Soverain Software LLC v. eBay, Inc. et al

Filing 1

***FILED IN ERROR. PLEASE IGNORE.*** COMPLAINT against GSI Commerce, Inc., PayPal, Inc., Radioshack Corporation, eBay, Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3491095.), filed by Soverain Software LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - US 5,715,314, # 2 Exhibit B - Reexamination Certificate - US 5,715,314, # 3 Exhibit C - US 5,909,492, # 4 Exhibit D - Reexamination Certificate - US 5,909,492 CI, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet)(Ward, Thomas) Modified on 3/14/2012 (gsg).

EXHIBIT C

111II111

United States Patent

[191

Payne ct al.

[45)

1541

NETWORK SALES SYSTEM

1751

hwcnlors: Andrew C. Payne, Lincoln; ulwrcncc
C. S tewart, l3 urlinglOn, both of Mass.;
Al;signce: Open Murk!.'l, Incorllorutl'<i,
Ca mbridge. Mas.<;.

[211

Filed:

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

o 112 610

Jun. 18, 1997
R{'luloo U.S. Application Ihlu

1631
1511
1521

[58[

Continualion of ~ppl;caliQn No. 08,1328,133, Oct. 24, 1994,
I'al. No. 5,715,314.

Inl. CI.6 ........................................................ H04L 9/00
U.S. CI. ...................... ,... ,...,. 380/24; 380123; 380/25;
380149; 380/50; 705/26; 705/27; 705/39;
705/40: 705/44
Field of Search .......................
380/4,9,21,23,
380/24, 25, 49, 50; 2351379, 380; 705/26,
27.39,40,4[,42,43,44,14,16

[56[

.Jun. I, 1999

(List continued on next page.)

App!. No.: 01'1/878,396

[221

5,909,492

4,949,380 8/1990 Challm ...................................... 38OJ3O
705(1h
4,912,318 11/199{l Brown ('I aJ.
380/24
4,911,595 12/1990 Ohln eL aJ.
111991 Girouard eL al.
4,982,346
1f199 ! Cltaum
............................... 300/3
4,981,593
4,991,210 2/199 1 Cltallm .....................................• 380/30
4,992,940 2/199 1 Dworkin

1)lwid J. Muckic, Brookdale, Ca lif.

1731

Patent Number:
Date of Patent:

[l1J

i{('fcrenccs Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,305,059 12/1981 Benton.
4,528,643 7/1985 Freeny,lr.
4,529,810 1f 1985 Chau m .. ... ............................... 2351380
4,518,530 3f 1986 7..eidler .
4,13 4,858 3/ 1988 Schlafly .
4,155,940 7/ 1988 Bracht l el al .
4,159,063 1/1988 Chaum ...................................... 380130
4,159,064 7/ 1988 Challm ...................................... 380130
4,115,935 10/ 1988 You rick .
111989 QQldmao ................................. 2351380
4,195,890
4,199, 156
111989 Shavil CI aJ.
2351380
4,812,628 3/ 1989 (3Q~ton el aJ.
4,821,508 5/ 1989 Shear .......................................... 380{4
4,891,503
.................... 235/380
1/ 1990 Jewd ..........
4,922,52 1 5/1990 Mikk" eI aJ.
4,926,480 5/ 1990 Chaum ..................................... 38Of23
4,935,810 6/ 1990 ilu rk, Jr. ci al.
4,941,028 8fl990 QQrog .
4,941,430 8/ 1990 Challm
................. 380/25

0·542·298·A2
4·1019t
2102606
WO 91 / 16691
WO 93/10503

2/1986
5/ 1993
111992
2/1983
IOf l 99 1
5/1993

European f'al. O ff.
... G01F 7/00
European 1'at. Off.
Iapan
............................. 705/26
United "in£dom .
WIPO .

WII'O ............................. G06F 15130

OHlER PUBLI C/XTiO NS
ComenL'i of " Welcome first-ti me visitors" at www.amamn.com o n the lmernet as of Jun. 29, \998.
l~rilllar)'

E.wllliner---nern arr E. Gregory

AI/orm:.')', Agell/, or Firlll--h sh & Richardson I'.e.

AUSTIL\c r

1571

A network·based sa les system includes at least one buyer
compu ler for operation by a user desiritl£ to buy a product,
at least one merchant computer, and at least one paymem
computer, The bu)'cr computer, the merchant computer, and
the payment computer arc interconnected by a (."Ompu te r
network. Tne buycr compute r is programmed to receive a
user request for purchasing a product, and to cause a
payment message to be sent to the paymcnt computer Iha t
contprises a product identifier ident ify ing the product. '111e
payment compute r is programmed to receive the paymenl
message, to cause an access message to be created that
comprises the product identifier and an access message
authen ticator based on a cryptographic key. and to cause Ihe
access message 10 be sent to the mcrchant computer. Thc
mcrchant computer is programmed to receive the access
message, to verify thc access message authenticator to
ensure that thc access message authenticator was created
using the cryptographic key, and to cause the product to be
sc nt to the user desiring to bu y the product.

38 C laims, 2S J)rawing Slwcts

merd""" ",,",pill'" 14

,"

'"

"

">---~

..
m<KtWII

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poymcn. co""", ...

co"""' ...

"

5,909,492
Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUM ENTS
4,996, 711
5,025,373
5,060,153
5,077,607

2/1991 CbaunJ
6/ 1991 Keyser, Jr. Cl al.
10/ 1991 Nakagawa.
12/199 1 Johnson cl 31.

5,105,184
5,220.501

4{1992
6{1993
9/ 1993
111994
4{1994
5/ 1994
611994
6/ 19')4
8/1994
8/1994
9/ 1994
9/ 1994
911994
111995

5,247,575
5,276,736
5,305,195
5,311,59 4
5,319,542

5,321,751
5,336,870
5,341,429
5,347.632
5,351.186
5,351,293
5,383,1l3

Pirani el al .•

I..a wlor cl al.

...... 380130

3_

Sprague Cl 31.
Chaum ...................................... 380/24
Murphy.

J'cnzias

............................. 380/24

.......................... 7OS{27
Ray Cl 31.
Hughes ................................... 215(379
King, Jr. Cl 31.

Slringer ~l aL
Filepp ~l al. .
Bullock Cl al. .
Michener el aL
Kighl Cl aL

38On'

380m

380m

5,41 4,833
5,521,631

5,535,229

5/1995 ~lershey ~l aL
511996 l3udow el aL
7/19% ~lain, Jr. cl aL
9/ 1996 Ilogan .........

-,
-,

5,557,516
.. .................. 364/406
5,557.518 9{1996 R~n ....................................... 380/24
5,.$57,798 9/1996 Skecn el aL
5,590,197 12/1996 ellen cl aL
5,592,378
5,594,910
5,596,642
5,596,643

5,6O-t,802
5,621,797
5,623,547
5,642,419
5.694.551
5,715,314
5,724,424

111997
111997
1/1997
1/ 1997
2/1997
4/1997
4/1997
6/1997
12/1997
2{1998
3/1998

Canlcron el aL
Filepp Cl al.
Davis Cl aL
Davis Cl aL
Iiollowa}' ..................................
R~n ..........
""""""""""" ...
Jones cl aL

705{27

380/24
380/24
380/24
380/24
R05Cn ........................................ 380/24
Do}'1c ct ai,
705/26
380/24
Pa)'ne ct al.
Gifford ...................................... 380/24

c:!
•
buyer computer 12

payment computer 16

merchant computer 14

Vl
•

;r
;;-

(

12

buyer computer

(

16

10

payment computer

network

~-..(c.... settlement

22

...
=

database
'-

=
=

21
shopping cart database

14
merchant computer

(20

( 15

~
,.,

a
CJO

creation computer
advertising
document
database

-

o

~

'"
'"

18
digital
advertisement
database

VI

~

FIG. 1

~

\C
"..
\C
N

~

u.s. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 2 of 2S

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16

,24

I user requests advertisements I
,26
buyer computer sends
advertising document URL
(0

merchant computer

,28
merchants computer fetches
advertising document from

advertising document data base

30,
merchant computer sends
advertising document

to buver comDuter

32~

I user requests a product !
,34
buyer computer sends payment URL A to payment
computer: payment URL A includes product
identifier. domain identifier. payment amount,
merchant computer identifier. merchant account
identifier. duration time. expiration time, payment

URL authenticator. and a buyer network address

,36

payment computer verifies
whether payment URL
authenticator was created from

contents of payment URL A
using cryptographic key

,38

•

End

payment computer sends document
to buyer computer indicating that
access the to the network sales
system is denied.

FIG. 2A

OR

/

40

u.s. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 3 of 2S

payment computer 16

merchant computer 14

36

"- II
L 40
payment computer checks
whether expiration time
has past

r 41
End

/

payment computer sends document
to buyer computer indicating that
expiration time has past

OR

r 42
payment computer checks to
see if buyer network address in
payment URL matches buyer' s
computer network address

OR

r43

End

payment computer sends
document indicating that

access to network
payment system is denied

FIG. 28

44

u.s. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

payment computer 16

merchant computer 14

burer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 4 of 2S

42

/
,44

r

J

payment computer sends payment
confinnation document to buyer
computer: payment confinnation
document includes open link (URL C)
and continue link (URI. B)

OR

46

I user opens new account

--

/'

58

60

User continues with payment
(user already has an account)

r

62

buyer computer sends payment URL B to
payment computer: payment URL B is similar t
payment URi A but also indicates that an
account does exist

buyer computer sends payment URL C to payment
computer: payment UR!. C is similar to payment
URL A but also indicates that an account does not
yet exist

~48
r 52

•

r

50
payment computer creates
new account document

payment computer sends new account
docwnent to buyer computer

54

FIG.2C

64

u.s. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

buyer computer 12
44

5,909,492

Sheet 5 of 25

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16

52

62

"- V

"- /

, 54

user enters new account name.
account password credit card

number. security infonnation and
expiration dale of credit card and

presses a "submit" bunon

1'56
buyer computer sends new account
infonnation to payment computer

~

1'58
payment computer
enters new account

64

\...
1'66

payment computer creates
account name and password
request message

I

payment computer sends

1'68

I

user enters account
name and password

I

account name and password
request message to buyer
computer

,70
buyer computer sends account
name and password to payment
computer

1'72
payment computer verifies wh.ether
user name and password art correct

End

payment computer sends document to
buyer computer indicating that access
to the networks sales system is denied

FIG. 20

/

OR

73

U.S. Patent

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 6 of 2S

Jun. 1, 1999

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16
72

"
73

\.....

/

payment computer determines
whether additional security is
warranted. based on. e.g. whether
the payment amount exceeds a

threshold

A
OR

(77

75

\.....

user enters security
information

if additional
security is
warranted. payment
computer creates a
challenge fonn
document and sends
it to buyer computer

(81

buyer computer sends ( 7 9
security information to
payment computer

payment computer
determines whether
security information is
correct

(83
payment computer
sends document to

End

"-

buyer computer

OR

indicating that access
to the network sales
system is denied

82

FIG.2E

82

U.S. Patent

Jun. t, 1999

buyer ,computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 7 of 25

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16

73 R 81

I;

\

82

'-

84,86,

f

OR

I

payment computer sends to buyer
computer oplion to repurchase. or to
use previously purchased access

buyer selects to
repurchase item

I

buyer selects previously
purchased access

92

FIG.2F

payment computer checks
settlement database to
dctcnnine if user has
unexpired access to the
domain identifier contained in
the payment URL

~

85

(

87

payment computer calculates an
acrual payment amount that may
differ from the payment amount
contained in the payment URL

+

76

76

u.s. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 8 of 2S

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16
82,87

85

"- ,/
76

"(

payment computer
verifies whether user
account has sufficient
funds or credit

78

payment computer sends document to
buyer computer indicating thai user
account does nOl have sufficient funds

End

80

"88

"-

payment computer creates
access URi which includes
merchant computer identifier.
domain identifier. product
identifier. end of duration
time. buyer network address.
and access URL authenticator

payment computer records product identifier. domain.
user account. merchant account. end of duration time.
and actual payment amount in senlement database

,go

r-

92

92

~

OR

payment computer sends redirect to
access URL 10 buyer computer

FIG.2G

buyer computer 12
85

merchant computer 14

c:!

payment computer 16

•
•

[Jl

;r

90

;:;

\v '/
buyer computer sends
access URL to
merchant computer

r-

92

merchant computer veri fies
whether access URL authenticator
was created from contents of
access URL using a cryptographic
key

~

(96
merchant computer sends
document to buyer computer
indicating that access to the
product is denied

OR

100

I

merchant computer sends document
10 buyer computer indicating that the
duration time has expired

FIG.2H

~

94

'-

=
=

~

(98
merchant computer ventles
whether the duration time
has expired

r

....
=

~

'"
",.

ffi

'<>

o

~

....

'"

~
Ul

101

.
-,..

\C
\C
N

U.S. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

merchant computer 14

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 10 of 25

payment computer 16
98

\

V

(101
merchant computer verifies that the buyer

computer network address matches the
network address specified in me access URL

(103
End

~

merchant computer sends document
to buyer computer that access is not
allowed

merchant computer sends
fulfillment document to
buyer computer

,

\. 102

buyer computer displays

fulfillment document

\.

104

End

FIG. 21

A
OR

c
•
buyer computer 12

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16

From 32

r

I

buyer computer sends shopping can
URL to payment computer;
shopping cart URL includes product
identifier, domain identifier,
payment amount, merchant
computer identifier, merchant
account identifier. duration time.
expiration time, and shopping cart
URL authenticator

IIV

payment computer verifies whethe
shopping cart URL authenticator
was created from contents content
of shopping cart VRL using a
cryptographic key

~

rJ1
•

:
;-

=
'-

o

:g
~

'"
;;

{ 112

~

payment computer sends document
to buyer computer indicating that
access 10 network sales system is
denied

End

{

113
-

-

o

~

N

'"

payment computer and buyer
computer perfonn steps analogous
to steps 40·81

Ul
\C

~

-

o

~
114

""
~

U.S. Patent

merchant computer 14

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 12 of 25

Jun. I , 1999

payment computer 16

113
24

,

I'

114
\

I

OR

user requests display

of shopping cnn

payment computer creates or
updates payment URL for shopping

can

I;

lOR 1 ,

\ ,;

124

user requests
purchase of

contents of

116....1
,118

shopping cart

126

buyer computer

sends fetch shopping

buyer computer
causes payment
URL for shopping
can to be activated

can reques t 10
payment computer

36
, 119

to step

",.-

payment computer and
buyer computer perfonn
steps analogous to steps
64· 81

,120

r

122

buyer computer displays

.,-

shopping can

FIG. 38

payment computer
returns contents of
shopping can to
buyer computer

U.S. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

payment computer 16

merchant computer 14

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 13 of 25

user requests
sman statement

I sends(130
I tlUyer computer

(

132

payment computer
verifies whether sman
statement URL
authenticator was
created from contents of
sman statement VRL
using cryptographic key

smart statement URL to
payment computer

~

134 \..

payment computer
sends document to

End

buyer computer
indicating that access
is denied

136

\....

payment computer checks to detennine
whether buyer network address in
smart statement URL matches buyer' S
computer network address

Ic>

End

138

payment computer sends document
indicating that access is denied

'-

140

\...

payment computer and buyer computer
perfonn steps analogous to steps 64-8 1

FIG.4A

142

U.S. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

buyer computer 12

5,909,492

Sheet 14 of 25

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16
140

164,170

t

payment computer retrieves

142

(144

"-

buyer computer displays
received document

settlement data from settlement
database and creates smart
statement document for buye r and
sends smart statement document
to buyer computer
/"

/"

r---'"CiR 0Rj
r-=:'

( 146

User requests payment details fo r
particular transaction

:1

I
buyer computer sends payment
detail URL to payment computer

('50
148

J

152

\...

payment computer and buyer
computer perform steps analogous
to steps \32·140

payment computer retrieves from
settlement database data
corresponding to the payment
transaction spedfied in the
payment detail URL. creates detail
document. and sends it to buyer
computer

I

154.166

FIG.4B

f

U.S. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

buyer computer 12
144

5,909,492

Sheet 15 of 25

merchant computer 14

payment computer 16

144

144

,

It

( 154
user requestS
customer service

buyer computer
sends customer
service URL to
payment computer

I

156

J

(158

payment computer creates

customer service form and
sends it to buyer computer

160 ,

I user types comments
I
buyer computer sends
user's comments to
payment computer

162

../

(166
~

user requests display
ofa product

1

£168

164

"-

payment computer POSts
user comments and sends
thank you docwncm to .
buyer computer

buyer computer sends
access URL to merchant
computer

(

170

buyer computer and

FIG. 4C

merchant computer
perform steps analogous
to steps 94·1 04

I

U.S. Patent

File
-

Jun. 1, 1999

Qplions

!!.svigale

5,909,492

Sheet 16 of 25

Annotals

Help

Document Title:

I

Mead Data Cent ral: Internet Intoraation

Document URL:

I http://v.tW·openlllarketcolI;/d:_o/r15/_ U J_

I
I

00
~

M..d Data C.ntral: Internet Information

Noveaber 28, 1993
Le's debut on the Internet: Libr ary ot Congress cata l og On the

t-

Text of Abstract

ot Article

VERONICA: A GOPHER NAVIGATIONAL TOOL ON THE
INTERNET
october, 1993

~
Data transler complete:
IBackl!Forw a rdIlHomeIIRaloacll~I S ay. AI .. J~INew WlndowllClosa Wlndo~

FIG. 5

U.S. Patent

f ile

Jun. 1, 1999

Document

TIlle'l

Annotate

!:tavigafe

Options
O~n

5,909,492

Sheet 17 of 25

Help

I

Marke t Payaent

Document URL: 1 http://payaa nt.openaar ke t .co_/ ba n / np h-payae nt

I

00
~

Open Marke. Payment
Yo. have .elected a n ite. that require. payment
KarobaDt :Teat M r c ha n t
e
oeacriptioD:Head Da t a Central Artic l e
AaoUDt : 2 .85 (US currency)
It y o u ha ve a n Open Harket a ccount click on "cQl'lti nue " bel ow a nd

you wi l l be prompted tor

yo ur acco unt name a nd p asswo r d.
y o u c an esta b lis h o ne

It you d o not have an ac count ,

on-l i ne and r eturn t o this page to continue your purchase.

I Open

I

I continua I

a n aCCQunt on-line
wi t h payme nt t r anllllction.

NOT8:For d . .onatrations
the password t ••tu • • r .
Open /farJee t:,

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t h e account na•• t •• tu •• r'op.~k.t . coa with

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Data trans fer complete:
IBack II F'orward II Home IIr:ieloadlll:ie;en··)1 Sa V 8 As··J~INew Wlndowllsa1 e Wkldowl
os

FIG. 6

U.S. Patent

Jun. 1, 1999

Qptions

f ile

ttavigat8

Sheet 18 of 25

Annotale

fielp

Document TItre:

I.

Esta b lish OpenHllrket Accou nt

Document UAL:

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h ttp : //payment.openMarket.com/ae~ic·/d.stabl l .

Card Number:

I

Expiration Date:

I

I

5,909,492

~oo
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(!Or:llll!l.t MM/'{Y)

Check the a ppr opr iate boxes:
I am t he owner of the above cred i t CiS-rd .

a

C The a bove address is also the bi l ling address

...

tor t his. eredi t card .

Your OpenKarkat account . t.~
nt i . availabla on- l ina.At your option you aaya
copy ot your !'It atemant au t o.atlcally • • nt toyour . - III. il ..ddr.a . a t v .... klyor ..on!:hly
intervals. Pl • • • • choo. . II. .tat...nt opti on .

<> We ek l y

statements

<> Monthly

statements

<> No e - mail statements

f-

Account name and password

••

Pla ••e choo.. an account nil. . and p • • • word tor y~r OpenHllrka t account.
~uqgftBt using an account name ~ hat i ~ unique a nd fta s y to r .... llb11r s uch as your
ft- •• U addres lI. Your pell. word s hould be 8 c haracte r s or lonqe r.

Account Name

Pa ssword

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Data trans fer complete:
IBack !IForward IIHome! IRe loadIIOpen..JISava As..l~INaw WlndowllClosa WindOW'

FIG. 7

U.S. Patent

Ju n. I , 1999

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Jun. I, 1999

Options

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5,909,492

Sheet 20 of 25

Anno/alB

Help

Market Payment

I http: Il payment.o~n_rket.cf»l/ben/ nph-paY1l1ent

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Open Market Payment
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hava •• l.etad an it•• that you haY. purehaaeel rec.ntly.

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5,909,492

1

2

NETWORK SALES SYSTEM

message authenticator was created using the cryptographic
key, and to cause the product to be sen l to the uscr desiring
to buy the produc!.
lbe invention provides a simple design architecture for
the network sales system that allows the merchant computer
to respond to paymen1 orders from Ihe buyer computer
without the merchant computer having to (."Ommunicate
directly with the payment computer to ensure that the use r
is authorized to purchase the product and without the
merchant computer having to store information in a database
regarding which buyers are authorized to purchase which
products. Rather, when the merchant computer receives an
access message from the buyer computer identifying a
product to be purchased, the merchant computer need only
check the access message 10 ensure that it was created by the
payment computer (thereby establishing for the merchant
computer that the buyer is authori~.cd to purchase the
product), and then the merchant computer can cause the
product to be sent to the buyer computer who has been
authori~.cd to purchase lhe product.
In another aspect, the in\'ention feat ures a network-based
sales system that includes at least one buyer computer for
operation by a user desiring 10 buy products, at least one
shopping cart computer, and a shopping cart database (."Onnected to the shopping cart computer. ' ll1e buyer computer
and the shopping cart computer arc intef(."Onnecled by a
computer network, 1be buyer computer is programmed to
receive a plurality of requests from a user 10 add a plurality
of respective producls to a shopping carl in the shopping can
database, and, in response to the requests to add the
products. to send a plurality of respective shopping can
messages to the shopping can compu ter each of which
includes a product identifier identifying, one of the plurality
of products. 111e shopping cart computer is programmed to
receive the plurality of shopping cart messages. to modify
the shopping cart in the shopping cart database to reflect the
plurality of requcsts to add the plurality of products to the
shopping cart, and to cause a payment message associated
with the shopping cart to be created. The buyer computer is
programmed to receive a request from the user to purchase
the plurality of products added to the shopping cart and 10
cau!;oC the payment message 10 be activated to initiate a
payment transaction for the plurality of products added 10
the shopping car!.
In another aspect, the invention features a network,based
link message system Ihat includes at lcast one client (."Omputer for operation by a client user and at least one server
computer for operation by a !;oCr"er use r. 'lbe client computer
and the server com puter are intercon nected by a compu ter
network, 'lbe client computer is programmed to send an
initial link message to the server computer. 'I1te server
computer is programmed 10 receive the initial link message
from the client (."Ompuler and to create, based on information
contained in the initial link message, a session link message
lhat encodes a state of interaction between the client computer and thc server computer. 'Ibe session link message
includes a session link authenticator, computed by a cryptographic function of the session link contellis. for authenticating the session link message, 'Ibe server computer is
programmed to cause the session link message to be sent to
the client computer, 'Ibe client computer is programmed 10
cause the session li nk message to be sent to a computer in
the network that is programmed to aut henticate the session
link messagc by examining the session link authentica tor
and that is programmcd to respond to the session link
message based on the state of the interaction between the
client computer and the server computer,

CROSS REFERENC E TO RELATE D
A PI' LI CATI ON
This is a continuation of U.S. palcnt application SeT. No.
08/3 28,133, filed Dcl. 24, 1994, now U.S. Pal. No. 5,715,
314.
REFERENCE TO MI C ROFICI IE APPEN DICES

s

to

Microfiche Appendices A- G arc being submitted with Ihe
present applica tion, being 4 sheets with 220 tola] pages.
BACKGROUND OF TH E INVENTION

This invention rela tes 10 uscr·inlcraclivc network sales
systems for implementing an open marketplace for goods or
~rvices over L'Qmpulcr networks such as lhe Interne\.
U.S. palcnt application SeT No. 08/168,5 19, filed Dec. 16,
.
1993 by David K. Gilrord and entitled " Digital Active
Advertising," oow abandoned, the en tire disclosure of which
is hefeby incorporated herein in ilS entirely by reference,
describes a network sales system that includes a plurality of
buyer computers, a plurality of merchant computers, and a
payment compute r. A user at a buyer computer asks to have
advertisements displayed, and the buyer computer requests
advertisements from a merchant computer, which sends the
advcrtisements to the buye r computer. 'nle user then
req uesL<; purchase of an advertised product, and the buyer
computer sends a purchase mcssage to the merchant compUle r. T he merchant com puter constructs a payment order
that it sends to the payment computer, which authorizes the
purchase and sends an authorization message to the merchant computer. When the merchant computer receives the
authorization message it sends the product to the buyer
computer.
The above·mentioned patcnt application also describes an
alternati \"e implementation of the network sales syste m in
which, when the user requests purchase of an advertise d
product, the buyer computer sends a payment order directly
to the paymen t compute r, which sends an authorization
message back to the buyer computer that illcludes all
unforgeable certificate that the payment order is valid. 'I1te
buyer computer then constructs a purchase message that
includes the unforgeable (."Crtitlcate and sends it to lhe
merchant computer. When the merchant computer re(."Cives
the purchase request it sends the product to the buyer
computer, based upon the prc-authorized payment order.
SUMMA RY OF -n-IE INVENl1 0N

15

20

25

JO

3S

40

4S

so

In one aspcct. the invention provides a network-base d
sales system that includes at least one buyer computer for
operation by a user desiring to buy a product, at least one
merchant computer, and at least one payment computer. 'I1te
buyer compu ter, the merchant computer, and the payment S5
computer arc interconnected by a computer network. 'll1e
buyer computer is programmed to receive a u!;oCr request for
purchasing a product, and to cause a paymem message 10 be
sent to the payment com puler thaI comprises a product
identifier identifying the product. ' ll1e payment computer is 60
programmed to receive the payment message, to eause an
access message to be created that (."Omprises the product
identifier and an access message autilcnticator based on a
cryptographic key, and to ca use the access message to be
sent to the merchant computer, The merchant computer is 6S
programmed to rc(."Cive the access message, to verify the
access message authentica tor to ensure tha t Ihe access

5,909,492

3

4

FIG. 4 (4-A through 4-C) is a flowchart diagram ill ustrating the operation of a smart statement in the network
plurality of digital advertisements and a plurality of respecsales system of F[G. L
tive produci fulfillment items, at lcast onc creation computer
FIG. 5 is a screen snapshm of an advertising document
forerelling tile merchant database, and al least one merchant 5 that the merchant computer send.. to the buyer com puler in
computer for causing the digital advertisements \0 be transFIG. 2.
milled to a user and for causing advertised products 10 be
FIG. 6 is a screen snapshot of a conlirmation document
transmitted \0 the user. 'Inc creation computer and the
that the payment computer sends to the buyer computer in
merchant computer are interconnected by a (.'Ompuler network. 'Ibe creation computer is programmed \0 creale the 10 FIG. 2.
merchant d atabase, and 10 transmit the digital advertiseFIG. 7 is a screen snapshot of a new account document
ments and the product fulfillment items 10 the me rchant
that the payment computer sends to the buyer computer in
computer. The merchant computer is programmed \0 receive
FIG. 2 .
the digital advertiscmelllS and product fulfillmem items, to
FIG. 8 is a screen snapshot of an account name prompt
receive a request for a digital advertisement from a user, to
that the huyer computer creates in FIG. 2.
cause thc digital advertisement to bc sent to the user. to 15
FIG, 9 is a screen snapshot of a document that the
receive from the user an access message identifying an
payment computer sends to the buyer computer in FIG. 2
advertised product. and to cause the product to be sent to the
and that provides an oplion either to re.purchase or to use a
user in a1;cordance with a product fulfillment item correpreviously purcha.'ICd access.
sponding to the product.
In another aspect. the invention features a hypertext 20
FIG. 10 is a screen snapshot of a fulfillment document tha I
statement system that includes a client computer for operathe merchant computer sends to the buyer computer in FIG.
tion by a client user and one or more server computers for
2
operation by a serve r user. The client computer and the
FIG, U is a screen snapshot of a smart Slatement docuserver computers are interconnected by a ..'Omputer network.
ment that the payment computer semis to the buyer comAt least one of too server computers is programmed to 25
puter in FIG. 4.
record purchase transaction records in a database. Each of
FIGS. 12 and 13 are screen snapshots of a transaction
the purchase transaction records includes a product descripdetail document that the payment computer sends to the
tion. '111e server compute r is programmed to transmit a
buyer computer in FIG. 4 .
statement documcn t that includes the purchase transaction
FIG. 14 is a screen snapshot of a customer servicc form
records to Ihe client computer. The client computer is JO
programmed to display the product descriptions, to receive
lhat the payment computer sends 10 the buyer computer in
a request from the client user to display a product correFIG. 4.
sponding to a prodUCI description displayed by the clienl
DETAI LED DESCRI ITrI ON
computer, and to cause a product hypeflextlink derived from
a purchase transaction record to be activated. At least one of
With reference to FIG. I, a network sales sySlem in
the server computers is programmed to respond to activation 3S
accordance with the present invention includes a buyer
of the product hypertext link by causing the product to be
computer 1 operated by a user desiring to buy a product, a
.2
sent to the client computer.
merchant computer 14, which may be operated by a merIn another aspect, the invention features a network paychant willing to sell products to the buyer or by a manager
ment system that includes at least one buye r computer for
operation by a user desiring to buy a product and at least one 40 of the network sales system. a payment ..'Omputer 16 typically operated by a man age r of the network sales system,
payment computer for processing payment messages from
and a creal ion complller 20 typically operated by the merlhe buyer ..'Omputer. The buyer wmputer and the payment
chant. '111e buyer, merchant, payment, and creation computcomputer arc interconnected by a computer network. The
ers are all inter-conneeted by a computer network 10 such as
buyer <:omputer is programmed to cause a payment message
to be sent to the payment computer. 'Ibe payment message 45 the Interne\.
Creation ..'Omputcr 20 is programmed to bui[d a "store" of
includes a product identifier identifying the product that the
products for the merchant. A printout of a computer program
user desires to buy. 'Ibe payment computer is programmed
for usc in creating such a "store" in accordance wilh the
to receive the payment message, to cause an access message
present ifl\'ention i1; provided as Appendix R
to be created to enable the use r to acces.s the product, and to
' [11e products advertised by merchant computer 14 may
record a purchase transaction rC1;ord in the selllcment da ta- 50
be, for example. newspaper or ncwsleller articles avai lable
base, 'Ibe buyer computer is programmed to cause a request
for purchase by buyers. Creation computer 20 creates a
for purchase transaction records to be sem to the payment
digital advertisement database 18 that stores advertising
computer. 'lbe payme nt (.'Omputcr is programmed to re(.'Cive
documents (which may for example be in the fonn of
the requcst for purchase transaction records and to cause a
document derived from the purchase tra nsaction re ..-ords to 55 summaries of newspaper or I1O!Wsleller articles, accomp anied
by pri..-es) and prodU..1 fulfillment items (which may be the
be sent to the buye r computer.
products themselves if the products can be transmilled over
BR[ EF DESCR[PT[ON OF T[-[E DRAW[NGS
the network, or which may be hard goods identifiers if the
FIG. I is a block diagram of a network sales system in
products arc hard goods, i.e., durable products as opposed to
accordance with the prc5ent invention.
60 information products). Creation computer 20 transmi ts conFI G. 2 (2-A through 2-[) is a flowchart diagram iIIustrat"
tents of the advertising document data base 18 to merchant
ing the operation of a purchase transaction in the network
computer 14 to enable the merchant computer to cause
sales system of FIG. I,
advertisements and products to be sent to buyers. Merchant
F[G, 3 (3"A through 3-3) is a flowchart diagram illuscomputer 14 ma intains advertising documents locally in
trating the usc of a shopping cart for too purchase of 65 adverti1;ing doc ument da tabase 15. In an alternative
products in connection with the network sales system of
embodiment, the creation computcr docs not have a local
FIG, I ,
digital advertisement database. but instead updates a remote
In another aspect, the im'cnlion features a network-base d
sales system thaI includes a merchant database having a

5,909,492

5

6

advertising document database on a merchant computer.
"Ibcsc updatcs can be accomplished using IITML forms or

address to sec if it matches the onc specificd in the paymcnt
URL (stcp 42). If it docs not match, the paymen t compu ter
sends a document to the buyer compute r indica ting that
access to the nellvork paymenl system is d.!nied (step 43).
Olherwise, the paymert1 computer sends a paymert1 confirmation document to the buyer computer, the payment (.'(Infirmation document including an "open" link and a "continue" link (step 44).
An example of a confirmation document is shown in FIG.
6. 'Ilte confirmation document asks the user to click on a
"continue" bullon if the user already has an account with the
payment computer, or to dick on an "open" bullon if the
user does oot already have an account and wishes 10 open
ooc.
If the user clicks on the "open" bunon (step 46), the buyer
computer sends payment URL C to the paymcnt compu ter
(step 48), payment URL C being similar to payment URLA
but also indicating that the uscr docs not yet have an account.
'Ilte payment compu ter creales a IJeW account document
(step 50) and 5Cnds it to the buye r computer (step 52). An
example of a new account <locumenl is shown in Fl G, 7.
When the user receives the new aC(.'(Iunt document hc enters
lhe new account name. an account password, a credit card
number, the credit card expiration date, and security information such as the maiclcn name of the user's mother (step
54), and prcsses a "submit ~ bUllon (nOt shown in FlG. 7).
'Ilte buyer com puter sends the new account information to
the payment contpUler (step 56), wnich entelS the new
account in the senlement dalabase (step 58).
If the uscr clicks on Ihe "continu e" bunon (slep 60), Ihe
buyer computer se nds payment URL B 10 the payment
computer (step 62), payment URL B being similar 10 paymenl URLA but also indicating that the user already has an
account. 'Ilte payment computer then instructs thc buyer
computer to provide lhe aCCOU11l name and pas.sword (steps
64 and 66), and the buyer computer prompts thc user for this
information by creating an account name prompt (example
shown in FIG. 8) and a similar password prompt, T he uscr
enters the information (step 68) and the buyer compu ter
sends the account name and password to the payment
computer (step 70).
llte payment computer verifies whether the user name
and password are COffcct (step 72). If they arc 001 correcl,
lhe payment (."Omputer sends a document to the buyer
computer indicating that access to the network sales system
is denicd (step 74). Otherwise, the payment computer detcrmines whether additional security is warranted, based on,
e.g., whether thc payment amount exceeds a threshold (step
73), If additional security is warranted, the paymCnt compuler creates a challenge [omt document and sends it to Ihe
buyer computer (step 75). 'Ilte user enters the security
information (step 77), the buycr computer sends the security
information to the payment computer (step 79), an d the
payment computer determines whether the security information is (."Orrect (step 81 ), If it is not correct, the payment
computer sends a document to the buyer compu ter indicating that access to the nctwork sales system is denicd (StCp
83),
If the security information is corrcct, o r if additional
security was 110t warranted, the paymem computer checks
lhe selliement database to determine whether the user has
unexpired access 10 lhe domain idenlifler contained in the
payment URL (step 8 2). If so, the payment computer sends
to the buyer computer a document providing an option either
to repurchase or to IISC the previously purchased acccss (stcp
84), An example of such a document isshowll in FIG. 9. 'The

olher remOle database technologies as is understood by
practitioners of the art.
Payment computer 16 has access 10 a seUlcment database
22 in which payment com pute r 16 can record detai ls of
purchase transactions. "'be products may be organi~.cd in10
various "domains'· of products, and payment computer 16

S

can accc!;S $CHlemcnl ualabase 22 10 Il!cord and retrieve
records of purcha.'lCs of products falling within the various 10
domain... Payment compuler 16 also has access 10 a shopping cart database 2 1 in which a "shopping cart~ of products
lhal a user wishes to purchase can be maintained as lhc user
shops prior 10 actual purchase of the conlenlS of the shopping cart.
With reference \0 FIG, 2, a purchase transaction begins
whcn a use r at buyer computer 12 requeSls advertiscments
(step 24) and buyer computer 12 aC(.'(Irdingly sends an
advenising docuillem URI. (universal resource localor) to
merchant computer 14 (step 26), 'The mcrcham compu tcr 20
felches an advertising document fromlhe advertising document dalabase (slep 28) an d sends il to the buyer (."Ompu ler
(slep 30), An example of an advenising document is shown
in FIG, 5, Details of URLs and how they arc used arc found
in Appendix G,
25

'Ibe user browses through the advertising document and
evemual)y requcsLS a product (sle!' 32). 1bis resulls in lhe
buyer computer sending payment URL A to lhe paymenl
computer (slep 34), Pa yment URL A includes a product
identificr that represents the product the user wishes 10 buy,
a domain idemifier that represents a domain of producls to
which the desired product belongs, a payment amounl that
represents the price of lhe product, a mcrchant (."Omputer
identifier that represents merchant computer 14, a merchant
account identifier that represents the panicular mercham
account to be crediled with the payment amount, a duration
time that represcnls the length of time for which access to
thc product is to be grantcd to thc uscr after complc ti on of
the purchase transaction, an expiration time Ihat represents
a d.!adlinc beyond which this particular payment URL
cannot be used, a buyer network address, and a payment
URI. authenticator Ihal is a digi tal signature based on a
cryptographic key. '111e payment URL authenticalor is a hash
of olher infomlation in the paymellt URL, the hash being
defmed by a key shared by tbe merchant and the operator of
the payment com putcr.
In an alternative embodiment, step 34 consists of the
buyer computer sending a purchase product message to the
merchant compuler, and the merchant computer provides
payment URI. A 10 the buyer computer in response to the
purchase praduel message. In lhis alternative embodiment.
payment UR I. A comail~s the same contents as above. llte
buyer computer then sends the payment URL A it has
received from the merchant computer to thc payment (."Omputer.
When the payment computer receive~ the payment URI.
it verifies whether lhe payment URI. aUlhenticator was
created from the (.'(Intents of the payment URI. using lhe
cryptographic key (step 36). If not, the paymert1 computer
sends a document 10 the buye r computer indicating thaI
access to the network sales system is denied (step 38).
Olberwise, the payment computer determines whether the
cxpiration time has past (step 40), If it has, the payment
computer sends a document to the buyer computer indicating that thc time has expired (step 41 ). Otherwise, the
payment computer checks lhe buyer computer network

'"
3S

40

4S

so

S5

60

6S

5,909,492
7
user can respond

10

the recent purchase query document by

choosing 10 access the previously purchased document (step

85) or to go ahead and buy the currently selected product
(SlCp 86).
If lhe user chooses 10 accc.'>s [he previously purchased S
doc'Umcnl, the buyer computer skips \0 step 92 (see below).
If [he uscr chooses [0 buy the currently selected product, the
payment com puter calculates an actual payment amount thaI
may differ from the payment amount contained in Ihe
payment URL (step 81). For example, [he purchase of a to
product iu a (:crtain domain may entitle the usc r 10 access
olher products in [he domain for free or for a reduced price

for a given period o f lime.
The payment computer then verifies whether the user
account has sufiicicnl funds or credit (step 76), If nOI, lhe 15
payment (;Ompulcr sends a documen t to the buye r computer
indicating that the lL'>Cr account has insufficient funds (Slep
71'1). Otherwise, lhc payment co mputer creates an access
URL (step SO) lhat includes a mercham COmPUle r idemifier,
a doma in identifie r, a product identifie r, an indication of the 20
end of lhe duration time for which access 10 Ihe product is
to be granled, the buyer nelwork address, and an ac(.'Css URL
authenlicalor thaI is a digital signature based on a cryptographic key. The access URL authenlicator is a hash of other
information in the access URL, Ihe hash being defined by a 25
key shared by the merchant and the operator of tile payment
computer. "[be payment computer then records the product
identitier, the domain, the user account, lhe merchanl
aecounl, Ihe end of duration time, and !he actual payment
30
amo um in Ihe scllleme11l database (step 1'1/11).
'Ibe payment compu!e r then sends a redirecl to access
URL to the buyer computer (step 90), which scnds the access
URL to the merchant compute r (step 92). 'Ibe merchant
computer verifies whether Ihe acccs,<; URL authenticator was 3S
created from the comems of the acccs.s URL using the
cryptographic key (step 94). If not. the merchan t (."Omputer
sends a document to the buye r compute r indica ting that
access to the product is denied (step 96).
Otherwise, the mercham computer verifies whether the 40
durat ion time for ae(.'Css to the product has ex pired (step 98).
l bis is done !xcausc the buyer compu ter can requeSl access
to a purchased product repeatedly. If the duration time has
expired, the merchant compUter sends a document to the
buyer (."Ompu ter indicating that the time has expired (step 4S
1(0). Otherwise the merchant computer verifies that the
buyer computer network address is the same as the buyer
nelwork address in the access URL (SlCp 101), and if so,
s.::nds a ful/illment docume m to the buye r computer (step
102), which is displayed by the buyer computer (step 1(4). 50
An example of a fuifillillent documem is shown in FIG. 10.
Otherwise, the merchant computer sends a document to the
buyer computer indicating that access is not allowed (swp
103).
With reference now to HG. 3, when the merchant com- S5
puter sends the advertising document to the buyer (."Omputer,
the usc r may rcquest that a product be added to a shopping
cart in the shopping can database rather than request that the
product be purchased immedialCly. lbe buyer compulC r
sends a shopping cart URL to the payment computer (step 60
lOS), the shopping can URL including a product identifier,
a domain identifier, a payment amount, a merchant (."Ompu ter
identifier, a merchant account identifier, a duration time, an
expiration time, and a shopping cart UR L authenticator that
is a digital signature based on a cryptographic key. The 65
shopping cart URL authenticator is a hash of other in forIllation ill the shopping cart URI.., the hash beingdetillcd by

8
a key shared by the merchant and the operator of the
payment computer.
lbe payment computer verities whether the shopping cart
U I~ L authenticator was created from the contents of the
shopping cart URL using a cryptographic key (slep 110). If
not, lhe payment computer sends a document to the buyer
computer indicating that access to the network sales system
is de nied (step 112). Otherwise, before any modification to
a user's shopping cart is allowed, user authenticat ion is
performed (step 113) in a manne r analogo us to steps 40-81 .
Once the user is authemicated, the payment computer creates or updatcs a payment URL for the shopping cart (step
114).
lbe user then either requests more advertisements (step
24 in FIG. 2) and possibly adds anothe r product to the
shopping cart, requests display of the shopping cart (step
116), or requests purchase of the entire contell1S of the
shopping cart (step 124). I r the user requests display of the
shopping can (step 11 6), the buyer comp uter sends a fetch
shopping cart request to the payment computer (step liS),
and the payment computer and buyer computer (step 119)
perfornl steps analogous to steps 64--81. 'Ibe payment (."Omputer returns the contents of thc shopping cart to the buyer
computer (step 120), which displays the contents of the
shopping cart (step 122). If the user requests that the entire
contents of the shopping carl be purcha..'lCd (step 124) the
buyer computer causes the payment URL for the shopping
carl 10 be activa ted (step 126) and the paynlem URL is
processed in a manner analogous to the processing of
payment UIU.s for individual products ( beginning with step
36 in FIG. 2).
With reference now to FI G. 4, a user can request display
of a "smart statement"' thatlisls purchase transa(.1ions for a
given monlh (slep 121'1). When lhe buye r compuler TCt'Cives
such a request, it sends a smart Statement URI.. to the
payment computer (step 130).
When the payment computer receivC$ the smart statement
URL, it veriHes whether the smart stalement URL authenticator was created from the contents of the smart Statement
URL using a cryptographic key (step 132). [f not, the
payment computer sends a document to the buyer compu ter
indicating that access is denied (step 134). Otherwise, the
payment computer checks to determine whether the buyer
network address in the smart statement URL matches the
buyer computer' s aClUalnctwork address (stcp 136). If not,
the payment computer sends a document to tile buyer
computer indicating that access is denied (step 138). Otherwisc (step 140), the payment computer and buyer computer perform a set of steps analogous to steps 64-8 1 in FIG.
2 (payment computer requeslS account name and pas.sword,
user provides the requested infornlatioD, and payment computer verities the information).
In an alternative embodiment steps 132- \38 arc omincd.
After verification of account information is complete, the
payment computer retrieves the requcsted sen1cment data
from the senlement database, creates a smart statement
document for the buyer, and sends the smart statement
document to the buyer computer (step 142). An example of
a smart statement document is shown in FIG. II. Each
purchase transaction record in the smart statement document
includes the data of the transaction, the name of the
merchant, an identification of the product, and the payment
amount for the product. The smart statement docume nt also
includes a transaction dc\ai! URI. for each purchase traflSaction (these URls, or hypertext links, arc discussed below
and are not shown in F[G. 1.1). 'Ibe smart statement docu-

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menl al50 idenlifies previous statements thai the uscr may
wish 10 have displayed.
'Ibc buyer ,ampuler displays the retrieved document (step
144), and the user may request Iraosaclion details for a
particular transactio n list.:.:d on the smart Slalemem (Slep
146). If so, the buyer computer sends a transaction detail
URL (or "payment detail URL") \0 the payment computer
(step 148). "Ibe transaction detail URL includes a transaction
idenlifier, a buyer network address, and a lram;'3clion detail
URL authenticator. When the payment compuler receives
the tra nsaction detail URL, iI performs (step ISO) a scI of
sleps analogolLS 10 sleps 132- 140 (verification of URL
aulhcnlica lOr, buyer network address, and account
informalion). The payment computer the n retrieves from the
seulement database data corresponding to the paymem
transaction specified in the transaction detail UR L, creates a
transaction dctail document, and se nds it to tile buyer
computer (step 152).
An example of a transaclion detail document is shown iJl
FIGS. 12 and 13. The documem displays a number of items
of information about the transaction, including the transaction date, end of thc duration time ("expiration"), a description of the product, the paymcnt amount, the domain corresponding to the product, an idcntification of the merchant,
and thc merchant's address.
'Ibe smart statement document and the tram;.action detail
document both iJlclude customer service URls (hypertext
links) tha t allow the user to request customer scrvke (Le., to
seJld comments and suggestions to the payment computer).
When the user requests customer service (step (54), the
buyer computer sends the customer service URL to the
payment computer (ste p 156). which creatcs a customcr
service form and sends it to the buyer computer (step 158).
An example of a cuslome r service fonn is shown in FIG. 14.
'Ibe user types comments into the customer service fonn
(step 160), and the buyer l'Omputer semJs the use r's comments to too payment com pute r (step 162). '111e payment
computer the n posts the user comments and sends a thank
you document to the buyer computer (step 164).
A user may request display of a product included in the
smart statement. When Ihe user requests that the product be
displayed (step 166), the buyer computer sends the access
U IU~ contained in the smart statement document to the
merehant computer (step 168), and the buye r computer an d
merchant l'Omputer perfonn a set of steps analogous to ste ps
94-104 in FIG. 2 (authe ntication of access URL, verification
whether duration time has expired, veriHcation of buyer
nc1work address, and transmission of fulftllment document
to buyer computer).
Whenever the present application states that one computer
sends a URL to another coml)uter, it should be understood
that in preferred embodiments the URI. is sent in a standard
1-1'1"1"1' request message, unless a URL message is spccified
as a redirection in the presen t application. 'Ibe requcst
messag.:: includes components of the URL as described by
the Slandard lrrrl' protocol definition. 'Ibese URL l'OmponeJlts in the request message allow th.:: server to provide a
response appropriate to the URL. The term "URL" as used
the present application is an example of a "link," which is a
pointer to another document or fonn (including multimedia
doc'Uments, hypertext documents including olher links, or
audiolv ideo documents).
When the prese nt application states that one computer
sends a document to another computer, il should be UJlderstood that in preferred embodiments the document is a
success HTTP response message wilh tlte document in the

body of the message. Whe n the present application stales
that a server sends an account name and password requcst
message 10 Ihe client, il should be understood thai in
preferred emhodiments the account name and password
request message is an unauthorized HT J1' response. A clien!
..
computer sends account name and pas.. word information to
a server as part of a request message with an authorization
field.
'Ibe software architecture underlying the particular preferred embodiment is based upon the hypertext conventions
of the World Wide Web. Appefld ix A describes the Ilypcrtexl
Markup Language (HTML) document format used 10 represent digital advertLscments, Append ix 13 describes the
I-ITML forms till out support in Mosaic 2.0, Appendix C is
a description of the Hypertext Transfe r Protocol (IIT I1')
between buyer and merchant computers, Appendix [)
describes how documents are named with Uniform Resource
Locators (U RLs) in the network of computers, and Appendix E describes the authentication of URLs using digi tal
signaturcs.
A printout of 3 computer program for use in creating and
operating such a "store" in acco rdance w ith the present
invelllion is provided as Appendix F. A primout of a computer program for usc in operating ot her aspects of the
network sales system in accordance with the present invention is provided in Appendix G.
l bere has been described a flew and ul><:ful network-based
sales system. [t is apparent that lhose skilled in the art may
make numerous modifications and departures from Ihe specific embodiments described herein without departing from
the spirit and scope of the claimed invention .
What is claimed is:
1. A network·based sales system, comprising:
a merchant database l'Omprising a plurality of digital
advertisements and a plurality of respective product
fulfillment items;
at least one creation loom pUler for creating said merchant
database; and
at least one merchant computer for causing said digital
advertisements to be transmillcd to a user and for
causing advertised producl~ 10 be transmilled to said
user;
said creation computcrs, said merchant computer, an d a
payment computer being interconnected by a public
packet switched computer network;
said creation computer being programmed 10 create said
merchant database, and to transmit said digital advertisements and said product fulHIlrnent items over said
network to said merchant compu t<! r;
said merchant computer being programmed to receive
said digital advertisements and product fulfillment
items over said network, to receive over said network
a request for a digital advertisement from a user, to
cause said digita l advertiscmentto be sent to said user
over said network, to receive over said octwork from
said user a product request message identifying an
advertised product. to receive an access mc.'lSage over
said network created by said payment computer, and to
cause said product to be scnt 10 said user in accordance
with a product fulfillment item corresponding to said
product and based upon receipt by the mercham computer of the access message.
2. A network-based sales system in accordance with claim
I , wherein each of said digital advertisements comprises an
abslract of a product and a price.
3. A network-based sales system in accordance with claim
2, wherein:

S

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4S

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6S

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11
a\ least one of said product fulfillment ilcm~ comprises a
product itself; and
said "rcation computer is programmed 10 transmit said
product 10 said merchant compuler with said digital
advcniscmcnls.
4. A network-based sales system in accordance with claim

,

2, wherein:
atkasl one of said product fulfillment items comprises a
hard good identifier; and
said creation computer is programmed 10 transmit said 10
hard good identifier 10 said merchant computer with
said digital advertisements.
5. A method of operating a merchan t compuler in a

nClwork-bascd salcssYSlcm comprising a merchant database
Ihal comprises a plurality of digital advertisements and a
plurality of respective product fulfillment items, at least one
creation com puler for c reating said merchant database, and
at least one merchant computer for causing said digilal
advertisements to be transmiued to a user and for causing
advertised products 10 be transmiued to said user, alld at
least one p3ymellt compulCr, said cn:ation compulCr, said
merchant computer, and said payment computer being interconnected by a public packet swilChed computer network.
said method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at said merchant computer, said digital advertis.:ments and said product fulfillment items, said digital advertisements and said product fulfi\lmellt items
having been transrniued over said nC1work to said
mercham computer by said creation compu!er, said
merchant database comprising said digital advertisemems and said product fulfillment items having becn
created by said ereatioll computer;
ret'Civing over said network a request for a digital advertis.:me nt from a user;
causing said digital advertisement to be scntto said user
over said network;
ret'Civing over said network from said user a product
request message identifying an advertised product;
receiving over said network an access message created by
said paymem computer; and
causing said product to be selltto said use r in 3(.'cordance
with a product fulfillment item corresponding 10 said
prodUCI and based upon receipI by the merchant computer of !he access message.
6. A hypertext statement system, comprising:
a client computer for operation by a client user; and
a plurality of server computers for operation by a server
uscr;
said client compulCr and said server computers being
interconnected by 3 public packet switched compu!Cr
network;
at least one of said scrvc r computers being programmed
to I\:cord information pertaining to purchasc transaction records in a database, each of said purchase
transaction records comprising a product description,
and to caus.: a statement document comprising said
purchase transaction records to be transmiued to said
client computer over said network;
said client t"Omputer being programmed to display said
product descriptions, to receivc a request from said
client user to display a product corresponding to 3
product description displayed by said client t'Omputer,
and to cause a product hypertext link derived from a
purchase transaction record to be activated;
at leaS! one of said server computers, other than a serve r
compute r that transmitted said statemefll document to

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said client computer. b<!ing programmed to respond to
activation of said product hypertext link by causing
said product to be sem to said client computer over said
network.
7. A hypenext statement system in accordance with claim
6. wherein:
said client computer is programmed to receive a request
from said clicnt user to display transaction details
corresponding to a product description displayed by
said client computer and to cause a transaction detail
hypertext link corresponding to said product description to be activated; 31\d
at least one of said server computers is programmed to
respond to activation of said transactio n detail hypertext link by transmitting said transaction delails to said
client co mputer as a transaction de tail document.
8. A hypertext statemcnt system in aceordant'C with claim
7, wherein:
said transaction detail document fur1heT comprises a customer service form hypertext link,
said client computer is programmed to receive a request
from said client user to display a customer service form
and to cause said customer service form hypertext link
to be activated; and
at least one of said server computers is programmcd to
respond to activation of said customer service form
hypcrtext link by transmitting said customer service
rOml to said cliem computer.
9. A hypcr1ext statement system in accordance with claim
6, wherein :
said statement doc"tlment further t'Omprises a customer
scrvi-.'C form hypertext link;
said client computer is programmed to reeei\'e a request
from said clicnt user to display a customer service form
and to cause said customcr service form hypenext link
to be activated; and
at least one of said server computers is programmed to
respond to activation of said customer service form
hypertext link by transmitting said customer service
form to said client computer.
10. A method of operating a server computer in a hypertext statement system comprising a client computer for
operation by a client user. and a plurality of server eomputers for operation by a server user, said cliem computer an d
said server computers being interconnected by a public
packet switched computer network, said method comprising
the steps of:
recording, at onc of said server computers. information
pertaining to purchase transaction records in a
database, each of said purchase transactiOIl records
comprising a product description; and
causing a statement document comprising said purchase
transaction ret"Ords to be transmitted to said client
compute r over said nctwork;
said client computer being programmed to display said
product descriptions, to re-.'Cive a request from said
client user to display a product corresponding to a
product description displayed by said cliem computer,
and to cause a product hypertext link derived from a
purchase transaction record to be activated;
at least one of said server computers, other than a server
computer t!tat transmitted said statement document to
said client t'Omputer, being programmed to respond to
activation of said product hypertext link by ca using
said product to be scntto said clie n t computer over said
octwork.

5,909,492

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11 . A network payment syslcm, comprisillg:
al leasl one buyer compute r for opcralioll by a user
desiring 10 buy a product; and
at leaS! one payment computer for processing paymem
messages from said buyer computer:
5
said buyer computer, said payment computer, and a merchant computer being interconnected by a public packet
switched computer network;
said buyer computer being, programmed [0 cause a pay- 10

menl message \0 be sent [0 said payment computer over
said octwork;
said paymem computer being programmed 10 rc(Xivc said
payment message, \0 callSC an access message 10 be
created for transmission over said network to said
merchant t'Ompulc r \0 enable sai<l user 10 access said
product upon ve rification by said merchant computer
lhal said access message was created by s.aid payment
computer, alld to record information pertaining to a
purchase transaction rl'Cord in said scUlement database;
said buyer computer being programmed to cause a request
for a purchase Iransal1ion record to be sent to said
payment computer over said network; and
said paymentl'Omputer being programmed to rel'Cive said
request for said purchase tr31lSaetion record and to
cause a document derived from s,1id purchase transaction record to be sent to said buyer computer o\'er said
nclwork.
12. l be network payment system of claim 1.1 wherein the
payment message comprises a product identifier identifying
the product thaI the user desires to buy.
13. A method of operating a payment com puter in a
network payment system comprising at least one buyer
computer for operation by a use r desiring to buy a product,
and at least one paymem computer for processing paymen t
messages from said buye r computer, and at least one merchant computer, said buyer computer, said payment
computer, and said merchant computer being interconnected
by a public packet switched computer network, said method
comprising the steps of:
receiving, at said payment compute r, a payment message
that said buycr computer has caused to be scntto said
payment computer over said network;
causing an access message to be created for transmis.sion
to a merchant computcr ove r said network to enable
said usc r to access said product upon verification by
said merchant com puter that said access message was
created by said payment computer;
recording information pertaining to a purchase transaction
record in said senlement database;
receiving over said network a request for a purchase
transaction record that said buyer computer has caused
to be sent to said payment computer; and
causing a document derived from said purchase transaction record to be sent to said buyer compute r over said
network.
14. ·Ibe method of claim 13 where in the payme nt message
comprises a product identifier identifying the product that
the user desires to buy.
15. A hypertext statement system, comprising:
a client computer for operation by a client user; and
one or more server computers for operation by a server
user;
the client computer and the server computers being interconnected by a public packet switched computer network;

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at least one of the scrver computers being programmed to
record information pertaining to purchase transaction
records in a database, and to transmit a statement
document comprising the purchasc transaction records
to the client computer over the network;
the client computer being programmed to display the
statement document to receive a requeSt from the client
user to display transaction details corresponding to a
portion of the s\atcmem document displayed by the
dient computer. and to cause a tra nsaction detail hypertext link correspotlding to the portion of the statemem
document 10 be aClivated;
al least one of the server computers being programmed 10
respond \0 activation of the transact ion detail hypertext
link by transmilling the transaction details to the diem
l"OmpUter over the network as a transaclion detail
doc ument.
16. A method of operating a server computer in a hypertext statement system comprising a diem compu ter for
operation by a clientuscr, and one or more server computers
lor operation by a scrver uscr, the client compu ter and the
server computers being interconnected by a public packet
switched computer network, the me lhod comprising the
steps of:
recording, at one of the server computers, information
pertaining to purchase transaction records in a database; and
transmitting a statement document comprising the purchase transactiol1 records to the client computer over
the network;
the client computer being programmed to display the
statemcnt docume nt, to rel'Cive a request from the
client user to display transaction details corresponding
to a portion of the statement document displayed by the
client computer, and to cause a transaction detail hypertext link corresponding to the portion of the statemenl
document to be activated;
at least one of the server computers being programmed to
respond to activation of the transaction de tail hypertext
link by transmitting the transaction details to the dient
computer over the network as a transaction dctail
document.
17. A network-based sales system, (..'omprising:
at least one buyer computer for operation by a uscr
desiring to buy products;
at least one shopping cart computer; and
a shopping cart database connected to the shopping cart
computer;
lhe buyer computer alld Ihe shopping cart computer being
interconnected by a public packel switched computer
network;
the buyer comPU ter being programmed to receive a plurality of requestS from a uscr to add a plu rality of
respel1ive products to a shopping cart in the shopping
cart database, and, in response to the requests to add the
products. to send a plurality of respective shopping cart
Illes-sages over the network to the shopping cart computer each of which comprises a produce identifier
identifying one of the plurality of products and at least
one of which comprises a universal resource locator;
the shopping cart computer being programmed to receive
the plurality of shopping cart messages, to modify the
shopping cart in the shopping cart database to rdleci
the plurality of requests to add the plurality of products
to the shopping cart, and to cause a payment message

5,909,492

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associated with lhe shopping cart 10 be created, the
payment message comprising a universal rcsour(.~
locator; and
the buyer computer being programmed 10 receive a
request from lhe user 10 purchase the plurality of
products added 10 lhe shopping can and 10 cause lhe
payment message 10 be activated 10 initiate a payment
transaction for Ihe plu rality of products added \0 Ihe
shopping cart;
the shopping carl being a stored representation of a
collection of products, lhe shopping carl database bei ng
a database of stored representations of collections of
products, and the shopping carl computer being a
compute r that modilics the stored representations of
collections of products in the database.
18. A method of operating a shopping cart computer in a
public packet switched compuler nclwork comprising at
least one buyer COmpUler for operation by a user desiring 10
buy product~, at lca~1 one shopping carl com puler, arK! a
shopping can database connecled 10 Ihe shopping car!
com pUler, Ihe method comprising the sleps of:
receiving, al Ihe shopping carl COmpUler, a pluralilY of
shopping can messages sen! over the network to the
shopping carl ~'Omputcr by the buyer compuler in
rcs(XInse 10 receipt of a plurality of requests from a user
to add a plurality of respective products to a shopping
cart in the shopping cart database, each of the shopping
cart messagcs comprising a prOoducl identifier identifying one of the plurality of products and at least one of
which comprises a universal rc.'IOurce locator;
modifying thc shopping can in the shopping can database
to reflect the plurality of requests to add the plurality of
products to the shopping can; and
causing a payment message associated with the shopping
cart to be created, the payment message comprising a
universal rcsource locator;
the buyer ~'Omputer being programmed to re(:eive a
request from the user to purchase the plurality of
products added to the shopping carl alld to cause the
payment message to be activated to initiate a payment
transaction for the plurality of products added to the
shopping can;
the shopping cart being a stored representation of a
collection of products, the shopping can database being
a database of stored representations of collections of
products, and the shopping cart computer being a
cOompute r that modifies the stored representations of
collections of products in the database.
19. A Iletwork-bascd sales system, comprising:
at least one buyer compu ter for operation by a user
dc.'iiring to buy a product;
at least one merchant computer; and
at least Oone payment computer;
the buyer computer, the merchant computer, and the
payment computer being interconnected by a computer
network;
the buyer ~'Omputer being programmed to. re~"Cive a user
request for purchasing a product, and to cause a payment message to be sent to the payment computer that
comprises a product identifier identifying the product;
the payment computer being programmed to receive the
payment message, to cause an access message to be
created that comprises a product identifier identifying
the product and an access mc.~~age authenticator based
on a cryptographic key, and to cause the access mcssage to be sent to the merchant compuler; and

the merchant computer beillg programmed to receive the
access message, to cause the aecess me5.'iage authenticator to be verified to ensure that the access message
authenticator was created using the cryptographic key,
and to cause [he product to be rct"Cived by the user
desiring to buy lhe product.
20. A network-based sales system in accordant"C with
claim 19 wherein the buyer computer is programmed to
cause the payment mes.<;.age to be scnt to the payment
computer by sending a purchase proouct message to the
merchant computer, the merchant computer being programmed to receive the purchase product mes.~age, and in
res(XInse thereto, to send the payment message to the payment computer.
21 . A network-based sales system in accordant"C with
claim 19 wherein the merchant computer is programmed
itself to. verify the access message authenticator.
22. A network-based sales system in accordance with
claim 19 wherein the merchant computer is programmed to
cause every access message authenticator received by the
merchant computer to be verified.
23. A network-based salc.'i system in accordance with
claim 19. wherein the payment message comprises a pay·
ment amount.
24. A network-based sales system in accordance with
claim 19, wherein the payment computer is programmed to
record the product identifier and the payment amount.
25. A network-based sales system in accordance with
claim 24, wherein the product identifier altd the paymen1
amount arc recorded in a senlement database.
26. A network-based salc.'i system in accordance with
claim 19, wherein the payment message comprises a merchant computer identifier.
27. A network-based sales system in accordance with
claim 19, wherein the payment message t'Ompriscs a payment message au th en ticator based on a cryptographic key.
28. A network-based salc.'i syslem in accordance with
claim 27, wherein the payment comput er is programmed to
verify the payment message authentica lor to ensure thai the
payment message authenticatOor was created using the cry ptographic key.
29. A network-based sales system in accordance with
claim 19 wherein the computer l1etwork is a public packetswitched communicati ons Iletwork.
30. A method of operating a payment com puter in a
computer network comprising at least one buyer compu ter
for operation by a user desiring to buy a prodUt1, at least one
merchant computer, and at least one payment computer, the
method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at the payment computer, a payment message
that the buyer computer has caused to be sent to the
payment colliputer in rc.'i(XIllse to a user request for
purchasing a product, the payment message comprising
a product identifier identifying the product;
causing an aC<."Css message to be created that comprises a
product identifier identifying 1he product and an ac~"Css
message authenticator based on a cryptographic key;
and
caU5ing the access message to be sent to the merchant
computer, the merchant compute r beiltg programmed
to receive the access message, 10 cause Ihe access
message authenticator to be verified [0 ensure thai the
access message authenticator was created using the
cryptographic key, and to cause the product to be
received by the user desiring to. buy the product.
3 1. A network-based sales system, com prising:
at least one buyer computer for operation by a user
desiring to buy a product;

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'"
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5,909,492

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a\ !cast one merchant computer; and
al least onc paymcllI compute r;
the buyer computer, [he merchant cornplller, and the
paymcm computer being interconnected by a public
packet swi tched computer network;
5
[he buyer computer being programmed [0 re ..-cive a
request from a user for purchasing a product, and [0
cause a payment mcs.'kIgc to be scnt ovcr the network
[0 [he payment computer;
[he payment computer being programmed 10 receive the
payment message, and, if purchase of the product by
the user has not been prcviou~ly recorded in a scttlcmenl database, 10 cause the user [0 be charged for the
product aoo \0 create a new record in the scnlcmcnl 15
database rdlc('1ing purchase of the product by the user,
10 cause an acccSl; message \0 be created, and [0 cause
the access message to be sent over tbe network to the
mercbant computer; and

tbe merchant computer being programmed to receive the
access message and to cause the user to receive Ihc
producl.
32. The network-based sales system of claim 3 1 wherein:
the payment computer is programmed to cause Ihe access
message to be created using a cryptographic key; and
al leaS! one of the computers is programmed to usc the
access message in a cryptographic process to ensure
that the user has paid for the producl.
33. A me thod of operaling a payment computer in a public
packel switched <.."OmpUier network comprising at leasl one
buyer (.'Ompute r for operation by a user desiring to buy a
product, al leasl one merchant computer, and al least one
payment computer, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at the payment computer, a payment message
that the buyer computer has caused to be senl over the
network to the payment (.'Ompu ter in response to a
request from a user for purehasing a product, and, if
purchase of the product by the user has nOl heen
previously recorded in a sel1lcment database, causing
the user to be chalged for the product and creating a
new record in the sel1lcmem dalabase relleCling purchase of the prodUCI by the IIscr;
causing an access message to be crea ted; and
causing Ihe access message to be sent over the nelwork to
the merchant computer, the mereh ant computer being
programmed to receive Ihe access message and to cause
the us.::r to rcceive the product.
34. 'lbe method of claim 33 wherein at leasl one of the
COlllputer.; is programmed to mie the access message in a
cryptographic process 10 ensure that the user has paid for the
producl.
35. A network-based sales system, comprising:
at least one buyer compute r for operation by a uscr
desiring to buy products;
at least one shopping carl compu ter; and
a shopping cart database conncclCd to thc shopping cart
computer;
the buyer computer and the shopping cart computer being
interconnected by a public packet switched computer
nelwork;
the buyer computer being programmed to receive a plurality of requests from a user to add a plurality of
respective products to a shopping carl in the shopping
cart database, and, in response to the req uC1;ts to add the
products, to send a pluralily of respective shopping cart

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messages over the network to the shopping carl computer each of which comprises a proouct identifier
idemifyiug one of the plurality of produelS;
the shopping cart computer being programmed to receive
the plurality of shopping carl messages, and 10 modify
the shopping carl in the shoppi ng carl database to
reflect the plurality of requests to add the plurality of
products to the shopping carl; and
the buyer compuler being programmed to receive a
request from the uscr to purchase the plurality of
products added to the shopping carl and to cause a
payment mes.<;age to be activated 10 initiate a paymeu t
transaction for lhe plurality of products added 10 the
shopping carl;
the shopping carl being a stored representation of a
collection of products. the shopping cart database bei ng
a database of stored representalions of collections of
prooucts, and the shopping carl computer being a
compute r that mooifies the stored reprcsentalions of
collections of products in the database.
36. A method of operating a shopping cart computer in a
public packe t swilched computer nelwork comprising al
least one buyer computer for ol>cralion by a user desiring to
buy prooucls, al least one shopping carl computer, an d a
shopping carl database connected to the shopping cart
computer, the method (.'Omprising Ihe steps of:
receiving, at the shopping cart computer, a plurality of
shopping can messages sem over the network 10 the
shopping carl cOlllputer by the buyer computer in
response to reccipI of a pluralilY of requests from a user
to add a pluralilY of respective products to a shopping
carl in tbe shopping cart database, each of the shopping
carl meS-'l3ges comprising a product identifier identifying one of tile plurality of products; and
mod ifying the shopping carl in the shopping carl database
to reflecllhe plurality of requests 10 add the pluralilY of
products to the shopping carl;
the buyer (.-amputer being programmed to receive a
request from the user to purchase the plurality of
prooucts added to the ~hopping carl and to cause a
payment message to be activated 10 initiate a payment
transaction for lhe plura\ilY of products added 10 the
shopping cart;
the shopping cart being a stored represemation of a
collection of products, the shopping carl database being
a database of stored represenlalions of colleclions of
products, and the shopping cart computer being a
computcr thai mooifies the stored represc01alions of
collections of products in the database.
37. A network-based sales syslem, comprising:
a mercham database comp rL<;ing a plurality of digital
advertisements and a plurality of respective product
fulfillment items;
al least one crealion computer for crealing the merchant
database; and
at least one merchant computer for causing the digital
advertisements to be transmitted to a uscr and for
causing adveniscd products to be transmil1 ed to the
uscr;
Ihe creation computer ami the mercbant computer being
inter<..'Onneeted by a public packet switched <..'Omputer
oclwork;
the creation computer being programmed to create the
merchant database, and to transmit the digital advertisements and the product fulfillment items over the
nelwork to the mercham computer;

5,909,492

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the me rchant computer betng programmed 10 receive the
digital advertisements and product fulfillment items
over the network, 10 receive over the network a request
for a digital advcrliscmCnl from a user, \0 cause the
digital advertisement to be scnt \0 the user over the
network, 10 receive ove r Ihe network from the user 3
product request message identifying an advertised
product, and [0 cause the product 10 be se nt [0 the user
in accordance wilh a product fulfillment item ..-orresponding 1 the product;
0
31 leaSI a portion of the digital advertisements transmi!1c d
by the c reation computer 10 the merchant computer
over the nc(work being authenticated by 31 least one
digital signawre.
38. A method of operating a merchant t'Ompu\cr in a
network-based salcssystcm comprising a merchant database
that comprises a plurality of digital adveniscments and a
plurality of respective product fulfillment it cm~, 3tlcast one
creat ion computer for creating tbe merchant database, and at
least one mercharn computer for causing the digital advertisements to be transmilloo to a user and for causing advertiscd products to Ix: transmilled to the user, the creation
computer and the merchant computer being inter..-onnected
by a public packet switched computer network, the method
comprising the steps of:

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r<!Cciving, at the merchant computer, the digital advertisemcrns and thc product fulfillment items, the digi tal
advertisements and the product fulfillment items having Ix:en transmillcd over the network to tbe mcrcharn
computer by the creation computer, the merchant database comprising the digital advcnisemcnts and the
product fulfIllment items having been created by the
creation computer;
receiving over the network a request for a digital advertisement from a user;
causing the digital ad\'e rtisement to be sent to the user
over the network;
receiving over the ne twork from the uscr a product
request message identifying an advertised product; and
causing the product \0 Ix: sent \0 the user in accordance
with a product fultillment item corresponding to the
product;
atlcasl a jXlrtion of the digital advenisemenlS transmil1ed
by the creation computer to the merchant compu ter
over tbe network being authenticated by at least one
digital signature.

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UN ITED STATES I'ATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICI<:
Cerlificate
Pmcnt No. 5.909.492

Patemed: June I. 1999

On petition reques ting iss uance of a certificate for colTt!Cti on orinventorship pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 256. it has
been found that the above identified patent, through error and w ithout any deceptive intcnt. improperly Sl)ts fonh
the invcntorship:.
Accordingly. it is hereby certified that the correct invcntorship of this pat..:nt is: Andrew C. Payne, Lincoln.
MA (US): Lawrence C. Stewart, Wayland. MA (US): and G. Winfield Treese, Wayland, MA (US).
Signed and S..:akd this Third Day of Novemocr 2009.
Thomas H. Tarcza

SUIJervisor)' Patent Examiner
.

An Unit 3662