ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT IMPLEMENTATION FOR ELECTRONIC RETAILERS

• US 20090313147A1
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CardinalCommerce Corporation (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CardinalCommerce Corporation (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Balasubramanian, Chandra S., Goodman, Eric, Keresman, Michael A. III, Rauhe, Scott, Ratica, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 10,157,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method of processing a transaction between a merchant and a buyer over a communication network is provided. The transaction is processed using one of a plurality of alternative payment options and each of the alternative payment options are provided by one of a plurality of alternative payment providers. Each of the alternative payment providers uses a different alternative payment implementation. The method includes: obtaining transaction information from the merchant; returning a redirection URL and an order identifier to the merchant; obtaining a transaction message from the merchant, where the transaction message specifies the type of operation; performing the operation type specified in the transaction message with the appropriate alternative payment provider; and returning a processing message to the merchant containing the results from performing the operation type specified in the transaction message.

Claims

1. A method of processing a transaction between a merchant and a consumer over a communications network, wherein said transaction uses at least one of a plurality of alternative payment options, wherein each of said plurality of alternative payment options are provided by one of a plurality of alternative payment providers having different alternative payment implementations, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining transaction information from the merchant, wherein said transaction information identifies the one of the alternative payment options being used;

returning a redirection URL and a payment network routable order identifier to the merchant, wherein said redirection URL is dependent upon the identified alternative payment option;

obtaining a transaction message from said merchant, wherein said transaction message is formatted with a unified message format and includes an operation type;

performing the operation type specified in the transaction message with the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option; and

returning a processing message to the merchant containing results from performing the operation type specified in the transaction message, wherein said processing message is formatted with the unified message format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the operation type specified in the transaction message is performed using message formats, response codes and communication protocols required by the alternative payment implementation corresponding to the identified alternative payment option.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating the transaction with the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option, prior to the step of returning a redirection URL and an order identifier to the merchant.

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

detecting whether the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option is available; and

notifying the merchant if it is detected that the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment is not available, prior to step (b).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the redirection URL points to the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the redirection URL points to a system implementing the method, wherein the system is operative to collect additional payment information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation type is authorize/capture or refund.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option uses asynchronous communications while the transaction is being performed.

9. A system for supporting the processing of transactions between merchants and consumers over a communications network, wherein the consumers are each using a one of a plurality of alternative payment options, wherein each of said plurality of alternative payment options are provided by one of a plurality of alternative payment providers, wherein said plurality of alternative payment providers have different alternative payment implementations, said system comprising:

a merchant layer for exchanging communications with the merchants, said merchant layer receiving transaction information and a operation type for each transaction, wherein said transaction information includes payment information and identifies the one of the alternative payment options being used for each transaction;

a plug-in layer including a plurality of plug-in components, wherein each of the plurality of plug-in component administers a different one of the plurality of alternative payment providers in accordance with the respective alternative payment implementation; and

a logic layer residing between the merchant layer and the plug-in layer, wherein said logic layer is adapted to route communications between the merchant layer and selected plug-in components in the plug-in layer, wherein said operation type and said transaction information for each transaction are routed to the plug-in component responsible for administering the alternative payment option associated with the transaction information, and wherein said logic layer is adapted to return a redirection URL and a payment network routable order identifier to the merchants for each transaction.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a data layer, wherein the data layer stores the transaction information for each transaction.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the logic layer is operative to disable a plug-in component if the alternative payment provider associated with the plug-in component is unavailable.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the logic layer is operative to provide the merchants with daily summary reports of transactions.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the logic layer is operative to communicate transactions to at least one processor.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a web layer, where said web layer receives additional payment information from the consumer, and where the redirection URL points to the system.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the merchant layer communicates with merchants using a unified message format.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of plug-in components of the plug-in layer is adapted to receive asynchronous messages from an associated alternative payment provider.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the plug-in layer is extensible so as to allow selected plug-in components to be added, removed and modified without disrupting other plug-in components residing in the plug-in layer.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the redirection URL points to the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein each operation type is either authorize/capture or refund.

20. A system for processing a transaction between a merchant and a consumer over a communications network, wherein said transaction uses a one of a plurality of alternative payment options, wherein each of said plurality of alternative payment options are provided by one of a plurality of alternative payment providers, wherein said plurality of alternative payment providers have different alternative payment implementations, said system comprising:

means for obtaining transaction information from the merchant, wherein said transaction information identifies the one of the alternative payment options being used;

means for returning a redirection URL and a payment network routable order identifier to the merchant, wherein said redirection URL is dependent upon the identified alternative payment option;

means for obtaining a transaction message from said merchant, wherein said transaction message is formatted with a unified message format and includes an operation type;

means for performing the operation type specified in the transaction message with the alternative payment provider corresponding to the identified alternative payment option; and

,

means for returning a processing message to the merchant containing results from performing the operation type specified in the transaction message, wherein said processing message is formatted with the unified message format.