loyalty host for purposes of processing loyalty transactions is provided. The loyalty merchant component performs a number of interface functions between the loyalty host and the merchant systems and the cardholder systems.

The method allows the funds from the purchase of a single item to be automatically divided and distributed to multiple recipients according to pre-arranged royalty and percent ownership arrangements. The purchase of multiple items can also be managed this way. In one embodiment, the method may employ JavaScript fee-split code that can be uploaded from a remote merchant server. The code can be executed within the web browser of a buyer's computerized device, and then send instructions over the Internet to the API of an automated Internet ecommerce system. The ecommerce system will then automatically split the buyer's single item payment to multiple recipients, and automatically credit the escrow account of the multiple recipients at the time of the buyer's purchase. In another embodiment, the details of the fee split arrangement can be stored in the remote ecommerce system, and be automatically invoked when the user makes a purchase.

A method of processing transactions is described. A pricing matrix is configured on a billing server. The pricing matrix has a set of cells, each cells corresponding to an intersection between a respective country and a respective target price. The merchant server downloads the pricing matrix periodically from the billing server. The merchant server determines a country of a consumer mobile phone and displays price points corresponding to the country within a mobile phone application. When the consumer selects one of the price points a transaction is processed between the consumer mobile phone, the billing server and a carrier server aligned with the billing server.

A method of processing transactions is described. A pricing matrix is configured on a billing server. The pricing matrix has a set of cells, each cells corresponding to an intersection between a respective country and a respective target price. The merchant server downloads the pricing matrix periodically from the billing server. The merchant server determines a country of a consumer mobile phone and displays price points corresponding to the country within a mobile phone application. When the consumer selects one of the price points a transaction is processed between the consumer mobile phone, the billing server and a carrier server aligned with the billing server.

An electronic commerce system integrating plurality of content provider servers with plurality of merchant servers having integration server communicating request for commercial transaction to at least one merchant server, thus enabling the user of the client computer connected to the content provider server to initiate commercial transactions to at least one merchant server without being redirected to the merchant server away from the content provider server. The system increases customer retention on the content provider server, thereby increasing incentive for content providers to join the commerce system, thereby increasing the number of sites advertising products offered by merchants. The system also simplifies integration of multitude of servers, thereby reducing cost and time required for such integration.

A method and system for facilitating merchant-initiated online payments are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a payment service provider's server receives a user's request, via a merchant's server, to establish a merchant-initiated payment relationship or agreement. Accordingly, the payment service provider presents the user with options to customize the terms of the merchant-initiated payment agreement. After the agreement has been established and the terms customized, the merchant server communicates a merchant-initiated payment request to the pavement service provider for a transaction entered into with the user. The payment service provider's server processes the payment request after verifying that processing the payment does not exceed the user-customized terms of the agreement.

A transaction settlement system and method for internet and other trading over a telecommunications network. Customer computers and merchant computers are connected to customer account servers and merchant account servers respectively, the former maintains a customer account and conducts the financial aspects of the transaction with the merchant server without revealing the customers identity. The sequence of the messages are such that once in message M4, the customer computer instructs the customer accounts server to accept the transaction and the customer accounts server accepts it, the customer accounts server deals with the merchant accounts server to settle the account in accordance with agreed procedures. The merchant can have surely of payment. There is also provided methods to deliver coupons, e.g. discount coupons and to ship goods with anonymity.

A method and system for facilitating a secure financial transaction for a user over an open network eliminates a requirement for the customer's sensitive financial information, such as credit card or debit account information, to be provided to a merchant in a recognizable form in a transaction. Instead, the merchant provides the merchant's financial information to the customer's financial institution through the customer or directly. The customer either attaches instructions for payment to the merchant's information prior to forwarding it to the customer's financial institution or sends instructions for payment directly to the customer's financial institution. Alternatively, the customer's financial information passes through the merchant server on its way to the customer's financial institution but is transparent to the merchant.

The present invention includes methods for providing merchant's with verified information about a user during a remote electronic transaction; methods for carrying out a verified, remote electronic transaction over a network by providing verified user information to a merchant's server, which information is necessary to complete the verified transaction; and systems enabling a user to complete a verified, remote electronic transactions over a network with a merchant, wherein the verified transactions include providing the merchant's server with verified user information. Moreover, the present invention provides methods and systems for conducting verified, remote electronic transactions using a single access code. The system comprises one or more verifying servers that are maintained by the merchant or a third party; one or more servers that are maintained by a merchant, one or more digital, electronic devices that are maintained by the user or by a third party, and a machine-readable-data structure that interfaces with said digital, electronic device. The machine-readable data structure comprises at least one internal microprocessor that controls at least one internal semiconductor memory, having a secured first portion for storing verifiable user information and an unsecured second portion. Verifiable user information about the user, which is necessary to complete a verified, card present equivalent transaction, resides in the secured first portion of the semiconductor memory. A security algorithm and a previously registered security code reside on the unsecured second portion of the semiconductor memory. The verifiable user information is provided to the merchant server or, alternately, to the verifying server after the machine-readable data structure is read and a single access code that matches the previously registered security code is provided by the user.

A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load. Finally, the handset validates the second cryptographic signature and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. First, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the purchase instruction message locally, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends a debit message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to debit the smart card. Finally, the handset validates the cryptographic signature and debits the smart card.

