Method and system in electronic commerce for inspection-service-based release of escrowed payments
First Claim
1. A method for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving a transaction message at a data processing system of an escrow service, wherein the transaction message comprises a description of goods to be transferred during a transaction between a seller of the goods and a buyer of the goods;
accepting payment for the goods from the buyer at the escrow service;
in response to accepting payment for the goods from the buyer, sending by the escrow service to the seller a notification message of acceptance of payment for the goods;
holding the payment in escrow by the escrow service;
sending by the escrow service to an inspection service a description message that describes the goods to be transferred during the transaction;
receiving at the escrow service from the inspection service a first certification message for the transaction after accepting payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the first certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, system, or computer program product facilitates trustworthy electronic commerce by providing an inspection-service-based release of an escrowed payment for a transaction involving physical goods. An inspection service stands as an independent party at the onset of the transfer of goods between the buyer and the seller. In an attempt to reduce fraudulent behavior by the buyer or the seller, an inspection service inspects the goods, preferably at the point of shipment. A description of the goods has been previously stored in a transaction record that has been previously created within an escrow service. The inspection service may electronically retrieve the description of the goods from the escrow service. The inspection service then determines whether the description of the goods is acceptably similar to the actual condition or type of the goods and generates a certification if they are acceptable similar. The inspection service may then electronically notify the escrow service of the certification, and the escrow service may release the escrowed payment if the goods are accepted by the other party.
66 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving a transaction message at a data processing system of an escrow service, wherein the transaction message comprises a description of goods to be transferred during a transaction between a seller of the goods and a buyer of the goods;
accepting payment for the goods from the buyer at the escrow service;
in response to accepting payment for the goods from the buyer, sending by the escrow service to the seller a notification message of acceptance of payment for the goods;
holding the payment in escrow by the escrow service;
sending by the escrow service to an inspection service a description message that describes the goods to be transferred during the transaction;
receiving at the escrow service from the inspection service a first certification message for the transaction after accepting payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the first certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving from a buyer or a seller at an inspection service a transaction identifier for the transaction, wherein the transaction identifier provides an association between the transaction and an electronic description of goods to be transferred during the transaction between the seller of the goods and the buyer of the goods;
retrieving from an escrow service by the inspection service the electronic description of the goods associated with the transaction; and
sending a first certification message for the transaction from the inspection service to the escrow service after the escrow service has accepted payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the certification message comprises the transaction identifier, and wherein the certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the electronic description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the apparatus comprising:
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first receiving means for receiving a transaction message at a data processing system of an escrow service, wherein the transaction message comprises a description of goods to be transferred during a transaction between a seller of the goods and a buyer of the goods;
accepting means for accepting payment for the goods from the buyer at the escrow service;
first sending means for sending by the escrow service to the seller a notification message of acceptance of payment for the goods in response to accepting payment for the goods from the buyer;
holding means for holding the payment in escrow by the escrow service;
second sending means for sending by the escrow service to an inspection service a description message that describes the goods to be transferred during the transaction;
second receiving means for receiving at the escrow service from the inspection service a first certification message for the transaction after accepting payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the first certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A apparatus for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the apparatus comprising:
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first receiving means for receiving from a buyer or a seller at an inspection service a transaction identifier for the transaction, wherein the transaction identifier provides an association between the transaction and an electronic description of goods to be transferred during the transaction between the seller of the goods and the buyer of the goods;
retrieving means for retrieving from an escrow service by the inspection service the electronic description of the goods associated with the transaction; and
first sending means for sending a first certification message for the transaction from the inspection service to the escrow service after the escrow service has accepted payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the certification message comprises the transaction identifier, and wherein the certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the electronic description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for receiving a transaction message at a data processing system of an escrow service, wherein the transaction message comprises a description of goods to be transferred during a transaction between a seller of the goods and a buyer of the goods;
instructions for accepting payment for the goods from the buyer at the escrow service;
instructions for sending by the escrow service to the seller a notification message of acceptance of payment for the goods in response to accepting payment for the goods from the buyer;
instructions for holding the payment in escrow by the escrow service;
instructions for sending by the escrow service to an inspection service a description message that describes the goods to be transferred during the transaction;
instructions for receiving at the escrow service from the inspection service a first certification message for the transaction after accepting payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the first certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for processing a transaction in electronic commerce using data processing systems, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for receiving from a buyer or a seller at an inspection service a transaction identifier for the transaction, wherein the transaction identifier provides an association between the transaction and an electronic description of goods to be transferred during the transaction between the seller of the goods and the buyer of the goods;
instructions for retrieving from an escrow service by the inspection service the electronic description of the goods associated with the transaction; and
instructions for sending a first certification message for the transaction from the inspection service to the escrow service after the escrow service has accepted payment for the goods from the buyer and before receipt of the goods by the buyer, wherein the certification message comprises the transaction identifier, and wherein the certification message indicates that a physical state of the goods is acceptably similar to the electronic description of the goods during an inspection of the goods by the inspection service. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification