Transaction processing system

• US 20040030607A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VETT Limited
• Original Assignee: VETT Limited
• Inventors: Gibson, Garry H
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method of operating a transaction processing system (19) for confirming orders placed over a public data network (1), comprising: receiving first order references from a number of different merchant sites (7) via first data communication paths; receiving payment data and second order references from a number of customers via second communication paths different from said first communication path; and matching said first and second order references and settling payments.

Claims

1. A method of operating a transaction processing system enabling users to authorize transactions, raid system comprising at least a first data communications interface and a second data communications interface, comprising:

receiving transaction data, relating to a specific transaction to be authorized by a user, via a first data communication path, at said first data communications interface;

conducting communications over a second data communication path, different to said first data communication path, with said user over said second data communications interface;

using said second path, conducting a secure access procedure in which authentication data is received and said authentication data is verified;

using said second path, receiving a transaction reference relating to said specific transaction from said user, said transaction reference not being previously transmitted to said user in said second communication path;

using said second path, receiving confirmation from said user; and

in response to said confirmation, transmitting an authorization signal to authorize said transaction.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication via the second communication path in initiated by the user.

3. A method according to claim 1 or two, wherein said transaction data includes payment data and, in response to said authorization signal, payment is electronically settled from an account facility provided by a financial institution.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein payment is electronically nettled to an account facility arranged to be only capable of receiving funds from, and not transmitting funds to, third parties.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising transmitting said transaction reference to a user in an electronic message.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said electronic message is transmitted to the customer via a third data communications interface, and not said first and second data communications interface.

7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising generating said message without referring to any data stored in a customer account for the user.

8. A method of according to any preceding claim, wherein said second communication path comprises a voice telephony connection, said second data communication interface comprising an interactive voice response unit.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising transmitting at least some of raid transaction data to said user over said second path prior to receiving said confirmation.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising using a first data processing system to receive said transaction data from a transacting party data processing system.

11. A method system according to claim 10, wherein said first data processing system stores said transaction data in a database referenced using an internal transaction reference which is substantially sequentially unrelated to the transaction reference received from the user.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said system comprises a plurality of second data processing systems, said second path being established with a selected one of said second data processing systems by the user.

13. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising disabling transaction data relating to a transaction which is not authorized by a user within a selected time period.

14. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising monitoring orders and order confirmations and transmitting a message to a transacting party in response to said monitoring when no user confirmation has been received.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said messages contain one or more of the following;

(i) reminder of outstanding transactions,

(ii) promotional messages relating to outstanding transactions.

16. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising receiving tax-relevant data in said transaction data and settling taxes relating to said orders on behalf of a transacting party.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving confirmation of said tax-related data from said user.

18. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said system operates with users throughout an area with a common sales tax system.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said system is arranged to limit operation with users substantially only within said area.

20. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising authorizing transactions on behalf of a plurality of transacting parties providing offers of transactions and a plurality of users accepting said offers and authorizing payment using the system.

50. Apparatus arranged to carry out the method of any preceding claim.

51. Computer software arranged to carry out the method of any preceding claim.

21. A method of operating a transaction system in communication with a transaction processing system serving a plurality of different similar transaction systems, said method comprising:

receiving transaction data from a number of customers;

storing said transaction data in a record holding said transaction data an a pending transaction;

generating transaction references for referencing said transaction data;

notifying transaction references to a transaction processing system;

transmitting the same transaction references to said customers; and

authorizing a transaction corresponding to a particular set of said transaction data in response to said transaction processing system confirming the customer having authorized, the transaction,

wherein said transaction references are constructed so as to be unique both within said transaction processing system and said transaction systems.

22. A method of operating a transaction system according to claim 21, further comprising transmitting one or more codes to said customers, said, codes identifying a communications link to said transaction processing system.

23. A method of operating a transaction system according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said transaction references are transmitted in messages comprising terms and conditions of said transactions.

24. A method of operating a transaction system according to any of claims 21 to 23, comprising transmitting confirmation messages to said customers including said transaction data.

25. A method of operating a transaction system according to any of claims 21 to 24, further comprising receiving confirmation of payment from said transaction processing system.

26. A method of operating a transaction system according to claim 25, wherein said transaction is an order from a customer, said method further comprising completing an order transaction in response to receipt of said confirmation.

