Network-based system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system, where a merchant sends any of goods and services to a customer, using a customer accounts server;
- a merchant accounts server;
a system services server;
a merchant computer having an associated merchant account;
a customer computer having an associated customer account; and
a telecommunications network interconnecting the customer accounts server, the merchant accounts server, the system services server, the merchant computer, and the customer computer, each having a unique identifier for contact within the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of;
the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer,the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not requiring installation of any new software to communicate its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not revealing any information usable to secure customer payment to the merchant computer;
the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
the customer computer initiating contact with the customer accounts server and sending to the customer accounts server a customer transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request;
the merchant computer initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a merchant transaction acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request;
the customer accounts server initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a payment acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request;
the merchant accounts server matching the merchant transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server, andthe merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.
1 Assignment
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transaction settlement system and method for internet and other trading over a telecommunications network. Customer computers and merchant computers are connected to customer account servers and merchant account servers respectively, the former maintains a customer account and conducts the financial aspects of the transaction with the merchant server without revealing the customers identity. The sequence of the messages are such that once in message M4, the customer computer instructs the customer accounts server to accept the transaction and the customer accounts server accepts it, the customer accounts server deals with the merchant accounts server to settle the account in accordance with agreed procedures. The merchant can have surely of payment. There is also provided methods to deliver coupons, e.g. discount coupons and to ship goods with anonymity.
132 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system, where a merchant sends any of goods and services to a customer, using a customer accounts server;
- a merchant accounts server;
a system services server;
a merchant computer having an associated merchant account;
a customer computer having an associated customer account; and
a telecommunications network interconnecting the customer accounts server, the merchant accounts server, the system services server, the merchant computer, and the customer computer, each having a unique identifier for contact within the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of;the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer, the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not requiring installation of any new software to communicate its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not revealing any information usable to secure customer payment to the merchant computer; the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer; the customer computer initiating contact with the customer accounts server and sending to the customer accounts server a customer transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the merchant computer initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a merchant transaction acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the customer accounts server initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a payment acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the merchant accounts server matching the merchant transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server, and the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.
- a merchant accounts server;
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2. A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system, where a merchant sends any of goods and services to a customer, using a customer accounts server;
- a merchant accounts server;
a system services server;
a merchant computer having an associated merchant account;
a customer computer having an associated customer account and a telecommunications network interconnecting the customer accounts server, the merchant accounts server, the system services server, the merchant computer, and the customer computer, each having a unique identifier for contact within the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of;the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer; the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not requiring installation of any new software to communicate its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not revealing any information usable to secure customer payment to the merchant computer; the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer; the customer computer initiating contact with the customer accounts server and sending to the customer accounts server a customer transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the customer computer accepting the transaction by sending an acknowledgment message to the merchant computer; the merchant computer initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a merchant transaction acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the customer accounts server initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a payment acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the merchant accounts server matching the merchant transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server; and the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
- a merchant accounts server;
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7. A trading system for carrying out a transaction between a merchant and a customer over a communications network, the system comprising:
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a system services server; a customer accounts server for connection to a customer computer; and a merchant accounts server for connection to a merchant computer, the merchant accounts server being configurable to receive a merchant transaction acceptance initiated by the merchant computer that includes a merchant transaction identifier number and a payment request; the customer accounts server being configurable to receive a customer transaction acceptance initiated by the customer computer that includes the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request, the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request having been received by the customer computer from the merchant computer upon the customer computer communicating an intent to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not requiring installation of any new software to communicate its intention to purchase from the merchant computer, the customer computer not revealing any information usable to secure customer payment to the merchant computer; and the system services server being configurable to initiate payment to the merchant on behalf of the customer upon the merchant transaction acceptance matching the customer transaction acceptance.
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8. A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system, where a merchant sends any of goods and services to a customer, using a customer accounts server;
- a merchant accounts server;
a system services server;
a merchant computer having an associated merchant account;
a customer computer having an associated customer account; and
a telecommunications network interconnecting the customer accounts server, the merchant accounts server, the system services server, the merchant computer, and the customer computer, each having a unique identifier for contact within the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of;the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer, the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer; the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer; the customer computer initiating contact with the customer accounts server and sending to the customer accounts server a customer transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the merchant computer initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a merchant transaction acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the customer accounts server initiating contact with the merchant accounts server and sending to the merchant accounts server a payment acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number and the payment request; the merchant accounts server matching the merchant transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server, and the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a merchant accounts server;
Specification