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 comprising,:
 a storage storing authentication initiatives information for a plurality of payment options, at least some of the authentication initiatives information being for different payment options of the plurality of payment options;   a network interface, to receive and transmit internet communications; and   a computer system, the computer system coupled in communication with the network interface and the storage, the computer system programmed to:   receive a payment information over the internet via the network interface, the payment information identifying a particular payment option of the plurality of payment options, the particular payment option used by a second party with a first party for a transaction, wherein the first party includes an interface to accept payment via the plurality of payment options selectable by the second party, the plurality of payment options being associated with a plurality of different authentication initiatives prescribed therefor;   determine from the payment information a first authentication initiative from the plurality of authentication initiatives prescribed for the particular payment option;   access the authentications initiatives information corresponding to the first authentication initiative to generate an authentication request in a format in accordance with the first authentication initiative;   address communications for routing the authentication request over the internet via the network interface; and   obtain an authentication determination over the internet via the network interface, the authentication determination in accordance with the first authentication initiative.   
     
     
         2 . An authentication processing system comprising, a computer system, having coupled in communication a connectivity layer, a plug-in layer, a program, a processor, a memory, and a network interface, wherein:
 the connectivity layer,   is responsive to receiving a payment information, the payment information in a first communication, the first communication corresponding to an internet communication and identifying a communication source, the payment information specifying a payment instrument for a transaction between a first merchant of a plurality of merchants and a first buyer, the payment instrument being one of a plurality of payment instruments accepted by the first merchant and selectable by the first buyer;   the plug-in layer,   supports a plurality of plugins, each plugin supporting at least one respective authentication initiative; and   the program is stored in the memory,   the program being responsive to the connectivity layer to identify from the payment instrument a first plugin in the plurality of plugins and from the first plugin a first authentication initiative,   the program being responsive to activate the first plugin to generate a first authentication request in a first authentication initiative format using the payment information,   the program being responsive to a receipt of a first authentication response in the first authentication initiative format, the first authentication response corresponding to the first authentication request,   the program being responsive to the first authentication response, accessing the first plugin to generate an authentication determination, and   the program being responsive to the authentication determination, generating a authentication communication to the communication source, the authentication communication corresponding to an internet communication and including an indication whether the first buyer has been authenticated.   
     
     
         3 . An authentication processing system comprising,
 a computer system, having coupled in communication a connectivity layer, a plug-in layer, a program, a processor, a memory, and a network interface, wherein:   the connectivity layer is responsive to receiving a payment information, the payment information in a first communication, the first communication corresponding to an internet communication and identifying a communication source, the first communication containing the payment information in a vendor neutral format, the payment information specifying a payment instrument for a transaction between a merchant and a first party;   the plug-in layer supporting a plurality of plug-ins, each plug-in supporting at least one respective authentication initiative,   the program stored in the memory,   the program being responsive to the connectivity layer to identify from the payment instrument a first plug-in in the plurality of plug-ins and from the first plug-in a first authentication initiative,   the program being responsive to activate the first plug-in to generate a first authentication request in a first authentication initiative specific format from the payment information,   the program being responsive to a receipt of a first authentication response in the first authentication initiative specific format, the first authentication response corresponding to the first authentication request,   the program being responsive to the first authentication response, accessing the the first plug-in to generate an authentication determination;   the program being responsive to the authentication determination, generating a communication to the communication source, the communication corresponding to an internet communication, the second communication containing the authentication determination in a vendor neutral format.   
     
     
         4 . An authentication system comprising:
 a computer system including a first server provisioned to communicate over the Internet with a plurality of browsers to conduct transactions between a merchant and a plurality of purchasers, said purchasers employing said browsers to select at least one type of payment instrument from a plurality of types of payment instruments accepted by the merchant, wherein said types of payment instruments are associate with corresponding authentication initiatives that prescribe manners in which purchasers are authenticated as account holders; and   a client installed on the computer system, said client operative to communicate with a second server such that payment information related to transactions conducted by the first server are passed to the second server and authentication determinations related to the transactions are returned from the second server;   wherein said second server is operative to:
 determine the type of payment instrument being user for a transaction in response to received payment information; 
 select one of a plurality of authentication initiates supported by said second server in response to the determined type of payment instrument; 
 obtain an authentication determination in accordance with the selected authentication initiative; and 
 return the obtained authentication determination to the client. 
   
     
     
         5 . The authentication system of  claim 4 , wherein the client passes payment information for transactions conducted with different types of payment instruments to the same second server, said different types of payment instruments being associated with different authentication initiatives. 
     
     
         6 . The authentication system of  claim 4 , wherein the client comprises:
 a request layer providing an interface to receive messages from the first server;   a response layer providing an interface to deliver message to the first server;   communication layer operative to exchange messages with the second server; and   a formatting layer residing between the request and response layers and the communication layer, said formatting layer being operative to format traffic between the request and response layers and the communication.   
     
     
         7 . The authentication system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of type of payment instruments include at least a Visa card and a MasterCard. 
     
     
         8 . The authentication system of  claim 7 , wherein the Visa card is associated with a first authentication initiative and the MasterCard is associated with second authentication initiative. 
     
     
         9 . The authentication system of  claim 8 , wherein said second authentication initiative is different in at least one aspect from said first authentication initiative. 
     
     
         10 . An authentication system comprising:
 receiving means for receiving payment information, said payment information corresponding to a transaction conducted between a purchaser and a merchant over a public packet-switched communications network;   determining means for determining from the received payment information a type of payment instrument used in connection with the transaction corresponding to the received payment information;   selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of authentication initiatives based on the determined type of payment instrument, wherein each of the plurality of authentication initiatives prescribes a set of specifications, including at least one procedure, data format or message format that is to be used to authentication a purchaser; and   obtaining means for obtaining an authentication determination in accordance with the selected authentication initiative.   
     
     
         11 . The authentication system of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving means receives the payment information over the network from a server of the merchant. 
     
     
         12 . The authentication system of  claim 10 , wherein the determining means determines the type of payment instrument used from a card number contained in the payment information, said card number being assigned to the payment instrument used for the transaction. 
     
     
         13 . The authentication system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storage means for storing data representative of the plurality of authentication initiatives.   
     
     
         14 . The authentication system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of authentication initiatives includes at least a first authentication initiative which is selected when the determined type of payment instrument is a Visa card and a second authentication initiative which is selected when the determined type of payment instrument is a MasterCard. 
     
     
         15 . The authentication system of  claim 14 , wherein said second authentication initiative is different in at least one aspect from said first authentication initiative. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of payment options includes at least a Visa payment option and a MasterCard payment option. 
     
     
         17 . The authentication processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of payment instruments includes at least a Visa card and a MasterCard card. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the Visa payment option is associated with a first authentication initiative and the MasterCard payment option is associated with a second authentication initiative, said second authentication initiative being not identical to the first authentication initiative. 
     
     
         19 . The authentication processing system of  claim 17 , wherein the Visa card is associated with a first authentication initiative and the MasterCard card is associated with a second authentication initiative, said second authentication initiative being not identical to the first authentication initiative. 
     
     
         20 . The authentication processing system of  claim 3 , wherein the plug-in layer includes at least one plug-in which is invoked when the payment instrument used is a Visa card and at least one other plug-in which is invoked when the payment instrument used is a MasterCard card.