WO2014076591A1

WO2014076591A1 - System and method for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent

Info

Publication number: WO2014076591A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/058590
Authority: WO
Inventors: Srirama Krishna LAKAMSANI
Original assignee: Lakamsani Srirama Krishna
Priority date: 2012-11-14
Filing date: 2013-09-17
Publication date: 2014-05-22

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent is disclosed. The system includes a collection agent server configured to receive a contact number and personalized details of the buyer on purchasing one or more products on an electronic commerce merchant web portal. The system further includes an collection agent device for communicating with the collection agent server for obtaining a payment information of the one or more purchased products on producing a unique authorization code corresponding to the one or more purchased products by the buyer and the system further includes an electronic merchant server to receive a payment confirmation from an collection agent through the collection agent server and transmit a payment acknowledgment to the authorized data communication device of the buyer and to the collection agent device.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BUYER AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE MERCHANT THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED COLLECTION

AGENT

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the buyer and electronic commerce merchants. More particularly the present invention relates to a method and system for facilitating transactions between buyers and electronic commerce merchants through an authorized collection agent.

Background

[0002] With the advent of computer network technology, an increasing number of consumer transactions are consummated over the Internet which has led in creating "e-commerce" or "electronic- commerce." In particular, more and more merchants such as retailers, distributors or manufacturers are now offering products and services through the Internet.

[0003] Goods are delivered to consumer homes using different means. The different means includes run from mail order, catalog shopping, on-line ordering and delivery services. Indeed, the demand for home shopping and home delivery is increasing. However, many of the conventional systems which provide home shopping and home delivery services have significant limitations that prevent their adoption on a large scale basis.

[0004] Using conventional techniques, an on-line product purchasing transaction will typically include the following steps. First, the customer selects one or more products to be purchased. Once the customer has finished selecting the desired product(s), the customer may then proceed to a check-out or order confirmation page. During the check-out or order confirmation process, the customer provides the necessary information for completing the transaction purchase, such as, for example, the customer's name, credit card number, shipping address, etc. Before the order is confirmed by an on-line customer the billing and financial information is verified and processed. For example, if a credit card is used by the customer to purchase selected on-line products, the credit card transaction for the total amount of the purchase will be authorized before the purchase order is confirmed and fulfilled by the electronic commerce merchant. Once the payment transaction has been authorized, the electronic commerce merchant typically fulfills the order of the purchased products.

[0005] Although the use of credit cards is convenient and popular, it suffers from several drawbacks. First, there is always a possibility of credit card fraud. Consumers often fear that an unscrupulous merchant may misuse their credit card information by making other counterfeit purchases using the consumer's credit card account or sell it to others who would make such counterfeit purchases. Exacerbating this fear is the fact that many Internet merchants are often remote or lesser-known entities. As such, many consumers are reluctant to use their credit cards for purchases over the Internet.

[0006] Consumers may also be reluctant to use their credit card for online purchases because of the possibility that hackers or computer thieves may be able to access the databases where these transactions are stored and misappropriate the credit card information. Sophisticated computer encryption software programs have been used to address this concern. However, consumers may still have apprehension that such encryption methods are unreliable or not otherwise fail-safe. Furthermore, employing such encryption technology generally increases the overall cost of doing business over the Internet for the merchant and/or the consumer.

[0007] The conventional on-line product purchasing techniques provide the convenience of allowing the customer to purchase and receive a desired product without having to venture outside his or her home. Further, once the customer's order has been processed, a customer typically does not have the ability to change, alter, or cancel the order. Rather, the customer must typically wait until he or she receives the originally ordered goods, and then must make a subsequent request to the on-line merchant for returning or modifying at least a part of the order. The latter request is typically handled as a separate transaction on the merchant's side, and may involve lengthy delays. Additionally, if the customer wishes to return one or more products, the customer is typically required by the merchant to first obtain a return authorization number (after first submitting a return request), and typically is responsible for paying shipping costs for shipping the returned products back to the merchant. This can be avoided if the consumer opts for a cash on delivery where the consumer can pay for the desired items and send the rest back to the merchant with the delivery representative.

[0008] An additional benefit of electronic commerce websites is that they have been offering cash on delivery for consumers who don't want to reveal their bank details such as credit cards, net banking and the like fearing of the frauds happening now-a-days. The merchant collaborates with specific authorized agencies where the merchant ships the goods and the authorized agency representative collects the money on behalf of the merchant. The cash on delivery is advantageous in the consumers prospective but in case, if the consumer doesn't want the product at the time of delivery for any reason, the product needs to be shipped back to the merchant by the authorized agency where the merchant has to pay for the return shipment and the product also takes ample time to reach the merchant and is out of the inventory and may take good time to be back on the electronic commerce site.

