Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork using a virtual payment account
First Claim
1. A system for purchasing a product, comprising:
- a buyer computer operative to purchase a product using a virtual payment account;
a seller computer operative to receive a request from said buyer computer to purchase said product from said seller computer using said virtual payment account;
in response to said purchase request, determining whether said buyer computer is associated with said virtual payment account;
in response to determining that said buyer computer is associated with said virtual payment account, applying a cost of said product to said virtual payment account; and
providing said product to a buyer associated with said buyer computer.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual payment system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual payment system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit processing server component (53). The virtual payment system is a secure, closed system comprising registered sellers and buyers. A buyer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual payment account. Likewise, a seller becomes registered by applying for a seller account. A buyer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit processing component (53) immediately evaluates the buyer'"'"'s virtual payment card application and assigns a credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital certificate is stored on the registered participant'"'"'s computer. The buyer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a seller and charge it to the virtual payment account. When the product is shipped, the seller notifies the commerce gateway component (52), which in turn notifies the credit processing server that applies the charges to the buyer'"'"'s virtual payment account. The buyer can settle the charges using a prepaid account, a credit account, or by using reward points earned through use of the virtual payment card. A buyer may create sub-accounts
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for purchasing a product, comprising:
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a buyer computer operative to purchase a product using a virtual payment account;
a seller computer operative to receive a request from said buyer computer to purchase said product from said seller computer using said virtual payment account;
in response to said purchase request, determining whether said buyer computer is associated with said virtual payment account;
in response to determining that said buyer computer is associated with said virtual payment account, applying a cost of said product to said virtual payment account; and
providing said product to a buyer associated with said buyer computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for purchasing a product, comprising:
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a buyer computer operative to purchase a product using a virtual payment account;
a seller computer operative to;
receive a request from said buyer computer to purchase said product, said purchase request identifying said virtual payment account as a payment source for said product; and
a commerce gateway operative to;
receive an authentication request from said buyer computer;
determine whether said virtual payment account is associated with said buyer computer;
transmit an account identification container to said buyer computer in response to determining that said buyer computer is associated with a valid virtual payment account;
receive a processed purchase request from said seller computer;
determine whether said virtual payment account may be used to pay for said product;
in response to determining that said virtual payment account may be used to pay for said product, transmit a valid transaction authorization to said seller computer; and
charging said virtual payment account for a cost associated with said product.
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6. A system for creating a virtual payment account for a buyer, the system comprising:
a commerce gateway operative to;
receive application data from said buyer;
determine a credit score for said buyer based upon said application data;
determine whether said credit score exceeds a threshold credit score;
in response to determining that said credit score exceeds said threshold credit score, establish a virtual payment account associated with said buyer; and
install a digital certificate on a buyer computer associated with said buyer that uniquely identifies said buyer as the registered holder of said virtual payment account. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system for settling at a virtual payment account transaction, comprising:
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a commerce gate way operative to;
receive a settlement transaction request from a seller computer;
determine whether said settlement transaction request is permissible;
in response to determining that said at least one settlement transaction request is permissible, process said at least one settlement transaction request; and
in response to processing said at least one transaction request, adjust a seller account associated with said seller computer.
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Specification