System and method for a payment system directory

• US 20040267662A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Bishop, Fred, Armes, David, Edelen, Jeffrey Alan, Schwarz, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Dynamically enabling and facilitating businesses or other entities to locate and transact with payment systems for the purpose of processing payments. A customer interacts with a supplier of an item (e.g., goods or services), selects an item for purchase, and provides the supplier with payment criteria. The supplier queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems for the transaction. The supplier then interacts directly with one or more of the payment systems to partially or fully process payment for the transaction. Alternatively, the supplier interacts with a gateway service, which queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems and then interacts with one or more of the payment systems to process payment for the transaction.

Claims

1. A method for selecting payment systems for facilitating the processing of payments, comprising:

receiving from a user payment criteria for purchase of an item;

querying a directory of payment systems to locate at least one payment system to process the transaction; and

interacting with the located payment system to at least partially process the transaction using the payment criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon attributes of the request for the transaction.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon one or more of the following:

a supplier identity;

a user identity;

a payment instrument selected by the user;

a strength of an authentication method for the user;

an amount of the purchase;

a type of item being purchased;

a delivery channel for the item;

a supplier risk tolerance;

or desired payment terms.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon an availability the payment systems.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon one or more of the following:

an optimal price for the item;

optimal response attributes;

or contractual obligations with respect to transaction distribution arrangements for the item.

6. The method of claim 1, further including entering into a contract with the at least one payment system for processing of the transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, further including authenticating an identification of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further including negotiating with the payment system a price for the requested item.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the interacting step includes processing the transaction using a payment instrument that includes a financial component or a non-financial component.

10. A method for a gateway service to select payment systems for facilitating the processing of payments, comprising:

receiving from an on-line entity a user'"'"'s payment criteria for purchase of an item;

querying a directory of payment systems, using the gateway service, to locate at least one payment system to process the transaction; and

interacting with the located payment system, using the gateway service, to at least partially process the transaction using the payment criteria.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon attributes of the request for the transaction.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon one or more of the following:

a supplier identity;

a user identity;

a payment instrument selected by the user;

a strength of an authentication method for the user;

an amount of the purchase;

a type of item being purchased;

a delivery channel for the item;

a supplier risk tolerance;

or desired payment terms.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon an availability the payment systems.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the querying step includes selecting the at least one payment system based upon one or more of the following:

an optimal price for the item;

optimal response attributes;

or contractual obligations with respect to transaction distribution arrangements for the item.

15. The method of claim 10, further including entering into a contract with the at least one payment system for processing of the transaction.

16. The method of claim 10, further including authenticating an identification of the user.

17. The method of claim 10, further including negotiating with the payment system a price for the requested item.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the interacting step includes processing the transaction using a payment instrument that includes a financial component or a non-financial component.

19. A method for a user to have payment systems selected for facilitating the processing of payments, comprising:

providing to an on-line entity, via a network, payment criteria for purchase of an item;

having the on-line entity query a directory of payment systems to locate at least one payment system to process the transaction; and

receiving an indication that the on-line entity interacted with the located payment system to at least partially process the transaction using the payment criteria.