[0009] In the light of the aforementioned discussion there exists a constant need to improve upon electronic commerce, on-line purchasing and delivery techniques.

Brief summary

[0010] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0011] Exemplary objective of the present subject matter is to bridge the gap between buyers and the merchants for the transactions initiated through an online purchase store.

[0012] Another exemplary aspect of the present subject matter is to prevent the burden of courier charges for return shipment on cash on delivery to the merchant.

[0013] Another exemplary aspect of the present subject matter is to create a buy online and pay offline module for the mutual benefits of the electronic merchant and buyer.

[0014] According to a first aspect of the invention a method for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent is disclosed. [0015] According to the first aspect of the invention the method for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent allows a buyer to select a collection agent service listed in one or more payment gateway to pay for the one or more products purchased over an electronic commerce web portal of the electronic commerce merchant.

[0016] According to the first aspect of the invention the method directs the buyer to a collection agent service providing web portal for generating a unique authorization code for the one or more products purchased and the collection agent service providing web portal further transmits the unique authorization code to an authenticated data communication device of the buyer and to the electronic commerce merchant for displaying over the electronic commerce web portal.

[0017] According to the first aspect of the invention the method enables buyer to make a payment for the one or more products purchased to an authorized collection agent's terminal registered with the collection agent service providing web portal by submitting the unique authorization code and the authorized collection agent forwards a payment confirmation to the electronic commerce merchant.

[0018] According to the first aspect of the invention the method includes transmitting a payment acknowledgment message in response to the payment forwarded by the authorized collection agent to the authorized collection agent's terminal and to the authenticated data communication device of the buyer by the electronic commerce merchant and the electronic commerce merchant further transmits shipment details of the one or more products purchased to the authenticated data communication device of the buyer.

[0019] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of enabling the buyer to select one or more products over the electronic commerce web portal and adding to a shopping cart.

[0020] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of registering with the collection agent service providing web portal by the electronic commerce merchant to create a personalized merchant account. [0021 ] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of registering with the collection agent service providing web portal by the authorized collection agent to create a personalized collection agent service provider account.

[0022] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of registering with the collection agent service providing web portal by the buyer.

[0023] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of directing the buyer to the collection agent service providing web portal to enter a contact number of the authenticated data communication device.

[0024] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of entering personalized contact details by the buyer in the collection agent service providing web portal for shipment of the one or more purchased products.

[0025] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of redirecting the buyer to the electronic commerce merchant web portal on receiving the unique authorization code to the authenticated data communication device from the collection agent service providing web portal.

[0026] According to the first aspect of the invention the method further comprises a step of enabling the buyer to pick the one or more product purchased at an authorized dealer store associated with the electronic merchant web portal by producing the generated acknowledgment message.

[0027] According to a second aspect of the invention a system for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent is disclosed.

[0028] According to the second aspect of the invention the system includes a collection agent server configured to receive a contact number and personalized details of the buyer on purchasing one or more products on an electronic commerce merchant web portal and the collection agent server generates and transmits a unique authorization code to an authenticated data communication device of the buyer and to the electronic commerce merchant for displaying over the electronic commerce web portal.

[0029] According to the second aspect of the invention the system includes a collection agent device for communicating with the collection agent server for obtaining a payment information of the one or more purchased products on producing a unique authorization code corresponding to the one or more purchased products by the buyer and the unique authorization code generated while buyer directed to the collection agent service web portal to enter the contact number of the authenticated data communication device.

[0030] According to the second aspect of the invention the system includes an electronic merchant server to receive a payment confirmation from a collection agent through the collection agent server and transmit a payment acknowledgment to the authorized data communication device of the buyer and to the collection agent device. The electronic merchant web portal further displays the generated unique authorization code.

[0031] According to the second aspect of the invention the collection agent server configured to serve as an application programming interface between the buyer and the electronic commerce merchant web portal, the collection agent device and the electronic commerce merchant web portal.

[0032] According to the second aspect of the invention the electronic commerce merchant server accessed as the electronic merchant web portal.

[0033] According to the second aspect of the invention the collection agent server accessed as the collection agent service providing web portal.

Brief description of the drawings

[0034] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein: [0035] FIG. l is a block diagram depicting a system for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent.

[0036] FIG.2 is a flow chart depicting a method employed for facilitating transaction between buyer and electronic commerce merchant.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a method of purchasing and making payment using collection agent.

[0038] FIG.4 is a flow chart depicting a method of buyer making payment to collection agent service provider.

[0039] FIG.5 is a flow chart depicting a method of collection agent receiving payment from the buyer and confirming to electronic commerce merchant.

[0040] FIG.6 is a flow chart depicting a method of acknowledging payment to collection agent and the buyer.

