Method and system for closed loop collect on delivery (C.O.D.) payments

• US 20030212631A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Adams, Steven, Foth, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A trusted closed loop payment system and method that reduces the liability imposed upon carriers for delivery of C.O.D. shipments is provided. A third party payment system is authorized by the buyer to make payments to a shipper (and, if applicable, a freight forwarder) on behalf of the buyer upon receipt of goods by the buyer. Since the payment for the shipment is being made by the third party payment system, and guaranteed by the third party payment system, the liability imposed on the carrier to ensure the payment is proper and will be honored is removed. In addition, the present invention provides several advantages for shippers and buyers as well, including receipt of payment by a shipper in a much shorter time frame, and multiple payment options for buyers for account reconciliation with the third party payment system for the C.O.D. shipments.

Claims

1. A method for providing funds to pay for a transaction between a buyer and a shipper comprising:

receiving a request for payment for the transaction from the buyer, the request including information related to the transaction;

generating an authorization number associated with the information related to the transaction;

providing the authorization number to the buyer;

receiving a request for validation of the authorization number upon processing of the transaction;

validating the authorization number;

if the authorization number is validated, providing confirmation of validity of the authorization number; and

providing funds to pay for the transaction to the shipper.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein before a request for payment is received, the method further comprises:

establishing at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds for the transaction upon validation of the authorization number.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes an interest bearing deposit account.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a non-interest bearing deposit account.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a credit account.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the transaction includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the shipper, a range of dates during which the transaction will occur, an estimated cost of the transaction, and a not-to-exceed cost of the transaction.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein validating the authorization number further comprises:

determining if the authorization number was previously generated.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing confirmation of the validity of the authorization number further comprises:

providing verification information related to the transaction.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the verification information includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the shipper, and an identification of the buyer.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing funds to pay for the transaction further comprises:

providing funds to a carrier service associated with processing the transaction.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction includes a collect on delivery shipment delivered by a carrier service, and receiving a request for validation of the authorization number further comprises:

receiving a request for validation of the authorization number from the carrier service making the collect on delivery shipment for the shipper.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating an authorization number further comprises:

generating a random number linked to the information related to the transaction.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating an authorization number further comprises:

generating a cryptographic number linked to the information related to the transaction.

14. A method for providing funds to pay for a transaction between a buyer and a seller comprising:

receiving a request for payment for the transaction from the buyer, the request including information related to the transaction;

storing the information related to the transaction;

receiving a request for authorization of the transaction upon processing of the transaction, the request for authorization including information specific to the transaction;

comparing the information specific to the transaction with the stored information related to the transaction;

if the information specific to the transaction favorably compares with the stored information related to the transaction, providing authorization to complete processing of the transaction; and

providing funds to pay for the transaction to the seller.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the information related to the transaction includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the seller, a range of dates during which the transaction will occur, an estimated cost of the transaction, and a not-to-exceed cost of the transaction.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information specific to the transaction includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the seller, a date of processing of the transaction, a cost of the transaction, and a location at which the transaction is being processed.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein before a request for payment is received, the method further comprises:

establishing at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds for the transaction.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes an interest bearing deposit account.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a non-interest bearing deposit account.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a credit account.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the transaction includes a collect on delivery shipment delivered by a carrier service, and receiving a request for authorization of the transaction further comprises:

receiving a request for authorization of the transaction from the carrier service making the collect on delivery shipment.

22. A method for providing funds to pay for goods purchased by a buyer from a seller, the goods being delivered to the buyer by a carrier, the method comprising:

receiving a request for payment for the goods from the buyer, the request including information related to the goods being purchased;

generating an authorization number associated with the information related to the goods being purchased;

providing the authorization number to the carrier,

receiving confirmation from the carrier of receipt of a matching authorization number from the buyer upon delivery of the goods by the carrier to the buyer; and

providing funds to pay for the goods to the seller based on the confirmation of receipt of the matching authorization number from the carrier.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein before a request for payment is received, the method further comprises:

establishing at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds to pay for the goods.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes an interest bearing deposit account.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a non-interest bearing deposit account.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a credit account.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein generating an authorization number further comprises:

generating a random number linked to the information related to the goods being purchased.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein generating an authorization number further comprises:

generating a cryptographic number linked to the information related to the goods being purchased.

