Electronic purchasing method and apparatus for performing the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for authorizing a transaction, comprising:
- receiving an authorization request message from a merchant, said authorization request message including information identifying the transaction and a payment account number, said payment account number identifying a payment account at an issuer;
determining that said payment account number is a limited-use account number selected from a set of limited-use account numbers;
identifying a pre-authorization record associated with said limited-use account number; and
transmitting an authorization response message to said merchant, said authorization response message based on the results of a comparison of said pre-authorization record with said transaction information.
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Abstract
A computer-assisted method includes hardware, software and telecommunications components that cooperatively achieve the technical effect of an improved electronic purchasing transaction system. In various embodiments of the invention, at least one master account is established for a client. A pool of limited use account identifiers or secondary account identifiers, that are separate and distinct from the master account, is associated with the master account by a purchasing system or account management system. Each of the limited use account identifiers may be used by the client to purchase items from merchants.
101 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for authorizing a transaction, comprising:
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receiving an authorization request message from a merchant, said authorization request message including information identifying the transaction and a payment account number, said payment account number identifying a payment account at an issuer;
determining that said payment account number is a limited-use account number selected from a set of limited-use account numbers;
identifying a pre-authorization record associated with said limited-use account number; and
transmitting an authorization response message to said merchant, said authorization response message based on the results of a comparison of said pre-authorization record with said transaction information. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method, comprising:
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receiving a settlement record from a merchant, said settlement record including settlement information associated with a transaction involving said merchant, a limited use account identifier, and a customer, said settlement information including a settlement amount;
associating said settlement record with a purchase order generated prior to said transaction;
identifying a pre-authorization amount associated with said limited use account identifier;
comparing said settlement amount with said pre-authorization amount to determine that said settlement record is associated with a partial shipment; and
creating a new pre-authorization record for said limited use account identifier, said pre-authorization record including an updated pre-authorized amount sufficient to complete said shipment.
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4. A method, comprising:
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submitting a request for a payment account identifier to an account management system, said request including a purchase order identifier associated with information identifying an item to purchase from a merchant;
receiving, in response to said submitting, a payment account identifier allocated by said account management system for use in said transaction;
presenting said payment account identifier to said merchant for payment; and
receiving settlement information confirming completion of said transaction, including a transaction date, a transaction amount and information associated with said purchase order.
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5. A method, comprising:
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associating a plurality of financial account identifiers with a client, each of said financial account identifiers identifying separate financial accounts at an issuer;
receiving information identifying a proposed transaction, said information including information identifying an item to purchase, an amount of the proposed transaction, and a purchase order identifier;
selecting one of said plurality of financial account identifiers for use in purchasing said item, said selection based on an identity of the client and an availability of one of said plurality of financial account identifiers;
associating said selected financial account identifier with said purchase order; and
forwarding said selected financial account identifier to said client for use in conducting said proposed transaction. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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receiving from a user, over a network interface, information identifying a proposed transaction, said information including information identifying a client, an item to purchase, an amount of the proposed transaction, and a purchase order identifier;
selecting one of said plurality of financial account identifiers for use in purchasing said item, said selection based on an identity of the client and an availability of one of said plurality of financial account identifiers;
associating said selected financial account identifier with said purchase order; and
forwarding to said user, over said network interface, said selected financial account identifier to said for use in conducting said proposed transaction.
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Specification