System and method for handling purchasing transactions over a computer network

• US 6,505,171 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Charles Marder, John Clayton Hilinski, Robert H. Cohen
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Charles Marder, John Clayton Hilinski, Robert H. Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Robert H., Hilinski, John Clayton, Marder, Jeffrey Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US09/498,063
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/44, 705/67, 705/77, 705/78, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for handling purchasing transactions over a computer network using pre-paid cards as the medium of exchange between a purchaser and a merchant. Selection of salable items on a merchant'"'"'s display site by the purchaser is followed by activation of a purchasing option which triggers a third party processor to substitute an alternative display substantially duplicating the merchant'"'"'s sales presentation such that the merchant'"'"'s display features remain in the view of the purchaser while the transaction is being authorized. Notification of the transaction is dependent upon the outcome to preserve valuable system resources.

Claims

1. A method for handling a purchasing transaction between a first party using a first party processor and a second party using a second party processor communicating over a global computer network and comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of pre-paid cards in an unactivated state, each card having a unique card identifier;

providing said cards at a distribution site;

exchanging currency received from the first party at said distribution site for at least one pre-paid card;

collecting the currency from said distribution site and depositing the currency in a first repository;

activating said pre-paid card at an activation site by requesting and receiving a set of first party information;

generating a user record based on said first party information and storing said record in a transactional database maintained by a third party administrator;

accessing a merchant site having a merchant display generated by a display code capable of displaying a plurality of graphical features including salable items via the global computer network;

selecting and confirming at least one salable item to be purchased;

presenting the first party with a pre-paid card purchasing option having an associated link;

selecting said pre-paid card purchasing option;

accessing a third party administrative processor including a transactional computer program having a new page generating algorithm and a fund verification algorithm;

initiating said new page generating algorithm to obtain said display code and reconfigure said code to generate a new display page in the form of an active server page including a query form requesting user response information and a selection of said graphical features;

forwarding said new display page to the first party processor and terminating communication with the second party;

receiving said requested user response information;

accessing said fund verification algorithm and said transactional database to verify the viability of the transaction;

if such transaction is viable, submitting a fund transfer request to said first repository to transfer funds to a second repository associated with the second party;

sending a reference approval number to the first party;

reestablishing communication with the second party and sending a notification of said fund transfer request; and

forwarding said selected salable item from the second party to the first party.

2. A system for handling a purchasing transaction as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

if such transaction is not viable, sending notification to the first party.

3. A method for handling a purchasing transaction between a first party having a first party processor and a second party having a second party processor communicating over a communications network and comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of pre-paid cards for exchange at a distribution site in an unactivated state, each said pre-paid card having a unique card identifier;

activating said pre-paid card at an activation site upon requesting and receiving a set of first party information;

generating a user record based on said first party information and storing said record in a transactional database;

establishing communication with a second party processor and displaying on a first party display device a second party display generated by a display code capable of generating a plurality of media features including salable items via the communications network upon receiving a request from said first party for a second party display;

upon receipt of a selection of at least one salable item to be purchased, transmitting a pre-paid card purchasing option having an associated link to said first party processor for display on said first party display device;

upon receipt of the selection of said pre-paid card purchasing option, accessing an administrative processor including a transactional computer program having a new page generating algorithm and a fund verification algorithm and initiating said new page generating algorithm to obtain said display code and reconfigure said code to generate a new display page in the form of an active server page including a query form requesting user response information and a selection of said graphical features;

forwarding said new display page to the first party processor for display on said first party display device and terminating communication with the second party processor;

upon receipt of said requested user response information, accessing said fund verification algorithm and said transactional database to verify the viability of the transaction;

if such transaction is viable, submitting a fund transfer request to a first repository associated with said first party to transfer funds to a second repository associated with the second party;

reestablishing communication with the second party processor and sending a notification of said fund transfer request; and

forwarding said selected salable item from the second party to the first party.

4. A system for handling a purchasing transaction as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

if such transaction is not viable, sending notification to the first party.