US 7,606,760 B2 · Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork using a virtual payment account

Abstract

A virtual payment card system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual payment card system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit processing server component (53). The virtual payment card system is a secure closed system comprising registered merchants and consumers. A consumer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual payment card. Likewise, a merchant becomes registered by applying for a merchant account. A consumer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit processing component (53) immediately evaluates the consumer's virtual payment card application and assigns a credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital certificate is stored on the registered participant's computer. The consumer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a merchant and charge it to the virtual payment card. When the product is shipped, the merchant notifies the commerce gateway component (52), which in turn notifies the credit processing server which applies the charges to the consumer's virtual card account. The consumer can settle the charges using a prepaid account, a credit card, or by using reward points earned through use of the virtual payment card. A consumer may create sub-account that have additional limitations imposed on the owner of the sub-account.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for purchasing a product from a merchant server using a virtual payment account, the merchant server storing a product database containing information regarding tangible items offered for sale, the method comprising:

in association with a merchant server receiving an order from a consumer computer to purchase a tangible product from the merchant server using a virtual payment account, transmitting an authentication request via a secure link to a commerce gateway that serves a plurality of merchant servers, including the merchant server;
in response to the commerce gateway receiving the authentication request, determining whether a valid virtual payment account maintained by the commerce gateway is associated with the consumer computer;
in response to the commerce gateway determining that a valid virtual payment account is associated with the consumer computer, returning an account identifier to the consumer computer;
in response to the merchant server receiving the order to purchase the tangible product and the account identifier from the consumer computer, obtaining a valid transaction authorization from the commerce gateway;
and
in response to the merchant server receiving the valid transaction authorization, completing the purchase of the tangible product.

3 more elements

A method for purchasing a product from a merchant server using a virtual payment account associated with a consumer computer, the merchant server storing a product database containing information regarding tangible items offered for sale, the method comprising:

in association with a merchant server receiving an order from said consumer computer to purchase a tangible product using a virtual payment account as the method of payment for said product, transmitting an authentication request via a secure link to a commerce gateway that serves a plurality of merchant servers, including the merchant server;
in response to the commerce gateway receiving said authentication request at said commerce gateway, determining whether a valid virtual payment account is associated with said consumer computer at said commerce gateway;
in response to the commerce gateway determining that a valid virtual payment account is associated with said consumer computer, transmitting an account identification container to said consumer computer;
transmitting a purchase request including said account identification container from said consumer computer to said merchant server;
transmitting said purchase request from said merchant server to said commerce gateway;
receiving said purchase request at said commerce gateway and determining whether said virtual payment account may be used to pay for said product;
in response to determining that said virtual payment account may be used to pay for said product, transmitting a valid transaction authorization from said commerce gateway to said merchant server and said consumer computer;
charging said virtual payment account for a cost associated with said product;
and
providing said tangible product to a consumer associated with said consumer computer by shipping the tangible product to the consumer.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork using a virtual payment account

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork using a virtual payment account

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19