Method and apparatus for surrogate control of network-based electronic transactions
First Claim
1. A method for surrogate control of electronic commerce transactions, comprising:
- funding at least one surrogate account in a surrogate electronic system;
accessing at least one electronic commerce system through the surrogate electronic system;
selecting at least one item for purchase from the at least one electronic commerce system;
selecting at least one credit card account in the surrogate electronic system;
determining an amount due to complete at least one purchase transaction on the at least one electronic commerce system;
transferring funds equal to the amount due from the at least one surrogate account to the at least one credit card account;
executing the at least one purchase transaction using the at least one credit card account;
reconciling transactions for the at least one credit card account, wherein reconciling includes;
maintaining a surrogate system ledger including at least one balance for the at least one surrogate account and at least one corresponding purchase transaction record;
periodically receiving a credit account statement ledger including purchase transactions resulting in a chance in the at least one balance; and
using the credit account statement ledger to adjust the surrogate system ledger.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surrogate system for the transparent control of electronic commerce transactions is provided through which an individual without a credit card is enabled to shop at online merchant sites. Upon opening an account within the surrogate system, the account can be funded using numerous fund sources, for example credit cards, checking accounts, money orders, gift certificates, incentive codes, online currency, coupons, and stored value cards. A user with a funded account can shop at numerous merchant web sites through the surrogate system. When merchandise is selected for purchase, a purchase transaction is executed in which a credit card belonging to the surrogate system is temporarily or permanently assigned to the user. The credit card, once loaded with funds from the user'"'"'s corresponding funded account, is used to complete the purchase transaction. The surrogate system provides controls that include monitoring the data streams and, in response, controlling the information flow between the user and the merchant sites.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for surrogate control of electronic commerce transactions, comprising:
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funding at least one surrogate account in a surrogate electronic system; accessing at least one electronic commerce system through the surrogate electronic system; selecting at least one item for purchase from the at least one electronic commerce system; selecting at least one credit card account in the surrogate electronic system; determining an amount due to complete at least one purchase transaction on the at least one electronic commerce system; transferring funds equal to the amount due from the at least one surrogate account to the at least one credit card account; executing the at least one purchase transaction using the at least one credit card account; reconciling transactions for the at least one credit card account, wherein reconciling includes; maintaining a surrogate system ledger including at least one balance for the at least one surrogate account and at least one corresponding purchase transaction record; periodically receiving a credit account statement ledger including purchase transactions resulting in a chance in the at least one balance; and using the credit account statement ledger to adjust the surrogate system ledger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for surrogate control of electronic commerce transactions, comprising:
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a surrogate web site coupled among at least one client computer, at least one financial system, and at least one database including at least one user account, wherein the at least one user account is funded by a user with at least one user funding source; and at least one proxy server coupled among the at least one database, the at least one client computer, and at least one electronic merchant system, wherein at least one purchase transaction is supported on at least one client browser and the at least one electronic merchant system through the at least one proxy server, wherein payment for the at least one purchase transaction is funded using a surrogate funding source loaded with funds from the at least one user account, the surrogate funding source comprising a credit card account, wherein the at least one proxy server reconciles transactions for the at least one user account, wherein reconciling includes; maintaining a surrogate system ledger including at least one balance for the at least one user account and at least one corresponding purchase transaction record; periodically receiving a credit account statement ledger including purchase transactions resulting in a change in the at least one balance; and using the credit account statement ledger to adjust the surrogate system ledger. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A device for controlling electronic commerce transactions, comprising at least one surrogate processing system including a database coupled among at least one client computer and at least one electronic merchant system and a surrogate web site and at least one financial system and at least one transparent proxy server, wherein the at least one surrogate processing system is configured to:
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fund at least one surrogate account in the database; access the at least one electronic merchant system to allow selection of items for purchase from the at least one electronic merchant system using the at least one client computer; select at least one surrogate credit card account; determine an amount due to complete at least one purchase transaction on the at least one electronic merchant system; transfer funds equal to the amount due from the at least one surrogate account to the at least one surrogate credit card account; and execute the at least one purchase transaction using the at least one surrogate credit card account, wherein the at least one surrogate processing system is further configured to reconcile transactions for the at least one credit card account by; maintaining a surrogate system ledger including at least one balance for the at least one surrogate account and at least one corresponding purchase transaction record; periodically receiving a credit card account statement ledger including purchase transactions resulting in a change in the at least one balance; and using the credit card account statement ledger to adjust the surrogate system ledger. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, causes the system to control electronic commerce transactions, the control comprising:
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funding at least one surrogate account in a surrogate electronic system; accessing at least one electronic commerce system through the surrogate electronic system; selecting at least one item for purchase from the at least one electronic commerce system; selecting at least one credit card account in the surrogate electronic system; determining an amount due to complete at least one purchase transaction on the at least one electronic commerce system; transferring funds equal to the amount due from the at least one surrogate account to the at least one credit card account; executing the at least one purchase transaction using the at least one credit card account; and reconciling transactions for the at least one credit card account, wherein reconciling includes; maintaining a surrogate system ledger including at least one balance for the at least one surrogate account and at least one corresponding purchase transaction record; periodically receiving a credit card account statement ledger including purchase transactions resulting in a change in the at least one balance; and using the credit card account statement ledger to adjust the surrogate system ledger. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An electromagnetic medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, causes the system to control electronic commerce transactions, the control comprising:
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funding at least one surrogate account in a surrogate electronic system; accessing at least one electronic commerce system through the surrogate electronic system; selecting at least one item for purchase from the at least one electronic commerce system; selecting at least one credit card account in the surrogate electronic system; determining an amount due to complete at least one purchase transaction on the at least one electronic commerce system; transferring funds equal to the amount due from the at least one surrogate account to the at least one credit card account; executing the at least one purchase transaction using the at least one credit card account; reconciling transactions for the at least one credit card account, wherein reconciling includes; maintaining a surrogate system ledger including at least one balance for the at least one surrogate account and at least one corresponding purchase transaction record; periodically receiving a credit card account statement ledger including purchase transactions resulting in a change in the at least one balance; and using the credit card account statement ledger to adjust the surrogate system ledger. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification