System and method for facilitating transactions through a network portal

• US 20070239556A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datascape Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Datascape Incorporated
• Inventors: Wagner, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,336,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A merchant/vendor portal enables potential business partners to establish business relationships and settle accounts in an on-line environment. The portal includes an open network interface, a registrant database in which data associated with a portal registrant are stored, a distribution contract manager for presenting to a registered merchant a distribution contract associated with a registered vendor and for verifying acceptance of the distribution contract by the registered merchant, and a transaction manager for managing transactions in accordance with the accepted distribution contracts.

Claims

1. A merchant/vendor portal comprising:

an open network interface;

a registrant database in which data associated with a portal registrant are stored;

a distribution contract manager for presenting to a registered merchant a distribution contract associated with a registered vendor and for verifying acceptance of the distribution contract by the registered merchant; and

a transaction manager for managing transactions in accordance with the accepted distribution contracts.

2. The portal of claim 1, the open network interface comprising:

a registered party interface; and

a public party interface.

3. The portal of claim 2 further comprising:

an enrollment manager for communicating with portal registrant candidates through the public party interface and enrolling a portal registrant candidate as one of a merchant and a vendor in the registrant database.

4. The portal of claim 3 wherein the distribution contract manager communicates with a registered vendor through the registered party interface to search the registrant database for merchants corresponding to selection criteria.

5. The portal of claim 4 further comprising:

an order manager for communicating with a registered merchant through the registered party interface to obtain an order.

6. The portal of claim 5, the transaction manager further comprising:

an electronic funds transfer module for generating electronic funds transfer (EFT) messages to settle an order obtained by the order manager.

7. The portal of claim 5, the transaction manager further comprising:

an electronic funds transfer module for generating automated clearinghouse (ACH) files to settle an order obtained by the order manager.

8. The portal of claim 2 further comprising:

a ratings manager for receiving ratings through the registered party interface and storing the ratings in the registrant database.

9. A method for operating a merchant/vendor portal comprising:

identifying a business partner candidate through a search of a registrant database associated with a business partner portal;

communicating a business solicitation to the identified business partner candidate;

communicating a distribution contract to the identified business partner candidate in response to the identified business partner'"'"'s acceptance of the business solicitation;

verifying acceptance of the distribution contract by the identified business partner candidate; and

managing transactions with the identified business partner in accordance with the accepted distribution contracts.

10. The method of claim 9, the communication with the business partner candidate comprising:

communication of the business solicitation occurring through a public party interface; and

communication of the distribution contract acceptance occurring through a registered party interface.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

enrolling businesses as registered users of the business partner portal.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

searching the registrant database through the registered party interface.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving an order from a registered business partner candidate through the registered party interface.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

generating electronic funds transfer (EFT) messages to settle an order received from the registered business partner candidate, the EFT messages corresponding to the distribution contract.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

generating automated clearinghouse (ACH) files to settle an order received from the registered business partner candidate, the ACH files corresponding to the distribution contract.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving ratings for a registered business partner through the registered party interface; and

storing the ratings in the registrant database in association with the corresponding registered business partner to enable evaluation of business partner candidate identified in a search of the registrant database.

17. A system for implementing transactions between a registered terminal at a merchant location and a vendor comprising:

an open network interface;

a registered party interface coupled to the open network interface;

a public party interface coupled to the open network interface;

a registrant database in which data associated with portal registrants are stored;

a distribution contract manager for presenting a distribution contract associated with a vendor that is a portal registrant to a merchant that is a portal registrant and for verifying acceptance of the distribution contract to govern transactions between the vendor and the merchant;

a registered terminal at a location associated with the merchant that is a portal registrant, the registered terminal storing data for verifying registration of the terminal with the portal;

an order manager for communicating with the registered terminal through the registered party interface to obtain an order; and

a transaction manager for managing transactions in accordance with the accepted distribution contracts.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the registered terminal is one of a point-of-sale terminal, a computer, a smart card, a personal digital assistant, and a wireless telephone.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the registered terminal hosts a merchant application program.

20. A portal for implementing transactions between a registered merchant location and a registered vendor comprising:

an open network interface;

a registered party interface coupled to the open network interface;

a public party interface coupled to the open network interface;

a registrant database in which data associated with portal registrants are stored;

a distribution contract manager for presenting a distribution contract associated with a vendor that is a portal registrant to a merchant that is a portal registrant and for verifying acceptance of the distribution contract to govern transactions between the vendor and the merchant;

an order manager for communicating with a registered terminal associated with a merchant that is a portal registrant through the registered party interface to obtain an order; and

a transaction manager for managing transactions in accordance with the accepted distribution contracts; and

a settlement database for storing transaction data generated by the transaction manager and the settlement database being accessible to a registered vendor through the registered party interface.