U.S. patent application number 09/849978 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for technique for debit and credit triggering.
Invention is credited to Ganesan, Ravi, Herdklotz, Tim, Kight, Peter, Renshaw, Timothy Scott, Ward, Cheryl.
Application Number | 20020087465 09/849978 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25014406 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020087465 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ganesan, Ravi ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Technique for debit and credit triggering
Abstract
A system, method and article of manufacture for integrated event
tracking of an electronic escrow transaction. An instruction is
received from a purchaser, via a network, to effect an electronic
escrow transaction. The electronic funds escrow transaction arises
out of a sale between a purchaser and a seller for goods or
services purchased via a network. To effect the electronic escrow
transaction, network communications are directed with each of the
seller, the purchaser, and a financial institution. Each of these
communications associated with effecting the electronic escrow
transaction is stored in a memory.
Inventors: |
Ganesan, Ravi; (Norcross,
GA) ; Renshaw, Timothy Scott; (Cumming, GA) ;
Herdklotz, Tim; (Atlanta, GA) ; Ward, Cheryl;
(Hillard, OH) ; Kight, Peter; (Alpharetta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alfred A. Stadnicki
Fifth Floor
1146 Nineteenth Street, NW
Washington
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
25014406 |
Appl. No.: |
09/849978 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09849978 |
May 8, 2001 |
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09749596 |
Dec 28, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/10 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/39 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for integrated event tracking of an electronic escrow
transaction, comprising: receiving an instruction from a purchaser,
via a network, to effect an electronic escrow transaction
associated with a sale, made via the network, of goods or services
from a seller; directing at least one network communication with
each of the purchaser, the seller and at least one financial
institution in effecting the electronic escrow transaction; and
storing a log of each communication, including the instruction,
associated with the electronic escrow transaction.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a debit
from an account associated with the purchaser; storing an
indication of the initiation of the debit from the purchaser
account; initiating a credit to an account associated with the
seller; and storing an indication of the initiation of the credit
to the seller account.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a debit
from an account associated with a processing agent; and storing an
indication of the initiation of the debit from the processing agent
account.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: initiating a credit
to an account associated with the seller; and storing an indication
of the initiation of the credit to the seller account; wherein the
credit to the seller account is a corresponding credit to the debit
from the processing agent account.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a
notice, via the network, to the seller that funds from an account
associated with the purchaser are available and that the seller
should ship the goods to, or provide the service for, the
purchaser; and storing an indication that the notice has been
transmitted to the seller.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein: the notice is transmitted after
at least one of (i) a predetermined period, beginning at initiation
of a debit to an account associated with a purchaser, has elapsed,
or (ii) funds from the purchaser account are credited to an account
associated with a service provider.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the
network, a first notice of one of (i) the goods having been
shipped, or (ii) the services having been performed; storing an
indication that the first notice has been received; transmitting a
second notice, via the network, to the purchaser that the seller
has one of (i) shipped the goods to the purchaser, or (ii)
performed the services for the purchaser; and storing an indication
that the second notice has been transmitted to the purchaser;
wherein the first notice is received from at least one of (i) a
shipping agent, or (ii) the seller.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first notice includes a
delivery tracking number.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the
network, a notice of one of (i) the goods having been received from
the seller and being acceptable, or (ii) the services having been
acceptably performed by the seller; and storing an indication that
the notice has been received; wherein the notice is received from
at least one of (i) the seller, (ii) a shipping agent, or (iii) the
purchaser.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: initiating a credit
to an account associated with the seller; and storing an indication
of the initiation of the credit to the seller account; wherein the
credit to the seller account is initiated subsequent to receiving
the notice.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the
network, a notice of one of (i) the goods having been shipped by
the seller, or (ii) the services having been performed by the
seller; initiating a credit to an account associated with the
seller; storing an indication that the notice has been received;
and storing an indication of the initiation of the credit to the
seller account; wherein the credit to the seller account is
initiated after a predetermined period, beginning at receipt of the
notice; and wherein the notice is received from at least one of (i)
the seller, or (ii) a shipping agent.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the
network, a notice of one of (i) the goods having been received from
the seller and being unacceptable, (ii) the goods having not been
received from the seller, (iii) the services having not been
acceptably performed by the seller, or (iv) the services having not
been performed by the seller; and storing an indication that the
notice has been received.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the notice includes a notice to
suspend a pending credit to an account associated with the
seller.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the notice includes a notice to
reverse a debit to an account associated with the purchaser.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the
network, a first notice that the goods have been returned shipped
to the seller; storing an indication that the first notice has been
received; transmitting to the seller, via the network, a second
notice that the goods have been returned shipped from the
purchaser; and storing an indication that the second notice has
been transmitted to the seller; wherein the first notice is
received from at least one of (i) the purchaser, or (ii) a shipping
agent.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first notice includes a
delivery tracking number.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving, via the
network, a third notice that the goods have been received by the
seller; and storing an indication that the third notice has been
received; wherein the third notice is received from at least one of
(i) the seller, or (ii) the shipping agent.
18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a credit
to an account associated with the purchaser; and storing an
indication of the initiation of the credit to the purchaser
account; wherein the credit to the purchaser account is initiated
at after least one of (i) upon receipt of a notice, via the network
from at least one of the seller or a shipping agent, that the goods
have been delivered to the seller, or (ii) after a predetermined
period, beginning at a notification to the seller that the
purchaser has shipped the goods to the seller, has elapsed.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the goods or services are goods
or services purchased from an Internet auction.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a debit
from an account associated with the purchaser; initiating a credit
to an escrow account associated with a processing agent; initiating
a debit to the escrow account associated with the processing agent;
initiating a credit to an account associated with the seller;
storing an indication of the initiation of the debit to the
purchaser account; and storing an indication of the initiation of
the credit to the seller account.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the credit to the escrow
account is a corresponding credit to the debit from the purchaser
account.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the credit to the seller
account is a corresponding credit to the debit from the escrow
account.
23. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the
instruction via a web page generated subsequent to the purchaser
selecting a hyper-link presented to the purchaser by an Internet
web site selling goods or services; wherein the web page presented
to the purchaser includes details of the sale.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored logged communications
include an indication of the date and time each communication is
received or transmitted.
25. The method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving any of
the logged and stored communications.
26. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from a
shipping agent, a first notice that goods have been delivered to
the purchaser; storing an indication that the first notice has been
received; receiving, from the purchaser, a second notice that the
delivered goods are acceptable; storing an indication that the
second notice has been received; and initiating a credit to an
account associated with the seller.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein: the credit to the account
associated with the seller is initiated after at least one of (i) a
predetermined period, beginning upon receipt of the first notice,
has elapsed, or (ii) receipt of the second notice.
28. A system for integrated event tracking of an electronic escrow
transaction, comprising: a communications port configured to
receive and to transmit information via a network; a processor in
communication with the communications port and configured to direct
at least one network communication with each of a purchaser, a
seller and at least one financial institution in effecting an
electronic escrow transaction arising out of a sale of goods or
services made via a network, and to log and store each
communication associated with the electronic escrow transaction;
and a memory in communication with the processor and configured to
store the logged communications.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: receive an instruction from the purchaser, via
network communication, to effect the electronic escrow transaction;
and store an indication of the received instruction in the
memory.
30. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: initiate a debit from an account associated with the
purchaser; store an indication in the memory of the initiation of
the debit from the purchaser account; initiate a credit to an
account associated with the seller; and store an indication in the
memory of the initiation of the credit to the seller account.
31. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: initiate a debit from an account associated with a
processing agent; and store an indication in the memory of the
initiation of the debit from the processing agent account.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein: the processor is further
configured to initiate a credit to an account associated with the
seller and store an indication in the memory of the initiation of
the credit to the seller account; and the credit to the seller
account is a corresponding credit to the debit from the processing
agent account.
33. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: transmit a notice, via network communication, to the
seller that funds from an account associated with the purchaser are
available and that the seller should ship the goods to, or provide
the service for, the purchaser; and store an indication in the
memory that the notice has been transmitted to the seller.
34. The system of claim 33, wherein the notice is transmitted after
at least one of (i) a predetermined period, beginning at initiation
of a debit to an account associated with the purchaser, has
elapsed, or (ii) funds from the purchaser account are credited to
an account associated with a processing agent.
35. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: receive, via network communication, a first notice
of (i) the goods having been shipped to the purchaser, or (ii) the
services having been performed for the purchaser; store in the
memory an indication that the first notice has been received;
transmit a second notice, via network communication, to the
purchaser that the seller has one of (i) shipped the goods to the
purchaser, or (ii) performed the services for the purchaser; and
store in the memory an indication that the second notice has been
transmitted to the purchaser.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first notice includes a
delivery tracking number.
37. The system of claim 35, wherein the first notice is transmitted
by at least one of (i) the seller, or (ii) a shipping agent.
38. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: receive, via network communication from at least one
of the purchaser, the seller, and a shipping agent, a notice of one
of (i) the goods having been received from the seller and being
acceptable, or (ii) the services having been acceptably performed
by the seller; and store in the memory an indication that the
notice has been received.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein: the processor is further
configured to initiate a credit to an account associated with the
seller and store an indication in the memory of the initiation of
the credit to the seller account; and the credit to the seller
account is initiated subsequent to receiving the notice.
40. The system of claim 28, wherein: the processor is further
configured to receive, via network communication, a notice of (i)
the goods having been shipped by the seller, or (ii) the services
having been performed by the seller, initiate a credit to an
account associated with the seller, store an indication in the
memory of the initiation of the credit to the seller account; the
credit to the seller account is initiated after a predetermined
period, beginning at receipt of the notice; and the notice is
received from at least one of (i) the seller, or (ii) a shipping
agent.
41. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: receive, via network communication, a notice of one
of (i) the goods having been received from the seller and being
unacceptable, (ii) the goods having not been received from the
seller, (iii) the services having not been acceptably performed by
the seller, or (iv) the services having not been performed by the
seller; and store in the memory an indication that the notice has
been received.
42. The system of claim 41, wherein the notice includes a notice to
suspend a pending credit to an account associated with the
seller.
43. The system of claim 41, wherein the notice includes a notice to
reverse a debit to an account associated with the purchaser.
44. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: receive, via network communication from at least one
of the purchaser or a shipping agent, a first notice that the goods
have been returned shipped to the seller; store in the memory an
indication that the first notice has been received; transmit to the
seller, via network communication, a second notice that the goods
have been returned shipped from the purchaser; and store in the
memory an indication that the second notice has been transmitted to
the seller.
45. The system of claim 44, wherein the first notice includes a
delivery tracking number.
46. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further
configured to: receive, via network communication from at least one
of the seller or a shipping agent, a third notice that the goods
have been received by the seller; and store in the memory an
indication that the third notice has been received.
47. The system of claim 28, wherein: the processor is further
configured to initiate a credit to an account associated with the
purchaser and store in the memory an indication of the initiation
of the credit to the purchaser account; and the credit to the
purchaser account is initiated after at least one of (i) receipt of
a notice, via network communication from a least one of the seller
or a shipping agent, that the goods have been returned to the
seller by the purchaser and accepted by the seller, or (ii) a
predetermined period, beginning at a notification to the seller
that the purchaser has shipped the goods to the seller, has
elapsed.
48. The system of claim 28, wherein the goods or services are goods
or services purchased from an internet auction.
49. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to: initiate a debit from an account associated with the
purchaser; initiate a credit to an escrow account associated with a
processing agent; initiate a debit to the escrow account associated
with the processing agent; initiate a credit to an account
associated with the seller; store an indication in the memory of
the initiation of the debit to the purchaser account; and store an
indication in the memory of the initiation of the credit to the
seller account.
50. The system of claim 49, wherein the credit to the escrow
account is a corresponding credit to the debit from the purchaser
account.
51. The system of claim 49, wherein the credit to the seller
account is a corresponding credit to the debit from the escrow
account.
52. The system of claim 28, wherein: the communications port is
further configured to receive an instruction, via a web page
generated subsequent to the purchaser selecting a hyper-link
presented to the purchaser by an Internet web site selling goods or
services, to direct execution of an electronic escrow transaction
for a sale transaction; and the web page presented to the purchaser
includes details of the purchase made from the internet web
site.
53. The system of claim 28, wherein the stored logged
communications include an indication of the date and time of each
communication's direction or receipt.
54. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to retrieve any of the stored communications from the
memory.
55. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further
configured to (i) receive, from a shipping agent, a first notice
that goods have been delivered to the purchaser, (ii) store in the
memory an indication that the first notice has been received, (iii)
receive, from the purchaser, a second notice that the delivered
goods are acceptable, (iv) store in the memory an indication that
the second notice has been received, and (v) initiate a credit to
an account associated with the seller.
56. The system of claim 55, wherein the credit to the seller
account is initiated after at least one of (i) a predetermined
period, beginning upon receipt of the first notice, has elapsed, or
(ii) receipt of the second notice.
57. An article of manufacture for integrated event tracking of an
electronic escrow transaction, the article of manufacture
comprising: a computer readable medium; and computer programming
stored on the medium; wherein the stored computer programming is
configured to be readable from the computer readable medium by a
computer to thereby cause the computer to operate so as to: receive
an instruction from a purchaser, via a network, to effect an
electronic escrow transaction associated with a sale, made via the
network, of goods or services from a seller; direct at least one
network communication with each of the purchaser, the seller and at
least one financial institution in effecting the electronic escrow
transaction; and store a log of each communication associated with
the electronic escrow transaction in a memory.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to electronic
commerce and more particularly to electronic funds escrow
transactions.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Over the past several years an international network of
networks known as the Internet has become increasingly popular. The
Internet allows millions of users throughout the world to
communicate with each other. To provide users with easier access to
information available on the Internet, a World Wide Web has been
established. The World Wide Web allows information to be organized,
searched and presented on the Internet using hypertext. Thus, using
the World Wide Web a user can submit a query for information and be
linked electronically to information of interest which has been
stored at Web locations on the Internet. Using hypertext, a user
can also communicate information to other users of the Internet.
Because of the use of hypertext, the information which can be
queried and retrieved via the Internet includes not only textual
information but also information in graphic, audio and video form.
Web search engines and browsers have been developed to make
searching and retrieval of information of interest on the Web a
simple task. Hence, the Web has made it relatively easy for
virtually anyone having access to a personal computer or other
device connected to the Internet to communicate with others who are
also connected to the network. This ease of use has resulted in an
increase in the number of users utilizing the Internet.
[0003] With the proliferation of Internet users, numerous services
are now provided over the Internet. One of the first such services
to be offered was electronic banking. Electronic banking allows
banking customers to access their account information and execute
banking transactions, e.g. the transfer of funds from a savings to
a checking account, by simply linking to a bank server using the
Internet to access account information and communicate transfer
instructions.
[0004] Electronic banking has advanced from this basic
consumer-to-bank communication to a consumer being able to
electronically pay bills and make other payment types and fund
transfers to others by communicating instructions, via the
Internet, to a service provider possibly distinct from the
financial institute maintaining deposited or credited funds of a
pre-registered payer. The payments are then made to the payee by
the service provider. The term "payment" as used herein can include
payment of bills as well as other payments not based upon bills.
Funds from the payer's deposit or credit account, i.e. the payer's
payment account, are debited by the service provider to cover the
payment. The payment by the service provider to the payee can be
made in any number of ways.
[0005] For example, the service provider may electronically
transfer funds from the payer's banking account to the payee's
banking account, may electronically transfer funds from a service
provider's banking account, to the payee's banking account, may
prepare a paper draft or check on the service provider's banking
account and mail it to the payee, may prepare an electronically
printed paper draft on the payer's banking account and mail it to
the payee, or may make a wire transfer from either the service
provider's banking account or the payer's banking account.
[0006] If the funds transferred to the payee are drawn from the
service provider's banking account, funds from the payer's banking
account are electronically or otherwise transferred to the service
provider's banking account to cover the payment. Further, if the
payment will be made from funds in the service provider's banking
account, the payment will preferably be consolidated with payments
being made to the same payee on behalf of other payers.
[0007] Accordingly, such electronic payment systems eliminate the
need for a payer to write or print paper checks and then forward
them by mail to the payee. This makes it easier and more efficient
for the payer to make payments. Payees receiving consolidated
payments no longer have to deal with checks from each payee and
therefore can process payments more efficiently. The making of
payments by the electronic or wire transfer of funds provides even
further efficiencies in payment processing by payees, and it is
well recognized that making payments electronically can
significantly reduce the cost of processing payments for both the
payer and the payee.
[0008] A payer must be a registered user of conventional electronic
payment systems. Registration is required so that the service
provider can obtain and validate information relating the user.
Registration may be a somewhat simplified process whereby a user
submits, on-line, information identifying his or her bank account
and financial institution and his or her name, address and phone
number, or some variation thereof. Other systems require that the
potential user supply a voided check from the user's checking
account. However, even with the simplified on-line registration
process, the payer is not able to immediately direct payments. The
user must wait for the service provider to validate the
registration information and to receive a confirmation that the
registration process is complete. This confirmation is typically
sent from the service provider to the registering user via regular
mail channels. Due to the processing and delivery time, the
registering user is not able to immediately direct bill
payment.
[0009] Accordingly, a need exists for a payment technique whereby a
user may register and direct payments in a single on-line
session.
[0010] In conventional electronic payment systems payment requests
are processed before payment is released to reduce potential
financial risk to the service provider. U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,113, to
Kight et al., and assigned to the assignee of the present
application, is directed to an electronic bill payment system and
method. Processing a bill payment request, as disclosed in Kight,
can include a risk analysis of the payment request before the
payment is executed. This risk analysis can include determining in
what form to release payment to the payee. Possible forms of
payment are check, draft, or electronic funds transfer. The form of
payment is based upon such criteria as analyzing the payment
request to determine if the amount of the payment request meets or
exceeds a first predetermined amount and determining if the total
amount of previous payment requests within a certain timeframe
meets or exceeds a second predetermined amount. The first and
second predetermined amounts can be different amounts. The risk
analysis can also include sending an inquiry to, and receiving a
response from, a financial institution to determine availability of
funds in the payer's account. The Kight patent utilizes both paper
and electronic fund transfer. The risk processing in the Kight
patent rests at least in part upon a decision between moving funds
electronically or via less efficient paper means.
[0011] Accordingly, a need exists for a technique in which a
payment request is timely and efficiently processed and executed,
yet the service provider is protected from financial risk.
[0012] Merchants have begun to exploit the Internet's capabilities
in their marketing of goods and services, i.e. products. Numerous
merchants have now established virtual storefronts using a
hypertext document, commonly referred to as a Web homepage, which
users can access over the Internet. The merchant's homepage will
typically provide information regarding products, and will often
provide the prospective customer with the option to purchase a
desired product by making the necessary selections and providing
the necessary information to the merchant via the Internet. Hence,
the Web offers a new and exciting channel for marketing goods and
services, providing merchants with direct access to millions of
potential buyers throughout the world in a manner which has never
before been possible.
[0013] In order to ensure payment for products and services ordered
over the Internet, merchants have typically offered the purchaser
the ability to pay using credit or debit cards. Such cards are now
widely used throughout the world to make purchases without cash.
Credit cards basically extend a payment credit to the credit card
holder. Debit cards, on the other hand, basically provide a means
for debiting the cardholder's deposit account funds held by an
issuing financial institute. As in traditional brick-and-mortar
businesses, Web-based businesses typically pay a premium to
financial institutions to be able to offer payment via credit
and/or debit cards.
[0014] Also, individual sellers and purchasers have been brought
together via the Internet. Sellers advertise goods for sale in a
variety of sites on the Internet, and otherwise. These include
personal homepages and public electronic bulletin boards. These
individual sellers usually do not have the resources to accept
payment via credit or debit cards. As discussed above, there is a
cost associated with these transactions which makes it economically
unfeasible for individuals to accept payment via these methods.
Furthermore, these sellers usually do not have the technical
expertise to maintain a homepage capable of accepting credit or
debit card payments. As such, an individual purchaser typically
pays an individual seller by check or money order. When payment is
by check or money order, the seller must divulge to the purchaser
his or her address. For payments by money order, the purchaser must
purchase a money order and mail the money order to the seller.
Thus, the period between the agreement to purchase and the receipt
of the funds associated with the sale is dependent upon the time it
takes to obtain a money order and deliver it to the seller. For
payments made by check, in addition to the delivery time, the
purchaser must reveals his or her personal information contained on
the body of the check to the seller. Also, the seller is not
assured that the check will be honored by the financial institution
upon which it is drawn.
[0015] The latest development in bringing buyers and sellers
together over the Internet are Web sites designed as auctions.
Auctions are the newest, most convenient way to buy and sell things
over the Internet. The auctions are typically hosted by Web sites
which exclusively offer auctions or Internet portal sites which
offer an array of services, though other types of Web sites also
offer auctions. These sites offering Internet auctions will
collectively be referred to as Auction Service Providers. These
Auction Service Providers have created an on-line arena where users
can register and become buyers or sellers in the auction. On-line
auctions work similarly to standard auctions where the sellers have
a particular item they would like to sell to the highest bidder.
Typically an auction time frame is established that may span a few
days to a few weeks to allow buyers an opportunity to place a bid.
Bidding typically accelerates toward the end of the auction or
bidding period. If a seller offers an item for auction and a bid is
made, the seller is typically obligated to complete the
transaction. Buyers may not retract a bid once it has been placed.
The Auction Service Providers are creating a forum for this type of
trading, but are not typically involved in the transaction between
the buyer and seller.
[0016] Once bidding is over, the buyer is obligated to contact the
seller within a designated number of days from the close of the
auction, to discuss how to handle the shipping and payment for the
merchandise. Buyers and sellers are both asked to register and to
accept agreements to comply with the standard guidelines provided
by the Auction Service Provider.
[0017] Registration information is required for both the buyers and
sellers of the auctions. The registrations ensure that both parties
have provided the necessary information to allow contact with each
other when it is time to conduct a transaction. Contact information
usually contains a name and a mailing address.
[0018] Some providers require each participant to reply to a
confirmation e-mail in order to verify the information and that
they have supplied a valid e-mail address. A user identification
may also be used to allow the service provider to keep individual
e-mail addresses private. In some cases a notification e-mail is
sent to both buyer and seller to supply each with the other's
e-mail address. Typically, contact should be made between both
parties within 2 or 3 business days. Guidelines vary, but usually
if the seller is able to contact the buyer within an agreed upon
timeframe, that seller may then conduct his transaction with the
next highest bidder.
[0019] Usually, the winning buyer at the auction site receives an
e-mail from the service provider telling him that he has placed the
winning bid and that he needs to contact the seller to finish the
transaction. Or, this notification may be made via conventional
postal delivery. Once contact has been made between the buyer and
the seller, each must agree upon the terms of the transaction. They
may agree that the buyer makes payment first, and then the seller
may ship the item once payment has cleared. The seller may also
agree to ship the item COD to the buyer. The Auction Service
Provider is not usually involved in these directions, as they have
merely provided an environment that facilitates the buying and
selling of merchandise.
[0020] There are usually some standard payment methods suggested by
the Auction Service Provider to the buyers and sellers. Typical
payment methods are credit cards, money orders and checks drawn on
buyers' accounts. If the parties to the transaction agree on a
credit card or debit card payment, the service provider may act as
a processing intermediary for the transaction.
[0021] Many individuals, whether purchasing goods and services from
merchants or individuals via the Internet, or from an Internet
auction site, do not wish to use debit or credit cards, or send
banking account numbers over the Internet due to security concerns.
This is because the Internet is an open communication network with
virtually no built-in security.
[0022] Various techniques have been proposed for overcoming the
reluctance on the part of potential purchasers to transmit their
card numbers or account numbers over the Internet. Many of the
proposed techniques rely on cryptography. Using these techniques,
credit and debit card numbers are encrypted prior to transmission
over the Internet to the seller and decrypted prior to storage at
the merchant's Web site. These techniques may well alleviate
concerns regarding the vulnerability of sensitive account
information during transmission over the Internet. However, there
remains a concern that, because the decrypted credit or debit card
account numbers are stored on merchant computers, e.g. Web servers,
connected to the Internet, this information will continue to be
susceptible to attach by hackers and others who may attempt to gain
unauthorized access to the information from virtually anywhere in
the world. Although firewalls and other security measures can be
taken to protect the stored- information from unauthorized
intruders, many merchants have neither the resources nor the
expertise to implement such measures. Hence, encrypted transmission
alone does not eliminate the security concern of many
cardholders.
[0023] Others have proposed establishing what might be termed
"virtual cash" which can be transferred from a purchaser's computer
to a seller's computer to pay for a product or service bought via
the Internet. The seller can then go to the "virtual cash" sponsor
and exchange the "vitual cash" for actual cash. However, these
techniques require the establishment of a new electronic monetary
system and are reliant upon the financial worthiness of the
"virtual cash" sponsor.
[0024] Still other proposed techniques utilize a type of "virtual
cash," which is associated with a purchaser's banking account at a
financial institute. Using such a system the buyer transfers the
"virtual cash" along with its banking account number to the
merchant as payment for the purchased products. The merchant then
transfers the "virtual cash" to the financial institute, at which
the purchaser maintains the deposit account. The financial
institute then debits the purchaser's banking account by the amount
represented by the "virtual cash" transferred to the seller and
pays the seller using the funds withdrawn from the purchaser's
banking account. These latter techniques have many of the same
problems associated with the use of credit and debit cards. That
is, the banking account number must be transmitted over the
Internet and stored at the seller's Web site, and accordingly may
be susceptible to unauthorized access.
[0025] Potential purchasers of goods and services over the Internet
have also raised concerns regarding the transfer of credit card,
debit card and deposit account numbers, as well as the transfer of
"virtual cash" payments to merchants/sellers which have little
history or trade presence. In this regard, potential purchasers may
have a valid concern a Web merchant/seller is nothing more than a
front for fraudulently obtaining credit card account numbers, debit
card account numbers, deposit account numbers and/or virtual cash
from unsuspecting purchasers.
[0026] Techniques have additionally been proposed to provide a
separate private network for transmission of sensitive account
related information. These techniques do provide an extra measure
of security, but are disadvantageous in that an auxiliary
communication network is required and the potential purchaser is
forced to first divert his or her attention from the
merchant's/seller's Web site, connect with a separate network, and
to then go back to the merchant's/seller's Web site to conclude the
transaction.
[0027] As discussed, many consumers are unwilling to use debit or
credit cards, or transmit their banking account numbers, over the
Internet, especially to unknown merchants/sellers. In the context
of an individual seller, some buyers do not feel comfortable
divulging personal information such as banking account numbers to
strangers. Furthermore, some consumers do not have access to debit
or credit cards, but do have banking accounts. As such, whether
unwilling to use debit or credit cards via the Internet, or unable
to use debit or credit cards, these consumers have not had the
means to make purchases via the Internet.
[0028] Accordingly, a need exists for a technique to purchase goods
and services via the Internet with funds from a purchaser's banking
account without divulging personal information relating to
purchasers and sellers via a network.
[0029] In transactions between individuals and brick-and-mortar
stores there are well known procedures for a customer to return
unacceptable merchandise. Also, the goods or services offered by
the brick-and-mortar stores are typically immediately available to
the purchaser. For Internet based transactions, the seller must
ship goods to the purchaser, or perform services for the purchaser
at a later time than execution of the transaction. Some Internet
based business have procedures in place for return of unacceptable
goods, but the purchaser must rely in good faith that the
unacceptable goods will be accepted back by the business. However,
in Internet transactions between individuals, no such procedures
exist. Thus, purchasers have to rely on the good faith of sellers
that the goods or services are as represented. Additionally,
purchasers have to rely in good faith that sellers will deliver the
purchased goods and/or services. Likewise, sellers must rely upon
good faith that sellers will make prompt payment, and that that
payment will be "good." This applies to transactions between
individuals in both on-line auction and non-auction
transactions.
[0030] A proposed solution to this dual problem exists. There are
middlemen with a presence on the Internet who will accept both the
sale payment from the purchaser and the goods from the seller.
These middlemen verify the exchange. That is, they verify that
goods are actually provided by the seller, and that funds are
actually obtained from the purchaser, and then release the goods to
the purchaser and the funds to the seller. However, oftentimes
these middlemen are not in a position to judge the quality of the
merchandise. For example, the merchandise may be a rare collectible
with which a middleman may be unfamiliar. Also, this proposed
solution adds extra shipping costs to the transaction. Instead of
the goods being shipped from the seller to the purchaser, the goods
must first be shipped from the seller to a middleman, and then from
a middleman to the purchaser.
[0031] Accordingly, a need exists for an efficient technique which
ensures that a purchaser receives what he bargained for, including
a guaranteed return if the goods are not acceptable, and that the
seller will be paid for delivered goods and services.
[0032] Another difficulty with Internet based purchases is that the
purchaser has no way to know if the seller has actually shipped the
goods, or performed the services. The purchaser who has paid for a
product must wait for delivery of the goods, or performance of the
services.
[0033] Accordingly, a need exists for a technique whereby a
purchaser can be informed of the delivery or performance status of
the purchase.
[0034] Yet another service now provided over the Internet is the
delivery of electronic greeting cards via e-mail. Many Web sites
offer such services. Electronic greeting cards are available for a
myriad of occasions, as are paper greeting cards. However,
electronic greeting cards have at least one disadvantage compared
traditional paper greeting cards. Many senders include monetary
gifts along with paper greeting cards. These gifts are typically in
the form of cash, check, or gift certificate. With present
electronic greeting cards, there is no way to include such a
monetary gift.
[0035] Accordingly, a need exists for a technique for a donor to
send a monetary gift payment via e-mail to a recipient.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to
provide a technique in which a payment request is timely and
efficiently processed, yet a provider of a payment service is
protected from financial risk.
[0037] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a technique to protect both purchasers and sellers in electronic
commerce transactions.
[0038] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a technique whereby a purchaser is aware of the delivery status of
goods, or performance status of services, purchased via a
network.
[0039] It is yet another objective of the present invention to
provide a technique whereby the parties to a transaction can retain
anonymity.
[0040] It is yet another objective of the present invention to
provide a technique whereby funds can be donated via a network.
[0041] It is yet another objective of the present invention to
provide a technique whereby a party may register for and utilize
the services of an electronic payment service in a single on-line
session.
[0042] Additional objects, advantages, novel features of the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from this disclosure, including the following detailed description,
as well as by practice of the invention. While the invention is
described below with reference to preferred embodiment(s), it
should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto.
Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings
herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications,
and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within
the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein and with
respect to which the invention could be of significant utility.
SUMMARY DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0043] The present invention provides a method for integrated event
tracking of electronic escrow transactions and a system and article
of manufacture for implementing the method. The system includes at
least one processor, a memory for storing data, and a
communications port for transmitting and receiving information. The
processor may be any type processor, such as a personal computer,
high powered workstation, or sophisticated mainframe computer. The
memory may be any type of memory capable of storing data, including
random access memory, floppy or hard magnetic disk, or optical
disk. Data stored in the memory and data processed by the processor
are exchanged between the processor and the memory. The data can
include escrow transaction information and operating instructions
for controlling the operations of the processor. The communications
port communicates with one or more networks configured to transmit
electronic or optical data. The networks can include a public or
private telephone network, the Internet, a private banking network,
or any other type network.
[0044] In accordance with the invention, the processor directs
communications with a seller, a purchaser, at least one financial
institution, and other entities as necessary, to effect an
electronic escrow transaction. Directing communications includes
both receiving and transmitting information. Each of these
communications are logged and stored in the memory.
[0045] The communications to and from the different parties may be
e-mail communications made via the Internet, or some other network,
they may be via a Web page transmitted via the World Wide Web or
some other network, or they may be some other form of electronic
communication, including wireless communications. Communications to
the purchaser can include notices notifying the purchaser of
actions performed by the seller, by a financial institution, by the
processor, or by some other entity. Communications to the purchaser
can also include notices directing the purchaser to perform some
action. Communications to the seller can include notices notifying
the seller of actions performed by the purchaser, by a financial
institution, by the processor, or by some other entity.
Communications to the seller can also include notices directing the
seller to perform some action. The seller may be an individual or a
business. The purchaser, likewise, may be an individual or a
business.
[0046] Communications to a financial institution may be made via
the Internet, or some other network. Financial institution
communications include directing debits and/or credits to accounts
maintained at the financial institution and directing debit
authorizations whereby fund availability is verified and an amount
of funds are reserved. These accounts belong to the seller, the
purchaser, and a processing agent, with whom the processor is
associated. Each account may be a credit account, deposit account,
or other type account. The financial institution may be three
financial institutions, one associated with the seller, one
associated with the purchaser, and one associated with the
processing agent. Or, the financial institution may be two
financial institutions, one associated with the purchaser, and one
associated with both the seller and the processing agent. Or, one
of the two financial institutions may be associated with the
seller, and the other associated with both the purchaser and the
processing agent. Or, one of the two financial institutions may be
associated with the processing agent, and the other associated with
both the purchaser and the seller.
[0047] The processor logs and stores in the memory each of the
communications received by or transmitted by the processor in
effecting the electronic escrow transaction. The communications may
be stored in a general memory, or they may be stored in one or more
specialized databases for escrow transactions. Preferably, the
memory stores an indication of the date and time of the
communications.
[0048] The electronic escrow transaction assures payment for, and
acceptable delivery of goods, or performance of services. The sale
of the goods or services originates between the purchaser and the
seller via a network, preferably the Internet. The seller may be a
merchant who maintains a Web homepage advertising goods and/or
services for sale. Or, the seller may be an individual with a Web
homepage advertising goods and/or services for sale. The individual
seller may post goods or services for sale on an electronic
bulletin board. Or, the seller may offer goods and/or services for
sale on an Internet auction site. In such a case, the purchaser is
the winning bidder for the goods and/or services.
[0049] Beneficially, the processor can be configured to send and
receive specific notices and directions via a network. The
processor can be configured to receive from the purchaser, via a
network by way of the communications port, an instruction to effect
the electronic escrow transaction. This instruction can include,
among other data, information identifying the seller and the amount
of the payment to the seller. The processor stores an indication of
the received instruction in the memory. The indication can include,
in addition to the payment instruction, information identifying the
purchaser and other data pertaining to the sale transaction.
[0050] The processor may also be configured to initiate a debit
from an account associated with the purchaser. This debit may be
initiated via the automated clearinghouse banking network, or some
other network. Or, the debit may be initiated in some other form,
such as a wire transfer, check or draft drawn on the purchaser
account, or debit authorization. The processor stores an indication
of initiation of the debit from the purchaser account in the
memory. The processor is also configured to initiate a credit to an
account associated with the seller. This credit, like the debit,
may be initiated via the automated clearinghouse banking network,
or some other network, or in some other form. The processor stores
an indication of initiation of the credit to the seller account in
the memory.
[0051] Beneficially, the processor can be configured to initiate a
debit from an account associated with the processing agent. This
debit, too, may be initiated via the automated clearinghouse
banking network, or some other network, or in some other form. The
processor stores an indication of initiation of the debit from the
account associated with the processing agent. In this case, the
processor is also configured to initiate a credit to an account
associated with the seller, and as above, store an indication in
the memory of initiation of the credit. The credit to the seller
account is a corresponding credit to the debit from the processing
agent account. That is, the debit from the processing agent account
results in the credit to the seller account.
[0052] In another beneficial aspect of the invention, the
processing agent is configured to transmit a notice, through the
communications port and over the network, to the seller that funds
from the purchaser account are available and that the seller should
thus ship the goods to, or provide the service for, the purchaser.
The processor stores an indication of this notice having been
transmitted in the memory. This notice assures the seller that he
or she will receive payment for the goods or services.
[0053] Further, this notice may be transmitted after a
predetermined period beginning at initiation of a debit to the
purchaser account has elapsed. This period may be any period. The
period may be the same for all electronic escrow transactions
effected by the processor, or it may be shortened or lengthened
depending upon various factors and analyses. Or, the notice may be
transmitted after funds from the purchaser account are credited to
the processing agent account. The notice may be transmitted after
both the period has elapsed and the funds have been credited, or
upon the occurrence of either of these conditions.
[0054] The processor may also be configured to perform other
especially preferred operations. The processor may receive, via the
communications port, a notice sent via a network that the goods
have been shipped to, or that the services have been performed for,
the purchaser. This notice may be sent by the seller, by a shipping
agent, both seller and shipping agent, or another entity. If sent
by both the seller and the shipping agent, a single notice may be
sent by the shipping agent to the seller, and then by the seller to
the processor. Or, both the shipping agent and the seller may send
a notice of shipment to the processor. The processor stores in the
memory an indication that this notice of shipment, or performance,
has been received. Thereafter, the processor may transmit another
separate notice to the purchaser that the seller has shipped the
goods or performed the service. An indication of this notice to the
purchaser is also stored in the memory.
[0055] As a further benefit, the notice of shipment or performance
can include a delivery tracking number. Typically, these numbers
are issued by a shipping agent and are used to confirm shipping and
track shipped packages, though they may be issued by a seller or
generated the processor. A delivery tracking number may be included
when the purchase is for goods, obviously not when the purchase is
for a service to be performed by the seller.
[0056] In another aspect of the invention, the processor can be
configured to receive, via the communications port, a notice sent
over a network that the goods have been received from the seller
and are acceptable, or that the seller has acceptably performed the
service. This notice confirms that the purchaser is satisfied with
the goods or services. An indication of this notice is also stored
in the memory. This notice may be sent by the purchaser the
shipping agent, the seller, or another entity. If sent by the
seller, the notice is preferably generated by the shipping agent,
transmitted to the seller, and then forwarded to the processor.
Also, a notice of acceptance be received from each of the
purchaser, the seller, and the shipping agent. Or, from the
purchaser and either of the seller or the shipping agent.
[0057] In yet another aspect of the invention, the processor is
configured to initiate credit to the seller account subsequent to
receiving the notice that the seller has fulfilled his or her
obligations, whether that be delivery of acceptable goods, or
acceptable performance of services. An indication of initiation of
the credit to the seller account is stored in the memory.
[0058] Beneficially, the processor may be configured to receive,
via the network, notice that the goods have been shipped, or the
services having been performed. An indication of receipt of this
notice is stored in the memory. A credit is initiated to an account
associated with the seller after a predetermined period, beginning
upon receipt of the notice, has elapsed. This notice can be
received from one or both of the seller or a shipping agent.
[0059] In an especially beneficial aspect of the invention, the
processor may be configured to receive, via the network, notice
that the purchaser is not satisfied with the goods or services.
That is, the notice may include information indicating that the
goods have been received, but are not acceptable. The notice may
include information indicating that the goods were not delivered.
The notice may include information indicating that the services
were not acceptably performed, or that they were not performed at
all. An indication of this notice is stored in the memory. The
notice may be sent by the purchaser, a shipping agent, both
purchaser and shipping agent, or another entity.
[0060] Optionally, this notice can include a notice to suspend a
pending credit to the seller account. The pending credit is a
credit for payment of the purchased goods or service. Or, this
notice can include a notice to reverse a debit to the purchaser
account. This debit is a debit of funds for the purchase of the
goods or service.
[0061] Preferably, the processor is configured to receive from at
least one of the purchaser, the shipping agent, both the purchaser
and shipping agent, or another entity, via the communications port,
a notice sent over the network, that the goods have been shipped
back to the seller. An indication of this notice is stored in the
memory. The processor is also configured to transmit to the seller,
over the network, a notice that the goods are being shipped back to
the seller from the purchaser. An indication of this notice is also
stored in the memory. Beneficially, the notice that the goods have
been shipped back to the seller includes a delivery tracking number
issued by a shipping agent.
[0062] In yet another advantageous aspect of the invention, the
processor may be configured to receive from one of the seller, the
shipping agent, both, or some other entity, via the communications
port, a notice sent over a network that the goods have been
received from the purchaser. An indication of this notice is stored
in the memory.
[0063] The processor may also be configured to initiate a credit to
the purchaser account and to store an indication of initiation of
this credit in the memory. This credit is initiated either after
receipt of a network notice indicating that the goods have been
returned from the purchaser and accepted by the seller, or after a
predetermined period, beginning at notifying the seller that the
purchaser has return shipped the goods to the seller, has elapsed.
This period may be any period. The notice may be received from at
least one or both of the seller or a shipping agent. As above,
either or both conditions may be met before the credit is
initiated.
[0064] Also, the processor may be configured to initiate a debit
from the purchaser account, initiate a credit to an escrow account
associated with the processing agent, initiate a debit to the
escrow account, and initiate a credit to the seller account. The
debit from the purchaser account and the credit to the escrow
account are both a part of the same financial transaction. Funds
from the purchaser account are deposited into the escrow account.
The escrow account is an account which maintains funds obtained
from a purchaser and not released to a seller until the seller has
fulfilled his or her obligations in a sale transaction. The debit
from the escrow account and the credit to the seller account are
both a part of the same financial transaction. An indication of the
initiation of the debit from the purchaser account is stored in the
memory. Also, an indication of the initiation of the credit to the
seller account is stored in the memory.
[0065] Especially advantageous, the communication port may be
configured to receive an instruction to direct execution of an
electronic escrow transaction via a Web page. This Web page is
generated subsequent to the purchaser selecting a hyper-link. This
hyper-link is presented to the purchaser by an Internet Web site
offering goods or services for sale. The Internet Web site may be a
Web site belonging to an individual, may belong to a merchant, or
may belong to an Internet auction site. The Web page presented to
the purchaser includes details of a purchase transaction made from
the Internet Web site. These details can include a description of
the goods or services purchased and information identifying the
parties to the transaction, among other information.
[0066] Beneficially, the processor may also be configured to
retrieve any of the stored communications from the memory. They may
be retrieved by the purchaser, the seller, or other entities in
communication with the processor.
[0067] In yet another advantageous aspect, the processor is further
configured to receive, from a shipping agent, a first notice that
the goods have been delivered to the purchaser. An indication of
receipt of this first notice is stored. The processor is also
configured to receive, from the purchaser, a second notice that the
goods are acceptable. An indication of receipt of this second
notice is also stored. The processor initiates a credit to an
account associated with the seller.
[0068] The credit may be initiated upon the occurrence of either of
two conditions, or upon the occurrence of both conditions. In a
first condition, the credit is initiated after a predetermined
period has elapsed. This predetermined period begins upon receipt
of the first notice. The second condition is receipt of the second
notice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0069] FIG. 1 depicts exemplary networks of the present invention
and users of the networks.
[0070] FIG. 2 depicts the enclosed community in accordance with the
present invention populated with registered purchasers, registered
sellers, and a processing agent.
[0071] FIG. 3 depicts the communications, in a first alternative,
to register a user with the processing agent of the present
invention.
[0072] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operations which are, in
a first alternative, performed by a registering user and the
processing agent of the present invention to register a registering
user.
[0073] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operations which are, in
a second alternative, performed by a registering user and the
processing agent of the present invention to register a registering
user.
[0074] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operations which are, in
a third alternative, performed by a registering user and the
processing agent of the present invention to register a registering
user.
[0075] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operations which are, in
a fourth alternative, performed by a registering user and the
processing agent of the present invention to register a registering
user.
[0076] FIG. 8 depicts the communications, in a second alternative,
to register a user with the processing agent of the present
invention.
[0077] FIG. 9 depicts a computer suitable for use by a registered
user to access the Internet in accordance with the invention.
[0078] FIG. 10 is an exemplary block diagram of components of the
computer depicted in FIG. 9.
[0079] FIG. 11A depicts an Internet server suitable for use by the
processing agent in accordance with the present invention.
[0080] FIG. 11B is an exemplary block diagram of components of the
server depicted in FIG. 11A.
[0081] FIG. 12 depicts the communications between various
registered users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2 to
effect a sale transaction in accordance with the present
invention.
[0082] FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users and processing agent to effect a
sale transaction in accordance with the present invention.
[0083] FIG. 14 depicts the communication between various registered
users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2, in a first
alternative, to effect an escrow transaction in accordance with the
present invention.
[0084] FIGS. 15A-C are flow charts showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users and processing agent, in a first
alternative, to effect an escrow transaction in accordance with the
present invention.
[0085] FIG. 16 depicts the communications between various
registered users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2, in a
second alternative, to effect an escrow transaction in accordance
with the present invention.
[0086] FIG. 17A is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users and processing agent, in a second
alternative, to effect an escrow transaction in accordance with the
present invention.
[0087] FIGS. 17B and 17C are flow charts showing the operations
which are performed by the registered users and processing agent,
in a third alternative, to effect an escrow transaction in
accordance with the present invention.
[0088] FIG. 18A depicts the communications between various
registered users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2, in a
first alternative, to effect a gift payment in accordance with the
present invention.
[0089] FIG. 18B depicts the communications between various
registered users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2, in a
second alternative, to effect a gift payment in accordance with the
present invention.
[0090] FIGS. 19A and 19B are flow charts showing the operations
which are performed by the registered users and processing agent,
in a first alternative, to effect a gift payment in accordance with
the present invention.
[0091] FIG. 19C is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users and processing agent, in a second
alternative, to effect a gift payment in accordance with the
present invention.
[0092] FIG. 20 depicts the communication between various registered
users, a shipping agent, and the processing agent, in a first
alternative, to effect a payment-upon-delivery transaction in
accordance with the present invention.
[0093] FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users, shipping agent, and processing
agent, in the first alternative, to effect a payment-upon-delivery
transaction in accordance with the present invention.
[0094] FIG. 22 depicts the communication between various registered
users, a shipping agent, and the processing agent, in a second
alternative, to effect a payment-upon-delivery transaction in
accordance with the present invention.
[0095] FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users, shipping agent, and processing
agent, in the second alternative, to effect a payment-upon-delivery
transaction in accordance with the present invention.
[0096] FIG. 24 depicts the communication between various registered
users, a shipping agent, and the processing agent, in a third
alternative, to effect a payment-upon-delivery transaction in
accordance with the present invention.
[0097] FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users, shipping agent, and processing
agent, in the third alternative, to effect a payment-upon-delivery
transaction in accordance with the present invention.
[0098] FIG. 26 depicts the communications between various
registered users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2, in a
first alternative, to effect an electronic gift certificate
donation in accordance with the present invention.
[0099] FIGS. 27A and 27B are flow charts showing the operations
which are performed by the registered users and processing agent,
in a first alternative, to effect an electronic gift certificate
donation in accordance with the present invention.
[0100] FIG. 28 depicts the communications between various
registered users and the processing agent depicted in FIG. 2, in a
second alternative, to effect an electronic gift certificate
donation.
[0101] FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the operations which are
performed by the registered users and processing agent, in a second
alternative, to effect an electronic gift certificate donation in
accordance with the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0102] As shown in FIG. 1, network 100 interconnects multiple
registered purchasers 110A-110N, multiple registered sellers
120A-120N and a processing agent 130. The network 100 is shown to
be the Internet, but could be virtually any type of network. Also
shown is a network 140 interconnecting processing agent 130 and
multiple financial institutes 150A-150N, each financial institute
is associated with at least one of the purchasers 110A-110N,
sellers 120A-120N, or processing agent 130. The network 140 is
shown to be a private financial institute network, such as the
currently existing bank network over which it is quiet common to
electronically transfer funds between banks. Here again, the
network 140 could be another type of network interconnecting the
processing agent 130 to financial institutes 150A-150N. It should
be understood that each of the registered purchasers 110A-110N and
the registered sellers 120A-120N can be both a purchaser and a
seller. Furthermore, a registered purchaser may be either an
individual or a business, and a registered seller may be either an
individual or a business. Also, the processing agent 130 can also
be referred to as a payment service provider.
