Method and system to automate payment for a commerce transaction

• US 20040225606A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Ha, Gentry, Renee, Herman, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• 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 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A method and system to automate payment for a network-based commerce transaction provide a buyer an option to enable an automatic payment service, wherein automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller upon a termination event of a network-based commerce transaction. Payment information of the buyer is provided to a network-based payment system upon the occurrence of the termination event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a buyer an option to enable an automatic payment service, the automatic payment service automatically providing payment to a seller upon a termination event of a network-based commerce transaction; and

providing payment information of the buyer to a network-based payment system upon the occurrence of the termination event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the option is available to the buyer via a control panel that allows the buyer to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service edit the payment information, and edit a shipping address.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network-based payment system is one or more of a credit card payment system, an on-line bartering system, or an on-line payment system utilizing e-mail addresses.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network-based commerce transaction is one or more of a network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment information includes one or more of credit card numbers, checking account numbers, shipping addresses or e-mail addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the seller with a choice to not provide the buyer an option to enable the automatic payment service.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving payment information of the buyer prior to the termination event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a network-based marketplace machine and the network-based payment system are integrated.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing the buyer an option to always use the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

11. A method comprising:

providing a seller an option to require a buyer to use an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller prior to a closing of a network-based commerce transaction; and

delaying a conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction until a payment process is complete.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising requiring the buyer to provide payment information to a network-based marketplace machine prior to the conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the commerce transaction to conclude at a predetermined time in favor of the buyer, wherein the buyer has made a best offer to the seller.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising requiring that a higher price be paid if the buyer elects not to use the automatic payment service.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing payment information of the buyer to a network-based payment system prior to the close of the commerce transaction.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the payment information includes one or more credit card numbers, checking account numbers, and e-mail address information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the option is available to the seller via a control panel that allows the seller to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service, edit payment receipt information, edit shipping costs and edit payment addresses on a per item basis for all items listed by the seller.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the network-based commerce transaction includes one or more of an network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the network-based marketplace machine and the network-based payment system are integrated.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the payment receipt information for future network-based commerce transactions.

21. A system comprising:

means for providing a buyer an option to enable an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller upon a termination event of a network-based commerce transaction; and

means for providing payment information of the buyer to a network-based payment system upon the occurrence of the termination event.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the option is available to the buyer via a control panel that allows the buyer to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service edit the payment information, and edit a shipping address.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the network-based payment system is one or more of a credit card payment system, an on-line bartering system, or an on-line payment system utilizing e-mail addresses.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the network-based commerce transaction is one or more of a network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the payment information includes one or more of credit card numbers, checking account numbers, shipping addresses or e-mail addresses.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for providing the seller with a choice to not provide the buyer an option to enable the automatic payment service.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising means for receiving payment information of the buyer prior to the termination event.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein a network-based marketplace machine and the network-based payment system are integrated.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for saving the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

30. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for providing the buyer an option to always use the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

31. A network-based commerce system comprising:

a marketplace machine configured to receive and send data from and to a network, including

a database engine server, and

an automatic payment service module;

wherein the marketplace machine provides a buyer an option to enable an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller upon a termination event of a network-based commerce transaction.

32. The network-based commerce system of claim 31, wherein the option is available to the buyer via a control panel provided by the automatic payment service module that allows the buyer to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service edit the payment information, and edit a shipping address.

33. The network-based commerce system of claim 32, further comprising a payment machine configured to receive and send data from and to a network, wherein the network-based payment system is one or more of a credit card payment system, an on-line bartering system, or an on-line payment system utilizing e-mail addresses.

34. The network-based commerce system of claim 33, wherein the network-based commerce transaction is one or more of a network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

35. The network-based commerce system of claim 34, wherein the marketplace machine provides payment information of the buyer to the network-based payment system upon the occurrence of the termination event, the payment information including one or more of credit card numbers, checking account numbers, shipping addresses or e-mail addresses.

36. The network-based commerce system of claim 31, wherein the marketplace machine presents the seller with a choice to not provide the buyer an option to enable the automatic payment service.

37. The network-based commerce system of claim 36, wherein the marketplace machine is configured to allow the buyer to enter payment information prior to the termination event.

38. The network-based commerce system of claim 33, wherein the marketplace machine and the payment machine are integrated.

39. The network-based commerce system of claim 38, wherein the database engine server saves the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

40. The network-based commerce system of claim 33, wherein the marketplace machine provides the buyer an option to always use the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

41. A network-based commerce system comprising:

a marketplace machine configured to receive and send data from and to a network, including

a database engine server, and

an automatic payment service module;

wherein the marketplace machine provides a seller an option to require a buyer to use an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller prior to a closing of a network-based commerce transaction, and delays a conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction until a payment process is complete.

