Email based e-commerce using embedded forms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12192158-B2
Application number	US-202217967207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2022
Priority date	Jan 8, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A customer device that utilizes Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to facilitate e-commerce transactions, the customer device comprising:
a communication interface that is communicatively coupled to an e-commerce system;
a display;
an input device; and
a processor that is communicatively coupled to the communication interface, the display and the input device;
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, using an email client, an SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol email that includes an embedded form and at least one token via the communication interface, wherein each of the at least one token includes at least a type field and amount field for one of a plurality of items offered for sale, wherein the embedded form further includes input fields that enable a customer to directly enter additional information into the embedded form;
determine that the SMTP email is associated with the e-commerce system and that the SMTP email includes the embedded form;
render, using the display, the embedded form within an email environment;
receive, using the input device, the additional information into input fields of the embedded form;
transmit, using the email client, the additional information to the e-commerce system via the communication interface;
transmit, using the email, a SMTP response email via the communication interface, wherein the response email includes the additional information and particular tokens associated with each item from the plurality of items that the customer has selected to purchase; and
receive, using the email client, a notice indicating that a transaction has been processed via the communication interface.

2. The customer device of claim 1 , wherein the embedded form is a web form.

3. The customer device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to render the web form by communicating with a vendor website via HTTP.

4. The customer device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to render the embedded form on the display by communicating with a form monitor associated with the customer device.

5. The customer device of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touchscreen.

6. The customer device of claim 1 , wherein the email client is accessed via a web page.

7. The customer device of claim 1 , wherein the email client is registered with the e-commerce system.

8. The customer device of claim 1 , wherein the token is embedded in a message.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores instructions for utilizing Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to facilitate e-commerce transactions, the instructions when executed by a processor of a mobile device cause the processor to:
receive, using an email client, an SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol email that includes an embedded form and at least one token, wherein each of the at least one token includes at least a type field and amount field for one of a plurality of items offered for sale, wherein the embedded form further includes input fields that enable a customer to directly enter additional information into the embedded form;
determine that the SMTP email is associated with an e-commerce system and that the SMTP email includes the embedded form;
render, using a display, the embedded form within an email environment;
receive, using an input device, the additional information into input fields of the embedded form;
transmit, using the email client, the additional information to the e-commerce system;
transmit, using the email, a SMTP response email that includes the additional information and particular tokens associated with each item from the plurality of items that the customer has selected to purchase; and
receive, using the email client, a notice indicating that a transaction has been processed.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the embedded form is a web form.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to render the web form by communicating with a vendor website via HTTP.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to render the embedded form on the display by communicating with a form monitor associated with the mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the input device is a touchscreen.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the email client is accessed via a web page.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the email client is registered with the e-commerce system.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the token is embedded in a message.

Assignees

• Swoop Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Kassemi James
• Person Chad
• Killoran Jr John P
• Killoran Patrick

Classifications

• H04L2463/102

  applying security measure for e-commerce · CPC title

• H04L63/168

  above the transport layer · CPC title

• H04L63/08

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title

• H04L51/08 Primary

  Annexed information, e.g. attachments · CPC title