Electronic payment processing system

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, parties associated with a merchant profile may be provided access to a system utilized to create merchant profiles. The system may accept data related to a merchant account from the parties and may validate the data. If any required information is missing or invalid the system may notify the parties. Once all the data is received and validated the system processes the data to create the merchant profile. The merchant profile may be stored in the system for the merchant. The merchant profile may be associated with a unique ID associated with a payment handler utilized by the merchant. The merchant or associated parties may utilize the unique ID to configure the payment handler including downloading processor software. The system may utilize the unique ID to manage and control use of the payment handlers and the processor applications.

1 . A method for creating a merchant profile that includes data required by a payment processor to process electronic payment transactions for a merchant, the method comprising
 providing parties associated with a merchant account access to a configuration system;   accepting input from the merchant account parties related to the merchant account between the payment processor and the merchant;   validating the input;   notifying the merchant account parties if any required information is missing or invalid;   processing the input to create the merchant profile; and   storing the merchant profile for the merchant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accepting input includes providing a user interface for the payment processor to enter the input. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface is a webpage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accepting input includes receiving a file containing information related to the merchant account. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising down-loading the merchant profile to be stored on a payment handler that is used to process electronic payment transactions for the merchant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating the merchant profile with a unique ID for a payment handler used to process electronic payment transactions for the merchant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the associating includes accepting data regarding the association of the unique ID and the merchant profile from the merchant account parties. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising
 receiving a request for the merchant profile for a merchant, wherein the request is identified by the unique ID for the payment handler associated with the merchant;   retrieving the merchant profile associated with the unique ID; and   down-loading the merchant profile to be stored on the payment handler.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising
 receiving a request for a processor application, wherein the request is identified by the unique ID for the payment handler associated with the merchant;   retrieving the processor application associated with the unique ID; and   down-loading the processor application to be stored on the payment handler.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising
 receiving an electronic payment transaction identified by unique ID;   retrieving the merchant profile associated with the unique ID;   reformatting the electronic payment transaction to include the merchant profile; and   forwarding the reformatted electronic payment transaction to the payment processor.