Electronic bond and guaranty process and business method

Abstract

Disclosed is a method by which suretyship bonds and guaranties can be purchased and deployed over the Internet in real time, providing automatic application evaluation and policy binding. The principal's credit card information is used in a repeating cycle of pre-authorized charges so that the card account serves as effective collateral. A bond seal image, safeguarded against piracy, appears in Web pages indicating the existence of bond coverage. A dynamically updated gauge displays the margin of coverage available under the bond at any given moment. Means of integrating the information technology of auction site and surety company are also disclosed. The invention makes possible an unprecedented level of security in user-to-user auction environments and eliminates the need for online escrow services. Means of accepting bidder deposit accounts is also disclosed, enabling automatic, electronic payment the moment an Internet auction closes and eliminating the need for online payment services.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for providing assurances for a customer making a purchase via an online transaction in a client-server environment, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a server, an application from a client computer via the client-server environment, the application identifying an applicant and a web site which is accessible in the client-server environment, the web site including an offer for sale;   evaluating, by a processor of the server, the application per a review process;   assigning, by the processor of the server, a worthiness level to the application based on the review process;   determining, by the processor of the server, whether the application is accepted based on the worthiness level of the application; and   providing, from the server, code to the client computer via the client-server environment after the application is accepted, the code configured to produce an image in the client-server environment and configured to be added to code of a webpage for the web site for displaying the image on the webpage to provide the assurances for the customer.   
     
     
         3 . A method for providing security in a network environment, the method comprising:
 receiving an application to obtain a service for an electronic seal in the network environment, the application identifying a web site for which the security is to be provided in the network environment;   evaluating the application for the service, at least in part, by a server;   determining whether the application for the service is approved based on the evaluating; and   providing code via the network environment, the code configured to be added to code of at least one webpage for the web site,   wherein the electronic seal is accessible for display on the at least one webpage in the network environment by the code after the application for the service is approved.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the web site includes an offer for electronic commerce, and   the electronic seal provides the security for the offer for electronic commerce.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the code is provided to an applicant of the application for the service via the network environment, and   the code is configured to be added to the code of the at least one webpage by the applicant.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the application for the service is evaluated during a provisional period, and   the provisional period includes a period after the code is provided to the applicant via the network environment and before the application for the service is approved.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the electronic seal is accessible for display by the code after the provisional period and after the application for the service is approved. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the code is configured to require no action by the applicant of the application for the service when the application for the service is approved and emerges from the provisional period and the electronic seal is accessible for display by the code. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 evaluating a rating of the web site during the provisional period to determine whether the application for the service is to be approved.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the application for the service is approved when the rating of the web site exceeds a predetermined limit. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 maintaining a rating of the web site after the application for the service is approved.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the web site includes an offer for electronic commerce, and   the electronic seal provides the security for the offer for electronic commerce.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 preventing display of the electronic seal in response to the rating of the web site falling below a predetermined limit.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 monitoring the network environment for displays of the electronic seal.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the web site includes an offer for electronic commerce, and   the electronic seal is configured to notify the public of one of a bond and a guaranty for the offer for electronic commerce.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the web site includes an offer for electronic commerce, and   the electronic seal includes a link that is clickable in the network environment for verifying the web site.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the electronic seal is specific to information provided in the application for the service. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the electronic seal is specific to the at least one webpage of the web site. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the code is specific to information provided in the application for the service. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the code is specific to the at least one webpage of the web site. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the application for the service identifies a plurality of webpages for the web site, and   the electronic seal is accessible for display on the plurality of webpages in the network environment by the code after the application for the service is approved.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the application for the service identifies a plurality of web sites for which the security is to be provided in the network environment.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the web site includes an offer for electronic commerce, and   the application for the service includes personal information of an offeror of the offer for the electronic commerce.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the code includes a script for retrieving the electronic seal from a location in the network environment. 
     
     
         25 . A method for securing the status of a web site in a network environment, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a server via the Internet, a request from an Internet browser for an electronic seal, the request including information for identifying the web site;   determining whether to provide the electronic seal for the web site; and   providing, by the server via the Internet, the electronic seal,   wherein the electronic seal is configured to be displayed within a first web page displayed in the Internet browser, the first web page hosted by a party other than the server providing the electronic seal, and   the electronic seal includes a link directing the Internet browser to display additional information concerning the electronic seal.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the electronic seal includes an image with a date. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein additional information concerning the electronic seal is displayed in a second webpage hosted by the server providing the electronic seal. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the second web page identifies the party that hosts the first web page. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the second web page identifies a validity period for the electronic seal. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the determining comprises verifying whether a record of the web site is included in a database. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 retrieving, from data storage, the electronic seal associated with a uniform resource locator of the web site.