Computer Enabled Methods and Systems for Facilitating Micropayments via Public Networks
First Claim
1. A computer enabled method for facilitating micropayments, comprising:
- providing an accounting application operable on an accounting server, said accounting application comprising instructions for enabling said accounting server to perform a multiplicity of functions comprising;
receiving and decrypting an encrypted vendor submission from a vendor application operable on a vendor server, remote from said accounting server, via a public communications network, said vendor submission comprising;
a vendor-identifier;
a customer-selected-item identifier; and
a customer-identifier obtained, via a public communications network, by said vendor application from a customer application operable on a customer device when said vendor application receives an instruction indicating an intention to obtain use of a customer-selected item, said customer device being remote from both said accounting server and said vendor server;
checking a status of a customer-account associated with a customer identified by said customer-identifier, and,if said status of said customer-account is satisfactory, initiating actions comprising;
conditionally debiting said customer account by a first monitory amount related to said customer-selected item identified by said customer-selected-item identifier;
conditionally crediting a vendor account by a second monitory amount corresponding to said first monitory amount; and
transmitting an encrypted transaction confirmation to said vendor application, said transaction confirmation enabling said vendor application to confer pre-determined usage rights regarding said selected item to said customer;
else,transmitting an error message to said vendor application;
periodically reconciling one or more of said customer accounts and one or more said vendor accounts; and
making periodic vendor payments in an amount inferred from said reconciled vendor accounts and appropriately adjusted by any service fees, and receiving periodic customer payments in an amount inferred said reconciled customer, thereby incurring a single transaction fee for a multiplicity of micro-transactions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer enabled system for facilitating electronic micropayments in which an accounting application receives a vendor submission a remote vendor server via a public communications network. This includes identifiers for the vendor, the customer and an item selected by the customer. The accounting application then checks the status of the customer'"'"'s account. If it has sufficient funds, the transaction proceeds. The customer account is conditionally debited, and the vendor account conditionally credited with the transaction amount, including fees. A transaction confirmation is sent to the vendor application which then confers usage rights for the item to the customer. The accounting application periodically reconciles the vendor and customer accounts, deducts any service fees, and makes a single payment to each vendor. This single payment only incurs a single per-transaction credit-card company fee, thereby spreading it across multiple purchases and clients, making micro-transactions profitable.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer enabled method for facilitating micropayments, comprising:
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providing an accounting application operable on an accounting server, said accounting application comprising instructions for enabling said accounting server to perform a multiplicity of functions comprising; receiving and decrypting an encrypted vendor submission from a vendor application operable on a vendor server, remote from said accounting server, via a public communications network, said vendor submission comprising; a vendor-identifier; a customer-selected-item identifier; and a customer-identifier obtained, via a public communications network, by said vendor application from a customer application operable on a customer device when said vendor application receives an instruction indicating an intention to obtain use of a customer-selected item, said customer device being remote from both said accounting server and said vendor server; checking a status of a customer-account associated with a customer identified by said customer-identifier, and, if said status of said customer-account is satisfactory, initiating actions comprising; conditionally debiting said customer account by a first monitory amount related to said customer-selected item identified by said customer-selected-item identifier; conditionally crediting a vendor account by a second monitory amount corresponding to said first monitory amount; and transmitting an encrypted transaction confirmation to said vendor application, said transaction confirmation enabling said vendor application to confer pre-determined usage rights regarding said selected item to said customer;
else,transmitting an error message to said vendor application; periodically reconciling one or more of said customer accounts and one or more said vendor accounts; and making periodic vendor payments in an amount inferred from said reconciled vendor accounts and appropriately adjusted by any service fees, and receiving periodic customer payments in an amount inferred said reconciled customer, thereby incurring a single transaction fee for a multiplicity of micro-transactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification