Patent ID: 7249069
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A delivery system for facilitating a transaction between a seller having a funds account and a purchaser having a funds account, wherein the seller has agreed to exchange one, or more, packages of goods for a payment from the purchaser, the delivery system comprising: a delivery service system delivers the package from a first location to an intermediate location and receives a hold command associated with the package and responsive to the hold command holding the package at the intermediate location pending receipt of a release command, and responsive to the release command releasing the package for delivery to the purchaser, wherein removal of the hold command is indicative of receipt of the payment associated with the package into escrow; a payment system receives the payment associated with the package from the purchaser's funds account, holds the payment in escrow on receipt, transmits payment verification information in response to receiving the payment in escrow and to distribute the payment from escrow to the seller's account in response to a distribution command, wherein receipt of the distribution command is indicative of delivery of the package to the purchaser; and an information system receives a request from one of the seller, purchaser or delivery service system and automatically transmits the hold command to the delivery service system responsive to the request and receives the payment verification information from the payment system, the information system transmits the release command to the delivery system in response to receiving the payment verification information thereby releasing the package for delivery to the purchaser when payment is made into escrow, the information system further receives a delivery verification information confirming delivery of the package to the purchaser and transmits the distribution command to the payment system in response to receipt of the delivery verification information.