[0103] Each of the registered purchasers 110A-110N and registered
sellers 120A-120N is preferably represented on the network 100 by a
computer of the type depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, which will be
described further below. However, it should be recognized that
virtually any network device could be utilized so long as the
device has sufficient processing and communication capabilities to
function in the described manner. The term "network device"
includes personal digital assistants (PDA's), telephones, including
cellular and/or digital telephones, and set-top boxes, among other
devices. It will also be understood that a network device may
connect to a network via wireless communications.
[0104] FIGS. 9 and 10 depict an exemplary personal computer
suitable for use by registered purchasers 110A-110N and registered
sellers 120A-120N to access the Internet 100 in the below-described
invention. The computer is preferably a commercially available
personal computer. It will be recognized that the computer
configuration is exemplary in that other components (not shown)
could be added or substituted for those depicted and certain of the
depicted components could be eliminated if desired.
[0105] The computer functions in accordance with stored programming
instructions which drive its operation. Preferably, the computer
stores its unique programming instructions on an EPROM, or hard
disk. It will be recognized that only routine programming is
required to implement the instructions required to drive the
computer to operate in accordance with the invention, as described
below. Further, since the computer components and configuration are
conventional, routine operations performed by depicted components
will generally not be described, such operations being well
understood in the art.
[0106] Referring to FIG. 9, the computer 1000 includes a main unit
1010 with slots 1011, 1012, and 1013, respectively provided for
loading programming or data from a floppy disk, compact disk (CD),
hard disk, and/or other storage means, onto the computer 1000. The
computer 1000 also includes a keyboard 1030 and mouse 1040 which
serve as user input devices. A display monitor 1020 is also
provided to visually communicate information to the user.
[0107] As depicted in FIG. 10, the computer 1000 has a main
processor 1100 which is interconnected via bus 1110 with various
storage devices including EPROM 1122, RAM 1123, hard drive 1124,
which has an associated hard disk 1125, CD drive 1126, which has an
associated CD 1127, and floppy drive 1128, which has an associated
floppy disk 1129. The memories, disks and CD all serve as storage
media on which computer programming or data can be stored for
access by the processor 1100. A drive controller 1150 controls the
hard drive 1124, CD drive 1126 and floppy drive 1128. Also depicted
in FIG. 10 is a display controller 1120 interconnected to display
interface 1121, a keyboard controller 1130 interconnected to
keyboard interface 1131, a mouse controller 1140 interconnected to
mouse interface 1141 and a modem 1160 interconnected to I/O port
1165, all of which are connected to the bus 1110. The modem 1160
and interconnected I/O port 1165 are used to transmit and receive
signals via the Internet 100 as described below. It will be
understood that other components may be connected if desired to the
bus 1110, including communications components other than a modem.
By accessing the stored computer programming, the processor 1100 is
driven to operate in accordance with the present invention.
[0108] Processing agent 130 is preferably represented on networks
100 and 140 by an Internet server of the applicable type shown in
FIGS. 11A and 11B, as will be described further below. However,
here again, any network compatible device which is capable of
functioning in the described manner could be substituted for the
servers shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B.
[0109] FIGS. 11A and 11B depict an exemplary network server
suitable for use by the processing agent 130 to access networks 100
and 140 in the below-described invention. The server is preferably
a commercially available high power, mini-computer or mainframe
computer. Here again, it will be recognized that the server
configuration is exemplary in that other components (not shown)
could be added or substituted for those depicted and certain of the
depicted components could be eliminated if desired.
[0110] The server functions as described below in accordance with
stored programming instructions which drive its operation.
Preferably, the server stores its unique programming instructions
on an EPROM or hard disk. It will be recognized that only routine
programming is required to implement the instructions required to
drive the server to operate in accordance with the invention, as
described below. Further, since the server components and
configuration are conventional, routine operations performed by
depicted components will generally not be described, such
operations being well understood in the art.
[0111] Referring to FIG. 11A, the server 1000' includes a main unit
1010' with slots 1011', 1012', 1013' and 1014', respectively
provided for loading programming or data from a floppy disk, CD,
hard disk, and/or other storage means onto the server 1000'. The
server 1000' also includes a keyboard 1030' and mouse 1040', which
serve as user input devices. A display monitor 1020' is also
provided to visually communicate information to the user.
[0112] As depicted in FIG. 11B, the server 1000' has a main
processor 1100' which is interconnected via bus 1110' with various
storage devices including EPROM 1122', RAM 1123', hard drive 1124',
which has an associated hard disk 1125', CD drive 1126', which has
an associated CD 1127', and floppy drive 1128', which has an
associated floppy disk 1129'. The memories, disks and CD all serve
as storage media on which computer programming or data can be
stored for access by the processor 1100'. The stored data includes
one or more databases containing information associated with
registered sellers 120A-120N, registered purchasers 110A-110N and
transactions between various ones of the registered sellers
120A-120N and the registered purchasers 110A-110N. The memories
associated with the server hereafter will be collectively referred
to as memory 1170. A drive controller 1150' controls the hard drive
1124', CD drive 1126' and floppy drive 1128'. Also depicted in FIG.
11B is a display controller 1120' interconnected to display
interface 1121', a keyboard controller 1130' interconnected to
keyboard interface 1130', a mouse controller 1140' interconnected
to mouse interface 1141' and a modem 1160' interconnected to I/O
port 1165', all of which are connected to the bus 1110'. The modem
1160' and interconnected I/O port 1165' are used to transmit and
receive signals via the Internet 100 as described above. It will be
understood that other components may be connected if desired to the
bus 1110', including communications components other than a modem.
By accessing the stored computer programming, the processor 1100'
is driven to operate in accordance with the present invention.
[0113] As shown in FIG. 2, the registered purchasers 110A-110N,
registered sellers 120A-120N, and processing agent 130 are part of
an electronic enclosed community 201. Registering user 205 is not a
part of the enclosed community 201, and as such cannot utilize the
services of the processing agent 130. Whereas, each of the
registered purchasers 110A-110N and registered sellers 120A-120N
can utilize the services offered by the processing agent 130. The
financial institutions are not necessarily a part of the enclosed
community 201. For purposes of the following discussion, the
financial institutions are depicted as being separate from the
enclosed community 201, however it should be understood that any of
the financial institutions can be a registered user.
[0114] Registered users, the purchasers and the sellers, interact
directly with each other via the Internet 100. Registered
purchasers 110A-110N and registered sellers 120A-120N negotiate the
terms of financial transactions between one another. The registered
purchaser makes payment to the registered seller via the services
of the processing agent 130, which is also a part of the enclosed
community 201. The processing agent 130 directs payments between
registered users. Preferably, the payments are made in the form of
an electronic debit to the registered purchaser's demand deposit
account (DDA) and a corresponding electronic credit to the
registered seller's (DDA). Debits and credits can alternatively be
made to accounts other than demand deposit accounts, such as
savings accounts, credit accounts and brokerage accounts, among
other types of accounts. Though, preferably, credits are made to a
DDA. Also preferably, the electronic debits and electronic credits
from and to demand deposit accounts are made via the automated
clearinghouse bank network (ACH), though networks and other
electronic means may be used to effect the debits and credits. The
processing agent 130 electronically effects the transfer of funds
from the purchaser's financial institution to the seller's
financial institution while shielding both the purchaser's and the
seller's financial institution and account information from one
another and providing the seller with payment trustworthiness. To
utilize services offered by the processing agent 130, a user must
register to become a member of enclosed community 201. Once a user
registers, the user need not undergo the registration process
again. Thus, once registered, a user can make payments to, or
receive payments from, any other registered user.
[0115] The communications for, and steps of, the registration
process are depicted in FIGS. 3-8. As described below, the
registering user 205 identifies a single DDA during the
registration process, though it will be understood that the
registering user 205 may identify an account other than a DDA. As
shown in FIG. 3, registering user 205 contacts the processing agent
130 on-line via communication 301. The registering user 205
transmits, via the Internet 100, at least information identifying
the registering user 205, an account number of a demand deposit
account (DDA) belonging to the registering user 205, and
information identifying the financial institution at which the DDA
is maintained, among other information, as depicted at step 401 of
FIG. 4. This information may be submitted via an enrollment form
transmitted to the registering user 205 by the processing agent 130
via the Internet 100. The registration information received by the
processing agent 130 via the Internet 100, as shown in step 410.
The processing agent 130 processes in real-time, that is, while the
registering user 205 is on-line, the received information to
register the registering user 205 and informs the registering user
205, also in real-time, of the registration status of the
registration process. optionally, processing agent 130 may accept
more than one account from which to electronically debit and/or to
which to electronically credit. In such a case, registering user
205 submits information identifying one or more accounts and the
associated financial institutions. It should be understood that in
this scenario, whenever a registered user has identified more than
one account, the registered user may identify the account from
which funds are to be debited on a per transaction basis. Or, the
registered user may identify a single account from which all debits
are to be made. When receiving funds, the registered user may
identify the account to which funds are to be credited on a per
transaction basis. Or, the registered user may identify a single
account to which all credits are to be made. Furthermore, a
registered user may identify a single account from which all debits
are to be made, and a different single account to which all credits
are to be made.
[0116] The registering user 205 may be a member of another enclosed
community, such as an on-line auction site, financial institution
site, Internet portal site, on-line electronic greeting card site,
or merchant Web site among others. Another director of an enclosed
community can present to its members an option to become a member
of enclosed community 201. These directors are known as sponsors.
If a member of another enclosed community chooses to become a
registered user of enclosed community 201 from an option presented
by another enclosed community, the sponsor can pre-populate an
enrollment form with any data that is already maintained by the
other enclosed community and also required to register with
enclosed community 201. The registering user 205 must complete the
enrollment form and transmit it to processing agent 130. From this
point forward, registration is the same as described herein.
[0117] In another alternative, a sponsor may interact with the
processing agent 130 to register a registering user. That is, the
sponsor presents to the processing agent 130 any required
information to register the registering user.
[0118] Processing the information includes the processing agent 130
validating, at step 415A, the information identifying the
registering user 205 received by the processing agent 130, this can
include validating the registering user's 205 address. The identity
information can include a name, social security number, mailing
address, city, state, phone numbers, zip code, date of birth,
e-mail address, and driver license number, among other information
associated with the registering user 205. If the processing agent
130 determines that the information identifying the registering
user 205 is valid, processing continues as depicted in step
415B.
[0119] The identity validation process can include accessing one or
more databases 305, via communication 310, in real-time containing
identity information to determine if the received identity
information corresponds with that in the database(s) 305. This
processing may also include verifying that the identity information
does not violate one or more predetermined parameters identified by
database(s) 305. As shown in FIG. 3, database(s) 305 is not stored
in memory 1170. However, it will be understood that database(s) 305
may be stored in memory 1170.
[0120] Processing the received information also includes the
processing agent 130 validating, at step 415B, the received DDA
number and the information identifying the associated financial
institution. If the information identifying the DDA and the
financial institution is validated, processing continues as
depicted in step 415C.
[0121] As shown in step 415C, the processing agent 130 determines
if the DDA can be electronically debited and/or credited. If the
information identifying the registering user 205 and the
information identifying the DDA and the financial institution is
validated, and the DDA can be electronically debited and/or
credited, the registering user 205 is notified in real-time, via
communication 330, that the registering user 205 has been accepted
into the enclosed community 201, as depicted in step 430.
[0122] The DDA number/financial institution processing can include
accessing, also in real-time, one or more databases 306, via
communication 320, containing information associated with demand
deposit accounts and financial institutions to validate the
received DDA/financial institution information and to determine if
the DDA associated with the registering user 205 can be
electronically debited and/or credited. As shown in FIG. 3,
database(s) 306 is not stored in memory 1170. However, it will be
understood that database(s) 305 may be stored in memory 1170.
[0123] The processing agent 130 generates and stores in memory 1170
a unique user identifier, and optionally password, associated with
the registering user 205, along with the received registration
information, as depicted in step 420 and communication 315.
Additionally, other information identifying the registering user
205 may also be stored in memory 1170. The unique user identifier
identifies a user to the processing agent 130. For those
registering users registering from another enclosed community, an
indicator of the enclosed community from which the registering user
is registering is also stored. Optionally, the registering user 205
may select the user identifier and/or password. The unique user
identifier, and password if applicable, are transmitted, preferably
in real-time, to the newly registered user 205. This may be either
via communication 330, or in separate optional communication 330A.
If the unique user identifier, or unique user identifier and
password, is/are not transmitted to a registering user in realtime,
it/they may be sent to the registering user via e-mail or other
communication. Generation and storage of the unique user
identifier, or unique user identifier and password, step 420, may
take place prior to any of steps 415A, 415B, or 415C, though as
depicted in each of FIGS. 4 through 7, it follows these steps.
[0124] Steps 440 and 450 depict optional processing, which includes
the processing agent 130 generating and storing in memory 1170, via
communication 416, a second identifier associated with the newly
registered user 205. This second identifier is transmitted to the
newly registered user via a non-real-time communication, depicted
as communication 335A. That is, it is transmitted to the user
either via e-mail, or traditional postal delivery. The second
identifier can be thought of as a registration confirmation. As
depicted in step 450, the newly registered user 205 contacts the
processing agent 130 after receipt of the second identifier and
transmits the second identifier to the processing agent 130,
depicted as communication 335B. The second identifier is received
by the processing agent 130. The processing agent 130 then matches
the received second identifier with that stored in memory 1170, via
communication 417, and confirms the newly registered user's 205
registration. When the second user identifier is optionally
utilized, the newly registered user may direct debits from and/or
credits to the newly registered user's DDA. However, the processing
agent 130 will not effect these transactions until the newly
registered user transmits to the processing agent 130 the second
identifier. Thus, even with the optional processing in steps 440
and 450 executed, newly registered user 205 may immediately begin
to utilize the services of the processing agent 130. If, after a
predetermined period, the newly registered user 205 does not
transmit to the processing agent 130 the optional second
identifier, the newly registered user's 205 registration may be
revoked and any pending transactions may be cancelled.
[0125] If the processing agent 130 cannot validate the identity
information, the registering user 205 is informed in real-time, via
communication 340, that the processing agent 130 is unable to
register the user, as depicted in step 460. The communication also
informs the registering user 205 that the registering user 205
should provide the processing agent 130, via traditional postal
delivery, a voided check drawn on the user's DDA, along with the
information identifying the registering user 205 and the DDA and
financial institution information to process the registration in
non-real-time. Additionally, the information requested from the
registering user 205 may also include additional information
identifying the registering user 205 not required for the on-line
registration process.
[0126] If the processing agent 130 cannot validate the DDA and
financial institution information, the registering user 205 is
informed in real-time, via communication 350 that the DDA and
financial institution information cannot be validated, as depicted
in step 470A. The registering user 205 is also prompted to reenter
the DDA/financial institution information, as a possible reason for
validation failure can be improper entry of this information by the
registering user 205. If the registering user 205 reenters and
retransmits the required DDA/financial institution information, as
depicted in step 470B and communication 301A, the processing agent
130 receives the information, step 470C, and validates the newly
received DDA/financial institution information. If the registering
user 205 does not resubmit this information, or if the resubmitted
information cannot be validated, registration fails.
[0127] If the processing agent 130 determines that the DDA is not
electronically creditable and/or debitable, the registering user
205 is informed, at step 480 and via communication 360, that the
registration has failed. The notification can optionally include a
prompt for the registering user to enter information identifying
another account and the associated financial institution. If
registering user 205 transmits information identifying another
account, operations continue as depicted in step 470B. If not,
registration fails.
[0128] FIGS. 5-8 depict optional registration operations. FIG. 5
shows the steps of the registration process in a different order
than discussed above. It should be understood that step 415A and,
if processing determines the necessity of, step 460 may follow step
415C, and precede step 420, as depicted in FIG. 5. The processing
remains the same as that depicted in FIG. 4, only the order has
changed. Furthermore, though not shown, steps 415A and 415B may be
executed essentially concurrently.
[0129] FIGS. 6-8 depict yet further registration options. As shown
in step 610 of FIG. 6 and step 710 of FIG. 7, if the processing
agent 130 determines that the DDA cannot be electronically debited
and/or credited, at step 415C, the status of the DDA account as not
being electronically debitable and/or creditable is stored in the
memory 1170 via communication 801, as depicted in FIG. 8. In the
sequence of processing depicted in FIG. 6, processing then
continues with the operations shown at step 420. In the sequence of
processing depicted in FIG. 7, processing then continues with the
operations shown at step 415A. Thus registering user 205 may be
accepted into the enclosed community 201 even though the
registering user's 205 DDA is not electronically debitable and/or
creditable.
[0130] The processing agent 130 makes further determinations
relating to the newly registered user 205. These determinations,
though, may or may not made in real-time. They may be concurrent
with the above-described processing, or they may follow. They can
be made only once, or multiple times. The determinations may be
made each time a registered user directs a financial transaction
via processing agent 130, or periodically as deemed necessary by
the processing agent 130. These determinations concern credit risks
the processing agent 130 will assume in providing the
above-described payment service, and other services to be described
below.
[0131] In effecting the transfer of funds from a registered
purchaser's financial institution to a registered seller's
financial institution, the processing agent 130 is the originator
of these transactions and is therefore the recipient of, and
responsible for, any returned debits or credits. The processing
agent 130 determines risk factors on a per-registered user
basis.
[0132] This determination can include evaluating the credit history
of the newly registered user 205, identification of DDA closures,
and retrieval of bad check history relating to the newly registered
user 205.
[0133] The information received from registering user 205 to
initiate the registration process may also include a request to
make a payment on behalf of the registering user. In such a case,
if the identity information and the account and financial
institution information is verified, the processing agent 130 can
immediately execute payments on behalf of the user as described
below. Thus, a registering user can not only register in real-time,
but also immediately direct payments. Furthermore, as registration
is preferably performed real-time while a registering user and the
processing agent 130 participate in a communications session, that
user may direct a payment during the communications session
subsequent to receiving registration confirmation with or without
transmitting or knowing his unique identifier. Also, a user may
direct a payment without being registered, and without submitting
registration information. In such a case, the processing agent 130
will inform the user that the user must register. The payment
request will be held until registration is completed. Upon
registration, the request will be executed. Thus, the payment
request may be received previous to registration information. As
will be described below, several types of transactions can be
conducted by the processing agent 130. A user can request that any
of these transactions be initiated while participating in an online
communication session in which the user registers, without the user
transmitting and/or knowing his unique identifier. This includes
the user submitting the request prior to submitting registration
information, submitting the request with the registration
information, or submitting the request subsequent to providing the
registration information.
[0134] FIGS. 12 and 13 show the communications for, and steps of, a
purchase transaction between purchaser A 110A and seller A 120A
effected through processing agent 130. In should be understood that
registered purchaser A 110A and registered seller A 120A are
individuals, though one or both could be businesses or another type
of organization. It should also be understood that the
communications shown between purchaser A 110A, seller A 120A, and
the processing agent 130 are preferably made via the Internet 100,
though another network could be used. As depicted in communication
1201 and step 1301, purchaser A 110A and seller A 120A, who are
both registered members of the enclosed community 201, negotiate
the terms of a sale transaction. The processing agent 130 is not a
party to the negotiations. Seller A 120A may present goods or
services on a homepage belonging to seller A 120A, or seller A 120A
may post goods and services for sale on an electronic public
bulletin board, or advertise their availability either on the
Internet or otherwise.
[0135] Purchaser A 110A contacts processing agent 130, as shown via
communications 1205 and at step 1305, and transmits payment
instructions to the processing agent 130. The payment instructions
include the amount of the payment and the unique user identifiers
associated with seller A 120A and purchaser A 110A and optionally
the password associated with purchaser A 110A. Optionally, payment
information can include a future date upon which payment is to be
made. Purchaser A 110A may contact processing agent 130 via a
hyper-link included in a Web homepage associated with seller A
120A, or included in an electronic public bulletin board. Or,
purchaser A 110A may contact processing agent 130 directly via the
Internet 100.
[0136] Irrespective of how processing agent 130 receives the
instruction, processing agent 130 processes the transmitted payment
information and stores a persistent indicator in memory 1170 that
the transaction is a sale transaction. This may be stored in a
database containing information relating to sale transactions.
Processing Agent 130 initiates a debit from, or initiates at a
future date if so directed, via communication 1210 and depicted at
step 1316, the account associated with purchaser A 110A. The
corresponding credit is directed to an account associated with
processing agent 130. FIG. 12 shows the account associated with
registered purchaser A 110A as being maintained at financial
institution 150A. And, as shown in FIG. 12, the account associated
with processing agent 130 is maintained at financial institution
150D. As should be understood, the account, preferably a DDA,
associated with processing agent 130 may be maintained at any
financial institution capable of electronic transfers.
[0137] To ameliorate the financial risk processing agent 130 is
subject to, a debit from processing agent 130 and corresponding
credit to seller A 120A may not be effected for a predetermined
period of time after the debit from the account associated with
purchaser A 110A is initiated. FIG. 13 depicts operations when an
debit is not returned uncollected during a predetermined period.
When the predetermined period has elapsed, preferably three days,
though it could be a shorter period or a longer period depending
upon risk factors, and the debit has not been returned uncollected,
the processing agent 130 initiates a debit from, via communication
1220 and at step 1320A, the account associated with the processing
agent 130. This debit results in a corresponding credit to the
account associated with registered seller A 120A maintained at
financial institution 150B.
[0138] Processing agent 130 informs registered seller A 120A that
seller A 120A has new funds available via communication 1208A and
at step 1320B. This preferably is done via e-mail. This
notification can be executed once the debit to the purchaser's
account has been initiated, or once funds have actually been
obtained from the purchaser's account.
[0139] Optionally, the operations depicted in steps 1320A and 1320B
can be executed immediately after processing agent 130 receives a
corresponding credit to the debit from the account associated with
registered purchaser A 110A, yet before the predetermined period
has elapsed.
[0140] If the debit to registered purchaser A 110A is returned
uncollected, registered purchaser A 110A may be prevented from
directing any further payments for a period of time, or until the
debit is collected.
[0141] Any of registered sellers 120A-120N may be a merchant
maintaining a Web site presenting goods or services for purchase.
The operations to effect a funds transfer to a merchant are
essentially the same as those described above in relation to
payments between individuals.
[0142] The merchant's Web site can include a hyper-link which
connects a customer to processing agent 130. Of course, if the
customer is not a registered user, the customer must register
before any payments will be executed on his behalf by the
processing agent 130. Selecting the hyper-link causes processing
agent 130 to present a Web page to the registered purchaser that
contains data pertaining to the goods being purchased. The page
contains the registered seller's name, unique identifier, item
description, payment amount, and optionally, a payment date. This
information is captured from the merchant Web site. The Web page
also includes a hyper-link selectable by the registered purchaser
to cause the transaction to be initiated. The registered purchaser
must submit his unique identifier, and optionally, password, before
the transaction can be processed. The Web page can include a field
or fields for entry of this information. Thereafter, operations
continue as depicted in steps 1305-1320B in FIG. 13. If the
purchaser is not a registered user, the purchaser would have to
register before the transaction could be completed.
[0143] The sale transaction between a registered purchaser and a
registered seller may result from an Internet auction. Payment
between the winning bidder, who is the purchaser, and the seller
can be effected through the processing agent 130, as discussed
above. As with the above-described non-auction payment transaction,
the parties to an auction payment transaction must be members of
the enclosed community 201.
[0144] Another service offered by the processing agent 130 is that
of the processing agent 130 acting as an escrow agent. FIGS. 14-17C
depict the communications of, and steps for, the processing agent
130 to serve as an escrow agent between registered purchaser B 110B
and registered seller B 120B from a sale arising from an Internet
auction, though the sale can arise otherwise. The processing
(escrow) agent 130 maintains funds associated with the transaction
in an account, shown in FIG. 14 as maintained at financial
institution 150D, until the associated products are satisfactorily
received and accepted by the registered purchaser B 110B, or until
the seller has satisfactorily performed some service obligation.
This account will be referred to herein as an escrow account. The
processing (escrow) agent 130 is the hub of a signaling
infrastructure supported by a database 1405 that maintains
information about registered purchasers, registered sellers, and
transactions between one of the registered purchasers and
registered sellers. Thus, the processing (escrow) agent 130
provides integrated event tracking for funds and goods movement
between registered sellers 120A-120N and registered purchasers
110A-110N.
[0145] At step 1501, and via communication 1401A, a bid submitted
by registered purchaser B 110B is accepted. The purchaser B 110B
and the seller B 120B need not communicate for this to happen. Any
additional terms of the sale may be negotiated between registered
purchaser B 110B and registered seller B 120B, communication 1401B.
The processing (escrow) agent 130 is not a party to these
communications and this step. Registered purchaser B 110B submits a
payment request to the processing (escrow) agent 130 with an
indication that funds should be escrowed, as depicted in
communication 1408 and step 1508. Optionally, the seller may be
required to consent to participation in the escrow transaction.
[0146] The Internet auction site at which the sale transaction
originated can present a hyper-link to registered purchaser B 110B
which connects registered purchaser B 110B to processing (escrow)
agent 130. Or, registered purchaser B 110B may directly access the
processing (escrow) agent 130 to direct payment or payment and
escrow services. Selecting the hyper-link causes processing agent
130 to present a Web page to registered purchaser B 110B that
contains data pertaining to the goods or services being purchased.
The page may contain the seller's name, unique identifier, item or
service description, payment amount, and payment date. This
information is captured from the auction site. The Web page also
includes a hyper-link to cause the transaction to be initiated.
Registered purchaser B 110B must provide his unique identifier, and
optionally, password, before the transaction can be processed. The
Web page can include a field or fields for entry of this
information. It should be understood that this Web page is also
available when the auction site sale transaction between registered
purchaser B 110B and registered seller B 120B is not an escrow
transaction, but a sale transaction as described above, which
results from a winning bid. Also, the Internet site can present to
an unregistered user an option to become registered.
[0147] Processing (escrow) agent 130 stores the payment request in
the database 1405 with a persistent indicator for "funds escrow",
as depicted in communication 1410 and step 1510. The payment
request is assigned a payment identifier which is also stored. The
initial state of the indicator is marked as "submitted". This state
triggers the next step.
[0148] Processing (escrow) agent 130 initiates a debit of funds
from the account associated with registered purchaser B 110B, as
depicted in step 1512 and communication 1412. This may be at a
future date agreed upon by the parties to the transaction,
including the on-line auction site. The state of the payment
request stored in database 1405 is changed to "debit initiated," as
depicted in communication 1415 and step 1515.
[0149] Once the debit has cleared, that is, funds have been
credited to the escrow account, the state of the payment request
stored in database 1405 is changed to "debit approved," as depicted
in step 1518 and communication 1418. Optionally, the state of the
payment request stored in database 1405 can be changed to "debit
approved" after the predetermined period discussed above in
relation to a sale transaction has lapsed. This state triggers the
next step. Assuming the funds have cleared, or the period has
lapsed, the processing (escrow) agent 130 notifies registered
seller B 120B, preferably via e-mail, that the funds have been
escrowed and that the seller should ship the goods, or provide the
services, as depicted in step 1520 and communication 1420. This
notification may contain the same product or services data that was
captured from the auction site, the payment identifier, and a
package identifier. The state of the payment request stored in
database 1405 is changed to "seller notified to ship,"
communication 1421 and step 1521.
[0150] Registered seller B 120B ships the goods, or provides the
services, to registered purchaser B 110B and optionally notifies
the processing (escrow) agent 130 of the same. For shipment of
goods, registered seller B 120B performs the optional notification
by providing shipping information to the processing (escrow) agent
130, step 1523 and communication 1423. The shipping confirmation
may include the identity of the shipping agent and the package
identifier. The state of the payment request stored in database
1405 is changed to "shipping/performance confirmation received,"
communication 1425 and step 1525.
[0151] The processing (escrow) agent 130 may optionally transmit a
notification to registered purchaser B 110B, preferably via e-mail,
that the goods have been shipped, or that the services have been or
are being performed, step 1528 and communication 1428. The state of
the payment request stored in database 1405 in such a case is
changed to "purchaser notified of shipment/performance," step 1530
and communication 1430.
[0152] Upon satisfactory receipt of the goods, or acceptable
performance of the services, registered purchaser B 110B transmits
notice of acceptance of the goods or services to the processing
(escrow) agent 130, step 1533 and communication 1433. This may be
via e-mail or other type communication, including registered
purchaser B 110B directly accessing the purchasing (escrow) agent
via the Internet 100. The state of the payment request stored in
database 1405 is changed to "purchaser acceptance of goods/services
received," communication 1435 and step 1535. This triggers the next
step. If registered purchaser B 110B does not transmit notice of
acceptance of the goods or services within a predetermined time
after registered purchaser B 110B has been notified of shipment or
performance, the state of the payment request may be changed to
"purchaser acceptance of goods/services received," even though
notification of acceptance has not been received, if optional step
1523 has been executed.
[0153] Processing (escrow) agent 130 initiates a debit of the funds
from the escrow account at its own financial institution 150D, and
a corresponding credit to registered seller B's account at
financial institution 150E, step 1538 and communication 1438. The
state of the payment request stored in database 1405 is changed to
"funds credited to seller, step 1540 and communication 1440. This
triggers the next step.
[0154] The purchasing (escrow) agent 130 notifies seller B 110B via
e-mail that payment on behalf of the purchaser B 110B has been
deposited in the seller's account, step 1543 and communication
1443. The state of the payment request stored in database 1405 is
changed to "seller notified of funds crediting," step 1545 and
communication 1445.
[0155] FIGS. 16 and 17A-C depict the communications and steps which
occur when registered purchaser B 110B is not satisfied with the
goods or services. After registered purchaser B 110B has been
notified of shipment or performance, if registered purchaser B 110B
receives the goods and is not satisfied, has not received them, is
not satisfied with the services, or has not received the services,
registered purchaser B 110B may choose to initiate communication
with the seller about the problem, as depicted in communication
1601 and step 1701. Processing (escrow) agent 130 is not a party to
this optional communication. Registered purchaser B 110B notifies
the processing (escrow) agent 130 to place the transaction in a
"hold" status pending resolution, step 1705 and communication 1605.
This may be via e-mail or other communication, including by direct
communication with the processing (escrow) agent 130 via the
Internet 100. The state of the payment request stored in database
1405 is changed to "purchaser hold of transaction received," step
1708 and communication 1608. If the dispute is resolved between
registered purchaser B 110B and registered seller B 120B, purchaser
B 110B notifies processing agent 130 of the resolution and the hold
is removed. Operations continue with step 1533 of FIG. 15B.
[0156] FIGS. 17B and 17C depict operations if the dispute is not
resolved. Registered purchaser B 110B notifies the processing
(escrow) agent 130 that the debit to the purchaser account should
be reversed, communication 1610 and step 1710. This, as above, may
be via e-mail or other communication, including by direct Internet
100 connection with the processing (escrow) agent 130. The state of
the payment request stored in database 1405 is changed to
"purchaser rejection of transaction received," step 1713 and
communication 1613. For the sale of goods, registered purchaser B
110B returns the merchandise to registered seller B 120B and
confirms shipping by providing shipping information to the
processing (escrow) agent 130, step 1715, communication 1615. The
state of the payment request stored in database 1405 is changed to
"return shipping confirmation received," step 1718 and
communication 1618. This triggers the next step. It should be
understood that registered purchaser B 110B need not first place a
hold on the transaction, registered purchaser B may direct a
reversal of the transaction without directing the above-described
hold.
[0157] The processing (escrow) agent 130 optionally notifies
registered seller B 120B via e-mail that the goods have been
shipped, communication 1620 and step 1720. The state of the payment
request stored in database 1405 is changed to "seller notified of
return shipment," step 1723 and communication 1623. Upon
satisfactory receipt of the returned goods, registered seller B
120B notifies processing (escrow) agent 130 of acceptance of the
goods, communications 1625 and step 1725. This may too be via email
or other type communication. The state of the payment request
stored in database 1405 may be changed to "seller acceptance of
return shipment received," communication 1628 and step 1728. If
registered seller B 120B does not notify processing (escrow) agent
130 of acceptance of the returned goods within a predetermined
time, the state of the payment request may be changed to "seller
acceptance of return shipment received."
[0158] Processing (escrow) agent 130 initiates a debit of funds
from the escrow account and a corresponding credit to registered
purchaser A's account, step 1730 and communication 1630. The state
of the payment request stored in database 1405 is changed to "funds
reversed to purchaser," step 1733 and communication 1633. This
funds reversal, however, may not be to the same account associated
with the registered purchaser from which the funds were originally
debited. The purchasing (escrow) agent 130 notifies registered
purchaser B 110B, preferably via e-mail, that appropriate reversal
of payment has been deposited in the account associated with
registered purchaser B 110B, communication 1635 and step 1735. The
state of the payment request stored in database 1405 is changed to
"purchaser notified of funds reversal," step 1738 and communication
1638.
[0159] The above-described escrow transaction may be performed
somewhat differently. Alternate operations will be referred to as
payment-on-delivery transactions. In such transactions, a shipping
agent takes on a more active role by providing tracking of the
movement of goods to either of, or both of, the processing (escrow)
agent 130 and registered seller B B120. In payment-on-delivery
transactions, an association between the payment identifier and the
package identifier, both introduced above, is established and is
utilized by the processing (escrow) agent 130 in determining when
to release funds. The association may be established by a shipping
agent, by a seller, or by the processing (escrow) agent 130.
[0160] In a first alternative, the shipping agent initiates the
association of the payment identifier and the package identifier
and notifies the processing (escrow) agent 130 of the same. FIG. 20
depicts communications among the registered seller B 120B,
registered purchaser B 110B, processing (escrow) agent 130, and a
shipping agent 2000. The communications and processing to effect a
payment-on-delivery transaction in this first alternative is the
same as described above and depicted in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 through
step 1518. Thereafter, some of the aforementioned optional
operations become mandatory and additional operations are
introduced, as described below and depicted in FIG. 21, beginning
at step 2101.
[0161] In step 1520, described above, the processing (escrow) agent
130 informs the registered seller B 120B of the payment identifier,
and optionally the package identifier. If, at step 1520, the
processing (escrow) agent 130 does not provide the registered
seller B 120B with the package identifier, either the registered
seller B 120B or the shipping agent 2000 can generate the package
identifier. At step 2101, the seller provides the shipping agent
2000 with the goods, the identity of the processing (escrow) agent
130, the payment identifier, and optionally the package identifier
if the shipping agent 2000 has not generated the package
identifier. The identity and identifiers, shown transmitted via
communication 2001, may be provided previous to, subsequent to, or
concurrent with, the shipping agent 2000 actually taking possession
of the goods for shipment. The communications between the
registered seller B 120B and the shipping agent 2000 may be made
orally, by hardcopy, or electronically, including on-line
communications.
[0162] The shipping agent 2000 generates the package identifier, if
necessary, and creates an association between the processing
(escrow) agent 130, the payment identifier, and the package
identifier, step 2105. The association links this information
together in a database. Preferably, the shipping agent 2000
utilizes the package identifier as a delivery or tracking number.
The association may be made concurrent with receipt of the
information in step 2101, such as via an on-line communication
while interacting with the registered seller B 120B, or
subsequently, such as via an electronic file batch processing.
[0163] The shipping agent 2000 may optionally provide the
registered seller B 120B with a receipt, which may include one of
or both of the payment identifier and the package identifier, step
2110 and communication 2010.
[0164] Also optionally, the shipping agent 2000 may transmit the
association between the payment identifier and the package
identifier to the processing (escrow) agent 130, step 2115 and
communication 2015. This may be an automatic transmission requiring
no human involvement, such as via an electronic batch file or
Application Program Interface (API), which is an in-session
(real-time) interface between the shipping agent 2000 and the
processing (escrow) agent 130. Or, the transmission may involve
human intervention by the shipping agent 2000. This can include
making the transmission via an on-line user interface or otherwise.
In such a case, the processing (escrow) agent stores this
information in database 1405, and the state of the payment request
is changed to "shipping confirmation received," step 2119 and
communication 2019.
[0165] Also optionally, the processing (escrow) agent 130 may
inform the registered purchaser B 110B that shipping has been
initiated, step 2120, if step 2119 is executed. In such a case, the
state of the payment request in database 1405 is changed to
"purchaser notified of shipment," step 2121 and communication
2021.
[0166] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the
shipping agent 2000 can electronically track the movement of the
package from the moment of acceptance from the registered seller B
120B to the moment of delivery to the registered purchaser B 110B.
Thus, at all times the shipping agent 2000 can know the location of
the package. When the registered purchaser B 110B takes possession
of the package, the shipping agent 2000 enters a notation of this
into the tracking system maintained by the shipping agent 2000.
This can be done wherever the actual transfer of possession occurs
via the use of handheld data terminals or other devices. In a first
notification scenario, known as a `push`, upon delivery of the
package to the registered purchaser B 110B, the shipping agent 2000
transmits the association between the payment identifier and the
package identifier, as well as an indication that the package has
been delivered, to the processing (escrow) agent 130, step 2125 and
communication 2025. As in the above-described optional transmission
depicted in step 2115, this may be an automatic transmission
requiring no human involvement, such as via an electronic batch
file or Application Program Interface (API), which is an in-session
(real-time) interface between the shipping agent 2000 and the
processing (escrow) agent 130. Or, the transmission may involve
human intervention by the shipping agent 2000. This can include
making the transmission via an on-line user interface or otherwise.
If optional step 2115 has been executed, the shipping agent 2000
need only transmit the delivery results. After the package has been
delivered, and the processing (escrow) agent 130 has knowledge of
the delivery, operations continue as described above and depicted
in FIG. 15, step 1538.
[0167] In a second notification scenario, known as a `pull`, and
available if optional step 2115 has been executed, the processing
(escrow) agent 130 retrieves delivery results from the shipping
agent 2000. This too may either be automatic, whereby the
processing (escrow) agent 130 utilizes an on-line API provided by
the shipping agent 2000, or retrieves delivery results via a batch
pull of delivery confirmation files from the shipping agent 2000.
Or, the retrieval of delivery results may involve human
intervention, such that a representative of the processing (escrow)
agent 130 accesses an on-line system of the shipping agent 2000,
then updates information maintained by the processing (escrow)
agent 130 either in batch or on-line mode. Preferably, data is
pulled periodically from the shipping agent 2000. If the results of
the pull is that the package has been delivered, operations
continue with step 1538 of FIG. 15.
[0168] In a second alternative, whose communications and steps are
depicted in FIGS. 22 and 23, the seller initiates the association
of the payment identifier and the package identifier and notifies
the processing (escrow) agent 130 of the same. In this second
alternative, delivery results may directly flow between the
shipping agent 2000 and the processing (escrow) agent 130, or they
may flow through the registered seller B 120B. The processing to
effect a payment-on-delivery transaction in this second alternative
is the same as described above and depicted in FIG. 15 through step
1518. Thereafter, some of the aforementioned optional operations
become mandatory and additional operations are introduced, as
described below.
[0169] In step 1520, the processing (escrow) agent 130 informs the
registered seller B 120B of the payment identifier and not the
package identifier. In this second alternative, either the
registered seller B 120B or the shipping agent 2000 can generate
the package identifier. At step 2301, the registered seller B 120B
provides the goods to the shipping agent 2000, and if necessary,
also provides the package identifier. If not, the shipping agent
2000 generates the package identifier and notifies the registered
seller B 120B of the package identifier. Communications between the
registered seller B 120B and the shipping agent 200 are depicted
via communication 2201.
[0170] The shipping agent 2000 may optionally provide the
registered seller B 120B with a receipt, which may include one of
or both of the payment identifier and the package identifier, step
2310.
[0171] The registered seller B 120B creates the association between
the payment identifier and the package identifier, step 2315, and
informs the processing (escrow) agent 130 of the identity of the
shipping agent 2000 and the association between the payment
identifier and the package identifier, step 2316 and communication
2216. This may be an automatic transmission requiring no human
involvement, such as via an electronic batch file or Application
Program Interface (API), which is an in-session (real-time)
interface between the shipping agent 2000 and the processing
(escrow) agent 130. Or, the transmission may involve human
intervention by the shipping agent 2000. This can include making
the transmission via an on-line user interface or otherwise.
Optionally, the state of the payment request is changed to
"shipping confirmation received," step 2317 and communication
2217.
[0172] Optionally, the processing (escrow) agent 130 may inform the
registered purchaser B 110B that shipping has been initiated, step
2320 and communication 2220. In such a case, the state of the
payment request in database 1405 is changed to "purchaser notified
of shipment," step 2321 and communication 2221.
[0173] Also optionally, the processing (escrow) agent 130 may
inform the shipping agent 2000, or the shipping agent 2000 and the
registered seller B 120B, of a desire to directly obtain delivery
results from the shipping agent 2000, step 2325 and communication
2225.
[0174] As in the first alternative, delivery results can either be
pushed from the shipping agent 2000 or pulled from the shipping
agent 2000. Furthermore, as the delivery results may flow directly
between the shipping agent 2000 and the processing (escrow) agent
130, or through the registered seller B 120B, the delivery results
may be pushed and/or pulled in multiple combinations of
communications. The delivery results may be pushed directly to the
processing (escrow) agent from the shipping agent 2000, or may be
pushed to the registered seller B 120B from the shipping agent
2000. If pushed to the registered seller B 120B, they may then be
pushed to the processing (escrow) agent 130, or they may then be
pulled from the registered seller B 120 by the processing agent
130. The delivery results may be pulled directly from the shipping
agent 2000 to the processing (escrow) agent 130, or may be pulled
from the shipping agent 2000 by the registered seller B 120. If
pulled to the registered seller B 120, they may then be pushed to
the processing (escrow) agent 130 by the registered seller B 120B,
or they may then be pulled from the registered seller B 120 by the
processing agent 130.
[0175] When the delivery results are pushed by the shipping agent
2000, and the processing (escrow) agent 130 has not requested to
directly obtain delivery results, upon delivery of the package to
the registered purchaser B 110B, the shipping agent 2000 transmits
an indication that the package has been delivered to the registered
seller B 120B, step 2330 and communication 2230A. If the processing
(escrow) agent 130 has requested to directly obtain delivery
results, the shipping agent 2000, transmits the indication that the
package has been delivered to the processing (escrow) agent 130,
communication 2230B, not the registered seller B 120B. As in the
above-described transmissions, these may be automatic transmissions
requiring no human involvement, such as via an electronic batch
file or Application Program Interface (API), which is an in-session
(real-time) interface between two or more parties. Or, the
transmissions may involve human intervention by the shipping agent
2000. This can include making the transmissions via an on-line user
interface or otherwise.
[0176] When the delivery results are to be pulled from the shipping
agent 2000 and the processing (escrow) agent 130 desires to
directly obtain the delivery results, preferably the processing
(escrow) agent 130 has informed the registered seller B 120B of
this desire. In the direct pull scenario, the processing (escrow)
agent 130 directly pulls delivery results from the shipping agent
2000, as discussed above, via communication 2230B. In a pull
scenario in which the delivery results are pulled to the registered
seller B 120B, the transmission is made via communication
2230A.
[0177] If the delivery results have been made known to the
registered seller B 120B, either by pushing or pulling, in step
2335 and communication 2235, they are then made known to the
processing (escrow) agent 130. This may either be a pushing from
the registered seller B 120B to the processing (escrow) agent 130,
or a pulling from the registered seller B 120B by the processing
(escrow) agent 130. Once the processing (escrow) agent 130 obtains
the delivery results, no matter if by pulling or pushing, or if
directly or through the registered seller B 120B, and if the
delivery results are that the package has been delivered,
operations continue as described above and depicted in FIG. 15,
step 1538.
[0178] In a third alternative, shown in FIGS. 24 and 25,
payment-on-delivery transaction, the processing (escrow) agent 130
makes the association of the payment identifier and the package
identifier and thus need not be informed thereof by either the
seller or the shipping agent 2000. Preferably, the association is
made prior to step 1520. At step 1520 of FIG. 15, the processing
(escrow) agent 130 informs the registered seller B 120B of the
payment identifier and the package identifier. Registered seller B
120B provides the goods to the shipping agent 2000 and provides the
shipping agent 2000 with the package identifier, step 2501. The
package identifier is communicated via communication 2401. This may
be either in person, including both an oral communication or via
hardcopy, or in an electronic file format.
[0179] The processing (escrow) agent 130, as in the second
alternative, may optionally inform the shipping agent 2000 of a
desire to receive delivery results, step 2505 and communication
2405. This may be prior to, concurrent with, or subsequent to, the
registered seller providing the goods and information to the
shipping agent 2000. This may be done via any of the above
described communication methods.
[0180] The shipping agent 2000 may optionally provide the
registered seller B 120B with a receipt, which may include the
package identifier, step 2510.
[0181] As discussed in the second alternative, delivery results can
either be pushed from or pulled from the shipping agent 2000. Also
as discussed in the second alternative, delivery results may flow
directly between the processing (escrow) agent 130 and the shipping
agent 2000, or they may flow through the registered seller B
120B.
[0182] At step 2515, the delivery results are either pulled from or
pushed from the shipping agent 2000. This may be to the processing
(escrow) agent 130, or to the registered seller B 120B. If to
processing (escrow) agent 130, the results are communicated via
communication 2415B, and if to the registered seller B 120B, the
results are communicated via communication 2415B.
[0183] As in the above-described transmissions, these may be
automatic transmissions requiring no human involvement, such as via
an electronic batch file or Application Program Interface (API),
which is an in-session (real-time) interface between two or more
parties. Or, the transmissions may involve human intervention by
the shipping agent 2000. This can include making the transmissions
via an on-line user interface or otherwise.
[0184] If the results flow through the registered seller B 120B, at
step 2520 and via communication 2420, the delivery results then
flow to the processing (escrow) agent 130. Also as in the second
alternative payment-on-delivery transaction, the delivery results
may be pushed to the processing (escrow) agent 130 by the
registered seller B 120B, or they may be pulled from the registered
seller B 120B by the processing (escrow) agent 130. When the
package has been delivered, and the processing (escrow) agent 130
has knowledge of the delivery, operations continue as described
above and depicted in FIG. 15, step 1538.
[0185] In each of the three payment-on-delivery alternatives, if
either the processing (escrow) agent 130 or the seller provides the
package identifier to the shipping agent 2000, a shipping label to
be affixed to the goods which includes the package identifier and
indicates postage or other shipping costs may also be generated by
either the processing (escrow) agent 130 or the registered seller B
120B. The label may be generated by the registered seller B 120B if
either the processing (escrow) agent 130 or the registered seller B
120B generates the package identifier. Or, the processing (escrow)
agent 130 may generate the label and deliver it to either the
registered seller B 120B or the shipping agent 2000 if the
processing (escrow) agent 130 generates the package identifier. If
the label is not generated by the shipping agent 2000, the
processing (escrow) agent 130 will settle with the shipping agent
2000 for shipping costs. The processing (escrow) agent may or may
not pass these costs on to the seller and/or purchaser.
[0186] If the processing (escrow) agent 130 generates the label,
this may be a physical generation whereby the processing (escrow)
agent 130 causes the label to be printed and physically delivered
to the shipping agent 2000 or the seller. Or, the processing
(escrow) agent 130 may virtually generate the shipping label and
electronically deliver it to the seller or shipping agent 2000 for
physical generation, i.e., printing.