27. A method of operating a transaction system according to any of claims 21 to 26, wherein paid transaction references include a portion unique to said transaction system within said transaction processing system and a second portion unique to the transaction within said transaction system.

28. A method of operating a transaction system according to any of claims 21 to 27, comprising providing the option of confirming a transaction via a public data network transaction, or via said transaction system.

29. A method of operating a transaction system according to any of claims 21 to 28, wherein confirmation of any particular transaction is confirmed by receiving a transaction reference different sent to the corresponding customer from said transaction processing system.

30. A method of operating a transaction system according to any of claims 21 to 29, further comprising checking the area of a particular customers location and selecting a transaction processing system which operates in said area.

31. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system comprising:

receiving order data from a number of merchants;

monitoring said order data and order confirmations;

transmitting messages to the merchants and/or customers in response to said monitoring;

settling payments in response to receiving said order confirmations and payment data from customers.

32. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system according to claim 31, wherein said messages include messages which are sent after selected time periods.

33. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system according to claim 31 or 32, wherein said order data are transmitted to the transaction processing system via first communication paths and said order confirmations are transmitted to the transaction processing system via second communication paths.

34. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system according to claim 31, 32 or 33, further comprising disabling unconfirmed order data after a selected time period.

35. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system according to any of claims 31 to 34, wherein said messages include messages which are sent to said customers containing one or more of the following:

(i) reminders of outstanding orders;

(ii) promotional messages relating to outstanding orders.

36. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system according to any of claims 31 to 35, further comprising receiving tax-relevant data from said merchants and settling taxes relating to said orders on behalf of said merchants.

37. A method of managing orders in a transaction processing system according to any of claims 31 to 36, comprising monitoring availability of products and/or services and transmitting messages to said customers in response thereto.

38. A method of settling taxes from sales performed over a public data network in a transaction processing system, comprising:

receiving order details from a number of merchants,

receiving confirmation of said orders from a number of customers;

settling payment of said orders,

storing tax-relevant data in a database; and

settling taxes relating to said orders on behalf of said merchants.

39. A method of settling taxes according to claim 38, wherein said order details include a registered tax code.

40. A method of settling taxes according to claim 38 or 39, wherein said system operates with customers throughout an area with a common sales tax system.

41. A method of performing a purchase from an transaction system over a public data network, comprising:

placing an order over a first communication path;

receiving an offer in the form of offer data comprising an order reference from said ordering system;

transmitting confirmation date including said order reference to a transaction processing system via a second communication path different from said first communication path.

42. A method of performing a purchase according to claim 41, wherein said order reference is transmitted via e-mail.

43. A method of performing a purchase according to claim 41 or 42, further comprising receiving other details related to the transaction from said ordering system.

44. A method of performing a purchase according to claim 43, said details comprising one or more of a list or description of the ordered products, their prices, the total value of the order and terms and conditions of the offer.

45. A method of performing a purchase according to any of claims 41 to 44, further comprising receiving a code for setting up said second communication path from said ordering system.

46. A method of conducting instructions on behalf of users of a public data network, comprising:

receiving first sets of data and/or instructions and first references from a number of users via first communication paths;

receiving confirmation of said first sets and/or second sets of data and/or instructions from a number of users via second communications paths different from said first communications paths,

matching said first sets to said second sets using said first and second references; and

carrying out said instructions.

47. A method of operating a transaction processing system for confirming orders over a public data network, comprising:

receiving order data and order references from a number of customers via second communication paths,

wherein at least portions of said order references have been transmitted from a number of different public data network merchants to said customers via first communication paths different from said second communication paths.

48. A method of operating a transaction processing system for placing orders over a public data network, comprising;

receiving notification of first order references from a number of different public data network merchants via first data communication paths;

receiving transaction data and second order reference from a number of customers via second communication paths different from said first communication paths; and

matching said first and second order references and settling payments.

49. A method of enabling users to authorize transactions in a banking transaction system, comprising:

receiving transaction data, relating to a banking transaction to be conducted, via a packet switched data connection with said user;

conducting a voice telephony connection with said user;

using said voice telephony connection, conducting a secure access procedure in which said user inputs authentication data and said authentication data is verified;

receiving confirmation of said banking transaction from said user via said voice telephony connection; and

in response to said confirmation, transmitting an authorization signal to authorize said transaction.