Distributed System for Commerce

Abstract

A distributed system for commerce including a merchant system with a communication system for receiving, processing and transmitting data. The system further includes an intermediate server system in communication with the merchant system, and this intermediate server system includes a data storage system for storing data transmitted thereto, as well as a communication system for receiving, processing and transmitting data.

1 . A distributed system for commerce, comprising:
 (a) at least one merchant system, including a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof; and   (b) at least one intermediate server system in communication with the at least one merchant system and configured to receive data therefrom, the at least one intermediate server system including: (i) a data storage system configured to store the data transmitted to the system; and (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one merchant system further comprises a network interface configured to: present content to a user, interact with the user, accept input data from the user or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the merchant system transmits transactional data to the intermediate server system, the intermediate server system configured to receive, process and/or transmit the transactional data. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a payment processor system configured to receive, process and/or transmit data, the intermediate server system in communication with the payment processor system and configured to transmit transactional data to the payment processor system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the transactional data comprises input data, user data, credit issuer data, merchant data, authorization data, permission data, payment data, transaction-specific data, identification data, network data, processing data, settlement data or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the transactional data comprises a common feature data set and a variable feature data set. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate server system is configured to transmit at least a portion of the common feature data set to the payment processor and at least a portion of the variable feature data set to a credit issuer, a payment company, an electronic payment company or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate server system is configured to transmit a portion of the transactional data to the payment processor system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the portion of the transactional data is formatted in a predetermined manner prior to transmission to the payment processor system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the payment processor system is configured to transmit transactional data to the intermediate server system, the merchant system, a credit issuer, a payment company, an electronic payment company or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a credit issuer system, configured to receive, process and/or transmit data, wherein the intermediate server system is in communication with the credit issuer system and configured to transmit transactional data to the credit issuer system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the transactional data comprises input data, user data, credit issuer data, merchant data, authorization data, payment data, transaction-specific data, identification data, network data, processing data, settlement data or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the intermediate server system, a payment processor system configured to receive, process and/or transmit data, or any combination thereof, is configured to communicate with the credit issuer system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the credit issuer system, the intermediate server system or any combination thereof, is further configured to match, combine and/or append transmitted transactional data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the credit issuer system, the intermediate server system or any combination thereof is configured to: (i) authenticate the user; (ii) verify the user; (iii) approve or deny a user application; (iv) verify a transaction; (v) process user data; (vi) process merchant data; (vii) process credit issuer data; (viii) process transactional data; (ix) process credit product data, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the merchant system comprises a merchant online location, a merchant web page, a merchant call center, a merchant settlement system or any combination thereof, which is in communication with the intermediate server system, a payment processor system, a credit issuer, a payment company, an electronic payment company or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the merchant system is in communication with the payment processor system, the credit issuer, the payment company, the electronic payment company or any combination thereof, the communication comprising transactional data, user data, credit issuer data, merchant data, authorization data, payment data, transaction-specific data, identification data, network data, processing data, settlement data or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate server system comprises a plurality of discrete servers in a networked environment. 
     
     
         19 . A distributed system for commerce, comprising:
 (a) at least one merchant system, including:
 (i) a network interface configured to: present content to a user, interact with the user, accept input data from the user or any combination thereof; and 
 (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof; 
   (b) at least one payment processor system, including:
 (i) a processing system configured to process credit-based transactions; and 
 (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof; and 
   (c) at least one intermediate server system in communication with the at least one merchant system and the at least one payment processor system, the at least one intermediate server system including:
 (i) a data storage system configured to store data transmitted to the system; and 
 (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof. 
   
     
     
         20 . A distributed system for commerce, comprising:
 (a) at least one merchant system, including:
 (i) a network interface configured to: present content to a user, interact with the user, accept input data from the user or any combination thereof; and 
 (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof; 
   (b) at least one credit issuer system, including:
 (i) a processing system configured to process credit data directed to at least one credit product; and 
 (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof; and 
   (c) at least one intermediate server system in communication with the at least one merchant system and the at least one credit issuer system, the at least one intermediate server system including:
 (i) a data storage system configured to store data transmitted to the system; and 
 (ii) a communications system configured to receive data, process data, transmit data or any combination thereof.