Patent ID: 7340433
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of settling a transaction using trade credit value, comprising: storing trade credit value for a first user that is a divisible, continuously available, transferable, discountable, and credit enhanced to investment grade status promissory obligation; receiving a request from the first user to transfer a pre-determined amount of the stored trade credit value to a second user in settlement of the transaction; confirming an availability of the requested amount of trade credit value stored for the first user for settlement of the transaction; transferring the requested amount of trade credit value from the first user to the second user; and allowing the transferred amount of trade credit value to be used by the second user in any of settlement of another transaction for the second user, discounting for cash before a pre-defined maturity of the trade credit value, and holding through to the pre-defined maturity of the trade credit value.