Disclosed herein as a system, device and method for conducting electronic transactions utilizing a wireless communications device adapted to receive a transaction program and data. The device comprises memory storage for storing a transaction program, a microprocessor and a display screen. The microprocessor executes instructions contained within the transaction program produces indicia representative of value, where value is selected from the group consisting an identifier of a purchased good, an identifier of a purchased service, a coupon, a discount, a prepaid transaction, an electronic negotiable instrument, a sum from a credit account, and a sum from a debit account. The indicia is readable by a scanner in communication with a merchant server, where the merchant server is adapted to access a provider server for storing and retrieving user account information.

The present invention provides a computer system (the “System”, or the “Return System”) that is configured and programmed to provide online stores with a fast, simple, convenient way for eCommerce customers of an online store to return merchandise purchased from that store from within that online store. The Return System provides multi-carrier shipment rating, shipment labeling, shipment tracking, shipment tracking management reports, returns analysis and returns management reporting In an exemplary embodiment, the Return System has three major components: 1.) A Returns Manager Subsystem that provides a user interface to each Merchant to setup the Merchant's account, setup the Merchant's return policy and rules, and to monitor the status and movement of return shipments; 2.) A Consumer Returns Subsystem (also sometimes referred to as a “Customer Returns Subsystem”) that provides each consumer using the Returns System with an online user interface that leads the consumer through the returns process, displays the return policies and rules to the consumer, provides shipping document to ship the return package if appropriate, and permits the consumer to track their return shipments; and 3.) a Returns Processing Subsystem that, in the exemplary embodiment, provides background shipping and tracking functionality. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the Online Merchant integrates the Merchant's online system with the Returns Processing Subsystem. In another exemplary embodiment, the Returns Processing Subsystem is provided as an independent web-based application service (referred to as a “Return Merchant Service System”) operated by a common provider. In such an embodiment, the Merchant's system interacts with the Return Merchant Service System through Application Program Interfaces (“API”).

A method and system for remotely building a shopping list for remote shopping and ordering merchandise electronically. A shopping list can be built any time, anywhere by scanning, speaking, or keying-in barcode numbers such as UPC codes into a data collection device that can be an intricate part of the terminal or interfaced to the terminal The terminal is used for ordering merchandise through a direct distance dial or wireless telephone network, that could utilize or connect to the Internet, to connect to a shopper assistance portal that maintains information relating to a plurality of merchants and a plurality of product offered by the plurality of merchants. The merchandise is identified by barcode numbers in the form of individual digital merchandise codes. The geographical location of order placement can be configured by the user to select only merchants that service the location. When a shopper selects a merchant, a link is executed to the merchant's e-commerce server where the shopper could proceed with the order through the order receiving system that the merchant has incorporated into their e-commerce system. A shopper may purchase all, one, or selected products. Purchases and return transactions are preferably conducted between the shopper and the individual merchant. The targeted product specific advertising program searches the shopper's list for specific products that a shopper in the merchant's service area is planning to buy. Ads are displayed on the terminal relevant to items that match specific barcode numbers. If the shopper clicks through on the ad, the shopper will enter the merchant's site through a special URL along with their active shopping list in an attached data packet.

A method for validating payment information for an online transaction is provided. A payment server can receive two representations of the same payment information. The payment information can be validated if it is determined that the two representations match. If there is no match, or the payment information is otherwise invalid, the payment information can be repaired based on a trusted representation of the payment information, such as stored payment information or an image of an associated value token. Payment information can be received via one or more communication channels, and can be provided by one or more consumer devices. A merchant service provider can validate payment information and handle transaction processing on behalf of a merchant.

The invention presents a method and system for processing the purchase of products, goods and/or services, more particularly, to a method and system for processing the purchase by a buyer of products from one or more sellers of products in an on-line real-time e-Commerce business environment where the merchant server from which the goods are purchased lacks adequate encryption security for the purchasing of the goods by credit card. The method and system also allows for the easy up-dating registration by a merchant of the items available for purchase as maintained on the Web, DB server. The invention also discloses a method and system for avoiding the hindrance of foreign exchange rates fluctuations on the payment of on-line real-time e-Commerce trading. The system provides for a splitting of a merchant server into a Web, DB server and a payment server, the payment server being located in a nation state to which a purchaser may securely transmit encrypted credit card information in order to purchase product available on websites maintained on the Web, DB server.

A transaction system for performing secure transactions over a communication network includes (i) a merchant server system including a computer processor and associated memory, the merchant server system offering items for sale; (ii) a buyer system including a computer processor and associated memory, the buyer system being selectively couplable to the merchant server system over the communication network to initiate a transaction, wherein, during the transaction, the buyer system selects one or more of the items for purchase; (iii) a security server system including a computer processor and associated memory and an encryption device, the security server system receiving buyer information from the buyer system, encrypting the buyer information in an encryption key that prevents the merchant server system from decrypting the buyer information, and transferring the encrypted buyer information to the merchant server system; and (iv) a third server system including a computer processor and associated memory, the third server system being selectively couplable to the merchant server system, wherein the merchant server system transmits at least a portion of the encrypted buyer information to the third server system for processing during the transaction.