Method and system for conducting business in a transnational E-commerce network

• US RE40,753 E1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation Sciences, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tiehong Wang, Tiejun Wang, Ximing Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Ximing, Wang, Tiejun (Ronald), Wang, Tiehong
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/214,311
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/41, 705/44, 705/53, 705/80
• US Class Current: 705/26.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

The invention presents a method and system for processing the purchase of products, goods and/or services, more particularly, to a method and system for processing the purchase by a buyer of products from one or more sellers of products in an on-line real-time e-Commerce business environment where the merchant server from which the goods are purchased lacks adequate encryption security for the purchasing of the goods by credit card. The method and system also allows for the easy up-dating registration by a merchant of the items available for purchase as maintained on the Web, DB server. The invention also discloses a method and system for avoiding the hindrance of foreign exchange rates fluctuations on the payment of on-line real-time e-Commerce trading. The system provides for a splitting of a merchant server into a Web, DB server and a payment server, the payment server being located in a nation state to which a purchaser may securely transmit encrypted credit card information in order to purchase product available on websites maintained on the Web, DB server.

Claims

1. A method for conducting on-line purchasing in an e-Commerce transnational business environment, purchasing being conducted over a computer network comprising a payment server having a credit card information transaction security system, a Web, DB server having a credit card information transaction security system less secure than the credit card information transaction security system of the payment server, at least one first remote computer, at least one second remote computer, at least one first communication channel connecting the at least one first remote computer to the payment server and to the Web, DB server, at least one second communication channel connecting the at least one second remote computer to the Web, DB server, and at least one third communication channel connecting the Web, DB server to the payment server, the method comprising the steps of:

a) positioning the Web, DB server in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

b) positioning the payment server in the first nation state;

c) using the at least one first remote computer to identify an item to be purchased from at least one item registered for purchase on the Web, DB server;

d) communicating a purchase request for the item identified to be purchased by a buyer from the at least one first remote computer to the Web, DB server;

e) switching of communication from the buyer with the Web, DB server to the payment server;

f) providing credit card payment information by the buyer for the item to be purchased from the at least one first remote computer to the payment server;

g) transferring credit card payment confirmation information from the payment server to the Web, DB server; and

h) up-dating the Web, DB server with respect to the purchase of the item identified by the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second nation state has no available credit card information transaction security sufficient to meet the security requirements of the buyer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first nation states is the United States of America.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second nation states is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) transferring the credit card payment information for the item to be purchased from the payment server to a buyer'"'"'s bank via an acquiring bank;

j) processing of the credit card payment information by the buyer'"'"'s bank for a validation decision result; and

k) communicating the result to the payment server via the acquiring bank.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

l) communicating confirming purchase information by the payment server to the buyer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of;

m) communicating confirming purchase information to the Web, DB server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

n) up-dating of the Web, DB server of the at least one item registered for purchase using the at least one second remote computer.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

i) exchanging buyer purchase information between the Web, DB server and the at least one second remote computer with respect to the purchase of the item identified by the buyer to include buyer'"'"'s identity information and quantity purchased in order for merchant to provide and service the at least one item registered for purchase.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

i) up-dating of the Web, DB server of the at least one item registered for purchase using the at least one second remote computer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

i) exchanging buyer purchase information between the Web, DB server and the at least one first remote computer with respect to the purchase of the item identified by the buyer to include buyer'"'"'s identity information and quantity purchased in order for merchant to provide and service the at least one item registered for purchase.

12. A system for conducting on-line buying by a buyer in an e-Commerce transnational business environment comprising:

a payment server having a credit card information transaction security system,

a Web, DB server having a credit card information transaction security system less secure than the credit card information transaction security system of the payment server,

at least one first remote computer,

at least one second remote computer,

at least one first communication channel connecting the at least one first remote computer to the payment server and to the Web, DB server,

at least one second communication channel connecting the at least one second remote computer to the Web, DB server, and

at least one third communication channel connecting the Web, DB server to the payment server, wherein the Web, DB server is positioned in one of a first nation state and a second nation state and the payment server is positioned in the first nation state.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the Web, DB server is positioned in the second nation state.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the Web, DB server is positioned in the first nation state.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a buyer'"'"'s bank and an acquiring bank.

17. A method for conducting online purchasing, in an e-Commerce business environment, the purchasing being conducted online over a computer network comprising a payment server, having a payment information transaction security system, and a Web, DB server separate from the payment server, the method comprising:

positioning the Web, DB server in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

positioning the payment server in the first nation state;

supporting a plurality of merchants on the Web, DB server including providing a website listing items of the plurality of merchants, the Web, DB server being adapted so that the merchants can update information, stored on the Web, DB server, relating to their respective items, and so that the Web, DB server maintains current information regarding the items;

receiving a purchase request at the Web, DB server from a buyer for one or more of the items listed on the Web, DB server;

when the Web, DB server receives the purchase request, switching communication of the buyer from the Web, DB server to the payment server;

after the communication is switched, the payment server receiving credit card payment information from the buyer to pay for the item to be purchased;

the payment server sending, to an established financial circuitry, the credit card payment information;

the payment server receiving, from the established financial circuitry, a credit card payment processing decision;

the payment server transferring the credit card payment confirmation information to the Web, DB server;

wherein the payment server has a respective internet address different from a respective internet address of the Web, DB server;

wherein, after the payment server transfers the payment confirmation information to the Web, DB server, the Web, DB server is updated with respect to the purchase of the item identified by the buyer;

wherein the Web, DB server provides a real-time purchasing/sales environment;

wherein the transmission of information regarding products for sale between the Web, DB server and the buyer, before receiving the purchase request from the buyer, is less secure than the transmission of the information regarding credit card payment, wherein the transmission of the information regarding credit card payment is performed under a security protocol providing for encryption of the credit card payment information.

18. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the payment server operates payment information transmission with a secure encryption protocol.

19. The online method supporting online purchasing over the internet, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the secure encryption protocol is 128 bit SSL.

20. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the Web, DB server does not operate payment information transmission with a secure encryption protocol.

21. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the payment confirmation information from the payment server is provided to the respective merchant.

22. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the payment confirmation information from the payment server is provided to the buyer.

23. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the Web, DB server utilizes a high-speed local network to resolve the problem of bandwidth bottleneck in internet transmission.

24. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the Web, DB server provides an online bidding system.

25. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 24, wherein the bidding system is enabled for the buyers to submit needs requirements in solicitation of bids from merchants providing products.

26. The method for conducting online purchasing, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the bidding system enables the merchants to access the needs requirements real-time and respond real-time to the buyer.

27. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

28. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

29. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.

30. A system, for conducting online buying in an e-Commerce business environment, comprising:

a payment server having a payment information transaction security system;

a Web, DB server distant from the payment server, supporting a plurality of merchants, including providing a website listing items of the plurality of merchants, the Web, DB server being adapted so that the merchants can refresh information, stored on the Web, DB server, relating to their respective items, and so that the Web, DB server maintains current information regarding the items; and

a first communication channel, initially between an online buyer and the Web, DB server for the buyer to identify one or more the items for purchase, and subsequently between the buyer and the payment server for the buyer to enter payment information into a secure connection with the payment server, the communication with the buyer being switched from the Web, DB server to the payment server when the Web, DB server receives an indication from the buyer to buy one or more of the items;

wherein;

the Web, DB server is in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

the payment server is in the first nation state;

the website of payment server has a respective website address different from a respective website address of the website of the Web, DB server;

the payment server receives credit card payment information for the buyer to pay for the one or more items;

the payment server sends, to an established financial circuitry, the credit card payment information;

the payment server receives, from the established financial circuitry, a credit card payment processing decision;

payment confirmation is transferred from the payment server to the Web, DB server and the Web, DB server is updated with respect to the purchase of the one or more items;

the Web, DB server facilitates a real-time purchasing/sales environment;

the transmission of information between the Web, DB server and the buyer, before receiving a purchase request from the buyer, is less secure than the transmission of the credit card payment information between the payment server and the buyer; and

the transmission of the information regarding credit card payment is performed under a security protocol providing for encryption of the credit card payment information.

31. The system, for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the payment server communicates payment confirmation information to the respective one of the plurality of merchants.

32. The system, for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the payment server communicates payment confirmation information to the buyer.

33. The system for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the Web, DB server utilizes a high-speed local network.

34. The system for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the Web, DB server is positioned to provide high speed transmission of multimedia files.

35. The system for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the Web, DB server provides an online bidding system.

36. The system for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 35, wherein the bidding system is enabled for buyers to submit needs requirements in solicitation of bids from the plurality of merchants providing products.

37. The system, for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 36, wherein the bidding system enables the merchants to access the needs requirements real-time and respond real-time to the buyer.

38. The system, for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the payment server operates payment information transmission with a security encryption protocol.

39. The system, for conducting online buying, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the secure encryption protocol is 128 bit SSL.

40. The system as set forth in claim 30, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

41. The system as set forth in claim 40, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

42. The system as set forth in claim 30, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.

43. An online system, supporting online buying over the internet, having a server supporting a plurality of merchants including providing a website listing products of the plurality of merchants, and a payment server separate from the server supporting the plurality of merchants, the online system comprising:

means for shifting the online communication with the buyer from the website of the server supporting the plurality of merchants to the website of the payment server when an indication to buy one or more of the products is received online, at the website of the server, from a buyer;

means for facilitating a real-time purchasing/sales environment for a plurality of merchants by the server supporting the plurality of merchants including facilitating the plurality of merchants to refresh information stored on the server supporting the plurality of merchants;

means for receiving credit card payment information from the buyer to pay for the item to be purchased after the online communication is shifted;

means for sending, to an established financial channel, the credit card payment information;

means for receiving, from the established financial channel, a credit card payment processing decision;

means for transferring the credit card payment confirmation information from the payment server to the server supporting the plurality of merchants; and

wherein;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants is in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

the payment server is in the first nation state;

the payment server has a respective website address different from a respective website address of the website of the server supporting the plurality of merchants;

after transferring of the payment confirmation information from the payment server, the server supporting the plurality of merchants is updated with respect to the purchase of the one or more products;

the transmission of information about products for sale between the server supporting the plurality of merchants and the buyer, before receiving the indication to buy, is less secure than the transmission of information about the credit card payment; and

the transmission of the information regarding credit card payment is performed under a security protocol providing for encryption of the credit card payment information.

44. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 43, wherein payment confirmation information is sent to the respective ones of the plurality of merchants.

45. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 43, wherein the server supporting the plurality of merchants utilizes a high-speed local network.

46. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 43, wherein the server supporting the plurality of merchants is positioned to provide high speed transmission of multimedia files.

47. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 43, wherein the server supporting the plurality of merchants provides a bidding system.

48. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 47, wherein the bidding system is enabled for buyers to submit needs requirements in solicitation of bids from merchants providing the products.

49. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the bidding system enables the merchants to access the needs requirements real-time and respond real-time to the needs requirements.

50. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 43, wherein the payment server is adapted to accept the buyer payment information with a security encryption protocol.

51. The online system supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 50, wherein the security encryption protocol is 128 bit SSL.

52. The system as set forth in claim 43, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

53. The system as set forth in claim 52, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

54. The system as set forth in claim 43, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.

55. An online method supporting online buying over the internet, comprising:

providing a server supporting a plurality of merchants and a corresponding website, and providing a payment server distant from the server supporting the plurality of merchants, wherein;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants is in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

the payment server is in the first nation state;

the website lists, online, products of the plurality of merchants for sale;

when the website of the server supporting a plurality of merchants receives an indication from a buyer to buy one or more of the products, the online communication with the buyer shifts from the website of the server supporting a plurality of merchants to the website of the payment server;

after the online communication is shifted, the website of the payment server accepts, online, buyer credit card payment information;

the payment server sends, to an established financial circuitry, the credit card payment information;

the payment server receives, from the established financial circuitry, a credit card payment processing decision;

the website of the payment server has a respective URL (Uniform Resource Locator) different from a respective URL of the website of the server supporting a plurality of merchants;

payment confirmation information is transferred from the payment server to the server supporting the plurality of merchants, and the server supporting the plurality of merchants is updated with respect to the purchase;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants provides a real-time purchasing/sales environment;

the transmission of information between the server supporting the plurality of merchants and the buyer, before receiving the indication to buy, is less secure than the transmission of information about the credit card payment; and

the transmission of the information regarding credit card payment information is performed under a security protocol providing for encryption of the credit card payment information.

56. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 55, wherein the payment confirmation information is sent to the buyer.

57. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 55, wherein payment confirmation information is sent to the respective ones of the plurality of merchants.

58. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 55, wherein the server supporting the plurality of merchants provides a bidding system.

59. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 58, wherein the bidding system is enabled for the buyers to submit needs requirements in solicitation of bids from the plurality of merchants providing the products.

60. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the bidding system enables the plurality of merchants to access the needs requirements real-time and respond real-time to the needs requirements.

61. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 55, wherein the payment server is adapted to accept the buyer payment information with a security encryption protocol.

62. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 61, wherein the security encryption protocol is 128 bit SSL.

63. The online method supporting online buying over the internet, as set forth in claim 55, wherein the server supporting the plurality of merchants utilizes a high-speed local network to avoid a bandwidth bottleneck in internet transmission.

64. The method as set forth in claim 55, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

65. The method as set forth in claim 64, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

66. The method as set forth in claim 55, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.

67. An online method for a payment server to support online buying over the internet, the online method comprising:

providing a secure connection for payment information transmission;

receiving credit card payment information from a buyer for payment of one or more items identified by the buyer for purchase from a website supporting a plurality of merchants and listing respective items of the merchants, after the online communication of the buyer has been switched to the website of the payment server from the website supporting the plurality of merchants, the online communication being switched when the server supporting the plurality of merchants receives an indication from the buyer to buy one or more of the items;

sending, to an established financial channel, the credit card payment information;

receiving, from the established financial channel, a credit card payment processing decision;

wherein;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants is in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

the payment server is in the first nation state;

a website of the payment server has a respective internet address different from a respective internet address of the website supporting the plurality of merchants;

the payment server sends the credit card payment confirmation information to update the server supporting the plurality of merchants with respect to the purchase of the one or more items identified by the buyer;

the payment server sends the credit card payment confirmation information to support a real-time purchasing/sales environment for the plurality of merchants;

the transmission of information about products for sale between the website supporting the plurality of merchants and the buyer, before receiving an indication to buy, is less secure than the transmission of the information about credit card payment from the buyer to the payment server; and

the transmission of information about credit card payment is performed under a security protocol providing for encryption of the credit card payment information.

68. The online method for a payment server as set forth in claim 67, wherein the secure connection uses 128 bit SSL.

69. The online method for a payment server, as set forth in claim 67, wherein the payment confirmation information is sent to the buyer.

70. The online method for a payment server, as set forth in claim 67, wherein the payment confirmation information is sent to respective ones of the plurality of merchants.

71. The method as set forth in claim 67, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

72. The method as set forth in claim 71, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

73. The method as set forth in claim 67, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.

74. A payment system for supporting online buying over the internet, comprising:

means for enabling a secure connection with a buyer for payment information transmission;

means for receiving credit card payment information from the buyer for payment of one or more items identified by the buyer for purchase from a website supporting a plurality of merchants and listing respective items of the merchants, after the online communication of the buyer has been shifted to the payment system from the website supporting the plurality of merchants, the online communication being shifted when the server supporting the plurality of merchants receives an indication from the buyer to purchase one or more of the items;

means for sending, to an established financial circuitry, the credit card payment information;

means for receiving, from the established financial circuitry, a credit card payment processing decision;

a website of the payment system having a respective internet address different from a respective internet address of the website supporting the plurality of merchants;

means for outputting the credit card payment confirmation information to update the server supporting the plurality of merchants with respect to the purchase of the one or more items identified by the buyer;

means for outputting the credit card payment confirmation information to facilitate the server supporting the plurality of merchants in providing a real-time purchasing/sales environment

wherein;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants is in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

the payment server is in the first nation state; and

the transmission of information regarding products between the website supporting the plurality of merchants and the buyer, before receiving an indication to buy, is less secure than the transmission of the credit card payment information from the buyer to the website of the payment system.

75. The payment server as set forth in claim 74, wherein the secure connection uses 128 bit SSL.

76. The payment server as set forth in claim 74, wherein the result of the payment processing includes an authentication determination.

77. The payment server as set forth in claim 74, wherein the payment confirmation information includes buyer identity information and a quantity purchased.

78. The payment server, as set forth in claim 74, wherein the buyer payment information includes buyer identity information and a quantity related to the purchase.

79. The payment server, as set forth in claim 74, wherein the payment confirmation information is sent to respective ones of the plurality of merchants.

80. The system as set forth in claim 74, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

81. The system as set forth in claim 80, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

82. The system as set forth in claim 74, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.

83. A computer readable medium with instructions for enabling a payment server to execute a program supporting online buying over the internet by performing operations comprising:

enabling a secure connection with the buyer for payment information transmission;

receiving credit card payment information from a buyer for payment of one or more items identified by the buyer for purchase from a website supporting a plurality of merchants and listing respective items of the merchants, after the online communication of the buyer has been shifted to the website of the payment server from the website supporting the plurality of merchants, the online communication being shifted when the server supporting the plurality of merchants receives an indication from the buyer to purchase one or more of the items;

sending, to an established financial circuitry, the credit card payment information;

receiving, from the established financial circuitry, a credit card payment processing decision;

wherein;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants is in one of a first nation state and a second nation state;

the payment server is in the first nation state; and

a website of the payment server has a respective URL (Uniform Resource Locator) different from a respective URL of the website supporting the plurality of merchants;

after the payment server transfers the payment confirmation information, the server supporting the plurality of merchants is updated with respect to the purchase of the one or more items identified by the buyer;

the server supporting the plurality of merchants provides a real-time purchasing/sales environment;

the transmission of information between the server supporting the plurality of merchants and the buyer, before receiving an indication to buy, is less secure than the transmission of the credit card payment information from the buyer to the payment server; and

the transmission of the information regarding credit card payment is performed under a security protocol providing for encryption of the credit card payment information.

84. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 83, wherein the secure connection uses 128 bit SSL.

85. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 83, wherein the payment confirmation information is sent to the buyer.

86. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 83, wherein the payment confirmation information is sent to respective ones of the plurality of merchants.

87. The medium as set forth in claim 83, wherein the first nation state is the United States of America.

88. The medium as set forth in claim 87, wherein the second nation state is the People'"'"'s Republic of China.

89. The medium as set forth in claim 83, wherein the second nation state is the United States of America.