System and method for effecting payment for an electronic auction commerce transaction
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
- maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of said electronic auction web site and a payment segment of said electronic auction web site by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts storing funds therein and each capable of being used for user transactions in the electronic auction system;
performing at least one payment-related activity by at least one processor of said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users, wherein at least one payment source corresponding to the purchaser is used to obtain funds for storing within the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser prior to debiting the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser; and
crediting by said at least one processor at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale via the electronic auction web site.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a computerized electronic auction payment system and method for effecting a real-time payment for an item won in an electronic auction by setting up and maintaining electronic auction payment accounts for prospective bidders and sellers. The prospective bidders provide funds to their electronic auction payment accounts maintained by the computerized electronic auction payment system, prior to being deemed as winning bidders, via direct deposit, using a credit card, or sending a check, money order, or other financial document to an operator of the computerized electronic auction payment system. In one embodiment, a prospective bidder authorizes the computerized electronic auction payment system to effect a real-time payment to the seller upon the prospective bidder being deemed the winning bidder (i.e., immediately following the conclusion of the auction). That is, without the winning bidder having to access a payment page via an Internet connection to a particular web site.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of said electronic auction web site and a payment segment of said electronic auction web site by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts storing funds therein and each capable of being used for user transactions in the electronic auction system; performing at least one payment-related activity by at least one processor of said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users, wherein at least one payment source corresponding to the purchaser is used to obtain funds for storing within the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser prior to debiting the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser; and crediting by said at least one processor at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale via the electronic auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 32, 33, 34)
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13. The method according to claim I, further comprising the step of retaining, by an operator of the at least one computing device, a percentage of funds debited from the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item prior to crediting the at least one account corresponding to the seller.
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14. A system for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said system comprising:
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an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, said electronic auction payment system comprising a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and means for maintaining a payment segment of said electronic auction web site and said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of the electronic auction web site, where the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts store funds therein, and the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts include an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale and an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the seller; means for performing at least one payment-related activity by said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users, wherein at least a portion of any debited funds correspond to funds transferred to the electronic auction payment account and stored therein prior to debiting the electronic auction payment account; and means for crediting at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A payment system for effecting payment to a seller of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale via an electronic auction web site and won by a winning bidder at the conclusion of the electronic auction sale, said electronic auction web site being maintained by an electronic auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts, where the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts store actual funds therein, and where one of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponds to the winning bidder of the at least one item and one of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponds to the seller; and a computing device including application software for maintaining the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and for automatically effecting payment to the seller by accessing the database and debiting actual funds stored within the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the winning bidder of the at least one item and crediting at least one account corresponding to the seller without any intervention by the winning bidder following the conclusion of the electronic auction, wherein said payment system maintains the database containing the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and a payment segment of the electronic auction web site, and wherein at least a portion of funds debited correspond to funds transferred to the electronic auction payment account and stored therein prior to debiting the electronic auction payment account. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for automatically effecting payment for a user of an electronic auction web site maintained by an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining by at least one processor if there are sufficient funds in an electronic payment account to effect payment, said electronic payment account being maintained by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, said electronic payment account corresponding to the user of the electronic auction web site and storing funds therein; debiting the electronic payment account corresponding to the user of the electronic auction web site and crediting at least one account to effect payment for the user of the electronic auction web site, if there are sufficient funds in the electronic payment account corresponding to the user to effect payment, wherein at least a portion of any debited funds correspond to funds transferred to the electronic payment account and stored therein prior to debiting the electronic payment account; and loaning funds to effect payment, if there are not sufficient funds in the electronic payment account corresponding to the user of the electronic auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A payment system for effecting payment for at least one of a plurality of online auction registered users of an online auction web site maintained by an online auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of the plurality of online auction registered users, said plurality of accounts storing funds therein; and a computing device including application software for maintaining the plurality of accounts and for periodically effecting payment for the at least one of the plurality of online auction registered users by debiting an account of the plurality of accounts and crediting at least one account, wherein the debited account corresponds to the at least one online auction registered user, wherein said payment system is integrated with said online auction system and maintains a payment segment of said online auction web site, wherein at least a portion of funds debited correspond to funds transferred to the debited account and stored therein prior to debiting the account. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A payment system for effecting payment to an operator of an online auction web site maintained by an online auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of a plurality of online auction registered users, said plurality of accounts storing funds therein; and a computing device including application software for maintaining said plurality of accounts and for automatically effecting payment for at least one of the plurality of online auction registered users by debiting an account of the plurality of accounts and crediting at least one account corresponding to the operator, wherein the debited account corresponds to the at least one online auction registered user, wherein said payment system is integrated with said online auction system and maintains a payment segment of said online auction web site, wherein at least a portion of funds debited correspond to funds transferred to the debited account and stored therein prior to debiting the account. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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35. A method for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of said electronic auction web site and a payment segment of said electronic auction web site by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts storing funds therein and each capable of being used for user transactions in the electronic auction system; performing at least one payment-related activity by at least one processor of said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users, wherein at least a portion of any debited funds correspond to funds transferred to the electronic auction payment account and stored therein prior to debiting the electronic auction payment account; and crediting by said at least one processor at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale via the electronic auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A method for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of said electronic auction web site and a payment segment of said electronic auction web site by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts storing actual funds therein and said actual funds capable of being used for user transactions in the electronic auction system; performing by at least one processor at least one payment-related activity by said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to he purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and crediting by said at least one processor at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale via the electronic auction web site.
