Half-Graphical User Interface Order Processing Method and Web Service

Abstract

A half-graphical user interface (Half-GUI) order processing (HGOP) system with single sign on and its method of use is described. A set of web services may be utilized for order processing in an electronic commerce system which allows a merchant to host a product catalog and shopping cart, but post the transaction to an e-commerce system in one simple transaction. In response to a shopping cart request and utilizing single sign on technology, the HGOP system exposes a single checkout form, prepopulated with customer account information to a merchant web site. If no edits are required, the transaction posts and an order confirmation/thank you page is displayed. If edits are required or a new customer account is required, the customer's account is updated or created.

1 . A method for processing an electronic order received by an e-commerce system server operatively coupled via a pre-existing communication network to an online merchant web site server, the method comprising:
 receiving a message via the pre-existing communication network from the merchant web site server operated by a third party, the message comprising customer information and shopping cart information;   matching the received customer information with an account in the e-commerce system server to maintain synchronization between the e-commerce system and the merchant web site whereby seamless access to both the merchant web site and the e-commerce system can be provided to a customer;   creating a shopping cart based on the received shopping cart information; and   sending prepopulated data to the merchant web site for use in a checkout web page based on the matched account in the e-commerce system such that the customer may submit the electronic order for an item utilizing the prepopulated data.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising providing order history for the customer to the merchant web site based on the matched account in the e-commerce system. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising decrypting the received message based on an encryption key previously provided to the merchant web site by the e-commerce system. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the message at a posting universal resource locator (URL) address previously provided to the merchant web site server by the e-commerce system. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising performing a back-end order process associated with the order, the back-end order process being selected from a group consisting of:
 payment processing, account management, order fulfillment, and distribution logistics. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer; 
 sending order details to the merchant web site via pre-existing communication network; and 
 sending an order notification to the customer via the pre-existing communication network. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer; 
 sending order details to the merchant web site via pre-existing communication network; and 
 sending an software license entitlement to the customer via the pre-existing communication network. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer; and 
 sending order details to the merchant web site via pre-existing communication network such that the merchant web site may utilize the order details in a subsequent communication with the customer. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer; and 
 updating the account in the e-commerce system based on the received order confirmation. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1  further comprising creating an account in the e-commerce system using information provided by the customer in the checkout web page on the merchant web site. 
     
     
         11 . An order processing web service operatively configured to manage communications via a pre-existing communication network between an electronic commerce system and a merchant web site, the web service comprising:
 a single sign on process module operatively configured to receive a message via the pre-existing communication network from the merchant web site, the message comprising customer information and shopping cart information, the single sign on process module further being operatively configured to (i) match the customer information with an account in an account management database in the e-commerce system, (ii) provide prepopulated data to the merchant web site for use in a checkout web page based on a match between the customer information with the account in the e-commerce system and (iii) maintain synchronization between the e-commerce system and the merchant web site whereby seamless access to both the merchant web site and the e-commerce system can be provided to a customer; and   a shopping cart processing module operatively configured to create a shopping cart based on the received shopping cart information.   
     
     
         12 . The web service of  claim 11  wherein the single sign on process module is operatively coupled to a back end processing module in the e-commerce system and operatively configured to provide order history for the customer to the merchant web site based on the matched account in the e-commerce system. 
     
     
         13 . The web service of  claim 11  wherein the single sign on process module is operatively configured to decrypt the received message based on an encryption key previously provided to the merchant web site by the e-commerce system. 
     
     
         14 . The web service of  claim 11  wherein the single sign on process module is operatively configured to receive the message at a posting universal resource locator (URL) address previously provided to the merchant web site by the e-commerce system. 
     
     
         15 . The web service of  claim 11  wherein the single sign on process module is operatively coupled to a back end processing module in the e-commerce system, the processing module being operatively configured to perform a function selected from a group consisting of: payment processing, account management, order fulfillment, and distribution logistics. 
     
     
         16 . The web service of  claim 11  wherein the single sign on process module is operatively configured to receive an order confirmation from the merchant web site associated with the checkout web page and to update the matched account in the e-commerce system based on the received order confirmation. 
     
     
         17 . The web service of  claim 11  wherein the single sign on process module is operatively configured to create an account in the e-commerce system using information provided by the customer in the checkout web page on the merchant web site. 
     
     
         18 . The web service of  claim 11  further comprising a processing module operatively configured to: (i) receive an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer, (ii) send order details to the merchant web site via pre-existing communication network, and (iii) send an order notification to the customer via the pre-existing communication network. 
     
     
         19 . The web service of  claim 11  further comprising a processing module operatively configured to: (i) receive an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer, (ii) send order details to the merchant web site via pre-existing communication network, and (iii) send a software license entitlement to the customer via the pre-existing communication network. 
     
     
         20 . The web service of  claim 11  further comprising a processing module operatively configured to: (i) receive an order confirmation from the merchant web site initiated by the customer, and (ii) send order details to the merchant web site via pre-existing communication network such that the merchant web site may utilize the order details in a subsequent communication with the customer.