42. The network-based commerce system of claim 41, wherein the marketplace machine requires the buyer to provide payment information prior to the conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction.

43. The network-based commerce system of claim 42, wherein the marketplace machine allows the commerce transaction to conclude at a predetermined time in favor of the buyer, wherein the buyer has made a best offer to the seller.

44. The network-based commerce system of claim 42, wherein the marketplace machine requires that a higher price be paid if the buyer elects not to use the automatic payment service buyer.

45. The network-based commerce system of claim 42, further comprising a payment machine configured to receive and send data from and to a network, wherein the buyer provides payment information to the payment machine prior to the close of the commerce transaction.

46. The network-based commerce system of claim 45, wherein the payment information includes one or more credit card numbers, checking account numbers, and e-mail address information.

47. The network-based commerce system of claim 42, wherein the option is available to the seller via a control panel that allows the seller to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service, edit payment receipt information, edit shipping costs and edit payment addresses on a per item basis for all items listed by the seller.

48. The network-based commerce system of claim 42, wherein the network-based commerce transaction includes one or more of an network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

49. The network-based commerce system of claim 45, wherein the marketplace machine and the payment machine are integrated.

50. The network-based commerce system of claim 47, wherein the database engine server saves the payment receipt information for future network-based commerce transactions.

51. A system comprising:

means for providing a seller an option to require a buyer to use an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller prior to a closing of a network-based commerce transaction; and

delaying a conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction until a payment process is complete.

52. The system of claim 51, further comprising:

means for requiring the buyer to provide payment information to a network-based marketplace machine prior to the conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction; and

means for allowing the commerce transaction to conclude at a predetermined time in favor of the buyer, wherein the buyer has made a best offer to the seller.

53. The system of claim 52, further comprising:

means for requiring that a higher price be paid if the buyer elects not to use the automatic payment service; and

means for providing payment information of the buyer to a network-based payment system prior to the close of the commerce transaction.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the payment information includes one or more credit card numbers, checking account numbers, and e-mail address information.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the option is available to the seller via a control panel that allows the seller to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service, edit payment receipt information, edit shipping costs and edit payment addresses on a per item basis for all items listed by the seller.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the network-based commerce transaction includes one or more of an network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

57. The system of claim 52, wherein a network-based marketplace machine and the network-based payment system are integrated.

58. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for saving the payment receipt information for future network-based commerce transactions

59. A computer-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform:

providing a buyer an option to enable an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller upon a termination event of a network-based commerce transaction; and

providing payment information of the buyer to a network-based payment system upon the occurrence of the termination event.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the option is available to the buyer via a control panel that allows the buyer to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service edit the payment information, and edit a shipping address;

and

wherein the network-based payment system is one or more of a credit card payment system, an on-line bartering system, or an on-line payment system utilizing e-mail addresses.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 60, wherein the network-based commerce transaction is one or more of a network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction;

and wherein the payment information includes one or more of credit card numbers, checking account numbers, shipping addresses or e-mail addresses.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

providing the seller with a choice to not provide the buyer an option to enable the automatic payment service; and

receiving payment information of the buyer prior to the termination event.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein a network-based marketplace machine and the network-based payment system are integrated.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

saving the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions; and

providing the buyer an option to always use the payment information for future network-based commerce transactions.

65. A computer-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform:

providing a seller an option to require a buyer to use an automatic payment service, wherein the automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller prior to a closing of a network-based commerce transaction; and

delaying a conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction until a payment process is complete.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 65, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

requiring the buyer to provide payment information to a network-based marketplace machine prior to the conclusion of the network-based commerce transaction; and

allowing the commerce transaction to conclude at a predetermined time in favor of the buyer, wherein the buyer has made a best offer to the seller.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 66, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

requiring that a higher price be paid if the buyer elects not to use the automatic payment service; and

providing payment information of the buyer to a network-based payment system prior to the close of the commerce transaction.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the payment information includes one or more credit card numbers, checking account numbers, and e-mail address information.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 68, wherein the option is available to the seller via a control panel that allows the seller to enable the automatic payment service, disable the automatic payment service, edit payment receipt information, edit shipping costs and edit payment addresses on a per item basis for all items listed by the seller.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 69, wherein the network-based commerce transaction includes one or more of an network-based auction, a fixed-price sale of an item from a private individual, a fixed-price sale of an item from an network-based store, and an on-line barter transaction.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 68, wherein a network-based marketplace machine and the network-based payment system are integrated.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 69, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform saving the payment receipt information for future network-based commerce transactions.