Method and system for parent controlled e-commerce

• US 20030061111A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Karthikeyan, Ramamoorthy, Dutta, Rabindranath
• Application Number:
  US09/963,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method, computer system and computer program product for providing a parent with electronic control over e-transactions proposed by a minor for whom the parent is responsible. The method includes electronically providing information describing the proposed e-transaction to the parent and electronically receiving information from the parent disposing of some or all of the proposed e-transaction.

Claims

1. A method for a server to obtain parent authorization of minor-proposed e-transactions comprising:

electronically receiving an e-transaction proposal from the minor;

automatically creating and electronically transmitting a first message to the parent, the message describing the e-transaction proposal and soliciting the parent to enter a transaction authorization code to enable consummation of the proposed e-transaction;

electronically receiving a reply message from the parent providing a transaction authorization code and e-transaction instructions; and

automatically executing the e-transaction instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating and sending an electronically transmittable third message notifying the minor of the parent'"'"'s response to the proposed e-transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reply message comprises a credit card number for electronically funding the minor'"'"'s proposed e-transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reply message comprises a server-verifiable transaction authorization code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reply message comprises a transaction specific code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is an e-mail addressed to the parent'"'"'s e-mail address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is provided by the minor along with the proposed e-transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is available from an accessible database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is provided by the parent prior to the server'"'"'s receipt of the minor'"'"'s proposed e-transaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message to the parent provides clickable options to approve the proposed e-transaction and to reject the proposed e-transaction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message to the parent lists each item sought by the minor in proposing the e-transaction and provides clickable options to selectively reject discrete items of the proposed e-transaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises clickable options for providing the parent'"'"'s reasons for rejecting items from the proposed e-transaction.

13. The methods of claim 1, wherein the proposed e-transaction involves the purchase of goods, and wherein the first e-mail message comprises information related to content of the goods involved in the proposed e-transaction.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first messages provide clickable hyperlinks enabling the parent to access reviews by others of the goods sought in the e-transaction proposal.

15. A method for a server to provide a parent with control over an e-transaction proposed by a minor comprising:

electronically receiving a proposed e-transaction from a minor;

receiving an e-mail address of the minor'"'"'s parent;

creating an electronically transmittable message addressed to the parent'"'"'s e-mail address;

electronically providing the parent with a description of the proposed e-transaction;

electronically receiving a reply message from the parent comprising the parent'"'"'s instructions regarding the proposed e-transaction;

disposing of the proposed e-transaction in accordance with the parent'"'"'s instructions; and

electronically notifying the minor of the parent'"'"'s instructions regarding the proposed e-transaction proposed by the minor.

16. A computer program product including instructions embodied on a computer readable medium, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving an e-transaction proposal from a minor;

instructions for automatically creating and electronically transmitting a first message to a parent, the message describing the e-transaction proposal and soliciting the parent to enter a transaction authorization code to enable consummation of the proposed e-transaction;

instructions for receiving a reply message from the parent providing a transaction authorization code and e-transaction instructions; and

instructions for executing the e-transaction instructions.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

instructions for creating and sending an electronically transmittable third message notifying the minor of the parent'"'"'s response to the proposed e-transaction.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the reply message comprises a credit card number for electronically funding the minor'"'"'s proposed e-transaction.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the reply message comprises a server-verifiable transaction authorization code.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the reply message comprises a transaction specific code.

21. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the first message is an e-mail message addressed to the parent'"'"'s e-mail address.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is provided by the minor along with the proposed e-transaction.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is available from an accessible database.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is provided by the parent prior to the server'"'"'s receipt of the minor'"'"'s proposed e-transaction.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the first message to the parent provides clickable options to approve the proposed e-transaction and to reject the proposed e-transaction.

26. A computer system for obtaining parent authorization of minor-proposed e-transactions comprising:

first receiving means for electronically receiving an e-transaction proposal from the minor;

messaging means for automatically creating and electronically transmitting a first message to the parent, wherein the message describes the e-transaction proposal and solicits the parent to enter a transaction authorization code to enable consummation of the proposed e-transaction;

second receiving means for electronically receiving a reply message from the parent providing a transaction authorization code and e-transaction instructions; and

executing instructions for automatically executing the e-transaction instructions.

27. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising:

notification means for creating and sending an electronically transmittable third message notifying the minor of the parent'"'"'s response to the proposed e-transaction.

28. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the reply message comprises a credit card number for electronically funding the minor'"'"'s proposed e-transaction.

29. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the reply message comprises a server-verifiable transaction authorization code.

30. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the reply message comprises a transaction specific code.

31. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the first message is an e-mail message addressed to the parent'"'"'s e-mail address.

32. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising:

submission means for allowing the minor to submit the parent'"'"'s e-mail address along with the proposed e-transaction.

33. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the parent'"'"'s e-mail address is available from an accessible database.

34. The computer system of claim 33, further comprising:

submission means for allowing the parent to submit the parent'"'"'s e-mail address prior to receiving the minor'"'"'s proposed e-transaction.

35. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising:

approval means for allowing the parent to approve or reject the proposed e-transaction through clickable options provided in the first message.

36. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising:

approval means for allowing the parent to approve or reject individual items of the proposed e-transaction through clickable options provided in the first message.

37. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the proposed e-transaction involves the purchase of goods, and wherein the first e-mail message comprises information related to content of the goods involved in the proposed e-transaction.

38. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising:

research means for allowing the parent to research reviews of the good sought in the e-transaction proposal through clickable hyperlinks provided in the first message.