Managing micropayment transactions with value accounts
First Claim
1. A method for managing micropayment transactions, comprising:
- receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;
comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;
if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and
if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;
maintaining a value account for the customer, adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and completing the purchase request with the value account.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing micropayment transactions includes receiving a purchase request from a customer, where the purchase request includes a purchase item and a purchase price, and comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request. Then, if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, the method includes completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account. Alternatively, if the purchase request is a micropayment request, the method includes completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction. In the latter case, completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes: maintaining a value account for the customer, adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and completing the purchase request with the value account.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for managing micropayment transactions, comprising:
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receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;
comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;
if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and
if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;
maintaining a value account for the customer, adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and completing the purchase request with the value account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for managing micropayment transactions, comprising:
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transaction center connected to the Internet for communication with purchasers and sellers of some combination of goods and services, the transaction center including executable instructions for;
receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;
comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;
if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and
if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;
maintaining a value account for the customer, adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and completing the purchase request with the value account. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Computer-readable media tangibly embodying a computer program for managing micropayment transactions, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:
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receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;
comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;
if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and
if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;
maintaining a value account for the customer, adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and completing the purchase request with the value account. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification