Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing vendors an alternative to a password-based security system. The system and method also allows vendors to manage secure transactions by leveraging various message authentication techniques while allowing the vendor full control over related processes such as payment processing and fulfillment. The system and method also monitors message requests from customers for the vendor to guarantee that the communication has not been compromised. Consolidating the authentication of users to their messaging minimizes the need for each individual vendor to maintain their own password for access to a customer account. This eliminates the requirement that customers generate a password thus increasing convenience and decreasing security risks associated with the use of passwords. This decreases risk not only for customer and vendor but also decreases the risk exposure across the internet-as the system scales.

Abstract: An email payment gateway configured to enable users to receive @PAY offers using print media quick response (QR) codes. A consumer views an advertisement or product having packing with a QR code and scans the QR code. Scanning the QR code generates an email addressed to the email payment gateway requesting information on the product, which is sent to the email payment gateway. The email payment gateway receives the email and responds to the consumer with an email that includes information on the products in the advertisement. Included in the email from the email payment gateway is a button enabling the recipient to purchase the relevant item. The button preferably includes a mail-to hyperlink as that generates an outgoing email reply requesting to purchase the product.

Abstract: A method for leveraging email to complete an online transaction from a third party vendor, the method comprising: storing customer information, the customer information including a customer name, customer email address, customer shipping address, and customer billing information. The method further comprises receiving an authorization request from an application programming interface associated with a third party vendor requesting access to a portion of the customer information and receiving confirmation from a customer to allow the third party vendor to access the portion of the customer information. The method further comprising transmitting an access code to the third party vendor and receiving a request message from the third party vendor, wherein the request message comprises the access code, and wherein the request message requests an authorization token. The method may further comprise confirming the received access code and transmitting an authorization token to the third party vendor.

Abstract: An email payment gateway configured to enable users to receive @PAY offers using print media quick response (QR) codes. A consumer views an advertisement or product having packing with a QR code and scans the QR code. Scanning the QR code generates an email addressed to the email payment gateway requesting information on the product, which is sent to the email payment gateway. The email payment gateway receives the email and responds to the consumer with an email that includes information on the products in the advertisement. Included in the email from the email payment gateway is a button enabling the recipient to purchase the relevant item. The button preferably includes a mail-to hyperlink as that generates an outgoing email reply requesting to purchase the product.

Abstract: A method for leveraging email to complete an online transaction from a third party vendor, the method comprising: storing customer information, the customer information including a customer name, customer email address, customer shipping address, and customer billing information. The method further comprises receiving an authorization request from an application programming interface associated with a third party vendor requesting access to a portion of the customer information and receiving confirmation from a customer to allow the third party vendor to access the portion of the customer information. The method further comprising transmitting an access code to the third party vendor and receiving a request message from the third party vendor, wherein the request message comprises the access code, and wherein the request message requests an authorization token. The method may further comprise confirming the received access code and transmitting an authorization token to the third party vendor.

Abstract: An email payment gateway having electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: An email payment gateway may be configured to send emails to potential donors. The emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with one or more fundraising campaigns, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the fundraising campaign associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the fundraising campaign, donor identity or donation amount. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the email payment gateway. The email payment gateway may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, process the donation on behalf of the donor.

Abstract: An email-based e-commerce system is disclosed with additional features for added security. The system may include security features for email based e-commerce providing added assurance to customers of a higher level of protection than generally required. These security features enhance the password reset function without requiring a password, generate confirmations on outside messaging systems and implement an oversight management tool for authorizing transactions. The methods and apparatus described herein may enhance security by designing a system that can confirm payments through a separate non-email based media. The e-commerce system may send alerts or requests for confirmation in a variety of media to ensure a secure payment process. The methods and apparatus described herein may expand the list of individuals that may request or approve payments based on a single account registered by a single credit card holder. A single user may receive requests from registered sub-customers for payments by email.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for secure registration to enable transactions between a first user and a vendor that is facilitated by a payment server are disclosed. The method may comprise storing a form soliciting customer information including a plurality of fields, wherein at least one of the plurality of fields is associated with an attribute. The method including receiving a copy of the form including customer data in all of the plurality of fields and transmitting a first subset of the customer data based on the attribute associated with the first subset of the customer data. The method including receiving a token in response to the transmission of the first subset of customer data and transmitting the token and a second subset of the customer data, wherein the second subset is based on the attribute associated with the second subset of customer data.

Abstract: An email payment gateway having electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: An email payment gateway may be configured to send emails to potential donors. The emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with one or more fundraising campaigns, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the fundraising campaign associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the fundraising campaign, donor identity or donation amount. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the email payment gateway. The email payment gateway may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, process the donation on behalf of the donor.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate transactions between a customer and a vendor utilizing an advertising campaign reaching a plurality of potential customers is provided. The method includes receiving a request from the vendor for a bulk token for use in the advertising campaign, generating the bulk token, transmitting the bulk token to the vendor to embed into the advertising campaign associated with a mailto link, the bulk token being sent as part of the advertising campaign to at least one of the plurality of potential customer, receiving a reply SMTP email from a customer from the plurality of potential customers indicating a request for a transaction responsive to the advertising campaign by selecting the mailto link, decoding the bulk token to verify the transaction, performing an SPF and DKIM validation of the received SMTP email to validate the transaction, and processing the verified and validated transaction.

Abstract: An email payment gateway may be configured to send emails to potential donors. The emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with one or more fundraising campaigns, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the fundraising campaign associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the fundraising campaign, donor identity or donation amount. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the email payment gateway. The email payment gateway may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, process the donation on behalf of the donor.

Abstract: A system comprises at least one first processor and at least one second processor. The at least one first processor is of a vendor website and is configured to produce a web site including vendor product information and a widget on the web site. The widget on the web site, in response to a user input, has a vendor product added to a watchlist of a non-vendor third party. The widget on the web site updates the watchlist of the non-vendor third party. The at least one second processor of the non-vendor third party adds the vendor product to the watchlist in response to the widget on the web site. The at least one second processor updates the watch list in response to the widget on the web site. The at least one second processor sends the watchlist to a user.

Abstract: A method implemented in an e-commerce system to facilitate transactions between a customer and a vendor using embedded forms includes requesting by a vendor system to an e-commerce system to generate an embedded form for use in an SMTP email campaign. The method further includes transmitting emails with embedded forms including at least one token by the vendor system to a customer device. The method further includes rendering the embedded form in email to the customer device and receiving a response email, wherein the response email includes input details requested in the specified input fields and a token; authenticating the response email; decoding the token and processing a transaction based on the customer input details requested in the specified input fields of the embedded form.

Abstract: An email-based e-commerce system is disclosed with additional features for added security. The system may include security features for email based e-commerce providing added assurance to customers of a higher level of protection than generally required. These security features enhance the password reset function without requiring a password, generate confirmations on outside messaging systems and implement an oversight management tool for authorizing transactions. The methods and apparatus described herein may enhance security by designing a system that can confirm payments through a separate non-email based media. The e-commerce system may send alerts or requests for confirmation in a variety of media to ensure a secure payment process. The methods and apparatus described herein may expand the list of individuals that may request or approve payments based on a single account registered by a single credit card holder. A single user may receive requests from registered sub-customers for payments by email.

Abstract: A method to enable transactions comprising transmitting, by a vendor server, a request message to the e-commerce system for a token. Receiving a token in response to the request message. Generating an offer message including a mailto hyperlink, wherein the offer message is an email message including a mailto hyperlink is configured to generate an email reply message include the token. Transmitting the offer message to an email address associated with the customer. Receiving a response message from the e-commerce system, the response message including transaction details that confirm the token was validated by the e-commerce system. Transmitting a payment processing request message to a payment processor, wherein the payment processing request is based on the transaction details. Receiving a notification from the payment processor, that payment processing has been completed. Transmitting an email message to the email address of the customer, that payment has been processed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for secure registration to enable transactions between a first user and a vendor that is facilitated by a payment server are disclosed. The method may comprise storing a form soliciting customer information including a plurality of fields, wherein at least one of the plurality of fields is associated with an attribute. The method including receiving a copy of the form including customer data in all of the plurality of fields and transmitting a first subset of the customer data based on the attribute associated with the first subset of the customer data. The method including receiving a token in response to the transmission of the first subset of customer data and transmitting the token and a second subset of the customer data, wherein the second subset is based on the attribute associated with the second subset of customer data.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate transactions between a customer and a vendor utilizing an advertising campaign reaching a plurality of potential customers is provided. The method includes receiving a request from the vendor for a bulk token for use in the advertising campaign, generating the bulk token, transmitting the bulk token to the vendor to embed into the advertising campaign associated with a mailto link, the bulk token being sent as part of the advertising campaign to at least one of the plurality of potential customer, receiving a reply SMTP email from a customer from the plurality of potential customers indicating a request for a transaction responsive to the advertising campaign by selecting the mailto link, decoding the bulk token to verify the transaction, performing an SPF and DKIM validation of the received SMTP email to validate the transaction, and processing the verified and validated transaction.

Abstract: An e-fundraizing system includes a mobile device and a server. The mobile device produces, or is configured to respond to, an indicator of one or more specific donation amounts. The mobile device sends a first message to the server in response to the indicator. The mobile device receives a second message in response to the sent first message. The mobile device receives a user input based on the received second message. The mobile device sends a third message to a server in response to the user input. A user of the mobile device donates a specific amount based on the sent third message.