Computerized system for facilitating transactions between parties on the internet using e-mail

Abstract

A payment system and method are disclosed for processing financial exchanges over a network between a merchant and a buyer. For example, receiving from a merchant, over the network, information associated with a financial transaction and non-financial data relating to a buyer involved in the financial transaction. Authorizing payment, associated with the financial transaction, to the merchant on behalf of the buyer using the non-financial data related to the buyer. A notification of the authorized payment on behalf of the buyer is sent to the merchant over the network. Upon notification from the merchant that the buyer has committed to completing the financial transaction, processing payment to the merchant on behalf of the buyer.

1 . A method for completing a financial transaction over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving a request from a user over the network to complete a financial transaction;   requesting non-financial user information to be used to complete the financial transaction;   receiving the non-financial user information over the network;   sending the non-financial user information and information related to the financial transaction to a third-party system;   approving the financial transaction based on receiving authorization from the third-party system; and   receiving payment from the third-party system on behalf of the user in relation to the financial transaction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the financial transaction involves the purchase of a good or service from a seller. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the non-financial user information includes receiving approval from the user for the third-party system to complete the financial transaction on behalf of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the approval from the user for the third-party system to complete the financial transaction includes approval from the user to have the third-party system send a bill to the user for the financial transaction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sending of the bill to the user is accomplished via conventional mail delivery. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the payment from the third-party system is accomplished without using the network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
         8 . A method of processing a financial exchange over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving from a merchant, over the network, information associated with a financial transaction and non-financial data relating to a buyer involved in the financial transaction with the merchant;   using the non-financial data relating to the buyer to authorize payment to the merchant on behalf of the buyer in relation to the financial transaction;   sending to the merchant, over the network, a notification of the authorized payment on behalf of the buyer; and   processing payment to the merchant on behalf of the buyer upon notification from the merchant that the buyer committed to completing the financial transaction.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the processing of the payment to the merchant includes receiving approval from the buyer regarding the financial transaction with the merchant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the processing or the payment to the merchant is accomplished without using the network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the processing of the payment to the merchant includes sending a bill to the buyer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sending of the bill to the buyer is accomplished without using the network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the processing of the payment to the merchant includes charging a service fee. 
     
     
         14 . A system for completing a financial transaction over a network, the system comprising:
 a payment processing system to process payments related to financial transactions conducted over the network using a user-identifying piece of non-financial data provided in association with the financial transaction; and   a network-based transaction system, connected to the network and the payment processing system, including:
 a front-end communications module to send and receive communications with a user over the network; and 
 a back-end communications module to send and receive communications with the payment processing system; 
   wherein:
 the front-end communications module is to receive a request from the user to process a financial transaction, the request including the user-identifying piece of non-financial data associated with the request, 
 the back-end communications module is to send the user-identifying piece of non-financial data and information related to the financial transaction to the payment processing system, and 
 the payment processing system is to process a payment on behalf of the user. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the financial transaction involves a purchase of a good or service from the network-based transaction system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the front-end communications module is further to receive an approval from the user for the payment processing system to complete the financial transaction on behalf of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the approval from the user for the payment processing system to complete the financial transaction includes approval from the user to have the payment processing system send a bill to the user for the financial transaction. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the payment processing system is to send the user a bill without using the network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the network-based transaction system is to receive payment from the payment processing system without using the network. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the network-based system is connected to the payment processing system over the Internet.