SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY REPLENISHING AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENT ACCOUNT
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Abstract
The invention provides a computerized electronic auction payment system and method for effecting a real-lime payment for an item won in an electronic auction by setting up and maintaining electronic auction payment accounts for prospective bidders and sellers. In one embodiment, upon being deemed as a winning bidder, the winning bidder accesses a payment page, enters the total amount of funds to be transferred to the seller, and authorizes the computerized electronic auction payment system to effect a real-time payment by debiting his, i.e., the winning bidder'"'"'s, respective electronic auction payment account and crediting the electronic auction payment account of the seller, and/or another account specified by the seller. In an alternate embodiment, the prospective bidder authorizes the computerized electronic auction payment system to effect a real-time payment to the seller upon the prospective bidder being deemed the winning bidder (i.e., immediately following the conclusion of the auction). That is, without the winning bidder having to access the payment page. Funds can be automatically transferred to the electronic auction payment accounts on a periodic basis and after funds are deducted from the payment accounts to replenish the funds deducted from the payment accounts. A fee can be charged by an operator of the computerized electronic auction payment system for automatically transferring funds to the electronic auction payment accounts and for automatically replenishing the payment accounts.
103 Citations
100 Claims
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1-54. -54. (canceled)
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55. A method for automatically replenishing an electronic payment account corresponding to a user of at least one electronic commerce web site, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving authorization from the user prior to a termination event of an electronic network transaction between the user and at least one other user of the at least one electronic commerce web site to execute an automatic replenishment method after the termination event of the electronic network transaction; and executing the automatic replenishment method by at least one processor after the termination event of the electronic network transaction, wherein the automatic replenishment method comprises; automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to the user of the electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to the electronic payment account corresponding to the user. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A system for automatically replenishing an electronic payment account corresponding to a user of at least one electronic commerce web site, said method comprising the steps of:
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means for receiving authorization from the user prior to a termination event of an electronic network transaction between the user and at least one other user of the at least one electronic commerce web site to execute an automatic replenishment method after the termination event of the electronic network transaction; and means for executing the automatic replenishment method after the termination event of the electronic network transaction, wherein the automatic replenishment method comprises; automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to the user of the electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to the electronic payment account corresponding to the user. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method for automatically replenishing an electronic payment account corresponding to a user of at least one electronic commerce web site, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving authorization from the user to execute an automatic replenishment method by at least one processor during a predetermined interval; and executing the automatic replenishment method by the at least one processor during the predetermined interval, wherein the automatic replenishment method comprises; automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to the user of the electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to the electronic payment account corresponding to the user. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A system for automatically replenishing an electronic payment account corresponding to a user of at least one electronic commerce web site, said system comprising:
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means for receiving authorization from the user to execute an automatic replenishment method during a predetermined interval; and means for executing the automatic replenishment method during the predetermined interval, wherein the automatic replenishment method comprises; automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to the user of the electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to the electronic payment account corresponding to the user. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. In an integrated electronic commerce and payment system, a method for automatically replenishing an electronic payment account corresponding to a user of at least one electronic commerce web site maintained by said integrated system and effecting payment using said electronic payment account, said method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database of a plurality of electronic payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users, including the user, of said electronic commerce web site and a payment segment of said electronic commerce web site by said integrated system, each of said plurality of electronic payment accounts storing funds therein and each capable of being used for electronic network transactions; executing an automatic replenishment method by the at least one processor, wherein the automatic replenishment method comprises; automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to the user of the electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to the electronic payment account corresponding to the user; performing at least one payment-related activity by the at least one processor of said integrated system for effecting payment for said user, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting the electronic payment account corresponding to the user and maintained by said integrated system, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and crediting by the at least one processor at least one account corresponding to another user to effect payment. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. An integrated electronic commerce and payment system comprising:
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an electronic database of a plurality of electronic payment accounts corresponding to a plurality of users of an electronic commerce web site, each of said plurality of electronic payment accounts storing funds therein and each capable of being used for electronic network transactions; executing an automatic replenishment method by the at least one processor, wherein the automatic replenishment method comprises; automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to a user of the electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to an electronic payment account corresponding to the user; performing at least one payment-related activity by the at least one processor of said integrated system for effecting payment for said user, said at least one payment-related activity selected from the group consisting of debiting the electronic payment account corresponding to the user, and withdrawing funds from at least one account storing funds therein and not corresponding to at least one of the plurality of users; and crediting by the at least one processor at least one account corresponding to another user to effect payment. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. An automatic replenishment method comprising the steps of:
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automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to a user of an electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to an electronic payment account corresponding to the user, said electronic payment account storing funds therein and capable of being used for electronic network transactions associated with the electronic commerce web site; wherein the funds are automatically accessed if the amount of funds stored within the electronic payment account corresponding to the user is less than a pre-defined amount.
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96. A system comprising at least one processor for executing an automatic replenishment method comprising the steps of:
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automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to a user of an electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to an electronic payment account corresponding to the user, said electronic payment account storing funds therein and capable of being used for electronic network transactions associated with the electronic commerce web site; wherein the funds are automatically accessed if the amount of funds stored within the electronic payment account corresponding to the user is less than a pre-defined amount. - View Dependent Claims (98)
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97. An automatic replenishment method comprising the steps of:
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automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to a user of an electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to an electronic payment account corresponding to the user, said electronic payment account storing funds therein and capable of being used for electronic network transactions associated with the electronic commerce web site; wherein the funds are automatically accessed at least once a during a predetermined interval.
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99. A system comprising at least one processor for executing an automatic replenishment method comprising the steps of:
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automatically accessing funds from a payment source corresponding to a user of an electronic commerce web site; and automatically transferring at least a portion of said accessed funds to an electronic payment account corresponding to the user, said electronic payment account storing funds therein and capable of being used for electronic network transactions associated with the electronic commerce web site; wherein the funds are automatically accessed at least once a during a predetermined interval. - View Dependent Claims (100)
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Specification