Detail description

[0041] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0042] The use of "including", "comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms "first", "second", and "third", and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0043] Referring to FIG.l is a block diagram 100 depicting a system for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer is enabled to browse through the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112 through a buyer device 102. The buyer is allowed to browse and select a product for purchase and add it to the shopping cart. The buyer is further enabled to choose the payment gateway and is directed to a collection agent service provider web portal 106. The collection agent service provider web portal 106 configured with the collection agent server 108 is configured to receive personalized details of the buyer on purchasing products over the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112 and selecting collection agent service for payment. The personalized details may include but not limited to name, age, address, mobile number, e-mail and the like. The buyer 102 is then generated a unique authorization code corresponding to the products purchased over the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112 and the unique authorization code is transmitted to the contact number of the authenticated data communication device of the buyer 102.

[0044] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer 102 after selecting the collection agent service to pay for the selected products is requested to pay for the purchased products to authorized collection agents. The collection agent device 104 at the authorized collection agent centers are enabled to receive the payment from the buyer 102 for the corresponding purchased products over the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112 on producing the unique authorization code transmitted by the collection agent server 108. The collection agent server 108 then transmits the payment acknowledgment to the authorized data communication device of the buyer 102 and to the electronic merchant server 114. The transmitted acknowledgment receipt is received by the electronic merchant server 114 and then displayed over the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112.

[0045] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the collection agent database 110 is enabled to store the unique authorization code, purchase history, payment history of the buyer 102 and the merchant database 114 is also enabled to store the purchase details, personalized details of the buyer and acknowledgment receipt received from the collection agent server 108. The merchant server on receiving the payment confirmation acknowledgment then ships the order to the buyer 102 to the buyer specified address.

[0046] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112 is enabled to register with the collection agent service providing web portal 106 to initiate the buyers 102 to select the collection agent 104 for payment of the purchased products. The collection agent 104 are also enabled to register with the collection agent service providing web portal 106 to receive the payments from the buyer 102 and are connected to the collection agent server 108 to generate and transmit the acknowledgments of the buyer 102 corresponding to their unique authorization code. The buyer 102 is also enabled to register with the collection agent service providing web portal 106 to pay for the selected products and the buyer is redirected to the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112.

[0047] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer 102 is enabled to enter the personalized details over the collection agent service provider web portal 106 for shipping the products purchased by the buyer 102 over the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112. The buyer 102 is further enabled to pick the purchased product at a specified authorized dealer store associated to the electronic commerce merchant web portal 112. The buyer is further enabled to use the virtual money to pay the collection agent for the purchased products over the electronic commerce merchant web portal. The buyer transfers the money to the collection agent using the virtual money and receives acknowledgment message on successful payment.

[0048] Referring to FIG.2 is a flowchart 200 depicting a method employed for facilitating transaction between buyer and electronic commerce merchant. In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer is enabled to visit the electronic commerce web portal at step 202. The buyer is further allowed to browse through the electronic commerce web portal at step 204 and is enabled to select a particular product for purchase at step 206 and adds the selected products to the shopping cart at step 208 and selects the type of payment as collection agent service to make the payment at step 210.

[0049] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer is further enabled to collect the purchased products at authorized dealer stores associated to the electronic commerce merchant web portal.

[0050] Referring to FIG.3 is a flow chart 300 depicting a method of purchasing and making payment using collection agent. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer is enabled to visit the electronic commerce merchant web portal at step 302. The buyer is further enabled to select product in the electronic commerce merchant web portal and add them to the shopping cart at step 304 and the buyer then selects the collection agent service to pay for the purchased products at step 306. The buyer is then directed to the collection agent service providers web portal at step 308 and the buyer is then enabled to enter contact number, e-mail and personalized details at step 310, The collection agent server at step 312 checks for the registry and generates the unique authorization code at step 314 and then transmits the unique authorization code to the buyers authenticated data communication device at step 316.

[0051] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer is prompted to register within the collection agent service provider web portal at step 318 in case the buyer is not in the registry at step 312 and on successful registration of the buyer at step 320 the unique authorization code is generated and transmitted to the buyers authenticated data communication device.

[0052] Referring to FIG.4 is a flow chart 400 depicting a method of buyer making payment to collection agent service provider. In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the buyer is enabled to pay at the collection agent centers at step 402. The collection agents are enabled to register with the collection agent service providing web portal to receive the payments from the buyer and are connected to the collection agent server. The buyer at step 404 provides the authenticated collection agents with the unique authorization code provided by the collection agent service provider web portal and pays for the corresponding purchased product purchased over the electronic commerce merchant web portal at step 406. At step 408 the buyer receives acknowledgment message from the collection agent server to the authenticated data communication device and confirmation message is also sent to the electronic commerce merchant web portal about the successful payment at step 410. The buyer is then enabled to visit the electronic commerce merchant web portal and track the shipment details at step 412.

