Electronic payment methods and systems

Abstract

A server for facilitating commerce via a distributed computing network. The server memory stores an instruction set, customer data, vendor data, venue data, and server data related to a sponsoring entity. A processor is operative to: provide a portion of the vendor data to a first client based upon the client entering a venue, wherein the portion of the vendor data relates to the venue; receive an order for a product of a vendor from the first client, wherein the product is included in the portion of the vendor data; provide the order to a second client of the vendor so the vendor can fill the order; attend to collection of funds in payment for the order from the first customer by using a portion of the customer data; and attend to payment of funds for the order to the vendor by using a portion of the server data.

1 . A server for facilitating commerce, wherein the server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network, and wherein the server comprises:
 (a) a memory storing: an instruction set including an application program interface (API); customer data related to a plurality of customers; and vendor data related to a plurality of vendors; venue data related to a plurality of venues; and server data related to an entity sponsoring the server; and   (b) a processor for running the instruction set and API, the processor being in communication with the memory and the distributed computing network, wherein the processor is operative to:
 (i) use the API to provide a portion of the vendor data to a first client of a first customer based upon the client entering a venue, wherein the portion of the vendor data relates to the venue; 
 (ii) use the API to receive an order for a product of a first vendor from the client, wherein the product is included in the portion of the vendor data; 
 (iii) provide the order to a second client of the vendor so the vendor can fill the order; 
 (iv) use the API to attend to collection of funds in payment for the order from the first customer by using a portion of the customer data; and 
 (v) attend to payment of funds for the order to the vendor by using a portion of the server data. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A server for facilitating a lottery, wherein the server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network, and wherein the server comprises:
 (a) a memory storing an instruction set, customer data related to a plurality of customers, and vendor data related to a plurality of vendors; and   (b) a processor for running the instruction set, the processor being in communication with the memory and the distributed computing network, wherein the processor is operative to;
 (i) receive data indicating a location of a first client of a first customer with a request from the first client to purchase a lottery ticket associated with a jurisdiction wherein data for the lottery ticket is included in the vendor data; 
 (ii) determine if the location of the first client is within the jurisdiction based upon the location; 
 (iii) if the location is within the jurisdiction, provide an order for the lottery ticket to a first vendor so the vendor can fill the order; 
 (iv) attend to collection of funds in payment for the lottery ticket from the first customer by using a portion of the customer data; and 
 (v) attend to payment of funds for the lottery ticket to the first vendor by using a portion of the server data. 
   
     
     
         4 . A server as recited in  claim 3 , wherein steps (i)-(iv) are repeated for a plurality of lottery tickets, then before step (v), the processor aggregates funds for the plurality of lottery tickets so that the payment is a single payment for a plurality of purchases by different customers. 
     
     
         5 . A server as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a limit is placed on a number of the lottery tickets that the first customer can purchase. 
     
     
         6 . A server as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further operative to pay a commission on the lottery ticket to a lottery agent based upon the location. 
     
     
         7 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operative to use the API to provide a portion of the vendor data to a first client of a first customer based upon entry of a vendor code for at least one of the plurality of vendors into the client. 
     
     
         8 . A server for facilitating commerce, wherein the server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network, and wherein the server comprises:
 (a) a memory storing: an instruction set including an application program interface (API); customer data related to a plurality of customers; and vendor data related to a plurality of vendors including a vendor code for each vendor; venue data related to a plurality of venues; and server data related to an entity sponsoring the server; and   (b) a processor for running the instruction set and API, the processor being in communication with the memory and the distributed computing network, wherein the processor is operative to:
 (i) use the API to provide a portion of the vendor data to a first client of a first customer based upon entry of a vendor code for at least one of the plurality of vendors into the client; 
 (ii) use the API to receive an order for a product of the at least one vendor from the client, wherein the product is included in the portion of the vendor data; 
 (iii) provide the order to a second client of the at least one vendor so the at least one vendor can fill the order; 
 (iv) use the API to attend to collection of funds in payment for the order from the first customer by using a portion of the customer data; and 
 (v) attend to payment of funds for the order to the at least one vendor by using a portion of the server data. 
   
     
     
         9 . A server as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the memory stores venue data related to a plurality of venues. 
     
     
         10 . A server as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the vendor code relates to a venue and the at least one vendor is a plurality of vendors at the venue.