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 system that supports authentication of an account holder 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 methods prescribed therefor, said system comprising:
 a receiving part that receives payment information over the Internet at a server operatively connected to the Internet, said payment information identifying a particular payment option used by the second party for the transaction, and said server being equipped to format and route messages over the Internet in different manners to accommodate the plurality of different authentication methods;   a determining part that determines from the payment information received at the server which of the different authentication methods is prescribed for the type of payment option identified in the payment information;   a selecting part that selects, in accordance with the determination made by the determining part, a particular authentication method from the plurality of different authentication methods supported by the server; and,   an obtaining part that obtains an authentication determination for the transaction in accordance with the selected authentication method, said obtaining part being arranged to format messages and route the formatted messages over the Internet in accordance with one or more mandates of the selected authentication method.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving part receives the payment information from a server of the first party. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining part obtains the authentication determination 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 system 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 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different payment options includes at least a Visa card payment option and a MasterCard card payment option. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the Visa card payment option has a first authentication method prescribed therefor and the MasterCard card payment option has a second authentication method prescribed therefor, said second authentication method being not identical to the first authentication method. 
     
     
         7 . A system that supports authentication of an account holder 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 methods prescribed therefor, said system comprising:
 means for receiving payment information over the Internet at a server operatively connected to the Internet, said payment information identifying a particular payment option used by the second party for the transaction, and said server being equipped to format and route messages over the Internet in different manners to accommodate the plurality of different authentication methods;   means for determining from the payment information received at the server which of the different authentication methods is prescribed for the type of payment option identified in the payment information;   means for selecting, in accordance with the determination made by the means for determining, a particular authentication method from the plurality of different authentication methods supported by the server; and,   means for obtaining an authentication determination for the transaction in accordance with the selected authentication method, said means for obtaining being arranged to format messages and route the formatted messages over the Internet in accordance with one or more mandates of the selected authentication method.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the means for receiving receives the payment information from a server of the first party. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the means for obtaining obtains the authentication determination 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. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of authentication methods differs from at least another of the plurality of authentication methods by at least a meaning of a value provided in the authentication determination. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of different payment options includes at least a Visa card payment option and a MasterCard card payment option. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the Visa card payment option has a first authentication method prescribed therefor and the MasterCard card payment option has a second authentication method prescribed therefor, said second authentication method being not identical to the first authentication method. 
     
     
         13 . A first server that supports authentication of an account holder in connection with a transaction conducted between a first party and a second party, wherein the first party accepts payment via a plurality of payment options selectable by the second party, said plurality of payment options being associated with a plurality of authentication methods prescribed therefor, said first server comprising:
 a connectivity layer operative to communicate with a second server of the first party to receive therefrom payment information over the Internet, said payment information identifying a particular payment option used by the second party for the transaction;   a plurality of plug-ins, each plug-in associated with at least one of the plurality of authentication methods and provisioned to obtain an authentication determination in accordance with the at least one of the plurality of authentication methods with which the plug-in is associated; and   a distribution layer operative to (i) determine from the received payment information which of plurality of authentication methods is prescribed for the payment option identified in the payment information and (ii) select, in accordance with the determination, a particular authentication method from the plurality of authentication methods;   wherein said distribution layer forwards at least part of the payment information to that plug-in associated with the selected authentication method such that the plug-in receiving the at least part of the payment information at least one of formats and routes at least one message over the Internet to obtain an authentication determination in accordance with the authentication method associated with the plug-in.   
     
     
         14 . The first server of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of payment options includes at least a Visa card payment option and a Mastercard card payment option and wherein at least one plug-in is associated with a first authentication method prescribed for a Visa card and at least one plug-in is associated with a second authentication method prescribed for a Mastercard card. 
     
     
         15 . The first server of  claim 14 , wherein the first authentication method is different from the second authentication method in at least one of a way authentication determinations are formatted, a location to which messages are routed in order to obtain an authentication determination and a way in which messages are formatted in order to obtain an authentication determination. 
     
     
         16 . A system that supports authentication of an account holder in connection with a transaction conducted between a merchant and a shopper, wherein the merchant accepts payment via a plurality of different payment instruments selectable by the shopper using a computing device supporting a browser to access a server of the merchant supported on a first computer system, said plurality of different payment instruments being associated with a plurality of different authentication initiative prescribed therefor, said system comprising:
 a receiving part that receives a first communication over the Internet at a second server operatively connected to the Internet and supported on a second computer system, said first communication identifying a particular payment instrument used by the shopper for the transaction, and said second server being equipped to at least one of format and route messages over the Internet in different manners to accommodate the plurality of different authentication initiatives;   a determining part that determines from the first communication received at the second server which of the different authentication initiates is prescribed for the type of payment instrument identified in the payment information;   a selecting part that selects, in accordance with the determination made by the determining part, a particular authentication initiative from the plurality of different authentication initiates supported by the second server; and,   an obtaining part that obtains an authentication determination for the transaction in accordance with the selected authentication initiative, said obtaining part being arranged to at least one of format messages and route the formatted messages over the Internet in accordance with one or more mandates of the selected authentication initiative.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of different payment instruments includes at least a Visa card and a MasterCard card. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the Visa card has a first authentication initiative prescribed therefor and the MasterCard card has a second authentication initiative prescribed therefor, said second authentication initiative being not identical to the first authentication initiative. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each authentication initiative mandates at least one of a meaning of authentication determination values and a formatting of authentication determinations. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the meaning of authentication determination values mandated by the first authentication initiative is different from the meaning of authentication determination values mandated by the second authentication initiative.