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39. A system for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said system comprising:
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an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, said electronic auction payment system comprising a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and means for maintaining a payment segment of said electronic auction web site and said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of the electronic auction web site, where each of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts store actual funds therein, and the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts include an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale and an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the seller; means for performing at least one payment-related activity by said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing actual funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and means for crediting at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item.
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40. A payment system for effecting payment to a seller of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale via an electronic auction web site and won by a winning bidder at the conclusion of (he electronic auction sale, said electronic auction web site being maintained by an electronic auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts, where each of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts store actual funds therein, and where one of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponds to the winning bidder of the at least one item and one of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponds to the seller; and a computing device including application software for maintaining the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and for automatically effecting payment to the seller by accessing the database and debiting actual funds stored within the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the winning bidder of the at least one item and crediting at least one account corresponding to the seller without any intervention by the winning bidder following the conclusion of the electronic auction, wherein said payment system maintains the database containing the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and a payment segment of the electronic auction web site.
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41. A payment system for effecting payment for at least one of a plurality of online auction registered users of an online auction web site maintained by an online auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of the plurality of online auction registered users, each of said plurality of accounts storing actual funds therein; and a computing device including application software for maintaining the plurality of accounts and for periodically effecting payment for the at least one of the plurality of online auction registered users by debiting actual funds stored within an account of the plurality of accounts and crediting at least one account, wherein the debited account corresponds to the at least one online auction registered user, wherein said payment system is integrated with said online auction system and maintains a payment segment of said online auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A payment system for effecting payment to an operator of an online auction web site maintained by an online auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of a plurality of online auction registered users, each of said plurality of accounts storing actual funds therein; and a computing device including application software for maintaining said plurality of accounts and for automatically effecting payment for at least one of the plurality of online auction registered users by debiting actual funds stored within an account of the plurality of accounts and crediting at least one account corresponding to the operator, wherein the debited account corresponds to the at least one online auction registered user, wherein said payment system is integrated with said online auction system and maintains a payment segment of said online auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A method for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of said electronic auction web site and a payment segment of said electronic auction web site by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts storing funds therein and not information relating to sources which can be used to initiate payment, such as credit card information, and each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts capable of being used for user transactions in the electronic auction system; performing by at least one processor at least one payment-related activity by said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and crediting by said at least one processor at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale via the electronic auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of said electronic auction web site and a payment segment of said electronic auction web site by an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts storing funds therein and not information relating to sources which can be used to initiate payment, such as credit card information, and each of said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts capable of being used for user transactions in the electronic auction system; performing by at least one processor at least one payment-related activity by said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and crediting by said at least one processor at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale via the electronic auction web site.
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52. A system for effecting payment for a purchaser of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale by a seller via an electronic auction web site maintained by at least one computing device of an electronic auction system, said system comprising:
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an electronic auction payment system integrated with said electronic auction system, said electronic auction payment system comprising a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and means for maintaining a payment segment of said electronic auction web site and said plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the purchaser, of the electronic auction web site, where each of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts store funds therein and not information relating to sources which can be used to initiate payment, such as credit card information, and the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts include an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item offered for the electronic auction sale and an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the seller; means for performing at least one payment-related activity by said electronic auction payment system for effecting payment for said purchaser, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting an electronic auction payment account corresponding to the purchaser of the at least one item and maintained by said electronic auction payment system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and means for crediting at least one account corresponding to the seller to effect payment for the at least one item.
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53. A payment system for effecting payment to a seller of at least one item offered for an electronic auction sale via an electronic auction web site and won by a winning bidder at the conclusion of the electronic auction sale, said electronic auction web site being maintained by an electronic auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing a plurality of electronic auction payment accounts, where each of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts store funds therein and not information relating to sources which can be used to initiate payment, such as credit card information, and where one of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponds to the winning bidder of the at least one item and one of the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts corresponds to the seller; and a computing device including application software for maintaining the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and for automatically effecting payment to the seller by accessing the database and debiting funds stored within the electronic auction payment account corresponding to the winning bidder of the at least one item and crediting at least one account corresponding to the seller without any intervention by the winning bidder following the conclusion of the electronic auction, wherein said payment system maintains the database containing the plurality of electronic auction payment accounts and a payment segment of the electronic auction web site.
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54. A payment system for effecting payment for at least one of a plurality of online auction registered users of an online auction web site maintained by an online auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of the plurality of online auction registered users, each of said plurality of accounts storing funds therein and not information relating to sources which can be used to initiate payment, such as credit card information; and a computing device including application software for maintaining the plurality of accounts and for periodically effecting payment for the at least one of the plurality of online auction registered users by debiting funds stored within an account of the plurality of accounts and crediting at least one account, wherein the debited account corresponds to the at least one online auction registered user, wherein said payment system is integrated with said online auction system and maintains a payment segment of said online auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A payment system for effecting payment to an operator of an online auction web site maintained by an online auction system, said payment system comprising:
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a database containing information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of a plurality of online auction registered users, each of said plurality of accounts storing funds therein and not information relating to sources which can be used to initiate payment, such as credit card information; and a computing device including application software for maintaining said plurality of accounts and for automatically effecting payment for at least one of the plurality of online auction registered users by debiting funds stored within an account of the plurality of accounts and crediting at least one account corresponding to the operator, wherein the debited account corresponds to the at least one online auction registered user, wherein said payment system is integrated with said online auction system and maintains a payment segment of said online auction web site. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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Specification