Method and system for merchant-to-merchant referrals and item brokering
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- initiating a transaction between an access device and a primary merchant;
creating a secure link between the primary merchant and at least one ancillary merchant;
exchanging consumer information automatically between the primary and ancillary merchant; and
completing the transaction by the ancillary merchant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Internet-based method and system for enabling merchant-to-merchant referrals and item brokering on behalf of the user. The method may enable the consumer to begin a research and/or a purchase session from a specific primary merchant using a unique and minimal amount of data and direct participation from the consumer. The method may also enable the automatic creation of a secure link between the primary merchant and any ancillary merchants in order to broker and exchange reference information with minimal to zero manual intervention required from the merchant or consumer. In addition, the method may enable a secure merchant-to-merchant, auto-exchange of consumer financial information and consumer-specific information necessary to facilitate the purchase.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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initiating a transaction between an access device and a primary merchant;
creating a secure link between the primary merchant and at least one ancillary merchant;
exchanging consumer information automatically between the primary and ancillary merchant; and
completing the transaction by the ancillary merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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means for initiating a transaction between an access device and a primary merchant;
means for creating a secure link between the primary merchant and at least one ancillary merchant;
means for exchanging consumer information automatically between the primary and ancillary merchant; and
means for completing the transaction by the ancillary merchant. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon sequences of instructions, which when executed by a processing system, cause the system to perform the acts of:
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initiating a transaction between an access device and a primary merchant;
creating a secure link between the primary merchant and at least one ancillary merchant;
exchanging consumer information automatically between the primary and ancillary merchant; and
completing the transaction by the ancillary merchant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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an initiator to initiate a transaction between an access device and a primary merchant;
a creator to create a secure link between the primary merchant and at least one ancillary merchant;
an exchanger to exchange consumer information automatically between the primary and ancillary merchant; and
a completer to complete the transaction by the ancillary merchant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification