Network-based system

A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system where a merchant sends goods and or services to a customer comprising:

• a customer accounts server;
• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith;
• and a telecommunications network interconnecting the servers and the computers, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the network, the method comprising tile steps of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
• the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server;
• the customer computer accepts the transaction by sending the transaction message to the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matches the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.

A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system where a merchant sends goods and or services to a customer comprising:

• a customer accounts server;
• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith;
• and a telecommunications network interconnecting the servers and the computers, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the network, the method comprising the steps of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
• the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server, including a customer audit identifier;
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matches the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.

A method for a customer to conduct a transaction in a trading system where a merchant sends goods and/or services to the customer and where one or more of the merchant computer and the other servers and computers of the trading system are in a jurisdiction remote from the customer computer, the trading system comprising:

• a customer accounts server;
• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith;
• and a telecommunications network interconnecting the servers and the computers, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the network, the method comprising the steps of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the customer computer receiving a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request from the merchant computer;
• the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server, and in which the steps are also carried out in the system of:
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matching the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.

A method for a customer accounts server to handle a transaction in a trading system where a merchant sends goods and or services to a customer, the trading system comprising the customer accounts server and a plurality of servers and computers interconnected by a communications system, some or all of the servers and computers may be in a jurisdiction remote from the customer accounts server, the said servers and computers comprising:

• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the telecommunications network, the method comprising when the initial steps have been carded out of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
• then the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server;
• and
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server and subsequently, during the transaction, the steps are carried out oft
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matches the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.

A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system where a merchant physically sends goods to a customer by way of a package and the customer wishes to be anonymous by not sending the merchant precise delivery details including the name and address of the customer, the trading system comprising:

• a customer accounts server;
• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith;
• shipper computers;
• and a telecommunications network interconnecting the servers and the computers, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the network, the method comprising the steps of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer:
• the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
• the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server;
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matches the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules;
• and
• then to achieve the delivery of the package at some stage during the transaction:
• the customer computer informs the merchant computer that it requires anonymity;
• one of the customer computer and the merchant computer nominates a preferred shipper having one of the shipper computers connected to the telecommunications network;
• and
• on the other accepting the nomination, the additional steps are performed of the customer computer sends the shipper details to the customer accounts server;
• the shipper computer receives sufficient information to allow the shipper accept the package from the merchant for delivery;
• the customer accounts server sends to the shipper computer the precise delivery details;
• the merchant entrusts the package to the shipper, together with the merchant transaction identifier number;
• the shipper computer records the acceptance of the package in the shipper computer;
• and
• on delivery of the package, the shipper computer records the delivery details and sends them to the customer accounts server.

A method of conducting a transaction in a trading system where a merchant sends goods and or services to a customer, the nature of which transaction requires the customer to pay directly an additional sum by way of taxation to a government body, the trading system comprising:

• a customer accounts server;
• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith;
• and a telecommunications network interconnecting the servers and the computers, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the network, the method comprising the steps of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and product identification sufficient to determine the tax due and payment request to the customer computer;
• the taxation due is calculated;
• the taxation due is added to the amount of the payment request as a consolidated payment request in the customer computer;
• the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server;
• the customer accounts server then sends instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the government body;
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matches the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the) payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.

A computerized method of conducting a transaction in a trading system where a merchant sends goods and or services to a customer comprising:

• a customer accounts server;
• a merchant accounts server;
• a system services server;
• merchant computers each having a merchant account associated therewith;
• customer computers each having a customer account associated therewith;
• and a telecommunications network interconnecting the servers and the computers, each computer and server having a unique identifier for contact within the network, the computers and server having computer programs for carrying out the method comprising the steps of:
• the customer computer opening communications with the merchant computer;
• the customer computer communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
• the customer computer sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number and as an addition to the transaction message sends a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server;
• the merchant computer sending the transaction acceptant message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server matches the transaction acceptance message received from the merchant computer and the payment acceptance message received from the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed settlement procedure having agreed payment rules.

A trading system for carrying out a transaction between a merchant and a customer where the merchant sends the goods and services to the customer, the transaction being carded out over a communications network where the initiating party, namely the customer, to the transaction contacts the merchant through the intermediary of a third party, while if required maintaining anonymity for the customer, the system comprising:

• a system services server;
• a customer account server for connection to a customer computer;
• a merchant accounts server for connection to a merchant computer;
• the customer computer having means for communicating its intention to purchase from the merchant computer;
• the merchant computer having means for sending a merchant transaction identifier number and payment request to the customer computer;
• the customer computer having means for accepting the transaction by sending a transaction acceptance message including the merchant transaction identifier number to the merchant computer;
• the customer computer having means for sending a transaction acceptance message which includes the merchant transaction identifier number as an addition in the transaction message together with a unique customer transaction identifier to the customer accounts server;
• the customer accounts server having means for sending the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the customer accounts server having means for sending a payment acceptance message including the transaction acceptance message to the merchant accounts server;
• the merchant accounts server having means for matching the transaction acceptance received from the merchant computer as the payment acceptance message received in the customer accounts server;
• and
• the merchant accounts server having means for sending instructions to the system services server to cause payment to the merchant in accordance with an agreed central procedure having agreed payment rules.