Universal shopping center for international operation

Abstract

An international transaction system for operation over the internet/intranet provides a pre-transactional calculation of all charges involved in any international transaction. Upon the option of the customer, the goods can be viewed on catalogue sheets translated to a language of the customer's choice, and the price provided in a currency selected by the customer. The customer also has the option of initiating the order with automatic credit authorization, generation of an electronic title or commercial invoice and arrangements and payment of shipping charges and any taxes and import/export duties.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for processing a cross-border transaction between a customer and a merchant comprising the steps of:
 receiving, by a transaction system, a selection of a product for purchase;   determining a purchase price for the product;   determining a product code for an international goods classification system pertinent to the product;   determining, by the transaction system, international shipping information related to an origination point of such product and a destination;   determining, by the transaction system, a total cost of the transaction based at least in part on the purchase price, the product code and the international shipping information;   generating, by the transaction system, an electronic commercial invoice; and   transmitting, by the transaction system, the electronic commercial invoice to a customs office to facilitate passage of the product across an international border.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of determining a currency and wherein the determined total cost is based at least in part on the determined currency. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps:
 determining a language preference; and 
 providing a catalog from which a user can select the product for purchase, wherein the catalog includes information presented in the preferred language. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of confirming the customer's credit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total cost includes freight costs, insurance costs and taxes. 
     
     
         7 . A method for processing a cross-border transaction between a customer and a seller comprising the steps of:
 determining, by a transaction system, a preferred language;   providing, by the transaction system, a catalog from which the customer can select a product for purchase, wherein the catalog includes information presented in the preferred language;   receiving, by the transaction system, a selection of a product for purchase;   determining, by the transaction system, a purchase price for the product;   determining, by the transaction system, a product code for an international goods classification system pertinent to the product;   determining, by the transaction system, a total cost of the transaction based at least in part on the purchase price and the product code;   generating, by the transaction system, an electronic commercial invoice; and   transmitting, by the transaction system, the commercial invoice to a customs office to facilitate passage of the product across an international border.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the preferred language is selected by the customer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of determining a currency and wherein the purchase price is determined in the currency. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the currency is determined based at least in part on the preferred language. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of confirming the customer's credit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the total cost includes freight costs, insurance costs and taxes. 
     
     
         13 . A method for facilitating shipment of a product across an international border, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining, by a transaction computer system, a price for the product;   determining, by the transaction system, a product code for an international goods classification system pertinent to the product;   determining, by the transaction system, international shipping information related to an origination point of such product and said destination;   determining, by the transaction system, a total cost of the transaction based at least in part on the purchase price, product code and the international shipping information;   generating, by the transaction system, an electronic commercial invoice; and   transmitting, by the transaction system, the commercial invoice to a customs office to facilitate passage of the product across an international border.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the total cost includes freight costs, insurance costs and taxes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of determining a total cost includes determining import/export fees. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of determining a total cost includes determining value added taxes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of determining a total cost includes determining a freight cost.