Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork using a virtual payment account
US7606760B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0601
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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 usi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.