Transaction processing with core and distributor processor implementations

Abstract

Transaction processing for distributor-based transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of aspects of a transaction between contracting parties using transaction rules associated with an administrator and at least one distributor sponsoring the transaction. In some applications, the administrator finances the transaction. Fees are assessed as a function of the transaction processing on behalf of the administrator and, in come instances, the distributor.

1 . In an environment of multiple transaction parties, a transaction system for processing transaction and financing information related to a transaction between contracting transaction parties on behalf of a plurality of transaction processing distributors, the transaction system comprising: 
 means for accepting transaction data information via one of the transaction parties;    means for generating a set of transaction processing information in response to the transaction data information, said transaction processing information including a code to identify a performing transaction party, a code to identify a purchasing transaction party, and information associated with the goods or services associated with the transaction;    a central processor arrangement, located remote from the transaction parties' premises, responsive to the transaction information, storing an authorized profile list criterion, and determining whether the transaction information satisfies the authorized profile list criterion, wherein the authorized profile list criterion includes information about authorized users; and    means for informing the central processor arrangement of performance by the performing transaction party, the central processor arrangement being responsive to the informing means and using the transaction information and the authorized profile list criterion to audit the transaction and payment thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central processor arrangement includes a transaction document rating engine adapted to assign a price term to the transaction data as a function of the authorized profile criterion.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transaction document rating engine is adapted to communicate with multiple purchasing transaction parties sponsoring seller transaction parties for using the system.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central processor arrangement uses the transaction information and the authorized profile list criterion to audit transactions and the payment thereof on behalf of each of a multitude of transaction parties as a function of separately agreed upon pricing terms with each of the transaction parties.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the central processor arrangement is adapted to determine a price term as a function of an agreed upon rate structure.  
     
     
         6 . In an environment of multiple transaction parties, a transaction system for processing transaction and financing information related to a transaction between contracting transaction parties on behalf of a plurality of transaction processing distributors, the transaction system comprising: 
 a communications arrangement for accepting transaction data information from the transaction parties;    a transaction information generator adapted to generate a set of transaction processing information in response to the transaction data information, said transaction processing information including a code to identify a performing transaction party, a code to identify a purchasing transaction party, and information associated with the goods or services associated with the transaction; and    a plurality of distributor processors located remote from the transaction parties' premises, responsive to transaction information and each adapted to 
 store an authorized profile list criterion including information about authorized users,  
 determine whether transaction information for a particular transaction satisfies authorized profile list criterion, and  
 in response to performance for the particular transaction by an identified performing transaction party, use the transaction information and the authorized profile list criterion to audit the particular transaction and payment thereof.  
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein two or more of each of the communications arrangement, the transaction information generator and the distributor processors are implemented in a common arrangement.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the system hosts an instance of each of the communications arrangement, the transaction information generator and a distributor processor on behalf of each of the plurality of transaction processing distributors.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a core processor that facilitates access to a distributor processor for each transaction processing distributor, and wherein each hosted instance is implemented in a single distributor processor.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein one of the distributor processors is a remote processor located at a remote distributor location, the remote processor adapted for interfacing with contracting parties and to provide transaction data from the contracting parties to the core processor.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the remote processor includes an auditing processor and the remote processor, the auditing processor being adapted to audit said transaction data provided by the remote processor.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote processor is adapted to authenticate transaction data received from contracting parties as a function of user profiles for the contracting parties, and wherein the auditing processor is adapted to authenticate transaction data received from the remote processor as a function of user profiles for the at least one of the plurality of distributors.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each distributor processor is configured and arranged to implement programming code proprietary to one of the plurality of transaction processing distributors when respectively processing transactions on behalf of said one of the plurality of transaction processing distributors.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each distributor processor audits the payment for transactions using transaction information including at least one of: 
 a payment source;    a payment destination;    credit authorization; and    currency conversion terms.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each distributor processor is configured and arranged to authorize payment for a particular transaction as a function of an audit thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the distributor processors is adapted to facilitate a funds transfer for the particular transaction.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each distributor processor includes an instance of the communications arrangement and the transaction information generator.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the transaction system is adapted to extend trade credit to at least one of the transaction parties.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the transaction system extends the trade credit as a function of a credit term relating to a transaction processing distributor sponsoring the at least one of the transaction parties.  
     
     
         20 . For transaction processing involving transaction information related to services provided from a controller and one of a plurality of distributors and processed by one of a plurality of distributor-related merchant-offering providers, a method for validating a service transaction for auditing comprising: 
 generating transaction information prior to processing on behalf of a distributor;    providing an authorized profile list criterion that includes information about authorized users empowered to authorize payment by a vendor; and    using a computer arrangement, maintaining data relating to the authorized profile list criterion and processing the transaction information on behalf of a distributor by 
 determining whether the transaction information satisfies the authorized profile list criterion, and  
 using the authorized profile list criterion to generate information for auditing a transaction involving one of the plurality of merchant-offering providers.