29. A method for providing funds to pay for goods purchased by a buyer from a shipper, the goods being delivered to the buyer by a carrier, the method comprising:

receiving a request for payment for the goods from the buyer;

generating an encrypted authorization message associated with the transaction, the encrypted authorization message requiring a first key and a second key to decrypt;

providing the encrypted authorization message to at least one of the buyer and the carrier;

providing the first key to the buyer;

providing the second key to the carrier;

receiving confirmation from the carrier of delivery of the goods by the carrier to the buyer; and

providing funds to pay for the transaction to the shipper based on the confirmation from the carrier.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein receiving confirmation from the carrier further comprises:

receiving confirmation of decryption of the encrypted authorization message, using the first and second keys, from the carrier.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the encrypted authorization message is provided with a verification signature utilizing a third key, and wherein the method further comprises:

providing the third key to at least one of the buyer and carrier for verifying the verification signature.

32. A method for providing funds to pay for goods purchased by a buyer from a seller, the goods being delivered to the buyer by a carrier, comprising:

receiving a request for payment for the goods from the buyer, the request including information related to the goods being purchased, the payment to be made on behalf of the buyer to the seller;

generating an authorization number associated with the information related to the goods being purchased;

providing the authorization number to the buyer;

receiving a request for validation of the authorization number from the carrier upon delivery of the goods by the carrier to the buyer;

validating the authorization number;

if the authorization number is validated, providing confirmation of the validation of the authorization number to the carrier; and

providing funds to pay for the transaction to the seller.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein before a request for payment is received, the method further comprises:

establishing at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds for the transaction upon validation of the authorization number.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes an interest bearing deposit account.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a non-interest bearing deposit account.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a credit account.

37. The method according to claim 32, wherein the information related to the goods being purchased includes at least one of a manifest of the goods being purchased, an identification of the seller, a range of dates during which the goods will be delivered, an estimated cost of the goods being purchased, and a not-to-exceed cost of the goods being purchased.

38. The method according to claim 32, wherein validating the authorization number further comprises:

determining if the authorization number was previously generated.

39. The method according to claim 32, wherein providing confirmation of the validation of the authorization number to the carrier further comprises:

providing authorization for the carrier to deliver the goods to the buyer.

40. The method according to claim 32, wherein providing confirmation of the validation of the authorization number to the carrier further comprises:

providing verification information related to the goods being purchased.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the verification information includes at least one of a manifest of the goods being purchased, an identification of the seller, and an identification of the buyer.

42. The method according to claim 32, wherein providing funds to pay for the goods being purchased further comprises:

providing funds to the carrier service delivering the goods being purchased.

43. A method for a carrier to deliver goods to a buyer from a shipper comprising:

receiving an authorization number from the buyer upon delivery of the goods to the buyer, the authorization number being previously generated by a payment system and being associated with the goods being delivered;

communicating with the payment system to request validation of the authorization number received from the buyer;

receiving confirmation of the authorization number from the payment system, the confirmation indicating that payment for the goods will be made by the payment system to the shipper on behalf of the buyer; and

delivering the goods to the buyer.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the authorization number is a randomly generated number.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein the authorization number is an encrypted number.

46. The method according to claim 43, wherein receiving confirmation of the authorization number further comprises:

receiving verification information related to the goods.

47. A method for a carrier to deliver goods to a buyer from a shipper comprising:

communicating with a payment system to request authorization for delivery of the goods to the buyer, the authorization request including information specific to the goods being delivered;

receiving authorization for delivery of the goods to the buyer from the payment system, the authorization signifying that payment for the goods will be made by the payment system to the shipper on behalf of the buyer for the goods; and

delivering the goods to the buyer.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the information specific to the goods being delivered includes at least one of an identification of the buyer, a manifest of the goods being delivered, an identification of the shipper, a delivery date, and a not to exceed cost of the goods being delivered.

49. A method for a carrier to deliver goods to a buyer from a shipper comprising:

receiving a first authorization number, the first authorization number being previously generated by a payment system and being associated with the goods being delivered;

receiving a second authorization number from the buyer upon delivery of the goods;

comparing the first authorization number and the second authorization number;

if the first authorization number and the second authorization number are identical, delivering the goods to the buyer; and

providing confirmation of the delivery of the goods to the payment system,

wherein payment for the goods will be made by the payment system to the shipper on behalf of the buyer.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the first authorization number is received from the payment system.

51. A method for a carrier to deliver goods to a buyer from a shipper comprising:

receiving an encrypted authorization message, the encrypted authorization message being previously generated by a payment system and being associated with the goods being delivered;

receiving a first key;

receiving a second key from the buyer;

decrypting the encrypted confirmation message using the first key and the second key; and

upon successful decryption of the encrypted authorization message, delivering the goods to the buyer and providing confirmation of the delivery of the goods to the payment system,

wherein payment for the goods will be made by the payment system to the shipper on behalf of the buyer.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the encrypted authorization message is received from the buyer.