[0053] Referring to FIG.5 is a flow chart 500 depicting a method of collection agent receiving payment from the buyer and confirming to electronic commerce merchant. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the collection agent is enabled to receive payment from the buyer at step 502. The collection agent device at step 504 displays the payment details of the buyer on entering corresponding unique authorization code and the collection agent sends the generated payment confirmation to the buyer after receiving the payment at step 506. The payment confirmation is sent to the buyer through a text message or through an electronic mail from the collection agent device. The collection agent then transmits the payment confirmation to the electronic commerce merchant web portal at step 508.

[0054] Referring to FIG.6 is a flow chart 600 depicting a method of acknowledging payment to collection agent and the buyer. In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, the electronic commerce merchant web portal at step 602 is configured to allow the buyer to browse and purchase selected products. At step 604 the electronic commerce merchant web portal directs the buyer to the collection agent service provider's web portal and on receiving the payment confirmation from the collection agent at step 606 the details of the buyer are displayed over the electronic commerce merchant web portal at step 608. The details displayed over the electronic commerce merchant web portal may include but not limited to personal details, purchase history, payment history, unique authentication code, order status and the like. The electronic commerce merchant web portal then ships the purchased product by the buyer to corresponding delivery address at step 610. The mode of delivery of the purchased products may be digital delivery, physical delivery and the like.

[0055] Also, those skilled in the art can appreciate from the foregoing description that the present invention can be implemented in the variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will be apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings and following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is

1. A method for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent, the method comprising; allowing a buyer to select a collection agent service listed in one or more payment gateway to pay for the one or more products purchased over an electronic commerce web portal of the electronic commerce merchant; directing the buyer to a collection agent service providing web portal for generating a unique authorization code for the one or more products purchased, whereby the collection agent service providing web portal further transmits the unique authorization code to an authenticated data communication device of the buyer and to the electronic commerce merchant for displaying over the electronic commerce web portal; making a payment for the one or more products purchased to an authorized collection agent's terminal registered with the collection agent service providing web portal by submitting the unique authorization code, whereby the authorized collection agent forwards a payment confirmation to the electronic commerce merchant; and transmitting a payment acknowledgment message in response to the payment forwarded by the authorized collection agent to the authorized collection agent's terminal and to the authenticated data communication device of the buyer by the electronic commerce merchant, whereby the electronic commerce merchant further transmits shipment details of the one or more products purchased to the authenticated data communication device of the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising a step of enabling the buyer to select one or more products over the electronic commerce web portal and adding to a shopping cart.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of registering with the collection agent service providing web portal by the electronic commerce merchant to create a personalized merchant account.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising a step of registering with the collection agent service providing web portal by the authorized collection agent to create a personalized collection agent service provider account.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of registering with the collection agent service providing web portal by the buyer.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of directing the buyer to the collection agent service providing web portal to enter a contact number of the authenticated data communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of entering personalized contact details by buyer in the collection agent service providing web portal for shipment of the one or more purchased products.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of redirecting the buyer to the electronic commerce merchant web portal on receiving the unique authorization code to the authenticated data communication device from the collection agent service providing web portal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the buyer is enabled to pick the one or more product purchased at an authorized dealer store associated with the electronic merchant web portal by producing the generated acknowledgment message.

10. A system for facilitating transactions between buyer and electronic commerce merchant through an authorized collection agent, the system comprising; a collection agent server configured to receive a contact number and personalized details of the buyer on purchasing one or more products on an electronic commerce merchant web portal, whereby the collection agent server generates and transmits a unique authorization code to an authenticated data communication device of the buyer and to the electronic commerce merchant for displaying over the electronic commerce web portal; a collection agent device for communicating with the collection agent server for obtaining a payment information of the one or more purchased products on producing a unique authorization code corresponding to the one or more purchased products by the buyer, whereby the unique authorization code generated while buyer directed to the collection agent service provider web portal to enter the contact number of the authenticated data communication device; and an electronic merchant server to receive a payment confirmation from a collection agent through the collection agent server and transmit a payment acknowledgment to the authorized data communication device of the buyer and to the collection agent device, whereby an electronic merchant web portal displays the generated unique authorization code.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic merchant web portal enables the buyer to select one ore products for purchasing and add to the shopping cart.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection agent server configured to serve as an application programming interface between the buyer and the electronic commerce merchant web portal; and the collection agent device and the electronic commerce merchant web portal.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic commerce merchant server accessed as the electronic merchant web portal.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection agent server accessed as the collection agent service providing web portal.