[0187] Also, in each of the payment-on-delivery alternatives, the
processing (escrow) agent 130 may also require , in addition to
obtaining notification of delivery results generated by the
shipping agent 2000, that the registered purchaser B 110B transmit
a notice of acceptance of the goods to the processing (escrow)
agent 130. In such a case, the credit to the seller account may not
be initiated until this notice is received. And, as discussed
above, after receiving delivery results generated by the shipping
agent 2000, the processing (escrow) agent 130 may initiate a credit
to the seller account after a predetermined period has elapsed,
beginning upon obtaining the delivery results even if the notice
from the registered purchaser B 110B has not been received. Inthis
dual notice scenario, if the processing (escrow) agent 130 obtains
a notice of delivery of the goods, but the notice of acceptance
from the purchaser indicates that the goods are not satisfactory,
the operations, described above, in returning the goods to the
seller and crediting the purchaser account are executed, as
depicted beginning at step 1710 of FIG. 17. It should also be
understood, that the shipping agent 2000 may play an active role in
funds movement in the return of unsatisfactory goods. In such a
case, the above described notification of delivery results between
various ones of the registered seller B 120B, shipping agent 2000,
and processing (escrow) agent 130 are repeated, only with the
registered purchaser B 110B acting in place of the registered
seller B 120B.
[0188] The delivery results, no matter if pushed or pulled to the
processing (escrow) agent 130, may be that the package was not
delivered. This may be due to several reasons. For instances the
shipping agent 2000 may not be able to locate the registered
purchaser B 110B, or the registered purchaser B 110B may refuse to
take possession of the package. In such a case, the shipping agent
2000 returns the package to the registered seller B 120B. Upon
receiving delivery results indicating a non-delivered package, a
credit is initiated to the account associated with registered
purchaser B 110B, as depicted in step 1730 of FIG. 17. Or, the
credit to the registered purchaser B 110B account may be made upon
the package being delivered to the registered seller B 120B.
[0189] The above described operations are also applicable in those
situations where more than one shipping agent handles the goods.
For example, a first shipping agent may receive the goods from the
seller and perform the operations described above in any of the
three alternatives up to actual delivery of the goods to the
registered purchaser. Instead, delivery is made to a second
shipping agent. The first shipping agent then receives confirmation
of acceptance or non-acceptance by the registered purchaser of the
goods by the second shipping agent. Thereinafter, operations
continue with the notification(s) of acceptance described in the
three alternative payment-on-delivery transactions.
[0190] As described above, the registered purchaser B 110B may not
accept delivery of the package. The registered purchaser B 110B may
accept delivery of the package and, in the presence of the shipping
agent, inspect the goods contained therein. If the purchaser should
not accept the goods, the shipping agent notifies the appropriate
ones of the processing (escrow) agent 130 and/or registered seller
B 120B of the non-acceptance, step 2125 of FIG. 21, step 2335 of
FIG. 23, or step 2520 of FIG. 25. It should be understood that
possession of the goods is not transferred to the registered
purchaser B 110B, rather, the shipping agent 2000 returns the goods
to the registered seller B 120B. Upon delivery of the goods back to
the registered seller B 120B, the shipping agent 2000 transmits a
notice to the processing agent that the goods have been returned to
the seller. Or, the seller may transmit this notice to the
processing (escrow) agent 130. Once the processing agent receives
this notice, operations continue as described above and depicted in
step 1728 of FIG. 17C.
[0191] A registered seller may also be a shipping agent. In such a
situation, the shipping agent/registered seller may generate the
payment identifier and the package identifier. The seller/shipping
agent may transmit a payment collections file to the processing
(escrow) agent 130. Thereinafter, the processing (escrow) agent 130
initiates the initial debit from the registered purchaser's
account. After the processing (escrow) agent has collected funds
from the purchaser, the processing (escrow) agent 130 may transmit
an electronic remittance file to the shipping agent/registered
seller.
[0192] While escrow and payment-on-delivery transactions have been
detailed in relation to on-line auction transactions, it should be
understood that processing agent 130 also may provide escrow and
payment-on-delivery services for sale transactions between any
registered users which arise from a non-auction sale.
[0193] In escrow and payment-on-delivery transactions, the final
movement of funds, whether it be to the seller or back to the
purchaser, are dependent upon a triggering event. This triggering
event may be a receipt of a single notice from the purchaser, a
receipt of a single notice from the seller, or a receipt of a
single notice from the shipping agent. The triggering event may be
a combination of a receipt of notices from both the shipping agent
and purchaser, from both the seller and the purchaser, or from both
the shipping agent and the seller. Also, the triggering event may
be the elapsing of a time period. Thus, the processing (escrow)
agent 130 can move funds obtained from a purchaser upon more than
one triggering event, or set of triggering events.
[0194] This ability to move funds based upon a triggering event is
not limited to escrow/payment-on-delivery transactions. The
processing agent 130 can move funds associated with other types of
transactions also upon the occurrence of triggering events. This
ability rests in part on the processing agent 130 storing
information associated with each action taken to complete each
transaction it processes. The processing agent 130 operates under
one or more set parameters of ordering rules, dependent upon the
type of transaction being executed. Each step performed by the
processing agent 130 to execute a given transaction type is
dictated by one or more prior events, whether performed by the
processing agent 130 or another entity.
[0195] A registered user who also issues bills can utilize yet
another service of the processing agent 130. For those registered
users who are presented bills by another registered user, the
billing registered user can electronically present bills to these
registered users through the processing agent 130. The registered
user submits electronic bills to processing agent 130 and
processing agent 130 forwards those bills via e-mail, or forwards
notice of bill availability on a Web page maintained by processing
agent 130, to the appropriate registered users. Thus, a registered
user can electronically receive a bill from another registered
user, and in turn can pay the registered user via the services of
the processing agent 130, as described above. Processing agent 130
can also provide remittance information to a registered user being
paid from an electronic bill. This information is captured from an
electronically presented bill when a registered user directs that
bill to be paid to another registered user.
[0196] For those registered users who are receiving payment from
several registered users, processing agent 130 optionally combines
the several payments into a single consolidated payment for credit
to the registered user's account.
[0197] Likewise, a registered user who also receives bills from
another registered user can electronically pay those bills using
the services of the processing agent 130. Operations to pay a bill
to another registered user is essentially the same as making a
purchase payment to another registered user. A registered user
paying a bill contacts processing agent 130, as in step 1305, FIG.
13, and transmits payment instructions to the processing agent 130.
In this case, the payment instructions include an indication that
the payment is for a bill issued by the registered user, including
the paying registered user's account information with the billing
registered user.
[0198] Processing agent 130 processes the transmitted payment
information and stores a persistent indicator in memory 1170 that
the transaction is a bill payment transaction. This may be stored
in a database containing information relating to bill payment
transactions. Processing continues as depicted in step 1316, FIG.
13.
[0199] As in step 1320B, processing agent 130 informs the
registered billing user that the registered billing user has new
funds available. This notification includes the name of the
registered user paying the bill, and that registered user's account
information with the registered billing user being paid. It should
be understood that a registered user can pay a bill of another
registered user even though that bill has not been electronically
presented, as described above.
[0200] Another service of the processing agent 130 is electronic
gift payments. A gift payment is an electronic monetary transfer
between two registered users unrelated to a sale transaction. The
recipient need not be registered for a registered donor to direct
an electronic gift payment to the recipient. But, for the recipient
to obtain the funds associated with the electronic gift payment,
the recipient must register with processing agent 130 and become a
member of the enclosed community 201. The recipient can use the
gift funds in any manner the recipient desires.
[0201] FIGS. 18A, 18B, l9A, 19B, and 19C depict the communications
and steps for the processing agent 130 to effect an electronic gift
payment. The processing agent 130 is the hub of a signaling
infrastructure supported by a database 1805 stored in memory 1170
that maintains information about registered donors, recipients, and
transactions between ones of the donors and recipients.
[0202] At optional step 1901A, and via communication 1801A, the
registered donor 1800A notifies the intended recipient of the gift.
This is preferably via e-mail. Registered donor 1800A submits a
gift payment request to the processing agent 130, depicted as step
1901B and communication 1801B. This may be via e-mail or other type
communication, including via an on-line communication session. The
gift payment request includes, at a minimum, the donor's unique
identifier, optionally, password if required, the recipient's
unique identifier, or e-mail address if the donor does not know the
recipient's unique identifier or does not know if the recipient is
a member of the enclosed community, and payment amount. The request
can include other information, such as the recipient's name and
other identifying information, a future payment date, and text the
donor may wish to convey to the recipient. If the request is made
via an on-line communication session, the request may not include
the donor's unique identifier if the donor has previously supplied
this during the on-line communication session. Processing Agent 130
stores the gift payment request in database 1805 with an
appropriate persistent indicator for "gift payment," communication
1806 and step 1906. Processing agent 130 determines if the
recipient is a registered member of the enclosed community 201,
step 1910. If, as shown in FIG. 18A, the recipient is registered,
at step 1920A and via communication 1820A the initial state of the
stored gift payment request is marked "submitted for enrolled
recipient." This triggers the next step.
[0203] The processing agent 130 initiates a debit of funds from the
account associated with the registered donor 1800A maintained at
financial institution 150G, step 1925 and communication 1825. The
state of the gift payment request stored in database 1805 is
changed to "debit initiated," step 1930 and communication 1830.
[0204] Once the corresponding credit has been made to the
processing agent's 130 account, the state of the payment request
stored in database 1805 is changed to "debit approved,"
communication 1835 and step 1935. This state triggers the next
step.
[0205] Processing agent 130 may automatically initiate a debit of
funds from its own account, shown here as at financial institution
150D, but it could be any financial institution, step 1940 and
communication 1840, and a corresponding credit to the registered
recipient's account prior to notifying the recipient of the gift
payment. In such a case, the state of the payment request stored in
database 1805 is changed to "funds credited to recipient,"
communication 1845 and step 1945. This triggers the next step.
[0206] Processing agent 130 notifies the registered recipient 1800B
via e-mail that gift funds have been deposited into the recipient's
account, step 1950 and communication 1850, preferably via e-mail.
The notice can include the donor's name, e-mail address, and any
donor specified text. The state of the gift payment request stored
in database 1805 is changed to "recipient notified of funds
crediting," communication 1855 and step 1955.
[0207] The gift payment may not automatically be credited to the
registered recipient's account. In such a case, the notification to
the recipient may include a hyper-link, which when followed,
presents a web page created by the processing agent 130 to the
recipient through which the registered recipient 1800B must provide
his unique identifier. This initiates the credit to the recipient's
account. Accordingly, the state of the gift payment request is
changed to "recipient notified of funds availability" when the
notice is sent. And, then it is changed to "funds credited to
recipient" after the hyper-link is followed, the registered
recipient 1800B provides his unique identifier, and the credit to
the recipient's account is initiated.
[0208] If the operations of step 1910 determine that the recipient
is unregistered, the operations and communications depicted in
FIGS. 19C and 18B are executed. Following step 1910 of FIG. 19A,
the initial state of the stored gift payment request is marked as
"submitted for non-enrolled recipient," step 1920B and
communication 1820B. This triggers the next step.
[0209] A notice is delivered to the non-enrolled recipient 1800C,
preferably via e-mail, that an electronic gift payment is available
and that the non-enrolled recipient must become a registered member
of the enclosed community 201 to receive the gift payment,
communication 1860 and step 1960. This communication preferably
includes at least the name and e-mail address of the registered
donor. It may also include the amount of the electronic gift
payment and any donor specified text.
[0210] A pending debit transaction is created against the donor's
account and stored in database 1805, step 1961 and communication
1880. This includes the registered donor's name, unique user
identifier, gift payment amount, and date gift payment transaction
initiated by the registered donor.
[0211] If the non-enrolled recipient chooses to enroll, the
above-described registration procedures are followed to register
nonenrolled recipient 1800C, step 1965. Preferably, enrollment is
initiated via a hyper-link, or based upon a token contained in, an
e-mail sent in communication 1860.
[0212] Once the recipient is registered, the state of the gift
payment request is changed to "submitted for enrolled recipient,"
step 1970 and communication 1870. Processing continues as depicted
in step 1925 of FIG. 19A.
[0213] Alternatively, the donor's account may be debited prior to
communication 1860 being sent to the recipient. In such a case, as
soon as funds are credited to the processing agent's 130 account
and the recipient has enrolled, the recipient's account is
credited.
[0214] If, after a predetermined period, the non-enrolled recipient
does not enroll, the gift payment will expire. Processing agent 130
notifies the registered donor via e-mail that the recipient has not
enrolled and that the transaction is cancelled. If the donor's
account has been debited, a credit to the donor's account from the
processing agent's 130 account will be initiated.
[0215] Another service offered by the processing agent 130 is
electronic gift certificates. This service is similar to electronic
gift payments. However, instead of donating cash, a registered
donor can donate a gift certificate. The electronic gift
certificate is redeemable via a purchase or purchases made from one
or more registered sellers. Or, the electronic gift certificate may
be redeemable for free merchandise from one or more registered
sellers. The electronic gift certificate may only be redeemable
with purchases made from the donor. Or, for free merchandise only
from the donor. As in electronic gift payments, the recipient must
be a registered member of the enclosed community to redeem the
certificate, but not to receive the certificate.
[0216] FIGS. 26 - 29 depict the communications and steps for the
processing agent 130 to effect a donation of an electronic gift
certificate. At optional step 2701A, and via communication 2601A,
the registered donor 2600A may notify the intended recipient of the
gift. This is preferably via e-mail. A gift certificate request is
sent by the donor to the processing agent 130, depicted as step
2701B and communication 2601B. This can be via e-mail or other type
communication, including via an on-line communication session. The
gift certificate request includes at least the same information
required to make a gift payment request. Processing agent 130
stores the gift certificate request in database 2605 with an
appropriate persistent indicator for "gift certificate,"
communication 2606 and step 2706. Processing agent 130 determines
if the recipient is a registered member of the enclosed community
201, step 2710. If, as shown in FIG. 26, the recipient is
registered, at step 2720A and via communication 2620A, the initial
state of the stored gift certificate request is marked as
"submitted for enrolled recipient." This triggers the next
step.
[0217] The processing agent 130 may initiate a debit of funds from
the account associated with the registered donor 2600A maintained
at financial institution 150G, step 2725 and communication 2625.
The state of the gift payment request stored in database 2605 is
changed to "debit initiated," step 2730 and communication 2630.
[0218] Once the corresponding credit has been made to the
processing agent's 130 account, the state of the gift certificate
request stored in database 2605 is changed to "debit approved,"
communication 2635 and step 2735. This state triggers the next
step.
[0219] Alternatively, the processing agent 130 may not initiate a
debit of funds from the account associated with the registered
donor 2600A. In such a case, an indication is stored in the
database 2605 of the amount of the electronic gift certificate. In
this case, operations continue with step 2755.
[0220] Processing agent 130 notifies the registered recipient
2600B, preferably via e-mail, that the electronic gift certificate
is available. The state of the payment request is changed to
"recipient notified of electronic gift certificate availability,"
communication 2655 and step 2755. The notification may include a
hyper-link, as discussed above in notification of an electronic
gift payment, that the user must follow and thereby identify
himself to the processing agent 130.
[0221] The processing to effect payment to a registered seller from
the registered purchaser using an electronic gift certificate is
the same as the above-discussed purchase transaction, only with the
purchase price offset by the amount of the electronic gift
certificate, if the registered donor's account has been debited. If
the donor's account has not been debited, the electronic gift
certificate will only be usable to offset a purchase price of a
purchase made from the registered donor.
[0222] Database 2605 may store information including the identity
of the registered seller or sellers which will accept the gift
certificate as payment, the amount of funds available from the gift
certificate, including decrementing this amount as the gift
certificate is used, any expiration date of the gift certificate,
and optionally a threshold at which remaining funds are released as
a cash gift payment to the recipient of the gift certificate.
[0223] In yet another alternative, the registered donor may be the
processing agent 130. In such a case, funds in the amount of the
electronic gift certificate will not be debited from the account
associated with the processing agent 130, as in step 2725 above.
Whenever a registered recipient 2600B directs payment to be made to
a registered seller, which may be the processing agent 130, funds
in the amount of the purchase, less the amount of the gift
certificate, will be debited from the account associated with the
registered recipient 2600B. The electronic gift certificate/offset
amount of the purchase price will be either paid by the processing
agent 130, or upon agreement with the registered seller, waived by
the registered seller.
[0224] If the operations of step 2710 determine that the recipient
is unregistered, the operations and communications depicted in
FIGS. 28 and 29 are executed. Following step 2710 of FIG. 27, the
initial state of the stored electronic gift certificate request is
marked as "submitted for non-enrolled recipient," step 2920B and
communication 2820B. This triggers the next step.
[0225] A notice is delivered to the non-enrolled recipient 1800C,
preferably via e-mail, that an electronic gift certificate is
available and that the non-enrolled recipient must become a
registered member of the enclosed community 201 to receive the
electronic gift certificate, communication 2860 and step 2960. This
communication preferably includes at least the name and e-mail
address of the registered donor.
[0226] If the registered donor's account is to be debited, a
pending debit transaction is created against the donor's account
and stored in database 1805, step 2961 and communication 2880. This
can include, in addition to other information, the registered
donor's name, unique user identifier, gift certificate amount, and
date the gift certificate request is initiated by the registered
donor.
[0227] If the non-enrolled recipient chooses to enroll, the above
described registration procedures are followed to register the
non-enrolled recipient 1800C, step 2965.
[0228] Once the recipient is registered, the state of the gift
certificate request is changed to "submitted for enrolled
recipient," step 2970 and communication 2870. Processing continues
as depicted in step 2725 of FIG. 27. If the donor's account is not
to be debited, operations continue with step 2755. Alternatively,
if the donor's account is to be debited to fund the electronic gift
certificate, the account may be debited prior to the recipient
registering.
[0229] If, after a predetermined period, the non-enrolled recipient
does not enroll, the gift certificate will expire. Processing agent
130 notifies the registered donor, preferably via e-mail, that the
recipient has not enrolled and that the transaction is cancelled.
And, as above, if the recipient does not register, the donor's
account will be credited if it was debited prior to notifying the
recipient of the electronic gift certificate.
[0230] In yet another alternative, if the donor's account is to be
debited, the amount of the electronic gift certificate may not be
debited from the account associated with the registered donor 2600A
until the registered recipient 2600B elects to use the electronic
gift certificate.
[0231] The enclosed community 201 grows by adding registered users.
A registered user may invite an unregistered user to join the
enclosed community 201. The registered user only need provide the
e-mail address of an unregistered party, and optionally the party's
name, and processing agent 130 invites the unregistered user to
join, preferably via an e-mail communication. The processing agent
130 may present to the registered user a Web page on which to enter
the invitation information, such as the e-mail address and name of
the unregistered user. It should be understood that a registered
user may combine an invitation to another party to join the
enclosed community 201 along with an electronic gift
payment/certificate, as discussed above, to entice the party to
become a member of the enclosed community 201.
[0232] The processing agent 130 can combine delivery of an
electronic gift payment with delivery of an electronic greeting
card (e-card). Thus, a registered user is not only able to send a
gift via email, but also able to send an electronic greeting card
along with the gift. The e-card itself, or the message that
provides notification of the link to follow to receive the e-card,
can serve to inform a recipient of a gift payment.
[0233] In a first alternative, the processing agent 130 performs
all functions necessary to deliver an e-card with a gift attached.
The processing to send an e-card with an electronic gift payment is
much like the above-described processing to send only an electronic
gift payment, and as such, the following processing will be
described with reference to the figures relating to electronic gift
payments.
[0234] A registered user submits a request to the processing agent
130 to send an e-card with an electronic gift payment. The
processing agent 130 stores a selection of e-cards from which a
registered user can choose in memory 1170. The processing agent 130
presents this selection to the registered user. The functionality
to present a selection of electronic greeting cards will be
understood by one skill in the art, and as such will not be
described in detail here. Also as will be understood by one skilled
in the art, the registered user selects a card and submits this
selection to the processing agent 130, along with any text the user
may specify to be included in the e-card.
[0235] As in step 1901B of FIG. 19A, the registered user must
provide at least his unique identifier, optionally, password if
required, the recipient's unique identifier, or e-mail address, and
payment amount. This information may be supplied prior to the
selection of an e-card, with the selection of an e-card, or
subsequent to selection of an e-card. Processing agent 130 stores
the e-card request in database 1805 with an appropriate persistent
indicator of "gift payment with e-card," as in step 1906.
[0236] The processing agent 130 determines if the recipient is a
registered member of the enclosed community 201, as in step 1910.
If the recipient is registered, the initial state of the stored
gift payment with e-card request is marked "submitted for enrolled
recipient." This triggers the next step.
[0237] As in steps 1925 and 1930 , the processing agent 130
initiates a debit of funds from a donor's account and the state of
the gift payment with e-card request is changed to "debit
initiated." And, also as above, once the corresponding credit has
been made to the processing agent's 130 account, the state of the
request is changed to "debit approved."
[0238] Once the corresponding credit is made to the processing
agent's 130 account, the e-card is sent via e-mail to the
recipient. An enrolled recipient's e-mail address will be known to
the processing agent 130. The presentation of the e-card may be
accomplished in one of at least two ways, as will also be
understood by one skilled in the art. In a first way, the e-mail
message sent to the recipient may comprise the entire e-card. That
is, the e-mail message is the e-card. Or, in a second way, the
email may contain a hyper-link back to the processing agent 130. By
following this link, the e-card is displayed to the recipient via a
unique web page.
[0239] The contents of the e-card, whether presented to the
recipient in the first way or the second way, inform the recipient
that he has received a gift, as well as convey any additional text
specified by the donor. The e-card may contain text informing the
recipient of the amount of the gift payment and the identity of the
donor.
[0240] The movement of funds to a registered recipient can take
place at least two ways. In a first way, a credit to the registered
recipient's account, from funds in the processing agent's 130
account, can be initiated before or concurrent with the sending of
the e-card to the recipient. As described above, the state of the
request is changed to "funds credited to recipient" upon this
crediting. In such a case, the e-card also informs the recipient
that funds have been deposited into his account. When the e-card is
sent to the recipient, the state of the request is changed to
recipient notified of funds crediting."
[0241] In a second way, the e-card includes a hyper-link which, as
above, when followed by the registered recipient, initiates the
debit/credit pair after the recipient has identified himself to the
processing agent 130. Thus, the debit from the processing agent's
130 account is not initiated until after the recipient receives the
e-card and follows the link. If the funds move in the second way,
the state of the request is changed to "recipient notified of funds
availability" upon the e-mail being sent. Upon the recipient
following the hyper-link, identifying himself, and the credit being
initiated to the recipient's account, the state of the request is
changed to "funds credited to recipient."
[0242] If the processing agent 130 determines that the recipient is
unregistered, the initial state of the request is set as "submitted
for non-enrolled recipient," as in step 1920B above. The debit from
the donor's account may be initiated prior to, or concurrent with,
the sending of the e-card to the unregistered recipient.
[0243] The e-card sent to an unregistered recipient includes a
notice that an electronic gift payment is available and that the
recipient must register to receive the gift payment. The e-card can
include a hyper-link, which when followed, presents an enrollment
page to the unregistered recipient. Upon successfully registering,
the recipient can obtain the gift payment.
[0244] If the debit from the donor's account is to be initiated
after the recipient registers, a pending debit transaction is
created against the donor's account, as in step 1961. Once the
recipient successfully registers, the state of the request is
changed to "submitted for enrolled recipient," as in step 1970.
Processing then continues as described above to move funds from the
donor's account into the recipient's account.
[0245] If the debit from the donor's account is initiated, and the
corresponding credit to the processing agent's 130 account has been
made, prior to the user becoming successfully registered, the debit
from the processing agent's 130 account to the recipient's account
can be initiated immediately upon successful registration. If the
unregistered user does not successfully register, the funds debited
from the donor's account will be credited back to the donor's
account. As discussed above, funds may be credited back to the
donor's account if a predetermined amount of time lapses and the
recipient is not yet registered.
[0246] In a second alternative to deliver an e-card with an
electronic gift payment, the processing agent 130 works in
conjunction with another entity, which may be a sponsor, to offer
e-cards with gift payments. The other entity will be referred to
herein as an e-card site. An e-card site offers the service of
sending electronic greeting cards. In a first scenario in the
second alternative, the e-card site presents an option to a network
user sending an e-card to send a gift payment with the e-card. The
processing agent 130 performs the functions to execute the
electronic gift payment, while the e-card site performs the
functions to create and deliver the e-card.
[0247] The e-card site first performs the functions necessary to
deliver an e-card to the recipient, as will be understood by one
skilled in the art. This includes presenting the selection of
ecards to the donor and receiving information from the donor, such
as the selected e-card, the recipient's email address, and any
additional text the donor wishes included with the e-card.
Additionally, the e-card site may receive the payment amount
specified by the donor.
[0248] Upon the donor selecting the option to attach a gift payment
presented by the e-card site, the processing agent 130 performs the
functions necessary to include the electronic gift payment. A
hyper-link may be presented to the donor directing the donor to the
processing agent 130, or the e-card site may establish a
communication session with the processing agent 130 via an API. The
e-card site may transmit some or all information associated with
the e-card to the processing agent 130. This can include
information about the donor and/or the recipient maintained by the
e-card site, and the payment amount.
[0249] If the e-card site provides information about the donor, the
processing agent 130 determines if the donor is registered from
this information. If no donor information is provided by the e-card
site, the donor either provides his unique identifier to the
processing agent 130, else he registers. If the e-card site
provides recipient information, the processing agent 130 then
determines if the recipient is registered. Else, the donor may be
required to transmit to the processing agent information
identifying the recipient, such as the recipient's unique
identifier, or the recipient's e-mail address. The donor will
provide the payment amount to the processing agent 130 if not
provided to the processing agent 130 by the e-card site.
[0250] If the recipient is registered, the processing agent 130
informs the e-card site that the recipient is registered. The
e-card site then includes in the e-card the appropriate
information, discussed above, to be included in an e-card for a
registered recipient. If this includes a hyper-link to initiate the
credit to the recipient's account, it should be understood that
this will be a hyper-link back to the processing agent 130. The
particular information to be included in the e-card may be provided
by the processing agent 130 to the e-card site.
[0251] The e-card site sends the e-card to the recipient via
e-mail. As discussed above, the e-mail may be the entire e-card, or
the e-mail may include a hyper-link back to the e-card site.
[0252] If the processing agent 130 determines that the recipient is
unregistered, the processing agent 130 informs the e-card site of
this and the e-card site includes the appropriate text and
hyper-link, described above, for an unregistered recipient in the
e-card. The particular information may be supplied by the
processing agent 130 to the e-card site.
[0253] In a second scenario in the second alternative, the
processing agent 130 controls the channel of communication with the
recipient. That is, the processing agent 130 sends the e-card to
the recipient. In such a scenario, the e-card site forwards the
information pertaining to the e-card, and perhaps the e-card
itself, to the processing agent 130. Thereinafter, the processing
agent 130 performs the above-described functions to attach a gift
payment and then sends the e-card to the recipient.
[0254] As should be apparent, the processing agent 130 also
provides the functionality to include an electronic gift
certificate with an e-card. The processing to include an electronic
gift certificate with an e-card, in either the first or the second
alternatives, is essentially the same as that of including an
electronic gift payment. Instead of requesting an electronic gift
payment, a donor requests an electronic gift certificate.
Thereinafter, the processing to attach an electronic gift
certificate to an e-card is the same as to attach an electronic
gift payment to an e-card. The processing agent 130 or the e-card
site may present an option to send either an electronic gift
payment or an electronic gift certificate. Also, an electronic gift
payment and an electronic gift certificate may be sent attached to
the same e-card.
[0255] When a registered recipient of either an electronic gift
payment or an electronic gift certificate, whether combined with an
e-card or not, must follow a hyper-link to initiate the funds being
credited into his account, additional benefits of the processing
agent 130 arise. The recipient may donate the funds to a second
recipient, registered or unregistered, by merely forwarding the
notice of funds availability to another entity via email. When the
second recipient follows the link and identifies himself to the
processing agent 130, and registers if necessary, he can then
receive the funds or gift certificate donated by the original
donor.
[0256] If, as discussed above, processing agent 130 accepts a user
into the enclosed community 201 even though that user's account is
not electronically debitable and/or creditable, processing of
payments is different than described above. Debits to the
registered user's account can be made by drafts prepared by
processing agent 130 and drawn on the registered user's account.
Credits to the account can be made by either checks or drafts drawn
on the account associated with the processing agent 130 or another
registered user. Additionally, debits and credits to the account
may be made by wire transfer directed by the processing agent
130.
[0257] Other options for payment processing other than a DDA
include credit cards associated with the registered user, debits
and/or credits made via an automated teller machine (ATM) network
or a point-of-sale (POS) network from and/or to the registered
user's account, debits from and/or credits to a stored value
account, and debits from and/or credits to lines of credit. A
stored value account is an account, typically not maintained at a
financial institution, that is pre-populated with a monetary value.
Additionally, debits can be made by a debit authorization wherein
funds availability is verified and funds are reserved.
[0258] When any of these optional payment methods are used, as will
be recognized by one skilled in the art, processing agent 130 must
obtain information from the registered user pertaining to each of
these payment methods. This information can be obtained during
registration at step 410, FIG. 4, or any time thereafter.
[0259] Processing agent 130 also may effect these optional payment
methods for registered users whose demand deposit accounts are
electronically debitable and/or creditable. In such a case, the
registered user may specify which payment method to use on a
per-transaction basis, or processing agent 130 may make this
decision on a per-transaction basis. Or, processing agent 130 may
make the decision to make all transactions involving a particular
registered user by a particular payment method.
[0260] Processing agent 130 may charge a fee in providing each of
the above-described services. This fee may be paid by the seller,
donor, purchaser, or recipient. Or, the fee may be split between
the seller and purchaser or the donor and recipient. For split
fees, each party to a transaction may pay a different percent of
the total fee charged by the processing agent 130. Fees may be
levied when funds are debited from a purchaser account. That is, a
fee in excess of a purchase price may be debited from a purchaser's
account. Or, fees may be levied when funds are credited to a
seller's account. That is, funds in an amount less than a purchase
price may be credited to a seller's account. Fees may be levied
when funds are debited from a donor's account. That is, an amount
in excess of a donated amount may be debited from a donor's
account. Or, fees may be levied when funds are credited to a
recipient's account. That is, funds in an amount less than a
donated amount may be credited to a recipient's account.
Additionally, fees may vary depending upon the amount of a
transaction, a volume of transactions associated with a registered
user, the identity of a user, or the identity of a sponsor through
which a user has registered.
[0261] As discussed above, processing agent 130 stores information
in databases in memory 1170 relating to services performed by
processing agent 130. It should be understood that each of the
above-described databases may be the same single database. The
unique user identifier associated with each registered user enables
processing agent 130 to store information relating to each
transaction to which each registered user has been a party. The
stored information includes each step performed by, and each
communication sent or received by, the processing agent 130 to
render a service. This includes the dates and the times the steps
and communications are performed. Thus, processing agent 130
maintains a history of the services utilized and transactions
effected involving each registered user. This information may be
stored in a single database for all transactions and/or in
databases associated with each service offered by the processing
agent 130. Processing agent 130 also records the status of all
current transactions in memory 1170. At any time a registered user
can contact processing agent 130 to obtain information on past or
current transactions that user directed, or optionally of which
that user was a party. The processing agent 130 may allow a user
access to only a portion of the information stored. The amount of
information made available to a user may be varied dependent upon
the identity of the user, the user's status as a payer or payee, or
the type of transaction, among other factors.
[0262] It will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that,
while the invention has been described above in terms of one or
more preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Various
features and aspects of the above described invention may be used
individually or jointly. Further, although the invention has been
described in the context of its implementation in a particular
environment and for particular purposes, e.g. electronic payments,
those skilled in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not
limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially
utilized in any number of environments and implementations.
Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view
of the full breadth and spirit of the invention as disclosed
herein.
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