US5987140A — System, method and article of manufacture for sec…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A method for initiating secure communication between a customer computer and a merchant computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a communication between said customer computer and said merchant computer via said network; (b) identifying an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm utilized by said customer computer and said merchant computer; (c) transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said customer computer to said merchant computer; (d) receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said merchant computer and decrypting said encrypted payment transaction utilizing said decryption algorithm; and (e) reformatting said payment transaction to substantially comply with a third party secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 115 words

A method for initiating secure communication between a customer computer and a merchant computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a communication between said customer computer and said merchant computer via said network; (b) identifying an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm utilized by said customer computer and said merchant computer; (c) transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said customer computer to said merchant computer; (d) receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said merchant computer and decrypting said encrypted payment transaction utilizing said decryption algorithm; and (e) reformatting said payment transaction to substantially comply with a third party secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 1, including the step of utilizing the Internet for transmitting information between said customer computer and said merchant computer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as recited in claim 1, including the step of transmitting said payment transaction from said merchant computer to a third computer for authorizing or denying credit in said further payment processing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said secure third party protocol is a protocol specified by one or more credit associations.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 82 words

A method for initiating secure communication between a first and a second computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining client information for use in said secure communication between said first and said second computer; (b) establishing a communication between said first and said second computer via said network; and (c) reformatting said client information into said payment transaction which substantially complies with a third party secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 82 words

A method for initiating secure communication between a first and a second computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining client information for use in said secure communication between said first and said second computer; (b) establishing a communication between said first and said second computer via said network; and (c) reformatting said client information into said payment transaction which substantially complies with a third party secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method as recited in claim 5, including: (d) transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said first computer to said second computer; (e) receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said second computer and decrypting said encrypted payment utilizing a decryption algorithm; and (f) performing further payment processing on said payment transaction.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said client information is obtained via a telephone, fax machine or electronic mail.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said client information is obtained via a secure general purpose protocol.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as recited in claim 5, wherein an electronic signature is utilized to authenticate processing of said payment transaction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising reversing one or more previous payment transactions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said first computer is a merchant computer and said second computer is a gateway computer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus for initiating payment processing in a customer computer and a merchant computer under the control of software connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising: (a) means for establishing a communication between said customer computer and said merchant computer via said network; (b) means for identifying an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm utilized by said customer computer and said merchant computer; (c) means for transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said customer computer to said second computer; (d) means for receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said merchant computer and decrypting said encrypted payment transaction utilizing said decryption algorithm; and (e) means for reformatting said payment transaction to substantially comply with a secure third party protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus for initiating payment processing in a customer computer and a merchant computer under the control of software connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising: (a) means for establishing a communication between said customer computer and said merchant computer via said network; (b) means for identifying an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm utilized by said customer computer and said merchant computer; (c) means for transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said customer computer to said second computer; (d) means for receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said merchant computer and decrypting said encrypted payment transaction utilizing said decryption algorithm; and (e) means for reformatting said payment transaction to substantially comply with a secure third party protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 12, including means for utilizing the Internet for transmitting information between said customer computer and said merchant computer.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 12, including means for transmitting said payment transaction from said merchant computer to a third computer for authorizing or denying credit in said further payment processing.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 101 words

An apparatus for initiating a secure communication between a first and a second computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising: (a) communication hardware utilized by a client to communicate information for use in said secure communication between said first and said second computer; (b) the first computer under the control of software which establishes said secure communication between said first and said second computer via said network; and (c) the first computer under the control of software which reformats said payment transaction to substantially comply with a third party secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 101 words

An apparatus for initiating a secure communication between a first and a second computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising: (a) communication hardware utilized by a client to communicate information for use in said secure communication between said first and said second computer; (b) the first computer under the control of software which establishes said secure communication between said first and said second computer via said network; and (c) the first computer under the control of software which reformats said payment transaction to substantially comply with a third party secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first computer is a merchant computer and said second computer is a gateway computer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 279 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for effecting purchase transactions by a customer system at a merchant system and effecting payment for said transactions by a payment system, comprising: (a) a code segment for controlling secure communication of a purchase request from said customer system to said merchant system using a first communication method, including providing payment information from said customer system to said merchant system; (b) a code segment for controlling secure processing of said payment information by said merchant system to reformat said payment information into a payment authorization request and securely transmit said payment authorization request from said merchant system to said payment system using a second communication method; (c) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment authorization request by said payment system to generate a payment authorization response authorizing said purchase and securely transmit said payment authorization response to said merchant system using the second communication method pursuant to which said merchant system fills said purchase request; (d) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment authorization response by said merchant system to generate a payment capture request and securely transmit said payment capture request to said payment system using the second communication method; (e) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment capture request by said payment system to generate a payment capture response authorizing payment and transmit said payment capture response to said merchant system using the second communication method; and (f) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment capture response by said merchant system to effect payment to the merchant system for filling said purchase request.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 279 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for effecting purchase transactions by a customer system at a merchant system and effecting payment for said transactions by a payment system, comprising: (a) a code segment for controlling secure communication of a purchase request from said customer system to said merchant system using a first communication method, including providing payment information from said customer system to said merchant system; (b) a code segment for controlling secure processing of said payment information by said merchant system to reformat said payment information into a payment authorization request and securely transmit said payment authorization request from said merchant system to said payment system using a second communication method; (c) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment authorization request by said payment system to generate a payment authorization response authorizing said purchase and securely transmit said payment authorization response to said merchant system using the second communication method pursuant to which said merchant system fills said purchase request; (d) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment authorization response by said merchant system to generate a payment capture request and securely transmit said payment capture request to said payment system using the second communication method; (e) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment capture request by said payment system to generate a payment capture response authorizing payment and transmit said payment capture response to said merchant system using the second communication method; and (f) a code segment for controlling the secure processing of said payment capture response by said merchant system to effect payment to the merchant system for filling said purchase request.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said secure protocol is a protocol specified by one or more credit associations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said payment authorization request is generated by reformatting said payment information to substantially comply with a third party secure protocol.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 66 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said secure communication between said customer system and said merchant system is transmitted over a first communications system, and wherein said payment authorization request, said payment authorization response, said payment capture request, and said payment capture response are transmitted between said merchant system and said payment system over a second communications system.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said first communications system is a public network system, and wherein said second communications system is a private communications system.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 146 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for initiating payment processing in a customer and a merchant computer under the control of software, said customer and said merchant computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising: (a) a code segment for establishing a communication between said customer computer and said merchant computer via said network; (b) a code segment for identifying an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm utilized by said customer computer and said merchant computer; (c) a code segment for transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said customer computer to said merchant computer; (d) a code segment for receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said merchant computer and decrypting said encrypted payment transaction utilizing said decryption algorithm; and (e) a code segment for reformatting said payment transaction to substantially comply with a secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 146 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for initiating payment processing in a customer and a merchant computer under the control of software, said customer and said merchant computer connected to a network for receiving and transmitting a payment transaction, comprising: (a) a code segment for establishing a communication between said customer computer and said merchant computer via said network; (b) a code segment for identifying an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm utilized by said customer computer and said merchant computer; (c) a code segment for transmitting an encrypted payment transaction from said customer computer to said merchant computer; (d) a code segment for receiving said encrypted payment transaction at said merchant computer and decrypting said encrypted payment transaction utilizing said decryption algorithm; and (e) a code segment for reformatting said payment transaction to substantially comply with a secure protocol for further payment processing.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 138 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for effecting one or more purchase requests by a merchant computer system and payment for said purchase requests by a payment computer system, comprising: (a) a code segment controlling communication between a customer computer system and said merchant computer system for effecting said purchase requests, including providing payment information from said customer computer system to said merchant computer system; (b) a code segment reformatting said payment information to substantially comply with a third party protocol; and (c) a code segment controlling secure communication between said merchant computer system and said payment computer system for effecting operation on said payment information by said merchant computer system to obtain authorization information from said payment computer system to said merchant computer system pursuant to which said merchant computer system completes said purchase requests.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 138 words

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for effecting one or more purchase requests by a merchant computer system and payment for said purchase requests by a payment computer system, comprising: (a) a code segment controlling communication between a customer computer system and said merchant computer system for effecting said purchase requests, including providing payment information from said customer computer system to said merchant computer system; (b) a code segment reformatting said payment information to substantially comply with a third party protocol; and (c) a code segment controlling secure communication between said merchant computer system and said payment computer system for effecting operation on said payment information by said merchant computer system to obtain authorization information from said payment computer system to said merchant computer system pursuant to which said merchant computer system completes said purchase requests.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-15	2003-05-17	2003-11-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-15	2007-05-17	2007-11-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-15	2011-05-17	2011-11-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System, method and article of manufacture for secure network electronic payment and credit collection

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