53. The method according to claim 51, wherein the first key is received from the payment system.

54. The method according to claim 51, wherein the encrypted authorization message is provided with a verification signature, the method further comprising:

verifying the signature of the encrypted authorization message.

55. A system for providing funds to pay for a transaction between a buyer and a shipper comprising:

means for receiving a request for payment for the transaction from the buyer, the request including information related to the transaction;

means for generating an authorization number associated with the information related to the transaction;

means for providing the authorization number to the buyer;

means for receiving a request for validation of the authorization number upon processing of the transaction;

means for validating the authorization number;

means for providing confirmation of validity of the authorization number; and

means for providing funds to pay for the transaction to the shipper.

56. The system according to claim 55, further comprising:

at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds for the transaction upon validation of the authorization number.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes an interest bearing deposit account.

58. The system according to claim 56, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a non-interest bearing deposit account.

59. The system according to claim 56, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a credit account.

60. The system according to claim 55, wherein the information related to the transaction includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the shipper, a range of dates during which the transaction will occur, an estimated cost of the transaction, and a not-to-exceed cost of the transaction.

61. The system according to claim 55, wherein validating the authorization number includes determining if the authorization number was previously generated.

62. The system according to claim 55, wherein the confirmation of the validity of the authorization number includes verification information related to the transaction.

63. The system according to claim 62, wherein the verification information includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the shipper, and an identification of the buyer.

64. The method according to claim 55, wherein providing funds to pay for the transaction includes providing funds to a carrier service associated with processing the transaction.

65. The system according to claim 55, wherein the authorization number is a random number linked to the information related to the transaction.

66. The system according to claim 55, wherein the authorization number is a cryptographic number linked to the information related to the transaction.

67. A system for providing funds to pay for a transaction between a buyer and a seller comprising:

means for receiving a request for payment for the transaction from the buyer, the request including information related to the transaction;

means for storing the information related to the transaction;

means for receiving a request for authorization of the transaction upon processing of the transaction, the request for authorization including information specific to the transaction;

means for comparing the information specific to the transaction with the stored information related to the transaction;

means for providing authorization to complete processing of the transaction if the information specific to the transaction favorably compares with the stored information related to the transaction; and

means for providing funds to pay for the transaction to the seller.

68. The system according to claim 67, wherein the information related to the transaction includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the seller, a range of dates during which the transaction will occur, an estimated cost of the transaction, and a not-to-exceed cost of the transaction.

69. The system according to claim 68, wherein the information specific to the transaction includes at least one of a manifest of items included in the transaction, an identification of the seller, a date of processing of the transaction, a cost of the transaction, and a location at which the transaction is being processed.

70. The system according to claim 67, further comprising:

at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds for the transaction.

71. The system according to claim 70, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes an interest bearing deposit account.

72. The system according to claim 70, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a non-interest bearing deposit account.

73. The system according to claim 70, wherein the at least one associated payment account includes a credit account.

74. A system for providing funds to pay for goods purchased by a buyer from a seller, the goods being delivered to the buyer by a carrier, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request for payment for the goods from the buyer, the request including information related to the goods being purchased;

means for generating an authorization number associated with the information related to the goods being purchased;

means for providing the authorization number to the carrier;

means for receiving confirmation from the carrier of receipt of a matching authorization number from the buyer upon delivery of the goods by the carrier to the buyer; and

means for providing funds to pay for the goods to the seller based on the confirmation of receipt of the matching authorization number from the carrier.

75. The system according to claim 74, further comprising:

at least one associated payment account for the buyer to provide the funds to pay for the goods.

76. A system for providing funds to pay for goods purchased by a buyer from a shipper, the goods being delivered to the buyer by a carrier, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request for payment for the goods from the buyer;

means for generating an encrypted authorization message associated with the goods, the encrypted authorization message requiring a first key and a second key to decrypt;

means for providing the encrypted authorization message to at least one of the buyer and the carrier;

means for providing the first key to the buyer;

means for providing the second key to the carrier;

means for receiving confirmation from the carrier of delivery of the goods by the carrier to the buyer, the delivery of the goods being based upon successful decryption of the encrypted authorization message by the carrier using the first and second keys; and

means for providing funds to pay for the transaction to the shipper based on the confirmation from the carrier.

77. A system for providing payment to a shipper on behalf of a buyer for goods shipped to the buyer, the system comprising:

a payment system adapted to receive a request from the buyer for payment to the shipper for goods to be delivered to the buyer, the request including information related to the goods to be shipped to the buyer, the payment system generating an authorization number associated with the information related to the goods and providing the authorization number to the buyer; and

a payment account maintained for the buyer,

wherein the payment system, upon receipt of a request for validation of the authorization number, will validate the authorization number and provide payment to the shipper for the goods from the payment account maintained for the buyer.