Universal merchant platform for payment authentication

Abstract

A method of processing of a transaction between a first and second party is provided. The method includes: receiving payment information at a server operatively connected to a communications network, the payment information identifying a particular payment option used by the second party for the transaction, and the server being equipped to format and route messages over the communications network in different manners to accommodate a plurality of different authentication protocols; determining which of the different authentication protocols is prescribed for the type of payment option identified in the payment information; selecting a particular authentication protocol from the plurality of different authentication protocols supported by the server; obtaining an authentication determination for the transaction, including formatting messages and routing the formatted messages over the communications network in accordance with one or more mandates of the selected authentication protocol.

1 . A method of supporting account holder authentication in connection with a transaction conducted between a first party and a second party, wherein the first party accepts payment via a plurality of different payment options selectable by the second party, said plurality of different payment options being associated with a plurality of different authentication initiatives prescribed therefor, said method comprising:
 receiving payment information over the Internet at a server operatively connected to the Internet, wherein a particular payment option used by the second party for the transaction is determinable from said payment information, and said server is equipped to at least one of format and route messages over the Internet in different manners to accommodate the plurality of different authentication initiatives;   determining from the payment information received at the server which of the different authentication initiatives is prescribed for the type of payment option identified in the payment information;   selecting, in accordance with the determination made, a particular authentication initiative from the plurality of different authentication initiatives supported by the server; and,   obtaining an authentication determination for the transaction, said authentication determination being produced in accordance with the selected authentication initiative.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payment information is received from a server of the first party. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication determination is obtained from a server of a third party, said third party maintaining an account for the second party, said account corresponding to the payment option used by the second party for the transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of authentication methods differs from at least another of the plurality of authentication methods by the way in which the authentication determination is formatted. 
     
     
         5 . A method that supports authentication of a purchaser as an account holder in connection with a transaction conducted between the purchaser and a merchant, wherein the merchant accepts payment via a plurality of types of payment instruments selectable by the purchaser, each type of payment instrument being associated with an authentication initiative, each authentication initiative prescribing a manner in which an account holder is to be authenticated, said method comprising:
 communicating with a first server of the merchant to receive therefrom payment information over the Internet at a second server;   determining from said received payment information the type of payment instrument used for the transaction, said determining executed by the second server; and   obtaining an authentication determination at the second server, said authentication determination being produced in accordance with the authentication initiative associated with the determined type of payment instrument.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of types of payment instruments includes at least a Visa type of payment instrument and a MasterCard type of payment instrument, said Visa type of payment instrument being associated with a first authentication initiative and said MasterCard type of payment instrument being associated with a second authentication initiative. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first authentication initiative is different from the second authentication initiative in at least one of a way authentication determinations are formatted, a location to which at least one message is routed in order to obtain an authentication determination and a way in which at least one message is formatted in order to obtain an authentication determination. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said payment information includes a number of the payment instrument used for the transaction, and the type of payment instrument use for the transaction is determined from said number. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein obtaining the authentication determination comprises:
 at least one of formatting and sending at least one message by the second server in accordance with the authentication initiative associated with the determined type of payment instrument, at least one of said formatting and said sending being prescribed differently by at least two of the authentication initiatives.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining which one of a plurality of different authentication initiatives is associated with the determined type of payment instrument used for the transaction; and   selecting the determined authentication initiative for use in obtaining the authentication determination.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the authentication determination is obtained from a third server of a third party, said third party maintaining an account for the account holder. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said obtaining comprises:
 making an enrollment determination, wherein said making an enrollment determination includes determining whether or not the payment instrument used for the transaction is enrolled to participate in the authentication initiative associated with the type of payment instrument used for the transaction.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein making said enrollment determination comprises:
 querying a directory server that identifies payment instruments enrolled to participate in a particular authentication initiative.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least two different directory servers are queried for at least two different authentication initiatives. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein making said enrollment determination comprises:
 caching at the second server a list of payment instruments enrolled to participate in authentication initiatives.   
     
     
         16 . A method of supporting account holder identification in connection with a transaction conducted between a shopper and a merchant conducting an online transaction over a public packet-switched communication network, said shopper employing a computing device supporting a browser thereon to access a first computer system supporting a server of the merchant and thereby select one of a plurality of types of payment instruments accepted by the merchant for providing payment in connection with said transaction, wherein at least a first type of the plurality of payment instruments is associated with a first authentication initiative and a second type of the plurality of payment instruments is associated with a second authentication initiative, wherein the first and second authentication initiatives each prescribe a set of procedures to be followed in order to authenticate the shopper as an account holder, said method comprising:
 receiving a first communication over the network at a second sever supported on a second computer system; and   determining from said first communication the type of payment instrument selected by the shopper;   wherein:   if the payment instrument selected by the shopper is determined to be the first type, then obtaining an authentication determination according to the set of procedures prescribed by the first authentication initiative; and   if the payment instrument selected by the shopper is determined to be of the second type, then obtaining an authentication determination according to the set of procedures prescribed by the second authentication initiative.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the set of procedures prescribed by the first authentication initiative is not identical to the set of procedures prescribed by the second authentication initiative. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first type of payment instrument is a Visa card and the second type of payment instrument is a MasterCard. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said determining is executed by said second server. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein each set of procedures prescribed by the first and second authentication initiatives defines at least one of a way in which authentication determinations are formatted, a location to which at least one message is routed in order to obtain an authentication determination and a way in which at least one message if formatted in order to obtain an authentication determination.