Methods, systems, and products for collaborative authorizations in electronic commerce

• US 7,877,326 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2005
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US11/106,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,110 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705 38- 44, 705 64- 69, 705 76- 78, 705/300, 726 1- 7, 726 16- 19, 235/382, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices, and products obtain collaborative authorization in an electronic commerce transaction. One such device includes a commerce profile stored in memory, and a processor communicates with the memory. The commerce profile stores rules for obtaining authorization for the electronic transaction. The processor accesses the commerce profile and, based on the rules, determines whether authorization from a first party is permitted or whether collaborative authorization by a second party is required to authorize the electronic transaction. When collaborative authorization is required, the processor retrieves a collaborative communications address from the commerce profile and communicates the collaborative communications address from the device.

Claims

1. A device for collaborative authorization in an electronic transaction, the device comprising:

a commerce profile stored in memory, the commerce profile comprising business rules that require a collaborative authorization for the electronic transaction between a purchaser, a financial institution, and a third party; and

a processor communicating with the memory and participating in the electronic transaction, the rules causing the processor to;

determine whether an amount of the electronic transaction exceeds a maximum amount;

contractually require collaborative authorization from a third party when the amount of electronic transaction exceeds the maximum amount;

determine whether the electronic transaction relates to a predefined category of product or service when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

contractually require collaborative authorization from the third party when the electronic transaction involves the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

determine whether the electronic transaction involves a predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

contractually require collaborative authorization from the third party when the electronic transaction is related to the predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount; and

decline collaborative authorization when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rules further cause the processor to retrieve a collaborative communications address from the commerce profile when collaborative authorization is required from the third party.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the rules further cause the processor to communicate a request for collaborative authorization to the collaborative communications address.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the rules further cause the processor to receive a denial from the collaborative communications address.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein when collaborative authorization is not required, the processor permits authorization by the purchaser.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rules cause the processor to receive a denial.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rules cause the processor to access a hierarchical list of addresses and sequentially attempt to obtain collaborative authorization from each address.

8. A method for collaborative authorization in an electronic transaction, the method comprising:

accessing a commerce profile stored in memory, the commerce profile comprising contractual rules for obtaining authorization for the electronic transaction;

processing the electronic transaction between a purchaser and a financial institution;

determining by a processor whether an amount of the electronic transaction exceeds a maximum amount;

contractually requiring collaborative authorization from a third party when the amount of electronic transaction exceeds the maximum amount;

determining by the processor whether the electronic transaction relates to a predefined category of product or service when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

contractually requiring collaborative authorization from the third party when the electronic transaction involves the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

determining whether the electronic transaction involves a predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

contractually requiring collaborative authorization from the third party when the electronic transaction is related to the predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount; and

declining collaborative authorization when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

retrieving a collaborative communications address by the processor from the commerce profile when collaborative authorization is required from the third party;

communicating a request for collaborative authorization from the processor to the collaborative communications address; and

denying the electronic transaction by the processor when the third party refuses authorization, even though the purchaser and the financial institution have approved the electronic transaction.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising retrieving a date and a time associated with the collaborative communications address.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising retrieving a hierarchical list of addresses.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving a denial from an address in the hierarchical list of addresses.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving a denial from each address in the hierarchical list of addresses.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving a denial from the collaborative communications address.

14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising communicating the collaborative communications address to a point of sale device.

15. A computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions that cause the processor to:

accessing a commerce profile stored in memory, the commerce profile comprising contractual rules for obtaining authorization for the electronic transaction;

processing the electronic transaction between a purchaser and a financial institution;

determining whether an amount of the electronic transaction exceeds a maximum amount;

contractually requiring collaborative authorization from a third party when the amount of electronic transaction exceeds the maximum amount;

determining whether the electronic transaction relates to a predefined category of product or service when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

contractually requiring collaborative authorization from the third party when the electronic transaction involves the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

determining whether the electronic transaction involves a predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

contractually requiring collaborative authorization from the third party when the electronic transaction is related to the predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

declining collaborative authorization when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predetermined Internet Protocol address and when the electronic transaction is unrelated to the predefined category of product or service and when the amount of the electronic transaction is less than or equal to the maximum amount;

retrieving a collaborative communications address from the commerce profile when collaborative authorization is required from the third party;

communicating a request for collaborative authorization to the collaborative communications address;

determining whether the collaborative authorization is obtainable from the collaborative communications address;

access a hierarchical list of addresses and sequentially attempt to obtain collaborative authorization from each address when the collaborative authorization is unobtainable from the collaborative communications address; and

denying the electronic transaction when the third party refuses authorization, even though the purchaser and the financial institution have approved the electronic transaction.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for retrieving a date and a time associated with the collaborative communications address.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for retrieving a date and a time associated with each address in the hierarchical list of addresses.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a denial from the collaborative communications address.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a denial from an address in the hierarchical list of addresses.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a denial from each address in the hierarchical list of addresses.